Everyone wants to feel a sense of belonging - to be a part of something greater than ourselves, to be needed, to be loved, to share life together in all of its glory and challenges, to grow in faith and share it with others.

The members of Westwood United Methodist Church want to welcome you and invite you to come worship with us.

At WUMC we are a Community of Christians, though diverse in individual backgrounds and outlooks, we are united in our common commitment to Jesus Christ and our shared Mission and Vision to the ministry of Jesus Christ and to ALL God's people.

The United Methodist Church is a "Mainstream" Protestant Church which holds to the central teaching of the Christian faith, while encompassing a good deal of latitude in individual understandings and expressions of faith. At Westwood UMC, we encourage each individual to continue growing in faith within the fellowship created by Christ's love for us and through our love for one another.

Westwood Church United Methodist Church welcomes Rev. Dr. William Lee Strawhun, Jr. who is coming to us from the Missouri Annual Conference. A scholar and a visionary, Dr. Strawhun is a passionate leader with great hope for Westwood and Christian community.

Our Early Morning Chapel Service is at 8:30 in our Chapel each Sunday Morning.  This service is more traditional in style.

Our Traditional Service is at 9:30am on Sunday Morning.  This service features our recently renovated Organ, and showcases our amazing Chancel Choir along with a special time set aside for a children's moment.

Our Contemporary Service is at 11:00am on Sunday Morning.  During this service we change gears to a Contemporary style worship setting complete with our Praise Band and Praise Singers. Our worship at Westwood celebrates the diverse styles God has given to us.  If you would like to know more about our worship services, please click the "our services" button on the left side of the screen.

At Westwood United Methodist Church, our doors are always open to you, and we have many incredible ministries in which you can get connected, grow in faith, discover and use your gifts to  help change and shape our world.   

BECOMING A MEMBER:  A person or family may join the church either by transfer from another church or denomination or by profession of faith. The United Methodist Church recognizes the baptism and confirmation of other churches. Membership is open to all who earnestly desire to be disciples of Jesus Christ -- to live in love and service while growing in faith.

All prospective members are invited to attend a New Member Orientation. New Member Orientations are announced in the church bulletin and CHIMES newsletter.  

The New Member Orientation helps participants better understand WUMC's mission and vision for our ministries, as well as our understanding of discipleship and the basis of our traditions. It is also a time to meet and get to know our staff and other new members, as you become more familiar with our church facilities.

If you would like to explore membership in the Westwood UMC, we invite you to attend the next New Member Orientation (childcare provided). You may sign up by contacting the church office.

At Westwood United Methodist Church,
We Believe Every Member of our Congregation is a Minister!

A VISION FOR WESTWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

OUR MISSION:

Responding to God's Call to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ

OUR VISION:

We will make disciples of Jesus Christ by:

• REACHING PEOPLE with the Gospel and loving them as we meet their real needs.
• GROWING PEOPLE through God's Word and through Worship equipping every individual for
• SERVING PEOPLE in the church and in the world.

OUR CALL TO MINISTRY:

"He (Christ) is the one who gave these gifts to the church:  the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and the teachers.  Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church,  which is the body of Christ...." Ephesians 4:11-12 

Our Mission Statement is: Responding to God's Call to make Disciples of Jesus Christ. God's call to us comes from both the great commandment and the Great Commission, being:  "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself"  (Matthew 22:37-39) and "Go, therefore, and make dsiciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."  (Matthew 28:18-20)

OUR CORE VALUES:

• Compassionate Love - caring acceptance, forgiveness
• Faithfulness - faith, commitment, trust
• Spiritual Growth - mind & heart of Christ, prayer
• Mission, Witness & Service - leadership, involvement, servanthood.
• Purpose Driven - vision, discrning God's will, wisdom, unit
• Family and Community - belonging, caring, relationships, inclusiveness, heritage
• Accountability - responsibility, dependability, stewardship
• Integrity - honesty, authencticity, wholeness, honor
• Joy - happiness, wonder, humor, awe
• Passion - excitement, fervor, enthusiasm

OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH:

In essential beliefs - we have unity:
"There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all." - Ephesians 4:4-6

In non-essential beliefs - we have liberty:
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters...Who are you to judge someone else's servant?  To his own master he stands or falls...So then each of us will give an account of himself to God...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God."  - Romans 14:1,4,12,22

In all our beliefs - we show charity:
"If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith to move mountanis - but have no love, I amount to nothing at all." - 1 Corinthians 13:2

OUR BEDROCK (ESSENTIAL) BELIEFS

We believe in one God existing in three persons... Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God the Father - We believe in God the Father Creator and Rule of all things, who loves the world he created and sent His only Son to be our Savior.

God the Son - We believe int he only born Son of God who is Jesus Christ, our Savior.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, died, and rose again.  He is fully God and fully human.

God the Holy Spirit - We believe in God the Holy Spirit who is the presence of God among us.  Through his Spirit God lives in us to comfort, guide and empower us for ministry.

We believe the Bible is God's inspired Word - It is relevant to us today revealing his truth and plan for our lives and practical guidance for our daily living.

We believe in God's gift of Salvation made possible by his love and grace through the death of Jesus Christ. Those who accept this free gift of grace receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We believe in Eternal Life a gift from God for all who believe in His son.

We believe in the church of Jesus Christ, the community of believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit and joined together to be the Body of Christ to be his presence in the world today.

We believe in Prayer, in which we declare our individual and corporate dependence on God. Prayer is absolutely essential for both growing relationship with God and a fruitful ministry. Prayer is central to our life together as a church.

We believe in our responsibility to the Great Commandment:
"You must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

We believe in our responsibility to the Great Commission:
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:19-20

AN INVITATION TO YOU:

We invite you to come and worship with us, grow with us, serve with us, join us! Westwood United Methodist Church has many ministries and small group opportunities. We pray that God, by His Holy Spirit, will lead you to Westwood UMC, and in doing so, you will find a church home. WUMC is a place where you can get connected, feel loved, and find Spiritual Growth and nourishment. We pray that God would also open your heart to serving others... to give back all that you have received... and to make a difference in this world for Christ.  At Westwood United Methodist Church, our doors, our minds and our hearts are always open to YOU!