A Note from Pastor Brad

Dear Church Family,

Every season in the life of Windermere Union Church brings with it new joys, challenges, and opportunities to live out our calling as God’s people. As I look at the events in this newsletter, I see more than dates on a calendar—I see stories of love, service, laughter, and community. I see children practicing songs that will remind us of Bethlehem and the holy mystery of Emmanuel—God with us. I see hands preparing meals that will comfort hungry neighbors and bring light into places where hope sometimes feels scarce. I see friendships deepening around dinner tables and living rooms, reminding us that fellowship is one of God’s greatest gifts. I see hearts opening through the power of music, worship, and prayer, and I see the Spirit weaving these moments together into something larger than any one of us could create on our own.

My prayer is that this newsletter will be more than information—it will be an invitation. An invitation to connect with one another in genuine love. An invitation to serve, to stretch ourselves, and to discover Christ in the face of those we meet. An invitation to celebrate life’s blessings—whether in song, in service, or in simple acts of kindness. And perhaps most importantly, an invitation to grow deeper in faith together, trusting that God is always doing something new among us.

Our church is more than a building or a schedule of activities; it is a living story God is still writing. Each time you show up—whether you are singing with the choir, serving a meal, joining in prayer, or simply offering a word of encouragement—you are shaping that story. Your presence matters. Your gifts matter. You matter.

So, I invite you to step into this new season with open hearts and hopeful spirits. May we continue to embody the love of Christ in all that we do, so that when people encounter Windermere Union Church, they don’t just find a congregation—they find a family.

With love and gratitude,
Pastor Brad

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Every Tuesday at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary

There’s something sacred about voices rising together. On Tuesday evenings at Windermere Union Church, the sanctuary fills with a kind of joy that doesn’t come from polished performance but from honest, heartfelt singing.

Some arrive with trained voices, carrying years of choir experience. Others walk in nervously, admitting they can’t quite hold a note but love to hum along. All are welcomed the same. Troy, our Choir Director, greets each person with encouragement, reminding them that every voice is a gift from God.

Over time, the laughter grows louder than the wrong notes. Shy singers begin to raise their voices with confidence. Strangers become friends as they share snacks after rehearsal or stories about their week. For many, choir night becomes more than practice—it becomes family.

“The choir is more than music—it is ministry.”

And when Sunday morning comes, those voices aren’t just leading hymns. They’re leading us into worship with the reminder that we, too, belong to something larger than ourselves.

Serving at West Orange Christian Service Center

First Sunday Evening of Each Month, 5:00 PM

Every first Sunday evening, a group from Windermere Union Church gathers at the West Orange Christian Service Center to serve a meal to our neighbors in need. On the surface, it looks like a simple act—ladling soup, handing out plates, pouring drinks. But anyone who has stood behind the serving table knows it is more than that.

It is a moment of connection. Names are learned, stories are shared, dignity is restored. For some of our neighbors, this meal may be the only one they receive that day. For others, it is the rare moment where they feel seen and cared for. And for our volunteers, it is a reminder that Christ himself meets us in the hungry and the poor.

Month after month, this ministry becomes a rhythm of grace. It is ordinary and extraordinary all at once. And it is one of the ways our church lives out its call to love our neighbor as ourselves.

“In serving a meal, we find we are being fed as well.”

Tap Into Theater Academy  

Last Sunday, during Morning Worship

During worship at Windermere Union Church will hold something special: a performance from the Tap Into Theater Academy Youth Theater. 

As the youth rehearse, you can see their excitement and a little nervousness. But on Sunday morning, when the lights hit and the first notes are sung, something bigger happens. Their voices carry more than a melody—they carry hope, innocence, and the courage to share their gifts with the church.

For those in the pews, it will be more than a performance. It will be a reminder that faith is often like theater—stepping into roles bigger than ourselves, trusting the story will carry us. The young performers will embody what it means to believe even when others doubt, to dream when the world seems to say otherwise.

“When children and youth take the stage, something shifts.”

And in that shift, the congregation will see that worship is not confined to hymns and sermons. Worship is alive in the creativity and courage of young people who remind us that God’s story is still unfolding in unexpected ways.

Lunch at Matthew’s Hope

Second Thursday of Each Month, 12:00–1:00 PM

Every second Thursday, a group from Windermere Union Church heads to Matthew’s Hope to provide breakfast for our homeless neighbors. It is a ministry of presence as much as provision. The food nourishes, yes—but so do the smiles, the conversations, and the reminder that no one is forgotten.

The menu is often simple, but the love behind it is rich. Volunteers serve with kindness, pausing to ask names, to listen to stories, and to share words of encouragement. For many who come through the line, being treated with dignity is as healing as the meal itself.

Our volunteers often walk away humbled, saying that they feel they received more than they gave. In the faces of the hungry, they saw the face of Christ. In the act of serving, they themselves were fed spiritually.

“When we feed others, we ourselves are fed.”

Matthew’s Hope reminds us that the church is not confined to four walls on a Sunday morning. It is alive wherever love is given, wherever compassion is practiced, wherever Christ is made known in the breaking of bread.

December 2025

Children’s Christmas Pageant

Sunday, December 14 during Morning Worship

Every December, as the days grow shorter and the air turns cooler, our hearts turn toward Bethlehem. On December 14, during morning worship, our children will take center stage to share the Christmas story in their own words and songs.

The costumes may be simple—bathrobes for shepherds, tinsel halos for angels—but the impact is profound. With each line spoken and each carol sung, we are reminded of the miracle of that holy night long ago: a child born in a manger, bringing hope and joy to the world.

Parents and grandparents will beam with pride, cameras at the ready. The congregation will laugh at the occasional missed cue, and perhaps shed a tear when the children sing of peace and goodwill. What makes the pageant so powerful is not perfection, but honesty. The children remind us that Christmas is not about flawless production, but about the wonder and innocence of God’s love made flesh.

By the end of the service, the congregation will be filled with a sense of joy and renewal. For in the voices of our children, we hear again the angel’s message: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people.”

“The beauty of the pageant is not in perfection, but in the wonder of God’s love made flesh.”

Fellowship Group 

Friday, at the home of Deb and Pat Heisinger

There’s a warmth that comes from gathering in someone’s living room that can’t be replicated in a church hall. On December 19th, that warmth will come from the home of Deb and Pat as they host our next Fellowship Group.

The evening will be simple: food, conversation, and prayer. But it’s in those simple moments that faith deepens. Around couches and dining tables, people who were once strangers discover common stories. Longtime members share wisdom. Newcomers feel a little less like guests and more like family.

As the night goes on, laughter often mingles with stories of challenge and hope. Someone might share about a grandchild’s first steps, while another might quietly speak about a recent hardship. In both cases, the group listens, prays, and stands together.

“Faith grows best when it is shared around a table.”

By the end of the evening, the home will feel like holy ground—a place where community has been built and God’s Spirit has been felt in the ordinary warmth of fellowship.

Closing Blessing

As we close this season’s newsletter, may we be reminded that we are not just readers of events, but participants in God’s unfolding story. Every act of service, every shared meal, every song, every laugh, every prayer—it all becomes part of the tapestry of love that is Windermere Union Church.

May you go forth carrying the joy of fellowship, the strength of community, and the peace of Christ in your heart. And may this season bring you renewed hope, deeper faith, and the assurance that you are loved, valued, and never alone.

With God’s blessing,
Pastor Brad