News

As we are a little past halfway through our Romans series, reflect on what we’ve learned so far:

What has stood out to you as a theme in Romans?

What parts of Paul’s teaching has been challenging to you? What has been encouraging?

Read Romans 8:1-39 and make a note of the passages that stand out to you, those that challenge you, and those that encourage you. Share those passages with your group and why you made note of them and/or what you experienced while reading them.

Re-read Romans 8:1-4

How do we live by the Spirit and not by the flesh? What is the role of faith as we love “by the Spirit”? When Paul says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”, how do those words impact you? Do you live without condemnation in your life? Do you live without condemnation for others? What might change in our world if we could be free from condemnation and receive the grace Jesus generously offers us?  

Read Romans 6:17-22

What does it mean to be slaves to sin? Paul says that when we come to Christ our allegiance is shifted from sin to righteousness. Have you experienced this shift? What does it mean to be a slave to righteousness? What differentiates the life as a slave to sin vs the life as a slave to God?

In Romans 7:4-6, Paul uses the metaphor of marriage to describe our new life in Christ. How is our life with Christ, free from both sin and legalism, like a new marriage? On Sunday, Pastor Bo pointed out that a healthy marriage is similar to a healthy spiritual life… It’s all about who you trust. Share with your group ways you have grown to trust God with your life. Also, share those places or circumstances that have been hard to trust God. In the end, God delights in our faith to trust Him. Pray for each other in any areas you need that faith present in your life.

Thank you so for helping making Art Camp 2021 a great success! We had so much fun exploring creativity and art with kids from Grades 1 – 12. We had some wonderful local artists give of their time and talent, sharing their love of creating with students. The middle and high school kids learned painting techniques from local artist, Zach Filkins. Grade school kids had fun sculpting with Lexie Miller, a local author and illustrator. Grade school kids also got to create a mixed media canvas with local artist, Melissa Blackett.

We had an amazing group of volunteers who helped to create an amazing art experience for the students. We’re thankful for the great feedback we’ve received from kids and parents alike. One 7 year old said, “This has opened up a whole new world for me!”

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It’s our desire to make sure kids know that they were created by the Creator, to create! We look forward to hosting art events in the future to keep students and families inspired to create and make throughout their whole lives.

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With new Community Groups launching in September, we are inviting you to step into a role that will help make them come to life. ⁠ 

Four Monday evenings in July/August, we are hosting Community Group leader training. This training will develop who you are as a leader, create a structure for community group experiences, and give you all the tools to facilitate a conversation around Scripture and faith. ⁠

Watch and listen to Pastor Dave talk about Community Group Leadership Training. 

If you are interested in potentially leading a Community Group or if you are currently leading any of our small-group ministries, this training is for you!  Please register to attend this special training. 

Dinner will be provided as well as childcare. 

Read this beautiful thank you note from the Case Manager at Cascade Youth & Family:

These last six months, you have helped two individuals with the opportunity to take private drive lessons through High Desert Drivers Ed. I am happy to say that after their lessons, both these individuals felt confident enough to pass the driving test and get their license (a goal that seemed insurmountable to them before taking lessons). Now both individuals have been able to get better paying jobs they enjoy because they can travel further for their work. Not to mention they are both more stable in their housing due to their better paying jobs.

Thank you so much for Westside’s help!

Shelley Aube, Independent Living Program

It’s time for our annual summer Neighborhood BBQs!  Sign up here to attend!

BBQ’s will be happening all around Central Oregon in the backyards of fellow Westsiders on:

• Sunday, July 18th 
• Wednesday, August 18th 

You can choose to attend one or both of these dates!

This is a great way to meet new people and make connections over good food and fun! You don’t want to ‑‑‑miss out – click here to choose your BBQ and then sign up to attend.

Still thinking about hosting?

If you would like to sign up to be a host, please complete the Host a BBQ form. Once the form is completed we will support you by providing a Host Packet and we will promote your BBQ on the Summer BBQ sign up page — this is where people will go to sign up to attend your BBQ.

Homelessness is a huge challenge in Central Oregon right now. Both the Veterans Village and the Bend Warming Shelter have asked for our help:

Hi Westside Church! Earlier this month we sent out an i heart text asking for your help. A soon to be mom had just left an abusive situation and had nothing for baby boys arrival in June. She had secured housing, but needed a small crib, baby blankets, baby boy clothes, diapers, wipes, infant car seat, diaper bag, and baby swing.

Thank You SO much for helping us provide this brave new mom with everything she needed! Thank you for being a part of this i heart text ministry. We appreciate you! 

