Thoroughly Modern Millie

Justin Alderson and Scott Morgan

will be performing in South County Secondary School's rendition of

"Thoroughly Modern Millie"

Show Dates & Times

Friday, 4 May, 7:30 pm
Saturday, 5 May, 7:30 pm*

Friday, 11 May, 7:30 pm
Saturday, 12 May, 7:30 pm

Suggested Arrival Time for All Shows: 7:00 pm

*SCSS's 'Cappies' Show

Ticket Prices:
$10 General Admission
$9 Senior Citizen

Pre-Sale Tickets are selling fast -- Order yours today to ensure seating!
Contact CeCe Alderson at Cynthia.Alderson@fcps.edu or 703-446-1608 to order your Pre-Sale Tickets

Please come out to see a great show and support Westwood's Own!

Crew Members include:
Kit Alderson

Make-Up

Kari Alderson

Light & Sound

THE BETTER HOUR Contest

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:

THE BETTER HOUR Contest for High School Students

$10,000 First Prize; $50,000 in total prizes

Cash awards from the John Templeton Foundation

Contest run by The Wilberforce Project

Why? In commemoration of this 200th anniversary of the 1807 abolition of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Inspired by the vision and character of leading activist, William Wilberforce, and his crusade to end slavery and transform culture.

What To Do: Craft a project that will make your world a better place. Enlist others to help, execute your plan, and document it online.

Project areas include: Modern day forms of slavery, poverty, political or legislative action, education, and/or health. The project should reflect the issues and concerns of the 69 societies founded or assisted by William Wilberforce (listed at www.thebetterhour.com).

Sponsored by: The Wilberforce Project, with cash prizes from the John Templeton Foundation. In addition to an overall first prize winner, there will be prizes for projects in the following categories, and possibly a runner up for 2nd and 3rd place prizes.

At www.thebetterhour.com/tbh/Video2/viewing2.htm watch the trailer for the documentary film, coming in fall 2007 to national television, The Better Hour: William Wilberforce, A man of character who changed the world.

Project Submission: Project presentations will be submitted entirely online and can take a wide variety of creative forms, but only one or the other - moving visual or print, not both. Moving visual, video, and PowerPoint or audio presentations will have strict 5-minute time limit. Written, print, or photographic presentations will have a 1000 word limit AND 5-page limit.

Prizes: A total of $50,000 in cash prize money, which includes the $10,000 first place prize, provided by the John Templeton Foundation.

Final Project Deadline: March 1, 2008. Awards presented in Congress in May, 2008.

Register NOW at www.thebetterhour.com/contest to get full downloadable guidelines and contest rules as soon as they are available. Students are encouraged to register as soon as possible in order to have time to plan and organize, but registration must be made by January 15, 2008 with a final project deadline of March 1, 2008.

The Wilberforce Project 122 W. 14th Street, PMB 331 Front Royal VA 22630

Youth News

Check out the Westwood Youth Facebook group page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2327509535

The 'Displace Me' Invisible Children Event takes place this Saturday, April 28, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Check it out online at http://www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceMe. You can sign up online, get information, and get the release form for minors if you are under age 18. Email me by Friday if you want to participate in this event! You may also contact Haley for more details.

Westwood will welcome two singing groups from Bluefield College, Praise Singers and Variations, during this Sunday's worship service. Leah Gilbert is part of both groups. Come and support Leah this Sunday as the Bluefield singing groups lead us in worship!

The Church Family Night Picnic is Wednesday, May 2, at 5:30 PM. If you need to make reservations, call the church office by Monday, May 30.

ATTENTION 2007 High School graduates! Help us recognize you on Graduate Recognition Sunday by emailing me your name, high school graduating from, college attending, proposed field of study, other plans if not college, etc. Thanks!

