The gardens await your loving care. Come join Westhope’s own Pam Nomura to tend the beloved gardens at Westhope. Be ready to get in the dirt and commune with plants as we weed, prune and generally have a good time while we work.

Give yourself the gift of an hour in the garden, or put time aside for awhile and settle in for the whole morning. Come as able – all are welcome!

Related: Welcome to the Spiral Garden

The gardens await your loving care. Come join Westhope’s own Pam Nomura to tend the beloved gardens at Westhope. Be ready to get in the dirt and commune with plants as we weed, prune and generally have a good time while we work.

Give yourself the gift of an hour in the garden, or put time aside for awhile and settle in for the whole morning. Come as able – all are welcome!

Thursday Mornings 9AM to 12PM

Related: Welcome to the Spiral Garden

Re-Imagining the Lord's Prayer

Led by Elder Clark Johnson: Clark is a long time Presbyterian spiritual explorer.

Christians have prayed the Lord's Prayer for a long time and in many cultures and languages. Sometimes the repetition can leave the meaning behind, and take us out of conversation with God.

We will go through the prayer piece by piece and see how we each might translate it into or own way of speaking with God, or “our own language". It should be interesting to see what comes.

As we go through the prayer, we will talk briefly about each portion; then you each will write your own version. We will share our versions and talk about what we hear from each other.

In Person and Online at Westhope

Friday Evening: Adult Focus (kids welcome too)
Saturday All Day: Family Fun (adults welcome too!)

Come out on Friday evening for a cheese, wine, music…and come back on Saturday for the French market, face painting, jumpy houses, pony rides and more!

This is a fundraising event for Westhope and our onsite tenant – the Saratoga French Cultural Preschool & Kindergarten.

Friday Evening: Adult Focus (kids welcome too)
Saturday All Day: Family Fun (adults welcome too!)

Come out on Friday evening for a cheese, wine, music…and come back on Saturday for the French market, face painting, jumpy houses, pony rides and more!

This is a fundraising event for Westhope and our onsite tenant – the Saratoga French Cultural Preschool & Kindergarten.

We will meet online to talk about issues raised in the discussion with Foundations of Faith. It is a good time for a deeper dive into issues, thoughts, opinions, and reactions.

We also welcome anyone to attend who is curious and interested in joining us in our next monthly conversation with Foundation of Faith. Come and find out what gets stirred up in this valuable, challenging and rewarding monthly practice of conversation and relationship.

First Thursday after the first Sunday of the month 3PM
(Just flows off the tongue, doesn’t it?)
Online @ Westhope

Ambiguity. Mystery. The unknown.

The third night and Easter Sunday begin with the lighting of the vigil fire.

Waiting, watching, we remember God’s presence and power through time.

Can I take this weight from my shoulders Lord and leave it here at the foot of the cross?

We move further towards the resurrection as we face into our shadows in this tenebrae service of candlelight and darkness.

We light the second fire and give over what is ready to be let go.

We rejoice. We remember. We release.

Gather with us to cross the threshold into Easter. We light the new fire at sunset on this last day of the Lenten season. We gather for foot washing as a reminder that love is enacted by serving one another.

Whether you join us in person or on line, may you find a way to experience the embodiment of giving and receiving. Together we remember the commandment (Mandatum) that Jesus gave his disciples…to love.

May we be blessed as we gather to enter the Triduum experience together. 

A six-part online series organized by Elder Susan Brooksbank with Don Wagner and David Palumbo-Liu.
Wednesdays 7PM to 8:15PM

In the midst of events in the Holy Land, how do we grapple with war? How do we understand current events and what lead up to them? How do we as Americans participate unknowingly? What can we do to create peace?

February 21 Getting Started: Some basic history and background, Biblical and more
recent (starting in the 1800s) Susan Brooksbank

February 28 Undermining Justice in God´s Name: Zionism and Christian Zionism in
Historical and Theological Perspective Don Wagner

March 6 What’s Happening Now: Photos and a Report on the Holy Land Susan Brooksbank from Washington DC

March 13 Genocide – Basic History of the Term and the Recent Decision of the
International Court of Justice David Palumbo-Liu

March 20 From the River to the Sea: It´s Apartheid Don Wagner

March 27 The History and Role of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement in Today’s World…What Else We Can Do. David, Don and Susan

Rev. Dr. Don Wagner is a retired Presbyterian (PCUSA) clergyperson, professor of Middle Eastern Studies, and Palestinian human rights activist.  He is the author of six books, most recently his memoir ¨Glory to God in the Lowest: Journeys to an Unholy Land¨ which follows
his journey from Christian Zionism to advocacy for Palestinian rights and Palestinian liberation
theology.

David Palumbo-Liu is a professor of comparative literature at Stanford. He has been an activist
for Palestine for many years. www.palumbo-liu.com

Susan Brooksbank is an Elder in the Presbyterian church who has been a student of and advocate
for the Holy Land for as long as she can remember. She has visited the area often – starting in the
1990s for business – and has co-led two Holy Land pilgrimages.

