Westwood United Methodist Church | Everything in Between: Shouting and Silence
Westwood Church
Westwood Church is a Christian community where all people are welcome, and is focused on becoming and making disciples committed to justice, kindness and walking humbly with God.
Everything in Between: Shouting and Silence
Sunday, April 13, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Wave palm branches and sing “Hosanna” as we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; little children will lead the procession. When the religious leaders try to silence the crowd, Jesus tells them that the noise level isn’t the point—even the stones would cry out if they were silent. It takes wisdom to know when our voice is needed and when it’s just noise. Our Westwood Kids Choir will join the Chancel Choir for a special Palm Sunday anthem, too. We
Apr 13, • 22:01
Everything in Between: Righteousness & Mercy
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Today we sit in the tension between things that seem opposed to each other—not to solve it, but to honor it. Between righteousness and mercy, justice and forgiveness, we’re invited not to choose sides but to dwell in the holy space between. Like Zacchaeus, who climbs a fig-laden sycamore tree and ends up the host of Jesus, we find that true transformation doesn’t come from punishment or exclusion, but from the mercy that leads to repair. Justice isn
Apr 6, • 28:52
Everything in Between: Lost & Found
Sunday, March 30, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Reading the Parable of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15, we are invited into the tension between being lost and being found. We are invited to see beyond simple binaries and recognize the communal nature of belonging. God persistently and compassionately pursues those who are lost, not as isolated individuals, but as integral members of a larger community. Salvation is not, after all, a solitary experience, but a gift of restoration within the whole. Dr
Mar 30, • 33:13
Everything in Between: Rest & Growth
Sunday, March 23, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Throughout Lent, we’ve explored the tension between seemingly opposite words, only to find that they are deeply connected. Today, we consider rest and growth through Jesus’ parable of the fig tree in the vineyard—a tree that doesn’t seem to belong yet has a role beyond mere productivity. Like the fig tree, we are not defined by what we produce but by our place in God’s creation. Rest is not just a pause between work but a sacred p
Mar 23, • 29:57
Everything [in] Between: Faith and Action
Sunday, March 16, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Faith and action share deep connections, despite how they are often set up as if they exist in opposition. The story of Mary and Martha deserves a new look: Mary’s choice to “sit at Jesus’ feet” is better understood as bold discipleship rather than passivity. Faith is made real through action, just as action is enriched by faith. Rigid binaries—whether in theology, gender, or identity—deserve questioning, for the sake of a more inclusiv
Mar 16, • 27:55
Everything in Between: Stranger and Neighbor
Sunday, March 9, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter This Lent we focus on “everything in between,” exploring the complexities and tensions between opposing concepts, like “good” and “evil,” and how these binaries often limit our understanding of the world. Today we look at the parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke to challenge traditional ideas of neighborliness, calling us to embrace compassion not only toward those we consider friends but also tow
Mar 10, • 27:25
Onward and Downward
Sunday, March 2, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Our worship invites us (always) to contemplate the glory of God. After all, the centerpiece of our magnificent stained glass window is a depiction of the Transfiguration. Our experiences of glory give us courage to go out, down from the mountain, to practice compassion and love.
Mar 3, • 26:23
WE ARE Meant to Do Hard Things
Sunday, February 23, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Jesus sets a high expectation: we are supposed to love even our enemies. But also, we find the confidence to believe we are up to this challenge, because we trust in the grace of Christ. This is the final Sunday of our Epiphany series, which explored who we are, together. This Sunday, we also celebrate the sacrament of baptism, welcoming Callan James Penrose and Cerelia Skye Abernethy into the family of faith; we will also reaffirm the baptism o
Feb 24, • 24:40
WE ARE Meant to Change
Sunday, February 16, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter The blessing that Jesus proclaims to the world comes with the promise of change. It gives us hope in what will be. It also reminds us of words that are sometimes comforting, and sometimes uncomfortable: that it won’t always be like this.
Feb 16, • 26:01
WE ARE Meant for Great Things
Sunday, February 9, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter The story of the church is a story of people like us, who respond to the call of God, and do things far beyond the capacity of what we believed ourselves capable of.
Feb 9, • 26:43
WE ARE meant to love
Sunday, February 2, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter This Sunday, we will read beloved words about love from 1 Corinthians 13. Though frequently read at weddings, they do not belong to ceremonies and celebrations where love is evident; they describe the high demands of love, give voice to what can go wrong to distance us from love, and set love as the standard for difficult times. They speak needed words, perfect for this moment in our city, nation and world.
