Real Good Courage - The Westwood Podcast

A creed is a formal statement of core beliefs or guiding principles. Often a creed is composed of ‘I Believe’ statements and these statements could and should lead to actions informed by the creed. Living out the actions resulting from the creed tells outside observers who we are. The Apostles’ Creed is neither written in the bible, nor was it written by Apostles. However, it is an encapsulation o...

Guests are a blessing. Jesus told the Disciples to go out and share the good news, and that they would be showered with hospitality. Hospitality is the process of a stanger taken under protection of the host for a given time during the period of hospitality. The disciples needed hospitality because of the dangers of the world and their vulnerability. Sometimes the roles of those who need welcome a...

The Gospel of John tells us that we are freed by faith alone, and crucified in Christ. However, our culture is trying to remove our remembrances of the sacrifices and the contributions of our non-white brothers and sisters with the intent that we forget. Westwood stands diametrically opposed to this attempt to rewrite history.  Today's message comes from Pastor Jason. Our Gospel comes from John  C...

The church exists for all of the people of the world. It doesn't exist to keep us comfortable and cloistered behind our walls. When we live the mission and the Holy Spirit gets unleashed, the endings are unimaginable. Each of us has the good news of God's gift to be shared anywhere and everywhere. Today's message comes from Pastor Sarah. Our scripture lesson comes from Psalm 100, and our Gospel co...

The Gospel of Matthew shares that a value for Christian discipleship is both creating a welcoming space for children and pursuing their well-being in our communities.  This values isn’t just something decided on, but comes from being swept up into God’s story of grace and calling in Jesus. Today's message comes from Pastor Jason. Our bible reading is Psalm 127, and our Gospel comes from Matthew Ch...

When the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples on that first Pentecost, the results were immediate, obvious and startling. Normally, we don't see the effects of the Holy Spirit that directly, but God is present in the world around us through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Today's message comes to us from Pastor Sarah. She interviews Olivia Tolzin and Zach Prowell, who are both educators. The three...

Luke writes the story of the ascension twice. The main elements of the two match up, but differ in some of the details., but why? We explore the stories and how the perspective may change depending upon the audience. This message is brought to us by Pastor Jason. The Gosple comes from Luke, Chapter 24, versess 44 - 53, and is compared to the story of ascension from Acts Chapter 1 Verses 6 -11.

Have you ever been recruited for a job, a team, a role that you didn't really know was coming your way? Those disciples on the road to Emmaus were. They didn't know it at the time, but Jesus appeared to them and recruited them into his grand design. They invited him into their home for the evening, offered him food and drink. It was only after he took charge and blessed the meal that they realized...

As the disciples walked away from Jerusalem after the crucifixtion, their internal story of the event was limiting their ability to see a future for Christ and Christianity. As Jesus walked with them, he helped explain how their story was an incomplete telling of the events of the past days. We too can allow our stories to be limiting vs. enlivening.  We need to remember that a Savior is with us a...

The Road to Leadership. In a story often called “The Road to Emmaus,” followers of Jesus express the disappointment and heartbreak of Jesus' crucifixion. When we experience disappointment on life's road, it can lead to cynicism, lost hope, and dead ends. This road is hard and the journey is difficult, but it can also be revealing. The road of disappointment can show us our passions and deepest des...

When we create a legacy, it is the small things that build the story. One way to think about this is you are leaving footprints, whether you are intentional about them or not.  Our legacy, our story or footprint is created every day by our choices, our priorities, our commitments on how we spend our time and money.  This legacy looks different for each of us, but we can also create a ‘shared footp...

The scars that Jesus showed to his disciples behind those locked doors were the most visible, but not the only scars in the room. The disciples were dealing with their own scars, both named and unnamed. We have the choice to allow our scars to define us, or to get beyond them, and God celebrates our choices.  Today's message comes from Pastor Jason. The Gospel is from John Chapter 20, verses 24 to...