Westhope with Indiana Center for Middle East Peace Presents

WEBINAR: THE STONES CRY OUT DELEGATION TO PALESTINE AND WASHINGTON DC

Wednesday, March 20, 11AM PT

The Stones Cry Out Delegation was made up of 23 church leaders and activists from 12 Christian denominations from all across the United States. We had a series of meetings with 17 Jewish, Christian, and Muslim peacemakers, human rights activists, and practitioners of non-violence in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Hebron, then returned to Washington DC for a series of meeting with congresspersons, demonstrations, and an interfaith prayer service.

Dr. Michael Spath, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, and Delegation leader, will moderate a conversation about what we learned in our meetings in Palestine and DC with the following Delegation members:

Susan Brooksbank is a retired businesswoman, an elder in Westhope Presbyterian Church and has traveled to Palestine numerous times. She has worked with Palestinian organizations such as Friends of Wadi Foquin and Bright Stars of Bethlehem.

Joanne Quinn is an oncology nurse and a member of Kairos Puget Sound. She has made multiple trips to Palestine since 2015. "Why Palestine? Because it is a just cause. A noble ideal. A moral quest for equality and human rights." (Edward Said)

Rev. Ashlee Wiest-Laird is Pastor at First Baptist Church, Jamaica Plain, NY. She has been the Southern Baptist Chaplain at Harvard University and spent a year working with Sabeel Liberation Theology Center and the Middle East Council of Churches in Jerusalem.

Rev. Jack Erskine has served 40+ years as a priest in the Episcopal Church, 8 years as a Chaplain in Independent Schools, and 12 years as a Hospital Chaplain. In addition to this Delegation, Jack met with leaders in Gaza in 2019.

Led by Colleen Peterson
March 10 & 17 11:45AM to 1:30PM
Hybrid – More Fun In Person!

We use the Enneagram at Westhope to understand each other’s values and beliefs at a deeper level. These fun and interactive sessions will help you learn your Enneagram type as well as about the other types. For some of us this will be a review, for others it will be the first time.

We look forward to seeing you!

March 10 Unlocking the Enneagram
The Enneagram is a study of the nine basic types of people. It explains why we behave the way we do and it points to specific directions for individual growth. There are nine personality ‘types’, each of which is identified by a number, One through Nine. It is an important tool for improving relationships with family, friends and co-workers. Find out what motivates you and others!

March 17 Sharpen your Communication Style through the Enneagram
Have you ever felt like you communicated something perfectly, only to find out you were totally misunderstood? Have you ever wondered why other people don’t seem to understand your way of communicating? Did you ever think you were good at direct communication only to find out that other people clearly had a different idea of what you said?

This interactive session will explore the very different communication styles of the nine personality types as well as what works and what to avoid. Does your body language interfere with the way you communicate? What are your blind spots in communicating with others? What distorts your listening or thinking as you converse with other people? At the end of this session, you will be able to understand what the nine types need in communication and how your own style of communicating impacts others, in ways both helpful and unhelpful.

What is my Enneagram Number?

If you haven’t taken the enneagram test, follow this link. Take the RHETI test (the one on the left). It costs $12. When you take the test, the results will show which numbers resonate with you most strongly. If you have a tie in your top scores, read all the types and decide which one is closest to your own personality.

After the test you will receive your scores, along with descriptions of your highest-scoring Enneagram types. Please read these carefully to see if they resonate with your experience of yourself.

Colleen W. Petersen works with people who are stuck, either in their job or personal life. She assists people in learning to observe themselves, understand their ways of communicating, and reach their goals. Colleen will help you gain direct awareness of your concerns and issues. In understanding this awareness, you will gain the ability to take action and build competence. Colleen will help you learn to leverage your strengths, understand your motivations and create a clear path forward.

Colleen is a certified personal and professional development coach specializing in executive coaching and career development. Colleen’s professional expertise is in leadership development, change management, emotional intelligence, team dynamics and strategy formulation.

A graduate of Santa Clara University with a Masters’ Degree in Teaching and Administration, Colleen has over 20 years’ experience working at Cisco, Seagate and Risk Management Solutions. She was Cisco’s Citizen of the Year, received the Global ASTD “New Guard” award, and was appointed to the Santa Clara County Mental Health Advisory Board.

Grab a hammer, grab a broom, grab a cup of coffee and join in the fun for the return of the Westhope Spring Spruce!

Our Spring and Fall work days have become a community favorite. There is something for everyone – gardening, painting, cleanup, fixing, trimming, oiling, changing bulbs – we need your talents.

Coming in March: Project List

Will there be tasty snacks? Yes.
Do I need any special skills to help out? Nope.
What if I want to use tools and fix things? Okeydoke.
Can I do this contemplatively? Uh…we think you can, this is Westhope after all!
Can I socialize while I’m sprucing up the place? Definitely!

