About Us Announcements
Help with Sanctuary Roof Project
April showers bring May leaks in the Sanctuary Roof!
The issue: The Council found out last week, after a few big tears in the roofing material on the Sanctuary, that a full repair is needed...now. Water was actually pouring into our beautifully renovated space early in Lent near the front, and now again in April up near the organ. The initial cost estimate to re-build the roof is $130,000 to $160,000.
Did we know about this issue when we were doing the renovation work? Several roof inspections were done on the entire building as part of the sanctuary renovation planning. The recommendations for order of roof replacement at that time were #1 SW Education Wing, #2 Good Shepherd Hall, and #3 the Sanctuary. The SW education wing and Good Shepherd Hall roof areas were included in the initial project list for the capital appeal. As work was finalized to match project cost dollars to committed pledges, the need for the re-roofing was revisited. An additional assessment with a professional roof consultant at that time was that work on these roof areas could be delayed a few more years; so the roofing projects were removed from the project listing. At that time the Properties Ministry Team did some curb repair with mesh and roofing tar to those roof areas to further assist in the extension of the time line for replacement.
What changed? The roof specialists say that the polystyrene layer has begun to fail on the sanctuary roof. This layer may have been weakened by the vibrations from the sanctuary construction work. This was not something that our experts could have predicted a couple years ago; and we remain confident that the right decision was made at that time with the information we all had.
So, what do we do? We cannot let our Sanctuary be compromised with this current roofing situation! The Financial Management Advisory Group discussed a variety of options for funding at their meeting last week. There are several ways to address it, but we all felt that the first thing to do was to come to you, make you aware of this development, and invite us all to step up and see how much funding we can simply raise. The Properties Ministry Team is ready to postpone other projects that were on the table, and the Finance Group is weighing other options to fund any gap remaining after contributions.
How can you help? This is a special request for project funding. It's just like having to figure this out with our own homes, when unexpected repairs are needed. Please prayerfully consider what you can do, and write a check (memo: "roof"), give with your credit card: Sanctuary Roof Project, or use the special giving envelopes in the Welcome Folders in the Sanctuary. If you have questions about your gift, please contact Janet Johnson or Cindy Folin in the church office.
Thank you for considering your part as we continue to make our facility a place of ministry and mission!
Pastor Tania and the Church Council
Your input is needed… to help shape the next chapter at Westwood!
Click here to take the Congregation Assessment Tool
You may start the survey and come back to it later, but meanwhile another member of your household could not get into the survey. We encourage each person in your household, High School and above, to complete their own survey.
Thank you!
The Council
Summer events for youth!
Bible Camp at Camp Wapogasset
We encourage you to send your children to Wapo in Amery, WI because it is a great place for young people to grow in their faith. The days are filled with music, prayer, Bible study, recreation, active learning, worship, water activities, etc. Fundraising pancake breakfasts are in the works to supplement costs and we have scholarship money available upon request.
June 15-17: SEEDS Camp – Grades 2-3 $140
June 17-22: Youth Camp – Grades 4-6 $390
June 17-22: Wapo/OX Camp – Grades 7-9 $385
June 17-22: TIM Team (Youth Leadership) Camp – 9-12th Grade $400
Register with Wapo form or at the church office.
Questions or concerns contact: Beth Wolslegel or 952-767-5572
Vacation Bible School – Daniel’s Courage in Captivity
Last year we tried a new curriculum for our VBS and it was a huge success! We will be doing a similar set up, but with a new story. VBS is a wonderful week to celebrate faith together as a community. We gather first around a meal, worship together, do small group discussions, interact in the marketplace, play games and hear from storytellers. Please join us for this wonderful week!
June 24-28: 5:30-8 PM (3yr-5th Grade) $25/$60 per family Dinner served at 5 PM.
Register online, scholarships available.
Volunteers are needed! If interested or for questions, please contact Cara Coen-Pesch or 952-767-5566
Summer MiniCamps
MiniCamps are week-long camps consisting of Bible stories, music, prayer, games and activities. Campers are expected to bring a lunch if they are staying for a full day camp.
Register online, scholarships available.
For questions or registration, please contact Beth Wolslegel or 952-767-5572
Full day: $70 (9 AM- 4 PM), 1/2 day: $35 (9 AM-12 PM or 1-4 PM)
Cheerleading, soccer, baseball, basketball options
Led by Wapo staff
Aug 20-24: MiniCamp – SPARK! Service/Learning Camp
K-6th Grade (9-4 PM) $70 @ SoC & Community
Wednesday July 11: 5-8 PM @ SLP Rec Center All Ages!
