First Parish Church of Westwood Welcomes New Full-Time Minister, Hosts In-Person Service and Ice Cream Social

Cherry Ice-Cream (cropped) by Sue Thompson at Flickr

Editor's Note: Westwood Minute is posting this submission for Ms. Nancy Hyde. 

First Parish of Westwood is excited to welcome Pastor JT Hills as our new full-time pastor. Pastor Hills and his family moved from Reed City, Michigan where he first served as Senior Minister at United Church of Big Rapids and then Interim Pastor at East Church UCC in Grand Rapids. Originally from Nebraska, then California, JT earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska and his Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California. JT was ordained in 2014. JT and his wife have two young children who will be attending Westwood Schools.

Join us on Sunday, September 12th! First Parish Church will be holding an in-person, “Welcome Back” Sunday service on September 12th starting at 10AM. All are welcome to this intergenerational service! Since returning to in-person worship in May, all who attend service at First Parish have been wearing masks while inside.

The “Welcome Back” Sunday service will be followed by an Ice Cream Social. Monetary donations for the ice cream and toppings will be gratefully received and will go to the United Church of Christ (UCC) Haiti Appeal. Additionally, members of the Christian Education program will be available at the ice cream social to answer any questions about Sunday school.

First Parish is an Open and Affirming church, affirming the dignity and worth of every person regardless of race, gender identity or expression, physical or mental ability, family structure, education level, economic circumstance and faith or religious tradition.

For more information about First Parish, please go to www.firstparishwestwood.org

Thanks to Ms. Hyde for sharing this news from First Parish of Westwood.

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