Update December 2014

Pastoral & O

ffice Staff

William Coop, Senior Pastor 635-2653 - willie@westwaychurch.com

Marshall Smith, Associate Pastor 436-1926 - marshall@westwaychurch.com

Mike Andrews, Student Ministries 672-5886 - mike@westwaychurch.com

Joe Petersen, Children’s Ministries 632-2386 - joe@westwaychurch.com

Shane Coop, Creative Arts Ministries 631-6004 - shane@westwaychurch.com

Scott Nikont, Office Manager Jean Blackburn, Secretary

Jim Miller, Facility Manager Office Hours: Mon-Thur, 9am-4pm / Fri 9am-Noon

Church Office: (308) 635-2654

NON-Profit Org.

Scottsbluff, NE 69361

US Postage Paid Permit No. 76

Return Service Requested

Please pray for our Missionaries:

• Dale & Huey Mason

• Summit Christian College

• Northwest Haiti Christian Mission

• Revive Christian Church

• Marilyn Cook / Mission to South Africa / Grace Place

• Myanmar Christian Mission You may activate the prayer chain by calling the church office at 635-2654.

[ ] WWCC Connecting People to Jesus

WestWay Christian Church

1701 W 27th

Scottsbluff, NE 69361

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Wednesday, December 24th / 6pm Invite your Friends and Family

Valley Women’s Fellowship will be Tuesday, December 2nd, 6:30pm Supper at Bayard Church of Christ. Ellen Ritchey will be speaking about the Mission to Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. Van will leave here at 5:45pm.

Coop's Scoop December is upon us. It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's the time we get to celebrate Emmanuel, God with us! I want to encourage you to continue to put on Christ. Wear his ways and attributes like a garment on your life. Be light and show "God with us" as you have opportunity this Christmas season. I want to take a moment for some thanksgiving here as well. Thank you, Body at WestWay, for the love and support you show my family and I. Thanks for letting us serve you. Let us continue to stand firm in Christ and move forward with His love. Even more thanksgiving. Thank you to all who participated in packing a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. Continue to pray for that ministry. Pray for the children that will receive those shoeboxes, that the redeeming love and hope of Jesus will change their lives forever. Merry Christmas, Shane The next Men’s Breakfast will be Saturday, December 20th, 7am in the Family Life Center. Men wishing to attend please signup in the foyer, or call the church office.

Important 2014 Giving & Statement Information

We want to remind you that to claim your giving to the church on your tax statement, you need to have on file a Giving Statement issued by the church. Your cancelled checks or online receipts are not proof that you gave money and are not accepted by the IRS. If you get audited and claim giving without a statement from the church your contribution will be denied. If you received a Giving Statement last year, you should receive another this year automatically. If you do not receive a statement by February 1st, please contact Scott in the Church Office at 635-2654. If you are interested in attending Winter White Wash

see Mike for registration forms and info!

The Body of WestWay is invited to share in the joy of the marriage uniting Courtney Renee Farrington

and Kyle Gene Meininger This celebration of love will be on Saturday,

the thirteenth of December Two thousand and fourteen at two o’clock in the afternoon WestWay Christian Church

You are invited to continue the celebration afterwards Dinner and Dancing Hampton Inn, 301 West Highway 26

Please RSVP to 632-7247

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb 4:14-16 NIV). This month we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Most of the time Jesus is depicted as a baby laying in the manger, not the high priest that sits at the right hand of God who is mediating on our behalf before God. Jesus offered his own perfect life as a sacrifice for my sins so that I can approach the throne of God

confidently, knowing I will find mercy and grace to help me in any need. I celebrate the life of JESUS CHRIST, my high priest who represents me in matters related to God. I’m grateful for the gift of eternal life that I have received, “00and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb 5:9 NIV). My desire today and every day is to offer Him my life as a daily living sacrifice, not conformed to the thinking of this world, but being obedient to the one who loves me. JOY TO THE WORLD! Praising Him, Jesus Christ, Willie

WORDS FROM WILLIE

Dear Family,

The following is an article that was brought to me this week with the suggestion that it might be helpful in encouraging people to get more involved in Sunday School and Small groups. I agree whole heartedly, so here it is. It was written by Shelly Harvey and I have been given her permission to share it with you. I would add that in the parts of the article where she speaks of small groups I would include Sunday School classes also. Please give this your prayerful consideration. My dad was a Marine in W.W.II. Many years passed before he could talk about all that happened to him there. We did, thankfully, get it all on paper, when 50 years later, he did finally find the courage to tell about (and probably relive much) of it. One of the things that sticks in my mind is the instructions they were given when their ships landed on the shores of Iwo Jima and they had to get off and go to the land. They were told to NOT stay next to each other. If they were all grouped up, they were easy targets for the Japanese to shoot from high up in the mountains. He said it was the hardest thing – to leave the comfort and security of the other men, and go off by himself in another direction. He did go off on his own though, and that probably saved his life, for what the commanding officers had warned them of, did happen.