In accordance with Westwood’s Child Protection Policy we will hold required annual training sessions for workers with youth, children, and preschoolers during the month of May. If you are currently a volunteer or would like to work with the young people of Westwood, please plan on attending one of the following training sessions: 1)Sunday, May 6, from 9:45-10:45 AM or 2)Sunday, May 20, from 8:30-9:30 AM. Both sessions will be held in the main section of Whitten Hall. If you have any questions, please contact Lora Johnson. Youth who are currently age 18 or older or will be by VBS (July 13) need to attend this training as well!

Impact Virginia! forms and money are due this Sunday! We will hold mandatory Impact Training Sessions from 4:30-5:45 PM on the following Sundays: May 27, June 3, and June 10. This training will take place in the Green Room and is for all adults and students going to Impact! Contact Tom Kern for more information!

Please remember this Sunday's FaithStation challenge is to bring someone with you to FaithStation - either a guest or someone who has been absent for awhile!

Make sure you check out the calendar at the bottom of the blog to keep informed about upcoming events.

Random Question of the week: What is your favorite childhood memory? Why?

Stephen's Ordination

Thanks to all who helped make my Ordination such a special time! Here's some pictures and video of the service - as you can see, it was truly a celebration not only for me, but for the church!

Stephen

Justin and Erin singing Seek and Ye Shall Find.

The Hardest Day Yet (The Viewpoint of a VT Student)

From Bryce Carter's blog:

Everyone has coped a different way.

Tonight was an entirely different atmosphere. Solemn, quiet, mournful. Candles lit up the area as thousands of flowers are laid about. In front of Burruss on the Drillfield is a mountain of flowers and in front of the breathtaking pile a ring of 33 individual piles of flowers, notes, and other materials.

No, I did not mistype. Each death is remembered, including Cho’s. I am glad, for despite his actions he is a casualty of this mess as well. We all have dark times in our lives; it is unfortunate his consumed others’ as well.

Read the rest here.

As everyone moves on after the terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech, may we always remember to keep praying - for the families of those that lost their lives that day, for those that survived, and for those that have been affected in ways that we cannot imagine by what took place on April 16. May God comfort those who are mourning and may God help us all to understand that which cannot be understood.

FCPS Memorial Ceremony for Virginia Tech

From the FCPS Office of Community Relations:

Fairfax County Public Schools will hold a memorial ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 20, at Robinson Secondary School. The ceremony is being held to support FCPS students, graduates, families, and friends who have been impacted by Monday's tragedy at Virginia Tech. The ceremony is open to everyone in the FCPS community as well as to the media. More information will be posted on the FCPS web site when it becomes available.

Youth News

Westwood Baptist Church will join churches across the state at noon on Friday, April 20, to observe a time of prayer and reflection as requested by Governor Tim Kaine on behalf of the victims, their families, and the students and faculty members at Virginia Tech University. The service, led by ministers from Westwood Baptist Church and Rev. Larry Lee, Pastor of Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, is open to all who would come to share their grief and remember those whose lives have been forever changed by this tragedy.

There will be a candlelight vigil in memory of Leslie Sherman and all victims and survivors of the Virginia Tech shooting at West Springfield High School on Saturday, April 21, at 7:30 PM at the flag pole.

You are invited to Stephen's Ordination Service this Sunday, April 22, at 3 PM. All youth and their families are invited and encouraged to attend the service and the reception that follows. It would mean a lot to me if you are there! There will be NO Youth Dinner or FaithStation that night!

The 'Displace Me' Invisible Children Event takes place Saturday, April 28, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Check it out online at http://www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceMe. Email Stephen if you want to participate in this event!

Make sure you check out the calendar at the bottom of the blog to keep informed about upcoming events.

Random Question of the week: What is your favorite TV show right now? Your all-time favorite TV show?

Time of Reflection and Prayer for Virginia Tech

Westwood Baptist will have a time of reflection and prayer in light of the tragedy at Virginia Tech from 6:25-6:40 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) in the sanctuary. In addition, Kirkwood Presbyterian Church has invited our church family to join them for a service at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Anyone wanting to take part in the Kirkwood service is encouraged to slip out of their class at 7:20. Kirkwood is located at 8336 Carrleigh Parkway.

