Real Good Courage - The Westwood Podcast

The Blessing of Hospitallity: The View From Tanzania

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 and those who offer welcome can change and both parties can do both the welcoming and receiving  welcome. Today's message comes from Pastor Sarah. Our Gospel comes from John  Chapter 10, verses 40-42. Our scripture lesson is Psalm 100.

Race Equity: A Westwood Core Value

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  Chapter 8, verses 31 - 36. Our scripture lesson is from 2 Samuel, Chapter 13, verses 20-22.

Affirming LGBTQIA+: A Westwood Core Value

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 comes from Matthew Chapter's 9 verse 35 to Chapter 10, verse 8.

Child Well-being: A Westwood Core Value

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 Chapter 9, verses 18 - 26.

Pentecost: The Spirit is Present Through Us: Educators Share Stories of Resilience and Beauty

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 discuss the beauty and lament of the past year in education, and share how their faith made a difference. You’ll hear how the Spirit showed up through them. Today's lesson comes from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12 verses 1, 4-11.