WestRock Family News for December 23, 2012

December 23, 2012 Era of the Victory, Liberation, and Completion of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind

Weekly Greeting Table of Contents Dear Brothers and Sisters . Weekly greeting and Testimonies Greetings!

. Sermon Notes I hope you had a good Christmas. I am looking forward to starting an exciting New Year with you. . Light Thought for the day Many members really appreciated the testimonies with Jesus that were shared on Sunday during the service. If you missed them, or would like to hear them again, I got most of . Providential News them recorded. You can access them by going to:

. Quote for the Week https://soundcloud.com/pastor-andrew/sermon-121223-jesus

. WestRock Council Thank you to everyone who brought the delicious food for the pot-luck. God gave us such a beautiful sunny morning – to spend time with our beautiful WestRock families! . Announcements (from As you know – we are getting closer to Foundation Day. I guess you have heard all the the Sunday Bulletin) conditions that we have been asked to fulfill – ancestor liberation, donations, kyungbae conditions, and more. Please do not let these directives get you down. They given to us as goals that all of us should strive to fulfill.

As I recall, God gave us the first blessing – asking us to become perfect. Jesus also asked his disciples to be perfect. But God is not going to love you any less if you can’t fulfill everything. I believe the key point is that we come, not to take something, but with humble hearts to give something – to come with the desire to offer the best that we can, the best that we have, and to come with appreciation for God’s love and the incredible love and sacrifice of our True Parents that have made this day possible.

When Hyung Jin Nim was asked on one occasion – what is the meaning of Foundation Day – he said he honestly didn’t know. He described it as something of a mystery, but we are going to find out when we get there.

In my mind – I see Foundation Day as the beginning of God’s Kingdom on this earth. And I consider it to be an incredible honor and privilege to receive the Holy Wine in preparation for that Day and then to receive God’s Blessing on that Day – and to be amongst those who have committed their lives and fortunes to the building of God’s kingdom.

I am sorry – this year I got so busy I could not create my usual block print Christmas card for everyone. But I did write a song – if you would like to hear it, go to:

https://soundcloud.com/pastor-andrew/ste-006-heard-a-sad-story (to play it, click on the orange button on the top left of the screen)

This coming Sunday, Dec 30, Dr Thomas Selover will be giving the sermon. I will be visiting our Long Island Church. I will be here in WestRock the first Sunday of the New Year, Jan 6.

This Jan 1, as always, we will have ice-skating at the Westchester Skating Academy (91 Fairview Park Drive, Elmsford, NY 10523) It’s just off of 9A in Elmsford, (the first left hand turn after Sam’s club, from 9A as you travel north.) We are asking that everyone bring $2 for the skate rental. You are welcome to bring friends.

Finally – let’s prepare ourselves for the coming New Year, for God’s Day (Sunday Feb 10) and for Foundation Day (Friday, Feb 22).

Love your spouse, love your children, and let’s come together as a community and love the world!

God Bless You Andrew Compton

Sermon To hear the sermon go to: https://soundcloud.com/pastor-andrew/sermon-121223-jesus

Light Thought for the Day

“Just relax,” the hospital staff kept telling the young father-to-be, but it was to no avail. His wife was in labor and he was a nervous wreck.

After what seemed like a week, a nurse came out with the happy news, “It’s a girl!” she announced.

“A girl! Thank God!” said the new dad. “She’ll never have to go through what I just went through!”

Providential News

 58 Days until Foundation Day; 13th Day of the First Month of the 3rd year of the Heavenly Calendar (which will be Feb 22 on the solar calendar)

Quote for the Week

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalms 116:1-2 NIV)”

WestRock Council

Chairperson – Matthew Strater Vice-Chair – Rob Kitchens Secretary – Grace Selover Treasurer – Danso Sawamukai

Committee Assignments (so far): Youth and Education – Toby Gullery

Care Team – Grace Selover Finance – Danso Sawamukai Outreach – Tokiko Stewart Small Groups – Jim Stinard Sunday Service – Rob Kitchens 24+ – Danso Sawamukai and Grace Selover Peter Reiner has taken the place of Mary Hida

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 10, 7:30 pm at the White House.

Announcements (from the Sunday Bulletin)

WestRock Announcements (WR Web Site: www.westrockfamily.com)

Outreach  True Father’s Autobiography- please continue to do your best to distribute True Father’s Autobiography  OSDP/Bible Study – Dec 24 is cancelled. The next date will be Monday, Jan. 14  Ice Skating: Our annual Ice Skating party will take place as usual on January 1 @ 4:30 pm @ the Westchester Ice-skating Academy. Don’t miss it. And be sure to invite your friends! Just bring $2 for skate rental.

Community  Finance Statement: the WestRock financial report for the last 3 months can be viewed on our website  TODAY - Community Pot Luck Party: please stay for food and fellowship!!!  Winter Workshop: ALIVE is open! The workshop will run from 4PM Thursday, Dec 27th to 3PM Saturday, Dec 29th at UTS in Barrytown, NY. We will be looking at new ways to create, maintain, and grow a personal life of faith. We will not be serving dinner on the night of the 29th, so please try to make arrangements to pick up no later than 5PM.The workshop fee is $100, and for this workshop we will only be able to accept cash or checks (made out to HSA- UWC). Registration: http://bit.ly/11RSS9P What to bring/not bring list: http://bit.ly/TZjyir Staff Application: http://bit.ly/WOgM0B

 WestRock Prayer by Conference Call- Sunday 8 to 8:20 am Phone Number: 712-432-1699, Access Code: 736416# All are welcome.  Prayer Continues for Jiau-Lan Weinstein. She is fighting to overcome lung cancer. For Michael Kiely – he has cancer in one of his kidneys, And if you know the Aull family, John Aull has lung cancer.  Please pray for Gladys Starr, wife of Gilbert. She is on life support and is expected to pass on today. We will take a special offering for the family care fund.

LOVIN LIFE MINISTRIES LEARNING CENTER

For information on the schedule at the Lovin Life Learning Center, please call them at 212-997-0125 to find out details for all activities – including Ballroom Dancing, Junction, Korean Movie Night, etc. Next Ahn Shi Il: Saturday Dec. 29, 2012

MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!