Feb 2, • 24:04
WE ARE meant to liberate
Sunday, January 26, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter When Jesus reads from the Isaiah scroll in his hometown synagogue, repeating ancient words of divine hope, he sets a tone and course for his life and ministry: the good news he proclaims will lead to freedom. Still today, they are an invitation to take up belief in the power of liberation. Even (especially) when powerful voices seek to impose fear and control, the gospel speaks a clear message that calls us toward freedom, for ourselves and all our
Jan 26, • 29:10
WE ARE meant to shine
Sunday, January 19, 2025 Rev. Dr. Diana Holbert We continue our epiphany with a reminder of our capacity to be the ones who bear light into the world. In the midst of the devastating fires in LA County, we are also seeing signs of incredible compassion and care. We are invited to continue to bear that light to our neighbors. We are grateful to welcome Rev. Dr. Diana Holbert to our pulpit today. For the past five years, after her retirement from full time ministry, Diana has served as our Ch
Jan 19, • 18:36
WE ARE Pleasing to God
Sunday, January 12, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter This Sunday, following a week of unimaginable devastation in across communities in LA, we remember the words of affirmation and blessing that God speaks over us, as in our baptism. With sharp awareness of our vulnerability, and compassion for our grief, we dare to claim the joy that comes from remembering that God is “well pleased” with us. This Sunday in the Sanctuary, we have the joy of baptizing two young people: Olivia and Markie Hladnick.
Jan 12, • 18:29
The Road Isn’t Straight
Sunday, January 5, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Life’s road was never meant to be a straight line from one point to the next. At best, that concept is aspirational; at worst it can induce shame and despair. I believe God is with us in every twist and turn; life is complicated and nuanced. There are many faithful paths; the Magi teach us that a faithful path can be one that resists deceptive and oppressive powers, one that follows God’s light wherever it shines. In worship, we will celebrate Holy
Jan 5, • 25:12
Hope Is Worth the Risk
Sunday, December 22, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter What if hope is not a flimsy emotion dependent on outcomes, but a robust spiritual practice? Could we instead think of it like a muscle we can flex and strengthen? We recognize that the practice of hope is not easy, especially if you are enduring unthinkable suffering like war, oppression, or famine. Can we practice hope on behalf of those who are weary and worn down, letting our expressions of hope become a liferaft for others? At the center of o
Dec 22, 2024 • 25:58
Do the Good that is Yours to Do
Sunday, December 15, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter On Sunday, our Chancel Choir will be joined by chamber orchestra, harp and organ to bring us some incredible and beautiful Christmas music that will be woven through our morning worship, including Ralph Vaughn Williams’ beautiful “Fantasia on Christmas Carols.” In our scripture passage, we hear the same question asked three times: “What, then, should I do?” This season reminds us that small, ordinary actions add up; we must trust that we each have
Dec 15, 2024 • 14:13
We Can’t Go Alone
Sunday, December 8, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter The season of Advent whispers an ancient truth: We were never meant to journey these paths alone. In a pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps culture, choosing communal life is both radical–and deeply faithful.
Dec 8, 2024 • 29:01
You Are a Blessing
Sunday, December 1, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter Mary is described as “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28). She is neither wealthy nor powerful, and yet she is chosen to bear God’s child. Her story begins with blessedness and so does ours, for the prophet Isaiah declares that we are claimed by a God who calls our name. We are a blessing because we belong to God. When we’re rooted in our blessedness, we can treat every created being as a blessing as well.
Dec 1, 2024 • 23:14
More Than
Sunday, November 24, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter We believe in God’s presence in all creation, and also that God’s presence is more than we can fully understand. God’s power calls us to more than our own individualism, more than our fear, and more than our dreams. This Sunday, our Children and Grapple Choirs will sing during our one Westwood UMC worship gathering at 10am. Musicians and leaders from our Sanctuary and Loft communities will all be involved, and we get to welcome new members into the
Nov 24, 2024 • 25:30
For Good
Sunday, November 17, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter When everything seems to be falling apart, God is also at work birthing a new thing—in this world where we are created to contribute to the well-being of one another.
Nov 17, 2024 • 26:41
All Creatures Great and Small
Sunday, November 10, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter In these days after a national election, when so many among us carry fear for our safety and well-being, our faith invites us to remember that we are all held in care by God. Our God celebrates all creation, great and small, and invites us to join in care for one another. We are invited to generously participate in the work of tending the needs of all, especially those with little power.
Nov 11, 2024 • 27:43
All Love
Sunday, November 3, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter On All Saints Day, we remember the lives of those who’ve gone before–the ancestors on whose shoulders we stand. We honor their lives, and how they have shaped ours, as we let our community be shaped by the commandment that is at the center of everything: to love God and neighbor with all that we are.