Easy jobs for all helpers. Wear work clothes. Bring gloves if you have them. Everyone welcome!

BLACK HISTORY MONTH STUDY: THREE MONDAYS IN FEBRUARY
Led by Pastor Erik Swanson of Westhope Presbyterian Church
and
Rev. James Richard of Foundations of Faith in South Carolina.
We seek to dispel misunderstandings, build new understandings, and learn and grow together.
All weeks are open to anyone in the Presbytery and the larger community. Members of the Foundation of Faith congregation will also join from South Carolina.

Mondays Feb. 5, 12 Lecture & Discussion 6:30-8PM
Westhope Online

Monday Feb 26 Final Meeting & Celebration Dinner 6:00-8:30PM
Appetizers to start @ 5:45PM
In Person @ Westhope Presbyterian Church

Co-Hosted by Peace and Justice Ministry of Westhope and the Presbytery of San Jose Peace and Justice Work Group for all in the Presbytery and the larger community.
All are welcome, please share this invitation!
Downloadable Flyer

Contemplation & Celebration of Saint Brigid of Kildare
Led by Beth Wylie

Who is Saint Brigid and why is she important? How does the Celtic goddess Brigid inform our understanding of Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland? Why do we celebrate Saint Brigid on February 1st? What does Brigid have to offer us in 2024?

In this three-part series, we will learn the history, traditions and deeper meanings of the Christian Saint Brigid of Kildare and the pre-Christian goddess Brigid, for whom the saint was named. On this special 1500 year anniversary of the historical Brigid’s death, we will gather online on Saint Brigid’s Day, February 1st to learn about Brigid. We will follow up later in the month with a reflection on Brigid in the morning service on Sunday, February 18, and an in-person class and celebration practicing the traditions of Saint Brigid’s Day in the afternoon.

Thursday February 1 Who was is Brigid? 7PM-8PM Online Class
We will learn the history of the historical Brigid of Kildare and the Celtic pre-Christian goddess Brigid. We will discuss the meaning of the symbols and rituals associated with Brigid to prepare us for the in person event on February 18. This will be an online event.

Sunday February 18 10AM-11:15AM Hybrid Service
Westhope Elder Beth Wylie will offer a reflection and lead our community discussion on Saint Brigid and the divine feminine in this Sunday’s service of prayer & presence. This will be a hybrid event.

Sunday February 18 Comhrá, Ceardaíocht Agus Craic! 11:45AM-1:15PM
In Person Class & Celebration
We will review and deepen our learning of the meaning of Saint Brigid’s Day, by celebrating with traditional Irish foods and activities. We will weave Saint Brigid’s crosses, make butter for our bread, try vegan colcannon soup, and generally have a good time! In honor of Saint Brigid, beer will be served, in addition to milk. This will be an in person event at Westhope.

I didn’t go to the first event, and I can only come to the celebration - is that OK?
Yes! All are welcome, no prior class or experience necessary. Let’s have some craic!

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten Season. We will have service at 7pm with the imposition of ashes.  We will not have supper served this year because of Valentine’s Day in case people are going out to eat with loved ones.

Tonight we will practice burning away and releasing that which gets in our way so that we can find the connection with the holy ever more deeply. 

On this eve we will step together over the threshold into the holy season of Lent.  We hope that you will consider joining us as we enter this wilderness time together. 

The Lenten season is a time of self reflection and repentance - turning back to God from where we have wandered off. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia from the root meaning ‘to turn’ and can be understood as movement or change. 

We begin the holy season of Lent with this day of putting ashes on our foreheads to remind us both how transient life is and how precious it is.  It is to be a moment to awaken us once more to the presence of God in our midst and our work to partner and connect with God. 

We hope you will attend.

In Person @ Westhope

We will meet to discuss Brian McLaren’s book Faith After Doubt:

Led by Elder Pam Nomura: Pam currently serves as Clerk of Session for Westhope. Pam has retired from her profession as a dentist.

“McLaren’s book resonated with my own spiritual journey and helped me start to reconcile traditional Christian teachings with my own inner source of wisdom and truth. I hope others will join me in a conversation about their own faith stories.”

Book Description:

“Using his own story and the stories of a diverse group of struggling believers, Brian D. McLaren, a former pastor and now an author, speaker, and activist shows how old assumptions are being challenged in nearly every area of human life, not just theology and spirituality. He proposes a four-stage model of faith development in which questions and doubt are not the enemy of faith, but rather a portal to a more mature and fruitful kind of faith.

The four stages―Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony―offer a path forward that can help sincere and thoughtful people leave behind unnecessary baggage and intensify their commitment to what matters most.” [Amazon]

In Person & Online @ Westhope

This month we are reading A Fever In The Heartland, the Ku Klux Plan to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan. We will discuss Part One this month, Part Two in February and Part Three & Epilogue in March.

1st Wednesday of the month
Online @ Westhope