In this annual event. Westwood enjoys an evening of food, fun and activities at the Rec Center! Bring the whole family! It’s a great way to introduce your friends to Westwood too!
Senior High National Youth Gathering: New Orleans July 14-23
This summer 9th-12th graders and adult leaders will be attending the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans for a great week of service, fellowship and fun! The trip is currently full, but a waiting list is being created. If you are interested but not yet signed up, contact Dannica Montplaisir at or 952-767-5577.
Olan Mills online scheduling is no longer available. Please call 1-800-866-2263 Monday-Friday (9 AM-8 PM Central Time) to Schedule or Change an Appointment. You may refer to Westwood’s church office number (952-545-5623).
Sunday, May 20 at Westwood!
Welcome to Celebration Sunday, as we celebrate the completion of our 3-year Capital Campaign! Brunch is served 9:30 AM-Noon in Good Shepherd Hall. Stop by to enjoy French toast bake, ham, and fruit. Pack the Pews/Chancel for STEP Food Drive. Thank you to all who brought food items to support STEP. Please place your bags on the Chancel surrounding the Altar.
Today is the last day of Sunday School.
We look forward to see you back again in the fall!
Survey/20 minutes to help shape the future!
Your input is needed! The Council is gathering feedback on your satisfaction in a variety of areas, including specific information related to next year’s special appeal. Pick up a hard copy at the church office or stop by a table in the Commons on Sunday. Go to our webpage and click “take the survey!”
Young Adults Monthly Brunch
Stay connected and meet new people at a local restaurant. Young adults will meet at Burger Jones (3200 W Lake St) at noon today, May 20. Contact Kurt or Dawn Koubal, 612-817-7611 or dsvenkeson@gmail.com.
Worship on Wednesdays Begins May 30, 6:30 PM
This liturgical, casual and welcoming worship service will provide another great option for those who cannot worship on Sundays and others who may be searching for a faith community. Volunteers are needed… see sign up on back. Come eat at the Community Meal beforehand, 5-6:30 PM.
We Salute Our Military… Prayer and Honor
As a tribute, we would like to feature our military in the new directory. Please submit a photo (if possible), along with the soldier's name and branch of service by May 21! Photos of soldiers currently serving will also help in discerning those we lift in daily prayer. E-mail j.weaver@westwoodlutheran.org or drop off at the office, with a name and phone number.
Newborn Kits for Global Health Ministries
The goal of GHM is to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by enhancing the health care programs of Lutheran Churches in other countries. Grace Circle invites you to help make a difference in the lives of newborns. Specific needs for the GHM Newborn Kits and patterns for knit/crochet baby caps are available on Westwood’s website. Contact Mary Ann Cameron, bruce.cameron1@comcast.net or Diane Hoffstedt (763-544-3404).
Mural Designer Needed for Vacation Bible School!
We are creating a mural for our VBS backdrop and we need your talent! The theme is Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity. The vision is to have one or two lead artistic designers who create an outline that others can fill in; this can be a project that allows your design gifts to shine and that opens up the opportunity for others to participate, creating a communal work of art for all to enjoy! This will likely be mounted in Good Shepherd Hall and will provide inspiration for our VBS worship services. VBS is Sunday, June 24 through Thursday, June 28. If you are interested in this creative and communal form of art, please contact Cara Coen-Pesch at c.coen-pesch@westwoodlultheran.org or 952-767-5566.
Wapo Bible Camp Week in Amery, WI.
A great place for young people to grow in their faith! For days filled with music, prayer, Bible study, recreation, active learning and water activities, contact Beth Wolslegel b.wolslegel@westwoodlutheran.org.
Quilters Ministry!
We thank all who have donated fabric and gently used sheets; maybe you see something you donated or a quilt you helped assemble and tie. We still have a great supply to be assembled and welcome anyone who wants to join us for any amount of time you can spend with us. It is a great fellowship time as we continue this ministry. We will be meeting on Tuesday, May 22 from 9-3 and Wednesday, May 23 from 9-1 in the Lakeside Room to start our count for the new year.
Education Orientation
Wednesday, May 23, 6-7 PM. All families are invited to hear about next year’s ministries and milestones, and tour our spaces, This is especially helpful for families in transition, Kindergarten to First Grade and Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade.
