Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Sunday Morning 8:15  a.m. - noon

Summer Hours 9:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Child Care for children ages 6 weeks through 2 years. Two paid staff persons along with members of our congregation provide loving, nurturing, and cheerful care to your child. Pagers are available for parents. This group meets in rooms 201 and 202.

Meet our ChildCare staff

Sunday Morning 10:30 a.m.

Summer 10:00 a.m.

JAM (Jesus and Me) is for children ages 3, 4, and 5/Kindergarten. JAM provides hands on learning through story, song, art, and interaction. The 3 and 4 year olds meet in room 207. The 5/Kindergarten class meets in room 102.

BLAST (Bible Learning Adventure STations) is for children in grades 1 - 6. Using the Workshop Rotation Model, children experience the Bible stories through art, cooking, puppets/drama, science, videos, and games. This group meets in Fellowship Hall.

During the summer, children grade 1 and older attend worship with their families . special time for kids is included in summer worship.

Meet Rev. Linda Coatoam our Christian Education Associate

Sunday Morning 9:15 a.m.

No Youth Sunday School during the summer months.

Faith Challenge includes grades 7 and 8. Grade 7 (meets on the stage) and grade 8 (room 105) are in Confirmation Preparation. Utilizing classroom time, retreats, service, and mission, they explore how to live as Christians, develop friendships, and identify their own gifts and talents.

Senior High Sunday School includes grades 9 - 12, and meets in room 205. This year we are focusing on spiritual formation, discipleship, Christian community and faith knowledge that will challenge, engage and grow them in their faith journey.

Our Purpose:

The purpose of our youth group is to provide a safe harbor for all; to help us grow in our faith through fun and fellowship; and to encourage us to have a closer walk with God through our mission and compassion to others.

We have a variety of youth activities every month. Check our monthly newsletter, Youth News, for current information and dates. Information can also be found in WUMC Fellowship Hall at our .Youth Booth.. Friends are always welcome at our activities! We have an annual fall retreat, winter lock-in, Youth Sunday service, and many other activities.

Our Youth Group is led by a team of youth, grades 7-12, who serve in leadership roles, the Youth Associate, and adult advisors. We meet monthly to plan activities and discuss program development. This Youth Team helps determine the vision and direction of the Youth Program. Anyone interested is welcome to attend our meetings. The Team also goes on an annual off-site training retreat. Officers must have served on Youth Team for one year prior to their election / nomination.

Meet our Youth Associate.

Our Youth Group's outreach projects include an annual summer mission trip, serving monthly at St. Patrick's Hunger Center, support of a child in Honduras through World Vision, and sending care packages to recent high school graduates.

2009 Mission Trip

From June 21-29, 17 youth and six adults went to Welch, West Virginia. We worked on three worksites in the rural homes in the West Virginia mountains, where we repaired a roof, raised a floor, cleaned up from flooding, painted and made other needed repairs where the decline in the coal industry has left many people needing help to meet their basic needs.

The youth, and adults, experienced that it is not only the physical work that we did, but meeting the people, listening to their stories and forming the relationships are what can make a difference and also, make memories of a lifetime.

The 5th and 6th graders are part of an exciting group that has bimonthly activities; such as bowling, game nights, christmas parties and service projects. This group was started to introduce older elementary age children to meeting outside of Sunday morning with friends their age in fellowship. Please contact Ceci Steinman for more information.

Meet our Youth Associate.

Young Adults Sunday Morning Class

Look for the Young Adult Class beginning September 13

TNT - Totally New Thing

TNT is a fellowship group for people in their 20's, 30's and 40's encompassing singles, couples, those with kids or not! The group strives to build friendship and support among the young adults in the church community. The large group gathers bimonthly with small group cluster meetings on the alternating months. Besides potluck parties at someone's home, dinner out, theater events, book studies and mission opportunities are also offered throughout the year. Childcare is often provided.

Adult Sunday Morning Opportunities 9:15am

Most adult classes do not meet during the summer months.

Wesley Book Study is using Beyond Belief:the Secret Gospel of Thomas by Elaine Pagels which examines the earliest Christian texts. This book promises to stir and provoke thought and encourage participants to a deeper faith. This group meets in room 107.

Faithlinks examines contemporary issues from a spiritual perspective. The discussion material is right out of today's news engaging us with the world and challenging us with to live by faith. This group meets in room 104.

Mom's Group Book Discussion is using Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver as their discussion guide. This group meets in room 100.

Family Potlucks

Sharing food and games is a way for the church family to get to know one another. These potlucks are offered throughout the year, sponsored by the Hospitality team.

Labyrinth

The Labyrinth is an archetype, a divine imprint, found in all religious traditions in various forms around the world. By walking a replica of the Chartres labyrinth, laid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France around 1220, we are rediscovering a long-forgotten mystical tradition that is insisting to be reborn. Our labyrinth is placed in Fellowship Hall and is set up monthly. Rev. Linda Coatoam is on site for questions and assistance. We also provide hand held labyrinth for those who are visually or physically impaired.

Spiritual Gifts Discovery Process

Spiritual Gifts are the special, God-given skills and abilities inspired by the Holy Spirit in all Christians. These abilities become Spiritual Gifts when activated thru service to God's people or in use to glorify God. Westlake UMC actively supports the discovery of Spiritual Gifts within the congregation so that the church can better meet your spiritual needs and support you on your faith journey.

The WUMC Spiritual Gifts Discovery Process Purpose Statement:

To develop each member's knowledge of their spiritual gifts; thereby deepening their understanding of self and their relationship with God, and maturing in the use of their gifts to serve God and the community.

The Spiritual Gift Discovery Process is divided into 4 sections. The first 3 are Spiritual Gifts, Work Style Preferences, and Spiritual Passion. The last section is a Consultation in which opportunities for fellowship, study and service that match the individual's spiritual profile are discussed. The Spiritual Gift Discovery Process is part of our membership Inquiry process and is open to members and visitors alike. Please contact Ellie Peiffer to enroll in the next class offering.

Westlake United Methodist Church is proud of our active, young at heart seniors. You will find older adults involved in all aspects of the life of the church. We strive to offer intergenerational experiences so you will find Seniors rocking babies in the nursery, shepherding elementary kids in their BLAST Sunday school class as well as on the WUMC softball team. While not senior exclusive, here are a few of the groups which are lead by our older adults:

• UMW
• Methodical Bridge Group
• PACE