Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, the 40 days (not counting Sundays) that precede Easter.  Ash Wednesday is a day when we say to God, “Here I am! Mold me, make me, create a new heart in me.”  We come to the altar to make our confession, to receive God’s promise, to step out in faith that Christ walks with us, that the Spirit will guide us, and that God’s love for us can rise up from the dark and ashes of Wednesday to become the bright and glorious day of Easter and the burning fire of Pentecost. Plan to worship with us on Feb. 22, and start the journey.

Childcare provided for children ages 3 and under.

As we enter Lent, we are sharing a guide of family devotions created by author and poet Kimberlee Conway Ireton. As you share these devotions with your family, perhaps over family meals, it is our prayer that your family’s life in Christ will grow deeper and richer. The guides are available online in pdf format, or printed copies will be available at the welcome center beginning this Sunday morning.

At Sky VBS, children will discover that by trusting God, everything is possible!!!  Plan to join in the fun and faith transformation at Westview Church Sun., June 10 through Thurs., June 14, from 6-8:30 p.m.!!!  VBS is open to children ages 3 through 5^th grade.  Registration will begin in April.  The sky is the limit this summer, so don’t miss it!!!

Vacation Bible School Volunteers

Many volunteers are needed to make VBS a sky high success!!!!  Crew leaders who travel around to the stations with small groups of children are greatly needed.  This role requires no preparation and is a blast creating relationships with children each evening and showing them that everything is possible with God!  If you are interested or have questions, please contact Tyra at Tyra(at) westview(dot)org.

The Westview Great Annual Tasty Chili Cook-off was a huge success!  We had 20 chilies entered and tons of other fabulous food!  First place chili was prepared by Tina Brown!  Second place was Jodi Rhone, and third went to Travis Johnson.  Honorable mention went to Rick Stimple and Ken & Norma Clegg for 4th and 5th places.  Thank you to all who participated as contestants, judges, set up & tear down crews, and tasty chili eaters.

In a few weeks we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday. To some the whole idea of Ash Wednesday and, for that matter, the whole idea and season of Lent appears to be morbid. Confronting our mortality, looking hard and long at sin and the yearning for forgiveness seems like a sure fire way to depress people.

Christians commemorate the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The purpose of Ash Wednesday is to reflect upon our frailty, our desperate need for forgiveness, and centrality to Jesus Christ’s last days. These themes are symbolized by the imposition of ashes. Ashes. Dark black ashes. Black ashes placed on our foreheads, with the words, “You are dust and to dust you shall return….” Be sure to attend our Ash Wednesday Service at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 22.

Many give up something for Lent to remind ourselves of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. But, what if, instead, we added something in Lent? Adding service to the food pantry, daily prayer, reading of scripture or giving one random acted of kindness to someone. By adding something to our life during Lent, we free ourselves from prohibition and engage instead in focusing on others rather than ourselves.

For those who do not follow Lent or some Christians who do not participate in Lent, they often ask what is the deal with marking these “special” days? Michael Horton, in his book The Gospel-Driven Life, suggested why Christians should care about Lent:

“…these special days are valuable chiefly as a teaching opportunity. To be sure, every Lord’s Day is a celebration of Christ’s saving work. Paul seems to have allowed freedom to celebrate old covenant feasts, but upbraided those who bound Christian consciences on the matter, especially with fasts and abstinence. I believe an evangelical celebration of Lent affords an opportunity to reinforce rather than undermine the significance of Christ’s person and work.”

Celebrating Ash Wednesday and Lent can be a meaningful way to encounter God’s love, grace, and mercy in our lives. Ash Wednesday is a day in which we examine ourselves, understand our morality, reflect on God reaching into our world in the person of Jesus and experience our need live out His forgiveness.

What are you adding for Lent?

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

Westview Church has a staff opening for a Ministry Assistant. Angie Schmitt will be stepping down from this role in the next month. Please see the posted position description for details of the position.

Westview is also seeking a part-time Youth Director to oversee our Junior and Senior High Ministries.  The position description is here.

If you are interested in either of these positions, or would like more information, please contact Susan Watson at susan(at)westview(dot)org or 987-3220.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, we celebrated our annual Partnership Sunday. Here at Westview we refer to our members as Partners in the Gospel, and we renew our partnership each year. You can find our partnership covenant form and 2012 estimate of giving card on our website or at the Welcome Center. These may still be turned in to the church office if you weren’t here last Sunday

If you have not previously joined as a partner and are interested in doing so, please contact the church office at 987-3220 or Pastor Susan at susan(at)westview(dot)org.

The youth group will be participating in Hope Ministries Service and Mission Program April 7th. This will give our youth the opportunity to eat with the homeless, meet in the Bethel chapel for a time of reflection, prayer and presentation on homelessness from a recovery graduate, tour Bethel Mission and deliver food and supplies to homeless tent camps. We are asking you to be a part of this opportunity by helping with donations to serve the homeless.  We need to collect items such as toilet paper, socks, shirts, etc.  We have created pull tags with items that need to be purchased and we are asking you to take some from the bulletin board in the hallway outside of rooms 109-111, purchase the items and drop your items in the drop box next to the Welcome Center. For questions, contact Ashley Wirtjes at 515.460.7679.

Preschool Fall Enrollment begins Feb. 1 at 9:00 a.m. call Christy at 987-9954 or email christy(at)westview(dot)org for enrollment information

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

The Westview Church Preschool Board is looking for volunteers to serve on the Preschool Board.  Our preschool impacts local children by preparing them for Elementary School in a safe Christian learning environment. Westview Church preschool was one of the first preschool’s in Dallas county to achieve a 3 star QRS rating from the state of Iowa in 2009. We have a great staff and Christy does a wonderful job leading our team of super star teachers! Preschool Board meets 4-5 times a year to work with budget, staffing, and overall preschool management. Please contact Preschool Board President Tim Smith or Deanne Sandbulte,  click here to email the church.

Westview Church Preschool mission is to provide a safe place for preschool age children to receive a loving, affirming, Christ-centered learning experience.

Westview Church Preschool Core Values:

* Exemplify Christian values and Biblical principles

*Conduct all preschool activities with honesty, integrity and confidentiality.

*Choose curriculum that encourages the spiritual, physical, social, emotional and

intellectual development of each individual child.

*Provide excellence in staff, curriculum and environment

*Value two-way communication between parents/caregivers and preschool staff.

Dinner for 8 – New groups are forming for February.  Sign up today! Make new friendships at Westview!  If you have  questions, call Tina Brown 987-4144.

These groups of 8 will meet monthly for dinner, for four months. It’s a fun and easy way to get to know others from Westview! Sign up at the Welcome Center or via the website.  After groups are assigned, the host couple/individual will contact those in their group to schedule the first dinner, and then each group will set its own course for the next three dinners.