In many circumstances, it is hard to leave your comfort zone. It is very difficult to step out in faith, often times by yourself, follow the instructions of your “commander”, and “just do it!”

My dad also told us that the night before landing they were fed very well – not knowing when they would get to eat again. In the case of Christianity, and the edifying of the Church, it is very important to have a good foundation to go out into the world from. Small groups can help provide this, as well as good, hearty, spiritual food. The men in my dad’s platoon were well briefed and instructed, before they landed. Those who followed the instructions probably at least made it to shore. We, too, are at war everyday – against Satan. We need to come together in our small groups to get our “briefing”, before we go out into this uncertain world, on our own. We need to learn and know the instructions Christ has given us, and one good way to do this is in small groups. What better time to step out of your comfort zone of only going to church on Sunday morning, and try out one of the many close, small groups we have. In His Service, Joe

Children’s Ministries - Joe Petersen

From time to time, I’ll survey the students to see what they’d like to learn about, and Revelation is always on the list. So, this year, as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s arrival in Bethlehem, we’re going to spend a few weeks looking into what pastor John had to say to his flock in the first century after Jesus’ birth! This may seem like an odd choice. What does Christmas have to do with the last book of the Bible? Isn’t the famous Christmas story in Luke? What am I doing mixing Christmas and Revelation? Well... let’s just say this is not a Charlie Brown Christmas! Check out chapter 12, then go add a dragon to your nativity set... I’m really excited to jump into the book of Revelation for our Christmas series this year on Wed. nights. We’re going to fly through the book in 3 weeks, then take a few weeks to begin 2015 looking more deeply at the 7 letters near the beginning of the book.

I hope you’ll encourage your middle school and high school students to be here each week as we try to clear up a few things about the book. I’ll be challenging some of their assumptions about the book as I don’t believe Revelation should scare us. I know with certainty that wasn’t John’s intent as he shared graphic depictions of the strange and awe inducing things he was shown. John wanted to give his flock hope through the words that he wrote. Through the visions He showed John, Jesus was offering comfort and encouragement in the midst of terrible affliction. As a book full of hope, Revelation shouldn’t scare us. It should motivate us to worship an incomparable King, to live as emissaries of that King, and to love all as ambassadors of His Kingdom.

Student Ministries—Mike Andrews

The historic record of the birth of Christ can be found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20 Unlike any other baby, the one born that night in Bethlehem was unique in all of history. He was not created by a human father and mother. He had a heavenly pre-existence (John 1:1-3, 14). He is God, the Son—Creator of the universe (Philippians 2:5-11). This is why Christmas is called the incarnation, a word which means “in the flesh.” In the birth of Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful and all-knowing Creator came to earth in the flesh. Why would God do such a thing? Why would he come as a baby, instead of appearing in power and

majesty? Why make himself a true man and live among us, when he knew full well how terribly he would be treated? It was LOVE! It was necessary, if we are to have heaven! Take some time this busy season and ponder these scriptures. Take some time this season and ponder the power of God. Look for the real meaning of Christmas. I would also ask that you pray for and remember our missionaries around the world. When Cindy and I lived in Russia, Christmas was a very lonely time. I hope all of you have a great Christmas.