Three Hours a Month! Video Outreach Ministry
There is a strong need for volunteers to keep Westwood’s outreach ministry going. This essential ministry records the weekly worship service for cable TV. Serve as a Video Mixer, Operator or Team Leader (Adult). Duties include: Set up and put away cameras and communication equipment on Sunday mornings, run the video mixer and direct camera operators to create a 4-camera video feed to the recording systems. Contact Dennis Skellenger, djskellenger@comcast.net or Doug Geston at 763-512-1718, doug@westmarkproductions.com.
Cameras added on May 21 and 22!... Pictorial Directory
Olan Mills will be back to finalize photography May 21-25 and May 29-June 2. If you have yet to be photographed, visit www.signup.olanmills.com to secure (or change) your photography date, or call 1-800-866-2263 Monday-Friday (9 AM-8 PM Central Time). Refer to contract number 67622.
VBS Babylon: Daniel's Courage in Captivity
June 24-28, 5:30-8 PM. Dinner served each night at 5 PM. 3 Years-Grade 4, $25 person/$60 family. VBS 2012 is for kids of all ages; Leadership Planning is underway! Volunteer meeting to be held on Wednesday evening, May 16 from 7 to 8 PM in Room #23. Needed: small group leaders, activity leaders, food helpers, promotional support, artistic design and construction team. Fifth grade and up can be helpers. Contact Cara Coen-Pesch, VBS Director at 952-767-5566, c.coen-pesch@westwoodlutheran.org.
Loaves and Fishes Ministry
The Loaves and Fishes Ministry is looking for someone to serve as the ministry organizer. Westwood serves at Loaves and Fishes the 1st Friday of every other month and every 5th Friday at River of Life Church, 2200 Fremont in north Minneapolis. If you are willing to consider this wonderful, occasional leadership opportunity, please contact Joann Bell at 952-939-8039 or Ken Heinzen at 952-401-9407.
Community Meal News
Good News - The Community Meal will continue to serve our congregation, as well as our community, from 5-6:30 PM on Wednesdays at Westwood. Plan to join us for a light dinner during the summer, with the exception of May 23 and July 4, then head to worship at 6:30. We are also looking for volunteers to help us out during the month of June! Please let us know if you are able to join us for a couple of hours on Wednesday - either from 3:30-5:30 PM or 5:30-7:30 PM - we think you'll have a good time! Contact Sandy Niewinski at sniewinski@comcast.net, 952-546-7376 or Kathy Pickard kapick21@gmail.com, 952-546-1576. Thanks to Sandy for help scheduling volunteers!!
Good $ense Budget Course
Pastor Nancy Carlson will lead us through the Good $ense Budget Course, a series that teaches a relevant, easily understood and biblically-based understanding of money and it's place our lives. We’ll look at the pull of the culture, biblical resources, and practical tools that will help us in our journey as stewards of all that God has entrusted us with. Participants will leave this course with a personalized spending plan in their hands along with the wisdom in their heart and the knowledge in their head to implement it. As people named and claimed as children of God in our baptisms, we’ll think about how we can use what God has entrusted us to participate in what God is up to in the world and to live life abundantly! All are welcome. This class is for everyone, whether you live paycheck to paycheck or your paychecks stopped years ago. Sign up below or contact Pastor Nancy Carlson at 952-767-5580 or n.carlson@westwoodlutheran.org. The next class will be held six Wednesdays: June 13, 20 and 27 and July 11, 18 and 25 from 7:30 to 9 PM at Westwood. Come to worship at 6:30 PM and stay for the class. Please be sure to download and complete the PreWork prior to the first class.
Stories of Service
Westwood is sharing stories of service of people who serve at Westwood, in the community and world. Check back as new stories will be added. Thank you!
Click here to read the Stories of Service
9(0x0*Off)11(2*2)&utmwv=1&utmn=1650172966&utmsr=-&utmsc=-&utmul=-&utmje=0&utmfl=-&utmdt=-&utmhn=westwoodlutheran.org&utmr=&utmp=/noscript&utmac=UA-27114567-1&utmcc=__utma%3D98127821.1975570156.1337303553.1337303553.1337303553.2%3B%2B__utmb%3D98127821%3B%2B__utmc%3D98127821%3B%2B__utmz%3D98127821.1337303553.2.2.utmccn%3D(direct)%7Cutmcsr%3D(direct)%7Cutmcmd%3D(none)%3B%2B__utmv%3D98127821%3B)