WESTLAKE HILLS
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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Our mission is to invite people into God’s larger story as we follow Christ together.

SUNDAY MORNING

January 11

9 & 11 am | Worship Service in the Sanctuary;
Mission Spotlight - ARM
9:45 am | Sunday Classes for All Ages

january 18

9 & 11 am | Worship Service in the Sanctuary
9:45 am | Sunday Classes for All Ages

Sunday School childrens Christmas breakfast-0379.jpg

Live stream at 11 am

WORSHIP BULLETIN

SUNDAY CLASSES

UPCOMING EVENTS, CELEBRATIONS & GATHERINGS - JOIN US!

Our Ministries offer a variety of events to help families, groups, communities, and individuals join together and learn more about God.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL EVENTS

Featured

Feb 27

Austin Pilgrimage 54

Save The Date | Feb 27-March 1, 2026 | T Bar M
This is an amazing three-day experience of community, enriched with conversation, music, prayer, worship, unexpected moments of grace, and delightful surprises.

For more information, contact Teresa Ward or Martin Hunt.

Apr 24

Annual Church Retreat

April 24-26 | Mo Ranch

Save the date for a relaxing, fun weekend with your family & friends.

Registration will open January 15. Contact Teresa Ward
if you have any questions.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL EVENTS

OUR LATEST STUDIES & READINGS

CLICK HERE FOR ALL SUNDAY CLASSES

Featured

The Full House Young Family Class

9:45 am | Ross Hall
A study for parents -“Habits of the Household: ”Each week we will focus on one key family habit: waking, mealtimes, discipline, screens, bedtime, rhythms of work/rest. This will be a practical, grace-centered discussion on how to integrate our faith into the daily chaos of our family.

Christians in a World of Conflict Class

Sundays, January 11 to February 15 | 9:45 am | Parlor

Dr. Stacy Ikard, Senior Associate Pastor Dr. Karl Slaikeu, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized psychologist, mediator and negotiation expert Join Stacy and Karl for an in-depth look at the Apostle Paul and his struggle with church conflict in the region of Galatia in the early church. In this class, we will strive to understand the text and context of the book of Galatians, but we will also look at Paul's effectiveness as a peacemaker, and what can be learned and applied to our struggles and conflicts. At a time when division and hostility seem so very strong - in both church and society - this study is both timely and provocative!

Westbank Women Bible Study

Through May 6 | 10 am | Parlor
Join us for refreshments, music, and prayer followed by excellent teaching. We will begin with a study called "An Unlikely Lent" by Rachel Billups. For more information contact Christy Engemoen or Mary Allaway.

Tuesday Morning Men’s Group

Tuesdays | 7:00 am I Church Parlor
Through December 23, our study will be "Who Needs Christmas" by Pastor Andy Stanley. All men are welcome on Tuesday mornings at 7:00 am in the WHPC Parlor. For more information contact Mike Ussery .

Contemplative Christianity

Sundays | 9:45 am | Room 202
Contemplative Christian practice quiets the mind to allow for the experience of God’s presence in that moment and (eventually) in every aspect of life. Our Contemplative Christianity class offers the opportunity for group study, discussion, and experience of this ancient-yet-modern Christian approach to knowing God. We share a group reading and discussion, often accompanied by a practice opportunity.

Janis Claflin facilitates the class and is happy to answer questions, 512-657-5498, jcforpeace@gmail.com.

Sr. Men’s Bible Study

Tuesdays | 8 am | Zoom

Join this small group of men who read through the Bible, explore the context in which it was written and discuss its meaning for our lives today. Contact Bill Allaway for a Zoom invite.

Humans of WHPC

Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this series is our way of shining a light on the incredible individuals who make up our WHPC family. Through their unique perspectives and heartfelt experiences, we’ll celebrate the stories of faith, resilience, and love that define our community.

