Welcome

In God's church we find rest, safety and strength.  Whether we have been here minutes or decades, we are safe to be ourselves across every spectrum imaginable—sexuality and age and race and gender and culture and stage of our faith journey—knowing we are loved, embraced and held up as precious.  This is the place of rest and safety and source of strength we seek to create in all we do at Westwood.

 

As God reaches out and gives unconditional welcome to all people, we follow God's lead in doing the same.  All are equally welcome—and included—in God's space, and Westwood is a richer community when our congregation reflects our world.  Naturally, this welcome includes people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and relationship statuses.

 

We strive to live this welcome statement to the fullest, and will continue to pursue learning, correction and growth in extending this welcome.  As we are limited by language, we will continually return to this statement to ensure that all are welcome to this sanctuary without exception.

 

Join us in being a part of this amazing welcome that comes from God.

What We Believe

We ask hard

QUESTIONS

We believe there aren't usually easy answers to difficult questions, but we live in the messiness of the questions we have about life and spend time in study and conversation around those important issues of our lives and world.

We know God

loves EVERYONE

One of our core values is that “All Are Welcome,” because the Bible shows us that THAT was one of Jesus’ core values! Because our world is divided in so many ways, we seek to be a place and people who celebrate the diversity of gender, race, sexuality, economic status, and ability - and see them as things that UNITE us rather than separate us.  We are each different and each created in God’s image, and therefore are part of God’s beloved community.

We know God loves

the WHOLE WORLD

It all matters. 

Plants, animals, rivers and lakes, soil and air.  We seek to be good stewards of ALL the gifts God has given us.  That also includes our time, our skills and our money, which we try to share, save and spend in ways that honor God and serve our neighbors.

COME JOIN US

&

FIND OUT MORE!

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We believe it is critical at this confusing and chaotic time that people can know each other, belong to each other, and take strength in each other. Therefore:

Our Vision is to Create New Connections

  • Fostering relationships with people throughout our church and neighborhood.

  • Linking with partners who share our work in the world.

  • Building bridges within and across the ways our community is divided, whether by age, money, race, sexuality, religion or other boundaries.

We have the potential — in our talents, in our facilities, in our passion — to touch even more lives, meeting people at every point on their faith journey. Therefore:

Our Vision is to Empower Discipleship & Mission

  • Growing in faith, as we study and seek to discern God's will, and apply it in our lives.

  • Increasing the number of people we touch with our ministry.

  • Multiplying those who participate as partners and leaders in our work.

We are called to be a vital and necessary part of our world.

Our Vision is to be

an Advocate for a Healthy Community

  • Meeting basic needs and actively seeking ways to end poverty.

  • Strengthening all forms of families.

  • Working and advocating for justice, striving to eliminate inequalities that remain in our society.

© 2021 by Westwood Lutheran Church