Palm Sunday's late morning worship service including music by the children's choirs, plus interviews with Dr. David Lowes Watson and member Andy Morris are featured in the broadcast story "Christians Turn to Church During Tough Times." Click to view the video: http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=10133684

To Members and Friends of West End

It is difficult to find words that can adequately express the gratitude of Gayle and myself for the wonderful Sunday morning on February 7. As you know, the snow and ice caused the Farewell planned for January 31 to be rescheduled for the following Sunday, when Michael Williams preached his first sermon and the congregation welcomed him, his wife Margaret, and their daughters Sarah and Elizabeth. This made for a full morning, but one that was rich in grace.

This is one of West End’s most important Faithful Giving Campaigns. We are very hopeful about where we are headed, and are placing our trust in God for the future of our mission and ministry. But God also trusts us to play our part. West End United Methodist Church can only do what we make possible through our financial giving. That is why we are asking you to make a pledge for 2010, primarily in gratitude for what God has already given us, but also to provide the financial resources that can maximize the potential of this wonderful congregation.

When Dr. Watson asked me to write an article about a parent’s perspective of having a son deploy to Iraq, my immediate reaction was that it should be easy enough.