I’ve visited, there were always

images of Jesus, but not like the

one with which I grew up—the

gentle white shepherd. Some

were black, some were brown,

some showed great pain, while

others exuded a tenderness.

These images remind me that

Jesus meets us wherever we are

and receives whoever we are.

As we celebrate the Lord’s

Supper on worldwide

communion Sunday, it

reminds us that we need to

open ourselves to the diversity

of religious expression to

experience the breadth of “the

mystery of the faith” to which

we are called (1 Timothy 3:9).

Note: After the first of the year,

I’ll be offering the class

“Christianities” so together we

can learn more about the

beautiful and at times bizarre

diversity that exists within our

faith.

-Pastor Michael

You probably haven’t heard

the word “Christianities”

before. That’s because I made

it up. It’s a way to point to the

diversity of Christianity

worldwide. I’ve been thinking

about this because October 1

is worldwide communion

Sunday. On that day represent-

atives from 43,000 denomina-

tions representing 2.3 billon

Christians will be celebrating

communion together.

I’ve had the great privilege to

worship in a variety of

Christian communities around

the world. Many times it was

in places and denominations

of which I had never heard.

Sometimes it was bizarre, such

as having the priest walk down

the aisle with a water bottle

from the local store, and then

suddenly spraying us with

water from the bottle. Some-

times it was moving, such as

watching people move

forward and prostrating

themselves in prayer.

When the thought arises

within me that “This just isn’t

right!”, I remind myself of the

words of the Apostle’s Creed:

“I believe in the holy catholic

church.” (Here “catholic”

means “worldwide,” not

Roman Catholic.) When I

open myself to the experience,

I always come away inspired

by the breadth of Christian

expression in the world.

Here are a few of the things

I’ve learned from the

Christianities in the world:

My God’s too small. When I

see the variety of ways that

God has transformed people, I

realize I need to enlarge the

possibilities I see with God.

My theology is too narrow. It

says in Ephesians that we have

one Lord, one faith, and one

baptism (4:5), but the ways

people understand the message

of Jesus are manifold. There is

so much more to learn about

what faith can mean for my life.

My vision of what we can do

is too limited. I’m amazed at

the unique, surprising and crazy

ways people have been moved

by faith to reach out to others. I

need to learn from them.

A greater appreciation for my

spiritual heritage. By opening

myself to different traditions, I

better understand my own.

A greater attentiveness to my

spiritual practices. In other

places people pray, worship,

and study scripture just as we

do, but the way they do it can

be very different. When I learn

new ways of doing things it

breathes new life into my old

practices.

My understanding of Jesus is

broadened. In all the places

Newsletter Title

1 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.

Worship, 11 a.m.

Youth Group Lunch, 12:15 p.m.

Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.

3 — Church, 4 p.m.

A Taste of Heaven, 4:30 p.m.

AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.

Yoga, 6:30 p.m.

4 — Men’s Group, 7 a.m.

AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.

Taizé, 7 p.m.

6 — No Kids Club/Youth Group

Pastor’s Pick, 7:30 p.m.

8 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.

Worship, 11 a.m.

Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.

9 — Building Closed: Columbus Day

10 — Church, 4 p.m.

A Taste of Heaven, 4:30 p.m.

AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.

Yoga, 6:30 p.m.

11 — AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.

Taizé, 7 p.m.

13 — Kids Club, 5 p.m.

Youth Group, 7 p.m.

Pastor’s Pick, 7:30 p.m.

15 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.

Worship, 11 a.m.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.

17 — Church, 4 p.m.

A Taste of Heaven, 4:30 p.m.

AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.

Yoga, 6:30 p.m.

18 — AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.

Taizé, 7 p.m.

Pub Theology, 8 p.m.

20 — Kids Club, 5 p.m.

Youth Group, 7 p.m.

Book Club, 7 p.m.

22 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.

Worship, 11 a.m.

Faith Forum, 12:30 p.m.

Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.

24 — Church, 4 p.m.

A Taste of Heaven, 4:30 p.m.

AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.

Yoga, 6:30 p.m.

25 — AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.

Taizé, 7 p.m.

27 — Kids Club/Youth Group

Halloween Party, 5 p.m.

29 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.