Pray For Virginia Tech!

We rejoice that all of the Westwood Virginia Tech students are accounted for and okay. Please pray for the Virginia Tech community - especially the families of the victims, those injured, other students, faculty, and administrators.

Inspiration!

The 111th Boston Marathon is Monday, April 16th. Some of you may be aware of the powerful story of Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-son team that races together all over the world. Monday will be their 26th Boston Marathon together. This excerpt is from a Sports Illustrated article written in 2005 by Rick Reilly:

Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars -- all in the same day. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Check out these videos that tell the story of Team Hoyt:


The Story of Dick and Rick Hoyt as they compete in the Ironman Triathlon.


Music video of Team Hoyt (My Redeemer Lives).

Worship Is More Than A Song!

As we prepare to lead worship on Sunday (Youth Sunday), let us remember that worship is more than a song! Here is a video with the lyrics to a powerful song, Clear The Stage, from worship leader Ross King:

Youth News

Youth Sunday is this Sunday! Please plan to attend and invite your friends and family as well! Participants (readers, prayers, musicians, ushers, greeters, etc.) need to be in the Sanctuary at 9:30 AM to run through the service. If you want to help as a greeter or usher, please come - we still need several people to help out with these important jobs. The Youth Choir will rehearse at 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary.

Don't forget - we are giving away a prize this Sunday night at FaithStation! Make a comment on the Tuesday, March 27 post for your chance to win!

Stephen's Ordination is Sunday, April 22, at 3 PM. All youth are invited and encouraged to attend the service and the reception that follows. It would mean a lot to me if you are there! There will be NO Youth Dinner or FaithStation that night!

Displace Me, an Invisible Children event, takes place Saturday, April 28, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Look for more details soon! Check it out online at http://www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceMe.

Make sure you check out the calendar at the bottom of the blog to keep informed about upcoming events.

Random Question of the week: What is the Top 5 on your music playlist right now?

Draw Me Something!

Feeling creative?
Check out Draw Me Something!

Comment with the title of your drawing so we can all check it out! You can check out my awesome 'wesawood house' in the latest drawings section.

71 Days Later...What's Up With This Blog Thing?

Seventy-one days ago, back in January, I made the first post on this blog. That post was a recap of our Winter Retreat. And we've just kept going forward since then. Before we continue going forward, I figured I better say something about this blog and about myself. First, why this blog? In a nutshell, the reason this blog exists is for communication. My dream is that this blog will become the place to find information about our youth group and the place to join in community discussions using the comment feature. The blog is also a great way to share pictures and videos of us in action! Lastly, I hope that over time, you might get to know my heart a little bit better through this blog. I know I have been blessed to know some of your hearts better through your thoughtful comments.

Second, who is this "Youth Pastor" that makes all these posts? The simple answer is Stephen Gray, the Associate Pastor/Minister with Youth and Children at Westwood Baptist Church in Springfield, Virginia. In addition to being "Youth Pastor", I am a son, brother, husband, father, and friend. I really enjoy my job of working with you(th)! I love watching you grow - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually! I love to see your passion about God and His kingdom! I love to close my eyes and imagine what the future will be like and how you will impact the world! I love walking along with you as we journey together in relationship with Christ.

Third, why call the blog "This is FaithStation!"? FaithStation is our main thing - the one time we consistently meet together for food, fellowship, and worship that is uniquely ours. I think people get a sense of who we are when they visit us at FaithStation - how friendly, open, loving, goofy, and crazy we are! Sunday nights (dinner and FaithStation) show an authentic glimpse of who we are. I hope this blog does the same!

The Tomb Is Empty! He is Risen!

The Empty Tomb by George C. Gray

First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM

Join Us On Resurrection Sunday!

Russian Resurrection icon, celebrating & commemorating the Great Pascha (Easter) (16th cent.)

Join us Easter Sunday morning as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ! There will be a community-wide sunrise service held at Westwood at 6:30 AM. Join us for Sunday School at 9:45 AM and worship at 11 AM. There will be NO evening youth activities on Easter Sunday.

