News

We are so excited that Westside Church has a Bilingual Ministry that includes a weekly live and online Bilingual service! Launched in April of 2020, we saw the current needs of our city as a reason to launch without delay! Our Bilingual Ministry is an opportunity for increased unity and understanding and shared mission. We feel that being a diverse people reflects the love and heart of Jesus towards our world.

We have immediate opportunities for involvement in our bilingual service worship ministries. All languages and instruments are welcome and we would love you to join in on this beautiful adventure! Volunteer Today

For thousands of years, the people of Israel oriented their lives around the way of Yaweh, called the Torah. When Moses comes down from Mount Sinai he carries with him 10 laws (or commandments) that will help shape the newly freed slaves of Egypt into a nation God intends to be a blessing to all nations. Over time, those 10 laws become 613 as the Jewish people commit themselves to living a clean and holy life as Yahweh commanded. 

This is the context in which Jesus enters the picture. In the first teaching of the first gospel (Matthew), Jesus goes up to a mountain side with a handful of his disciples and introduces a teaching that has been talked about for thousands of years since, the Sermon on the Mount. 

When Jesus gathers his disciples together, he begins to teach what they had been taught for a lifetime in a completely new way. Jesus was moving the focus from doing to being. Laws are great for a good number of reasons. They help keep us organized as a community and create boundaries for behavior. But laws are disconnected from the heart and Jesus was going to re-oriented that way of legalized living toward heart connection with God and others. 

Jesus begins this revolutionary teaching with the Beatitudes (Mark 5: 3-12). A beatitude is a blessing, but also more than that. When the bible was being translated in the early church from Greek to Latin, St. Jerome chose the word “beati” which more accurately means “happy” or even “rich”. So, when Jesus says to his disciples, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” we can translate that to “You are rich when you’re at the end of your rope.” This is of course counterintuitive. Nobody feels rich when they’re down. But such is the way of Jesus. 

For the next six weeks we will be walking through this incredible piece of scripture together on Sundays and in community groups. If we do this right together, this teaching of Jesus should challenge the way we see God, ourselves, and the world around us. Like the people of Israel we might be confused or even disoriented by Jesus words, but Jesus doesn’t leave us in the dark. His life is a living example of the sermon he gave on the mountain side. We only need to show up with an open heart, a curious mind, and a surrendered spirit to allow God to begin the renovation inside of us from doing things for God to being the people of God.   

To sign up for our separate High School and Middle School nights head over to Register for our gatherings and events. 

This Wednesday, January 27th, we have our first gathering of the year. Come decked out in your school gear. The winner with the best all-out gear will win a gift card. 

Doors open at 6:30pm and we can’t wait to see you there! Registration is still open. Head over to the link below to grab a spot.

*Due to the continued COVID-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing is required.⁠

YTH MS and HS Gathering

In our final week of prayer and fasting as a church and community, you’re invited to join us for a time of meditative worship with Westside’s worship leaders. *Turn on captions for lyrics

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. 

March Update on our most recent ih365 requests:

In March, we sent out two I Heart requests- and as always, the Westside community responded with empathy and generosity.

Thank You to those who brought sleeping bags, gloves, coats, hand warmers, toiletries and gift cards in support of the Bend and Redmond Warming Shelters.

Our second March I heart request was in aid of a Family of 6 who were in need of household items for a housing transition. Thanks for being extended family to this family in need!

We are happy to be serving as the host site for the Summit High School Blood Drive. Friday, February 12th, 12:30-5:30pm. This event will be located in the Westside Church Atrium, 2051 NW Shevlin Park Rd., Bend

If you are able to support our community in this unique and needed way, please book your appointment today!

In partnership with Neighbor Impact, we will be hosting our monthly Free Food Market this coming Monday, March 22nd, 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, 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, March 22nd | 1:30 – 3:00pm

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

Who: ALL ARE WELCOME!

Are you interested in learning more about foster care and ways you could get involved? Join Westside Family Pastor Josh Cordell tonight as he and a panel share information and answer questions about fostering in this virtual discussion. https://fb.me/e/6pO5YoGJq

In this moment, we need contemplative leaders, not combative leaders. It is from a place of rest and connection with Christ that we move into a world that desperately needs Jesus with His life and love.

Westside YTH! On January 27th, we’ll be having a combined Middle and High School Youth Gathering. Join us for a night of community, worship, and encouragement. Limited space available, and registration is required.

Westside Worship Center
January 27th
7:00 – 8:30 pm ⁠

*Due to the continued COVID-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing is required.⁠

Parents of Middle and High Schoolers: Join us on Sunday, January 24th, in the Chapel at Westside or Online to hear from our YTH team about our vision for this coming year. ⁠If you plan on joining us via Zoom, please register, as well. We’ll email you a private zoom link the day of the meeting.
⁠
YTH Parent Meeting⁠
January 24th⁠
6:00 – 7:00 pm⁠

Experiencing loss and walking the challenging path of grief can be one of the most isolating and painful places to walk. Our hearts are committed to coming alongside those facing grief with meaningful support, resources, and hope. Our Grief Support Classes and support groups are led by compassionate people who really do understand. This 12-week class can be joined at any time in the cycle. Our gatherings will provide healing and tools to help you find steady ground in uncertain times.

• Childcare is not provided
• We provide socially distanced seating and everyone is required to wear a mask
• Winter/Spring 2021 session will run from February 21 – May 9 on Sunday afternoons in the Westside Church Chapel

Registration Links