Worship, 11 a.m.

Parents Workshop, 12:15 p.m.

Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.

31 — Church, 4 p.m.

A Taste of Heaven, 4:30 p.m.

AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.

Yoga, 6:30 p.m.

The Witching Hour:

A Halloween CaBooret, 7:30 p.m.

October 2017

Christianities by Pastor Michael

It’s so great to have The West End Choir back in the choir loft! We have a few new members with very

special talents - Rachel Jones, soprano, Lisa Barone, alto, and Benjamin Robinson, tenor. You’ll meet

them through their singing in the weeks to come!

Taizé services begin on Wednesday, October 4, 7 - 7:45 p.m., then continue every Wednesday. These

beautiful gatherings have become a favorite mode of mid-week worship and provide a candlelit space to

breathe in the calm and beauty of our sanctuary. Our excellent singers and instrumentalists add so much

to the experience, but the singing of the congregation is what really counts!

Melodia Women’s Choir returns on Sunday, November 19 with a concer t of romantic music for

women’s voices, harp, viola and cello by Mendelssohn, Fanny Hensel (Felix’s sister), Johan Kaspar

Aiblinger, and Josef Rheinberger.

And see below for the exciting benefit for the Stonewall Chorale coming here on October 31, starring

Debra Monk!

See you in church,

Cynthia Powell

Director of Music Ministries

Musical Notes by Cynthia Powell

Follow

us on

Want to keep up with

what’s happening with

your WECC family?

Go to Facebook :

WestEndChurchNYC

and Twitter:

@WestEndChurchNY

It’s a great way to stay

connected to our

community.

Pub Theology

October 18

8 PM

The Dublin House

This month we will

celebrate the

500th year of the

Reformation with a

game called

Pub Theology

Reformation

Jeopardy

You get the drink of

your choice and

pizza is provided !

Fall is My Favorite Season! by Ian Carr McPherson

As I mention every year about this time, fall is my favorite season! I am so thrilled to see the leaves turn and to feel the breeze cooling down.

Where I live in Morningside Heights, the hustle and bustle of students returning to school has breathed new life into what was a particularly

sleepy neighborhood over the summer months. Here at the church, our children and youth ministries are in full swing, and I am so thrilled

about what we have planned for this program year.

For me, fall is a period of reflection on what is to come. I wanted to share this beautiful poem (which Cynthia loved so much she shared it

with our friends at Taizé!) and ask you to reflect on the questions it raises for you. Where are you in this?

Love Wants to Know How (author unknown)

Autumn comes with its riot of death,

its clarion bells of color,

drives the living green to ground

even as it thins the veil between worlds.

The visible and invisible walk now together

with arms outstretched over fields

where workers hasten to the harvest

none may divide against itself.

So: where are you in this?

How long do you loiter

between the said and unsaid,

the done and undone,

between the half and true rhyme

of a life answering a life?

Geese mark the sky with dark wedges,

call with harsh tongues

to what thrives at the margins

of all we so reluctantly receive.

Go now,

quickly and with great force,

toward what burns in your dreams

at the dying of the year.

Who can say?

Perhaps you reap the whirlwind,

perhaps the harvest—

but is it ever enough to not know

the bonds and bounds of what will one day

forsake you for the grave?

Upcoming Events:

Remember that Kids Club and Youth Group won’t meet on Friday, October 6th, in recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day!

Don't forget about our Family Halloween Party on Friday night, October 27th from 5 — 6:30! Wear your best costumes and bring bags for

candy!

We also have a special workshop for parents on "Tech-Savvy Spirituality" with Dr. Emma Levine following the service on Sunday, October

29th. Lunch is provided!..........................................................................................................................................................................................

Emma Levine, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and is the Assistant Director at Cognitive Therapy for Women Psychological Services

(www.ctwomenorg). In this role, she treats adult women and provides in-depth training and supervision to post-doctoral fellows. In her

role as Assistant Director, she specializes in working with women around issues of pregnancy and post-partum related mood disorders,

as well as common parenting challenges and concerns. She has a particular interest in supporting mothers as they navigate parenthood in

the age of technology. Dr. Levine’s dissertation research examined the influence of technology on child development, decision-making,

and peer relationships.