Nov 3, 2024 • 21:27
The Healing We Need
Sunday, October 27, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter Trauma informed care gives us a framework for engaging with one another with compassion and thoughtfulness; I have been moved by ways that learning about this approach bring helpful changes to how we approach one another. This week, our scripture tells of Jesus healing a blind man named Bartimaeus, and invites us to think about the transformative power of divine love to heal us, too.
Oct 27, 2024 • 27:59
Weakness Is Our Strength
Sunday, October 20, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter In contrast to their expectations, Jesus tells his disciples describes the leadership he calls us to: it is our capacity to serve, not our elevation to positions of prominence, that makes us great.
Oct 20, 2024 • 24:30
Helpful Perspective
Sunday, October 13, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter This Sunday our scripture texts offer at least two significant points: First, that God knows us deeply, understands our struggles, and offers us grace. Second, that Jesus expects us to reassess our relationship to our things (and just about everything), and put our trust in God’s power.
Oct 15, 2024 • 29:46
Reflected Glory
Sunday, October 6, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter Scripture tells us stories of leaders like Esther, who found their power and capacity to be a meaningful part of transformational change. In this moment in the story of our planet, we are invited to step into our own capacities to tend, restore, and support God’s work of redemption and justice.
Oct 7, 2024 • 28:37
Thoughts, Prayers, and Actions
Sunday, September 29, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter Scripture tells us stories of leaders like Esther, who found their power and capacity to be a meaningful part of transformational change. In this moment in the story of our planet, we are invited to step into our own capacities to tend, restore, and support God’s work of redemption and justice.
Oct 1, 2024 • 28:37
The Good Life
Sunday, September 22, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter Scripture gives us examples of good, wise, compassionate, peaceable ways actions, and invites us to let our lives be a declaration of our faith. This Homecoming Sunday, we are invited to remember and share the stories of faithfulness that are a part of our community, that have shaped each of our lives, and that enable us to take action for the future of our planet.
Sep 22, 2024 • 31:05
When Will We Ever Learn?
Sunday, September 15, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter Our series, “Holy, Worldly Wisdom” continues, and asks us to consider why we are so resistant to heeding the voice of God. In Proverbs, Woman Wisdom speaks in a voice that cries out in the street. James names the dangerous power of the words we use, when we don’t “tame our tongues.” In an era of sound bites, zingers, and sick burns, how do we listen for holy wisdom? And how do we speak up for good, for our neighbors and our planet?
Sep 15, 2024 • 27:43
Think Globally, Act Locally
Sunday, September 08, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter The Bible is full of instruction–from the wisdom of Hebrew Proverbs to the advice of the Epistle of James. Also, we continue to learn, using contemporary aphorisms to pass along the moral advice needed in the present moment. In all of these forms, we find good advice that asks us to look beyond ourselves and pay attention to the needs of others. And, they remind us to act!
Sep 8, 2024 • 29:54
Holy, Worldly Wisdom
Sunday, September 01, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter This Sunday begins a five-week series that interprets lessons from the book of James and ancient wisdom from the Hebrew Bible — as we seek insight about how to respond to the ecological crisis we face in the 21st century. With poetry and practical faith, their lessons speak through the centuries, bringing a steady focus for an uncertain time. This week, we begin with love poetry from Song of Songs, and practical wisdom from James..
Sep 1, 2024 • 29:32
Unexpected Strength
Sunday, August 25, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter In Ephesians, we are told how to prepare ourselves to face life’s battles: with righteousness, peace, and the word of God. This is an unconventional form of armor, but one that gives us an unexpected strength.
Aug 26, 2024 • 27:48
wise / weird
Sunday, August 18, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter In Ephesians, we are admonished to live as wise people, and not be foolish. But our scripture also invites us to live in distinct ways that are certainly in tension with conventional expectations. From Weird Barbie to our national politics, we have a rich diversity of weirdness on display. Jesus invites us to be attentive to which wisdom we follow, and how we are called to live with each other.
Aug 19, 2024 • 27:34
A True Imitation
Sunday, August 11, 2024 Rev. Molly Vetter In a culture that connects authenticity and originality, the directions in Ephesians that invite us to be “imitators of Christ” sound a bit strange. Nonetheless, we are invited to shape our lives in imitation of Christ-like love. What does that look like today?
Aug 11, 2024 • 22:18
What Kind of Bread Would You Like With That?
Sunday, August 4, 2024 Rev. John Woodall We are very pleased to welcome Rev. John Woodall to our pulpit this Sunday. Rev. Woodall served as our Senior Pastor from 2006-2019, and currently serves as the CEO and President of our California-Pacific United Methodist Foundation. He will preach on John 6:24-35, in which Jesus speaks about his miraculous feeding of multitudes, and then describes himself as the “bread of life.” We will also share in the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Aug 4, 2024 • 20:51