Westside Christian Church
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Many Cultures Together Serving One Lord
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 Westside Christian Church (1922)
First Samoan Christian Church of Long Beach (1986)
Filipino Christian Fellowship (1992)
Iglesia Cristiana de Westside (2003)
Skateside (2001)
Church Office: (562) 424-1364
Lead Pastor's Cell Phone: (714) 293-6928
CommUnity: Beyond Multicultural.
The next step in Westside's Spiritual Journey.
A funny thing happened on the way to Spiritual Maturity. CommUnity.
For past few years here our leadership has been moulding Westside as a place where we develop Spiritual maturity and Spiritual leaders. Gently shifting our focus from "intentional multiculturalism" to being true Christ-followers who seen authentic connection with God, the resulting Spritual maturity has actually brought about an excelleration of the multicultural family that we have so earnestly desired.
In short, by becoming CommUnity, a diverse "family" of connected believers, Westside is transcending from the realm of being a sociological laboratory to being a church of Christ-followers. One body, with many moving parts, languages and cultures. Indeed the growing Spiritual maturity of Westsiders has resulted in a natural desire to share more things in common and spend more time together.
Building on the true fellowship garnered through our times together, Westside is committed to simultaneously spending more time worshipping together while not abandoning God's call and our purpose of reaching those in the community around us who are disconnected from God - and doing so in their own language and culture. How does a body of believers increase internal fellowship while simultaneously becoming more sensitive to the unchurched?
Introducing CommUnity.
Acts 2:44 speaks to all of the believers living in "wonderful harmony, holding everything in common." The first chruch was multicultural (see Acts 6) - but held everything in common. So, Westside is designed to both increase internal fellowship AND become more sensitive to those who are not yet a part of our CommUnity, but are seeking a deeper connection to God.
Each Sunday morning at 9:45 the entire church body gathers in the main worship center to share those traditional "church" things we have in common: communion, announcements, prayer requests, celebration of birthdays and anniversaries, offering, etc.. Think of it as maybe a new twist on the old "Opening Exercises" some of you old-schoolers might have enjoyed as a youngster. These common elements of worship transcend culture for the most part, and can be shared and enjoyed in a meaningful way despite differences in language or culture.
At 10:15 we continue to share in our time of fellowship by adjourning to the breezeway for light refreshments. Followed at 10:30 by services in English, Spanish and Samoan (the Tagalog service is on Saturday nights). These services are designed to be shorter and more appealing to the unchurched and seekers by providing the more standard (and user-friendlier) group singing, special music and teaching. If those searching would like to participate in the "ordinances" they may choose to do so at 9:45, but it is their option.
So, regardless of the stage of your current Spiritual journey, Westside has a place for you - and a schedule that is convenient for you as well:
This is an exciting time in the life of Westside. God continues to move in unusual and gound-breaking ways. Our "CommUnity" is the natural progression when the Church of Christ-followers begins stepping beyond a sociological experiment, and truly becomes the Body of Christ!
Welcome to the Westside CommUnity!
ELECTRONIC GIVING NOW AVAILABLE AT WESTSIDE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
Welcome to Westside Christian Church! |