In addition to practicing as a psychologist, Dr. Levine is an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Education at Fordham Universi-

ty, where she trains masters- and doctoral- level students. Teaching has helped Dr. Levine maintain a connection to young adults and

join emerging professionals on their journey toward a more meaningful life.

What food reminds you of the joy of God?

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. – Psalm 34:8

Tucked around the corner from Columbia University there is an Ethiopian restaurant that lures me in a block away as the berbere spice

welcomes people to come in a dine. Ethiopian is a favorite dish in my household. I sense the pleasure of God when I eat at this delicious

restaurant.

The Psalmist says, taste and see that the Lord is good. Taste and see. When was the last time you tasted the goodness of God? Too often we

live this Psalm this way know that the lord is good, but hear the Psalmist says taste. Our relationship with God is to be multi-sensory.

The movie I picked for The Pastor’s Pick Series (October 13th) invites us into a feast of God’s goodness. The question I will ask after the

movie is what food reminds you of the joy of God? I look forward to seeing you at Babette’s Feast!

Joyful blessings – Pastor Jes

Faith Forums

How does faith guide and influence your vocation? What does it look like to live your faith publicly? This year our Faith Forums will

focus on members of our congregation and how they are living their faith “out loud.” You won’t want to miss this wisdom during lunch

after worship in the chapel!

October 22 ― Kim Yancey Moore

November 12 ― Nathan Stilwell

December 10 ― Wendy Cambor

Looking Ahead - Adult Christian Education

In November, Jocelyn Camp will lead the Sunday morning Adult Class in a preview of the Advent season with a study of poems related to

the four candles we light in Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Poets include Emily Dickinson, Gerard Manley Hopkins, William Shake-

speare, and others. Texts of the poems will be available a week before the first class at the back of the sanctuary and in class. Please join

us in Room 6.

Windows to Show Us God by Pastor Howard

Do you ever notice the two stained glass windows at the front of the sanctuary? What do they portray? Jesus, one of the saints, or a biblical

scene? Actually, neither has an overtly religious theme. They are nature scenes. One shows the sea and the other shows mountains.

So what do these nature vistas have to do with church and faith? Is their purpose to simply soothe and aesthetically inspire?

In fact, they have a lot to do with faith. They remind us that one important way we know God is through nature. As our 16th century Belgic

Confession of faith (summary of what we believe) poetically expresses it:

“We know God by two means:

First, by the creation, preservation, and government

of the universe, since that universe is before our eyes

like a beautiful book in which all creatures, great and small,

are as letters to make us ponder the invisible things of God:

God’s eternal power and divinity.”

This is why it is so important for city dwellers to regularly get out into nature for

recreation and inspiration. Lakes and hills can be schools of theology. They

mirror God’s glory. They are glimpses of heaven. Next time you are in

church, look at and learn from these beautiful windows.

will meet on Wednesday, October 4 at 7 a.m. Join us as we continue to deepen our faith and

friendships while we journey through life together.

Pastor’s Picks - continuing Fridays at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel. Movies have a tremendous

power to spiritually educate us, move us, and inspire us. Each of our pastors have chosen a film

that has deeply inspired and moved them.

October 6 - FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN (Pastor Michael)

October 13 - BABETTE'S FEAST (Pastor Jes)

SUNDAY SERMONS

Series — The Seven Deadly Sins:

Obstacles to Flourishing in Life

October 1: Anger

October 8: Lust

October 15: Blessing of the Animals

October 22: Gluttony & Sloth

October 29: Greed

THE BOOK CLUB’S October 20 selection will be

We will meet in Room 4 at 7 p.m.

Our November book is

Everything is Illuminated

by Jonathan Saftan Foer

A New Way to Give to West End

We are pleased to announce that you can now make donations to West End via your mobile phone. It’s very simple

to do. Just text “Give” to 917-259-3001 and then follow the instructions for the one time registration process. After

you’ve registered your account and card, you can then make donations at anytime by texting the amount, with the

dollar sign, and what it’s for. For example, you can text “$100 offering” or “$50 talent show.” You will receive

immediate verification and a receipt will be emailed to you. That’s all there is to it! Thank you for your continued

support of our ministries.