Marshall’s Moments

S U N M O N T U E W E D T H U F R I S A T

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Valley Women’s Fellowship

(See Update for Details)

3

Wednesday Night Activities

Nursery - Sr. High / 7:00pm

4

Praise Team “C” Practice at 5:30pm

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7

Sunday School / 9am Celebration / 10:15am Evening Service / 6pm

8 9 10

Wednesday Night Activities

Nursery - Sr. High / 7:00pm

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Praise Team “D” Practice at 5:30pm

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Men’s Breakfast 7am in FLC

Signup in Foyer

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Sunday School / 9am Celebration / 10:15am Evening Service / 6pm

15 16 17

Wednesday Night Activities

Nursery - Sr. High / 7:00pm

18

Praise Team “A” Practice at 5:30pm

19 20

21

Sunday School / 9am Celebration / 10:15am Evening Service / 6pm

22 23 24

Christmas Eve Communion and Candlelight Service (See Update for Details)

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Sunday School / 9am Celebration / 10:15am Evening Service / 6pm

29 30 31

Stay informed of other events that may not make the calendar or the update

by checking the bulletin each week. Extra copies

can be found on the information wall in the

foyer, the church office or online at

www.westwaychurch.com

Birthdays, Anniversaries, and other announcements

are found on the back side of this calendar.

Make sure to flip it over and check it out!

Dec 1 1 Cor 9-11 Dec 2 1 Cor 12-14 Dec 3 1 Cor 15-16 Dec 4 2 Cor 1-4 Dec 5 2 Cor 5-9 Dec 6 2 Cor 10-13 Dec 7 Acts 20:1-3, Rom 1-3 Dec 8 Rom 4-7 Dec 9 Rom 8-10 Dec 10 Rom 11-13 Dec 11 Rom 14-16 Dec 12 Acts 20:4-23:35 Dec 13 Acts 24-26 Dec 14 Acts 27-28 Dec 15 Col 1-4, Phm 1

Dec 16 Eph 1-6 Dec 17 Phil 1-4 Dec 18 1 Tim 1-6 Dec 19 Titus 1-3 Dec 20 1 Pet 1-5 Dec 21 Heb 1-6 Dec 22 Heb 7-10 Dec 23 Heb 11-13 Dec 24 2 Tim 1-4 Dec 25 2 Pet 1-3, Jude 1 Dec 26 1 Jn 1-5 Dec 27 2 Jn 1, 3 Jn 1 Dec 28 Rev 1-5 Dec 29 Rev 6-11 Dec 30 Rev 12-18 Dec 31 Rev 19-22

Go Green and be a good steward of church resources. If you have email, you can receive the Update via email and help the church save postage and paper costs. To receive the Update via email, contact the church office by calling 635-2654 or email scott@westwaychurch.com and state; “I would like my update emailed!”

1. Lucille Lineback 3. David Griffiths; Hector Garza / 4. Rogan Ray (Megan Anderson) 6. Ramona Handley; Huey Mason (missionary); Elizabeth Andrews (Mike); Margie McDonald; Lauren Johnson (Nat) / 7. Devin Kling / 8. Maddison Hall 9. Connie Dike; Jerry Smith / 10. Jennifer Goodwin 11. Zane Davis; Joshua Scanlan; Krea Hannaford; Luke Jones / 12. Denise Prohs 13. Jesse Leathermon / 14. Ed Meininger; JT Jackson (Heather); Kim Fenning 15. Dianne Kreiling; Marie Wong (Wing/missionary); Vera Morgan 16. Abby Elliott; Braxton Sell (Josh) / 17. Jim Dietrich / 18. Heather Jackson; Larry Knaub 20. Drew Findley / 21. Dustin Jones; Joseph Barcus (Annette Gift) 23. Debbie Schwartzkopf; Alan Fenning 24. Tanya Hartshorn

25. Dion Campbell-Ojeda (Paul Ojeda) 28. Ellen Ritchey; Connie Hubbard; Jean Brown;

Cameron Powell (Nancy) 29. Susan Schoeneman; Joey Jolliffe (Rick) 31. Tyler McCarthy (Jolynn)

WestWay 2014 Bible Reading Plan for November

4. Jerry & Lori Smith 14. Tim & Kathy Johns 15. Ed & Kay Meininger; Dan & Callie Weinreis 18. Roger & Wanda Palmer 21. Dave & Chris Robinson; Nat & Gina Johnson 23. Brent & Nadine Wearne 28. Dwight & Jenni Barrett 30. Steve & Diana Haun 31. Manuel & Lisa Perez

Pastoring Elders

Chip Findley 436-4849 Jim Miller 436-8388 Milton Mott 632-8078 Scott Reisig 631-0956 Mark Scanlan 632-8853 John Thomas 623-2636

Baptized into our Lord and Savior Jesus on October 27th, 2014:

Myah Greenlee Andrew Adams

Katalia Adams Joined His church by Membership

on November 16th, 2014: MaKayla Kohler

Welcome to the Body of Christ