Age 3-Kindergarten (in the Community Center Building): 6:00-8:00 p.m., with optional extended session until 8:30 p.m.

Grades 1-6 (in the Sanctuary and Education Building): 6:00-8:30 p.m.

West Lawn’s Vacation Bible School is unlike any “school” your children knows – it is an experience! For five consecutive days every summer, children from all over the area come together on our campus for an entertaining, educational and very active themed camp.

• Children ages 3 through 12 rotate between various stations, such as crafts, games, Bible story, snack, and more, all learning about Jesus and how to become more like Him.
• With over 150 adult and youth servants assisting with this program, children are safe and secure at West Lawn’s VBS.

This year’s theme, “Operation Overboard” will challenge children to dare to go deep with God, in an underwater aquatic adventure. Dive Masters and Ocho the Octopus mascots will lead the children in opening and closing sessions, while other team members lead the games, snacks, Bible storytelling, crafts and science stations. Each night, children will learn a new Bible lesson and its relationship to their lives:

• Sunday: Depend on God – Noah Depends on God (Genesis 6-9)
• Monday: Dare to Care – A Servant Girl Dares to Care (II Kings 5)
• Tuesday: Claim Jesus – John Proclaims Jesus (Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3)
• Wednesday: Choose to Follow – The Disciples Choose to Follow Jesus (Luke 5, John 21)
• Thursday: Change the World – Paul Delivers the Good News (Acts 27)

Register today for our Operation Overboard VBS event!

It’s here! After two years of planning, the celebration of 100 years of ministry is here. And, what a story. We started in a barn. We built a chapel, and then a larger building. Then we almost lost it to a sheriff’s sale. Then we took on a young seminary graduate named Rev. Rollin T. Reiner, who would shepherd us for four decades. We expanded again, added an education building, and then a community center.

Now, look at us: 1,700 members, four Sunday services, Sunday School for all ages, youth ministry, small groups and fellowship opportunities all week, Beautiful News, and West Lawn Wednesday. We feed hundreds. We minister to thousands, around the block and around the world. And in everything, we give all the honor, praise, and glory to God!

Please join us for Centennial Sunday, May 20, 2012, as our Bishop Peggy Johnson preaches at all four services. We also hope to see you at the Centennial Banquet, Saturday, June 9, 2012, at 6:00 pm at the Crowne Plaza in Wyomissing, as Dr. Tony Campolo speaks. Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 9, 2012, for the Essence Of Joy Alumni Singers (at the 11:00 am service, and an afternoon concert). And please be there Sunday, November 11, 2012, for a tribute to veterans of our congregation.

Stay tuned for info about a history video, sales of shirts and collectibles, and more. And please tune in to see WLUMC featured in the “Berks Time Train” history minute, on Monday, May 7, 2012, in the 5:30 pm Berks Edition on WFMZ-TV69.  Join in as we remember, rejoice, and renew, sharing God’s love, and making disciples for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Happy Centennial, West Lawn UMC!

Various Centennial-themed gifts are available for purchase, including Christmas Tree ornaments, polo shirts, t-shirts and Cat’s Meow collectibles.

Click here to view a “Time Train” segment showcasing West Lawn UMC!

For more details regarding our Centennial, contact the Church Office at 610-678-5611.

This year, our projects will reach not only the immediate streets surrounding West Lawn, but we will also look to make a difference in the City of Reading.

On Saturday, May 19, from approximately 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., we will offer “DRIVE-THRU” prayer stations, where people can pull their cars off the road and receive immediate prayers. These DRIVE-THRUs will be located at West Lawn UMC, on the corner of Penn Avenue and Woodside Avenue, in our North Parking Lot, and, in the city of Reading, at Holy Cross UMC.  If you would like to help advertise our DRIVE-THRU Prayer stations by holding signs on the side of the road (as shown in this picture), or you would like to be one of the persons who pray for the individuals that ask for prayers, please complete the form below.

In the West Lawn community, we will be helping various home-owners with projects around their house. These projects include lawn maintenance, painting, small repairs and more. In Reading, we are teaming up with Little Acts of Love to help spruce up various parks and communities. If you would like to be on one of these teams, please complete the form below.

This weekend, and the projects chosen, are designed and intended for everyone in our congregation to participate. Adults, as well as children, are encouraged to be part of this day as we look to Change the World for Jesus Christ.

Classes will meet once a week, on Sunday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. at Gring’s Mills, and will include a 45 minute bible study/ discussion questions and a running topic and a 30 minute walk/run. Classes began on April 29.

This is an outline of the class:

Week 1  Introduction and Testimonies
Week 2  Running the Race before Us – Gear
Week 3  Run Your Race – Shoes
Week 4  Free to Run-Stretching-Core Exercises
Week 5  The Hay is in the Barn- Injuries-Injury Prevention
Week 6  If you have to ask… Basic Nutrition
Week 7 Starving the Rabbit – Common Weight Loss Mistakes
Week 8 Yes, You Can – Staying Motivated
Week 9 The Right Race – Muscle vs. Fat
Week 10  Pancakes/Waffles – Road Race Etiquette
Week 11  Know your MP3 – The Best Food for Runners
Week 12 The Finish Line – Race day

Call Kim Williams at 610-929-0711 if you have any questions or would like to register.