We Are Not Very Good At Bowling!

We finished off our Spring Break activities with a little bowling this morning. Many people bowled well, but the best bowling competition came down to Mike and one of our guests, Jeff. Mike ended up prevailing with a 142-146 score over two games and the title of best bowler! (Needless to say, we are not very good bowlers as evidenced by the fact that none of the thirteen of us could break 150!) Our competition for worst bowler was more intense. There were three candidates: Scott, Katy, and Jessica. Alas, Scott bowled too well and clearly separated himself from Katy and Jessica. Only two pins separated the two, but in an overwhelming vote (more factors go into worst bowler than just score) Jessica was declared the winner! And, although Kentucky stole away Texas A&M's basketball coach, Stephen was able to hand Clayton two last-frame defeats! Congratulations to all!

Nats Win!

We attended the Washington Nationals game against the Florida Marlins yesterday afternoon. The game turned out to be great, although it didn't start off that way. The Nats got behind early (again!) and by the middle of the sixth inning were down 6-1. They had not shown too much at the plate until the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, the Nats bats started to come alive. A couple of singles by Dmitri Young and Brian Schneider led to Ryan Church's three-run homer and the Nats were back in the game. Rally caps came out in the eighth and the Nats bats struck again in the bottom of the ninth - a double by Ronnie Belliard, a single by Robert Fick (scoring Belliard), a sacrifice by Felipe Lopez, a single by Kory Casto (scoring Fick), another single by Ryan Zimmerman, a walk by Austin Kearns, and a final single by Dmitri Young (scoring Casto) led to three runs and the 7-6 win - the first for the Nats this season and the first for Nats Manager Manny Acta! All in all, it was a great day at the ballpark!

Check out the pics below:

The gang outside RFK with President Teddy Roosevelt.

The view from our seats as the Nats take the field in the late innings.

Urging the Nats on to victory in the final innings - rally caps!

This is FaithStation! (Sunday, April 1)

We concluded our study of The 24/7 Experience Sunday night. We observed the student travellers as their journey ended in Los Angeles. In L.A. they met with film producer Ralph Winter (X-Men movies). Ralph shared with them his passion for making movies that ask questions instead of give answers. He also shared how he lives as a Christ-follower in the Hollywood entertainment culture. Our challenge from this last part of the journey is two-fold: how do we interact with culture as followers of Jesus? How can we encourage each other as we each move along the journey of our relationship with Christ? The video ended with the group of students participating in a benediction, in which they were affirmed and commissioned. What would be a good benediction for our group that would be both an affirmation of how Jesus is at work in our lives and a commissioning of our group to be on mission for Jesus? Comment with your ideas and we will use the benediction that develops from your ideas at FaithStation.

Congratulations to John Frazier!

Congratulations to John for winning our FaithStation Hoops Fanatics March Madness bracket contest! Reggie came in second and I (Stephen) finished third. Check out the "One Shining Moment" video for a recap of this year's tournament. Join us next year for your chance to have the ultimate in bragging rights!

Opening Day!

Spring is "officially" here - GO NATS!

Greatest April Fool's Day Hoax Ever?

"On April 1, 1957 the British news show, Panorama, broadcast a segment about a bumper spaghetti harvest in southern Switzerland. The success of the crop was attributed to an unusually mild winter. The audience heard Richard Dimbleby, the show's highly respected anchor, discussing the details of the spaghetti crop as they watched a rural Swiss family pulling pasta off spaghetti trees and placing it into baskets." Click here to read the rest of the article from Museum of Hoaxes.

This hoax is considered by many to be the greatest April Fool's Day hoax of all time because it was one of the first to use the medium of television. For the BBC article about this hoax and a link to the original video, click here. You can check out the YouTube video below (not as good quality as the BBC video).

For a list of the top 100 April Fool's hoaxes of all time, click here.

For more about April Fool's Day, check out this article at Snopes.com.

The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest (1957)