Parkside Church Westside Blog

Family News

We are grieving with Marsha Herring upon the death of her husband, Michael. A memorial will be held on Tuesday, December 30th, at 12:00pm at Hempel Funeral Home in Amherst. If you are unable to attend, everyone is welcome to a reception in the lower level of Parkside Westside at 2:30pm.

Welcome Adam Romans 

Adam Romans serves as the lead pastor of Parkside Green. He and his wife, Christina, have three children: Lydia, Ben, and Julia. We are glad to have Adam here to preach today as Matt preaches in Green.

Holiday Children's Ministry - December 28th/January 4th

Just a friendly reminder that children's ministry is only offered for nursery, toddlers, and special needs children during holiday weekends. This will include December 28th for Christmas and January 4th for New Year's. Our Youth Neighborhood is also on break during holiday weekends. All classes will resume on January 11th.

Read The Bible With Us In 2026

We would like to invite each of you to join us in reading the Bible this year. Below are 2 options for committing to reading the Bible in 2026.

• One book we have available is the Daily Devotional New Testament, a wonderful resource for daily encouragement. Each of the 365 entries includes a few small passages from the New Testament as well as a brief reflection and prayer prompt based on the readings for that day. If you'll be around this Sunday, please stop by and grab a copy from the Welcome Area.
• You can also follow this Five Day Bible Reading Program for 2026. This schedule takes you through the Bible in its entirety in one year. Printed copies are available at the Welcome Area as well.

Adoption and Fostering Support Group - January 11th 

If you are a parent or guardian who has gone through the adoption/foster care process, join us for this support group on Sunday, January 11th, at 11:00am in Room 208. This group is also for those interested in adopting and fostering. Please RSVP to Jon if you plan to attend.

History & Theology: Church History Course - January 11th 

This class begins on January 11th and runs through March 22nd. We will meet in Room 210 from 11:00am-12:00pm. Please sign-up here if you plan to attend. 

Course Highlights Include:

• The Early Church: How the Apostles' faith was defended by Augustine and defined in the Councils, Creeds, and Canons (Nicea, Chalcedon).
• The Reformation: A deep dive into the Five Solas and the ministries of Martin Luther and John Calvin.
• The English Puritans: Explore the lives of faithful men like John Owen and their impact on Christian living.
• Revival & Missions: Contrast the Great Awakenings (Edwards vs. Finney) and learn the cost of commitment from pioneers like William Carey and Lottie Moon.
• Modern Challenges: Analyze the rise of Theological Liberalism and the courageous Fundamentalist Response that preserved orthodox faith in the 20th century.

Parkside Westside Playgroup - January 14th 

Join the moms, dads, and caregivers of preschool aged children (ages birth-preschool) for some purposeful play alongside your child and his/her peers. We will meet in the lower level on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:30am. We will have stations set up and have some time of song and stories. Feel free to pack your lunches and stick around after to eat together. Hope to see you there!

Informational Meeting: Serbia 2026 High School Mission Trip - January 18th  

From July 16-28 in 2026, a group of students from Parkside Church Westside's high school ministry will travel to Serbia and partner with Christian students there to host a week-long English Camp for unbelieving students in the community. Students who complete grades 9-12 in the spring of 2026 will be eligible to apply.

If you would like to learn more about this missions opportunity, join us for an informational meeting about the trip on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 12:15pm in Room 210. We will provide lunch, give an overview, and field questions you have. Sign-up here. 

Student Winter Retreat - January 24-25

This year, our winter retreat for students in grades 6-12 will be hosted at Camp Mission Meadows on Chautauqua Lake in New York! We look forward to playing games, building friendships, and digging into the Bible together. Click here for more information and registration.