Culture is made up of things seen and unseen. It is what is obvious, but also that which isn't as obvious, and is sometimes invisible. Culture is made up of both the external markers as well as that which is at the core. While hardship, fear and shame can infuse and inform our culture in negative situations, we can actively build a culture around hope, love and inclusion. Today's message is brough...

Today we hear the resurrection story from Matthew, which is the only Gospel to describe an earthquake when the two Marys went to the tomb. In the recent past, we've experienced our own earthquakes. From school shootings and  killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, to the most recent wars and partisan divides, it can feel like we are under assault.  However the good news of the resurrection is that...

Kings are often greeted by pomp and circumstance. However Jesus did not enter jerusalem by the main gate, he came in via backroads sitting on a donkey rather than a war horse humbled, not triumphant. The celebration of kingship is often evinced by an annointing. Messiah translates into Christ in English and contain the idea of being anointed. Even though Jesus anointing , crowning and assuming his...

Each instance of forgiveness is different and the difficulty of providing forgiveness varies. Many representations in popular culture make this difficult process too simple, forgiveness is asked, accepted and the relationship restored. Unfortunately, in many cases the process can be overwhelming and isn't easy to bring to conclusion. But it doesn't need to work like these simple examples. Relation...

When we hear about others who provide forgiveness, it is natural to wonder whether we would be able to grant forgiveness in the same situation. Forgiveness  is a complex and ever changing thing, and can be challenging to define. In this message we hear others definitions for forgiveness that can help us inform how we internalize and think about forgiveness.  Our message today comes from Pastor Jas...

Is is possible to go through life without being hurt? Of course not. We can deny the hurt exists, and push it down deep inside. Naming that hurt is essential to healing and forgiveness. When we hurt, it can feel as thos something is wrong with the world, and also with us. We have the power to name and release the hurt as part of the forgiveness process.  Our message today comes from Pastor Sarah....

Telling the story is a part of the process of forgiveness, whether that story is of how we were hurt, or how we hurt others. And yet, it may not be quick, as we need time to grieve, process, and recover. A question is who can help by holding our stories? Friends and family members, and even groups can help us heal. god tells us that he will be with us and join us in our story.  Our message today c...

Forgiveness is hard, but important. Jesus teaches that forgiveness is part of our shared humanity. We have the agency to forgive and can choose to be healed. Over the next weeks we will review Bishop Desmond Tutu's views on forgiveness in his book The Book of Forgiving: A Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World. This message is brought to us by Pastor Jason. Our Gospel comes from John 8,...

On the mount, Jesus said to all of us: "Get Up! Do not be afraid!" Transfiguration is change and we are called to change - there is work to be done. Where you are, there are you called; to step up and lead. This message is brought to us by Pastor Tania. Our gospel is from Matthew Chapter 17, verses 1-9. 

Jesus tells us to let our light shine so that others can see our good works. Yet how much light can a single candle put out? Quite a bit in the dark of night or the dark of circumstance. Each of us can have an unforeseeable impact when we allow our light to shine forth, and from those small rays of light, big things can result. This message comes from Pastor Jason. Our Gospel is from Matthew, Chap...

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is well known for the passage known as the Beatitudes. The danger of this message is the risk of further separation between those on the margins and others. Sometimes we can wonder who is blessed and who is cursed; which of these am I. Today's message is brought to us by Pastor Sarah. Our Old Testament lesson comes from Micah, Chapter 6, verses 6 - 8. The Gospel lesson i...

The pace of the world continues to accelerate. Unfortunately, often with that speed, discernment is lost. Speed mixed with fear can lead to violence. God's moving in the world is slow. When we move at the speed of God, leadership can be shaped by grace. When we are overwhelmed by fear, the appropriate response is to slow down.  Today's message is presented by Pastoral Intern Arron. Our scripture l...

Martin Luther King was a brilliant leader, but the civil rights movement was made of millions of people all doing what they could.    As part of the "power of paradox" series, this sermon explores the paradox "everyone is a leader."  Especially in these times, Jesus invites each of us to "come and see," and become part of the movement for justice and peace.    Todays message comes from Pastor Sara...