I HEART 365

I Heart 365 is our Outreach texting system! Short explanation? We send out needs via text, and you, upon receiving the text, have the ability to respond to those needs that resonate with you or that match a resource that you already have. (bicycles, extra coats, baby supplies, ect.) 

OK! So how does it work exactly? 
1. Trusted agencies, or one of our own Community Group leaders, calls Westside Church and asks if we can help with a specific need for a family or an individual.  
2. We send out a brief text describing the situation and the items needed. 3. Those who would like to respond bring their donations to the Westside Church office. 
4. Westside facilitates delivery of all of the donated items to the family or individual in need.

It’s that simple! And because I Heart 365 is a group of more than 800 people who want to help those struggling in our community,  there is never any obligation to respond to a texted need unless you feel inspired to.  Also, we intentionally only send out two I HEART 365 text needs a month, in order to choose prayerfully and facilitate well. 

To sign up for our I HEART 365 texting line, and start hearing about specific needs and opportunities to help, text ih365 to 313131. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this month’s Foster Family Appreciation Project! There are more than 260 foster families in Central Oregon, and every single one of them received a “Family Fun Box” through our partners at Every Child. We were able to bless thirty of these families with these resources because of your generosity. Here’s a note from our partners at Every Child Central Oregon (ECCO):

Dear Westside Church,

Thank you so much for continuing to show up and give to our local foster families. It was so amazing that you assembled and delivered to 30 families in Bend. These families were so appreciative and blessed by your generosity. Again, thank you for partnering with us and giving your hearts to children and families in our foster system.

Sincerely,

your ECCO team

Thank you for donating the items, counting and sorting the items, shopping for the items still needed, assembling the bags, and delivering them.  This project had 22 volunteers with a total of 50 hours serving.

With this event, we were able to communicate to these families that they are seen and loved and appreciated for the hard work they are doing by taking care of our city’s “orphans”. 

So, job well done, Team!  

This week marks the completion of For The City, a 2-year giving and serving campaign. When we launched this campaign in the spring of 2019, we didn’t realize how God would use this campaign to strategically position our church to support and encourage families in our community throughout the unexpected challenges of the past 14 months. Today, we still desire to embody the way of Jesus: to love God and love people. As we intentionally engage in proximity to our city, we will see the life and love of Jesus bring transformation to everyone, everywhere across Central Oregon and beyond.

The Campaign is complete, but the initiatives will continue. To give to the For the City initiatives moving forward, select “Ministry Fund” on our Giving Page.

Westside Advance is a monthly collaborative gathering inviting core people of Westside Church to connect with one another and the pastoral staff, discuss the vision, direction, and strategy of the church, as well as provide a communication channel for pastors to hear from you.  Come be a part of this valuable time together!

To attend next month’s Westside Advance gathering on Wednesday, July 28^th click the link.

We’re excited to be involved in supporting Foster Families and Foster Kids here at Westside. There are multiple ways to get involved as a family. Foster Family Appreciation and The Birthday Club, as well as attending information meetings about supporting foster kids or exploring fostering as a family. Your family can help create great birthday memories through The Birthday Club or offer much-needed support and encouragement through Foster Family Appreciation.

Let’s help every child experience family by expanding our own hearts to include children in the foster care system.

You can find information about all these opportunities HERE.

Last year, 11,238 children spent time in foster care throughout the State of Oregon.

66.1% spent time in more than one foster home. Many were split from their siblings. And right now, there are 8 children over 10 right here in Central Oregon awaiting homes. 

We envision a world where family is restored to every child. We see the family being redefined, beyond blood or relation, as people who take care of each other because they see the face of the Creator in the faces of each other. 

Let’s partner together to see and surround children and families, and to support and encourage the city agencies who are courageously advocating for the safety and well-being of children. Let’s bring the Hope of Jesus to our city.

Two Opportunities to Get Involved:

Two Live Zoom Events to Learn More:

All men are invited to join Men’s Bible Study.

Monday, 7:00 am in the chapel
Thursday, 6:30 am in the lower Atrium

Connect in community as you grow deeper in your relationship to Jesus. No sign up Is required – just join when you are able.

Contact Us for more information.

In partnership with Neighbor Impact, we will be hosting our monthly Free Food Market on Monday, April 26th, 1:30-3:00pm. We will be distributing food to individuals and families who need them. If you are in need of some supplementary groceries, or would like to pick up groceries for a neighbor in need, please come to our drive-through food ministry at the Westside Church parking lot. All are welcome! If you would like to serve on the Free Food Market team, please fill out our volunteer link.

What: Free Food Market

When: Monday, April 26th | 1:30 – 3:00pm

Where: Westside Church Parking Lot | 2051 NW Shevlin Park Rd

Who: ALL ARE WELCOME!