VISIT HERE

LIBRARY EVENTS

Featured

Jan 15

Daytime Women's Book Club

Jan 15 | 11:00 CST in-person

The Only Woman in the Roomby Marie Benedict HF

Join us at 11:00 CST for lunch and a discussion. Her beauty saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans and understood more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee from their castle, and the escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.

Feb 12

Evening Women's Book Club

Feb 12 | 6:30 PM

Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson NF, Memoir

Every Saturday afternoon, a boy who loves to cook walks to his grandmother's house and helps her prepare a roast chicken for dinner. The grandmother is Swedish, a retired domestic. The boy is Ethiopian and adopted, and he will grow up to become the world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson.

Feb 19

Daytime Women's Book Club

Feb 19 | 11:00 CST in-person/Noon Zoom

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston F

Join us at 11:00 CST for lunch and a discussion. Frederick Fife has a kind heart. If he borrowed your car, he’d return it washed with a full tank of gas. At 82, he’s lonely, broke, and on the brink of homelessness. But his luck changes when, in a case of mistaken identity, he takes the place of grumpy old man who has gone missing from the local nursing home. Now he has food and a roof over his head.

NEW IN THE WHPC LIBRARY
The WHPC Library adds new items to it’s collection each month. Visit the Library and find treasures for all ages.

Click here to view “What’s New”

SERVE

Featured

MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES

Through the Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) food truck ministry, volunteers provide food, clothing, hygiene products and other life-sustaining items to our homeless neighbors 7 nights a week, 365 days a year.

Mobile Loaves & Fishes is also the visionary organization behind Community First! Village, a master planned development in east Austin that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for the disabled, chronically homeless in Central Texas.

WHPC is responsible for make-ready and truck run shifts on the first and second Sundays of every month.

SIGN UP HERE

Visit www.mlf.org to learn more.

SERVE AT COMMUNITY FIRST!

NEW, REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES

WHPC has a long history of supporting MLF with transitioning people from homelessness to being part of a community that includes housing, dignified income, physical and mental well being, and supportive relationships. We are continuing to do this with monthly gatherings at King Park area of Community First. These gatherings focus on hanging out with neighbors and sharing a meal. Think of it as cul-de-sac party/cook out in your neighborhood. Grilling, games & conversations … This is a family friendly event that will bless all those that participate.

Please sign up here

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in Syria and Turkey

The scale of the disaster facing Syria and Turkey after the Feb. 6 earthquake is becoming clearer. The 7.8-magnitude quake and its aftershocks have left more than 11,000 people dead and thousands more injured; these numbers will rise as search and rescue continues. Buildings have been reduced to rubble, and roads and bridges have been severely damaged, resulting in dangerous conditions for first responders. In some places, such as Aleppo, this destruction is compounding the damage of the now 11-year war in Syria.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing emergency relief and short-term recovery in the impacted areas through long-standing partners in Syria, in addition to ACT Alliance members in Syria and Turkey, all of whom are already on the ground. PDA will remain active throughout the entire recovery process, accompanying our partners in the area as they determine long-term program needs and providing financial support for building and resilience. Click here to learn more.

FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE

MISSION BLOG

Featured

Come to the Table at King Park

Once a month, a small band of WHPC folks (10–12 of us) heads to Community First! Village and throws a block-party–style dinner at King Park. We set tables, cook a simple meal, decorate around a theme, say a prayer (often led by a neighbor), and—most importantly—sit down and talk. Thirty to forty-five neighbors from the 400s–600s streets show up. We learn names. We hear stories. We laugh. We belong to each other for an evening.

This is not a “serve and leave” project. It’s shared life. It’s our church’s commitment to dignity, discipleship and education —neighbors leading prayers, requesting themes, shaping menus, and helping host.

And it’s working—building a community that is not just for the neighbors, but is for all who attend.

High School Senior, Henry Files first came to King Park four years ago to help install the park. He’s been back nearly every month since. Here’s what he’s learned:

“Homelessness is isolation. Community First! gives support, but our Meetups help with belonging. Blair, the self-appointed mayor, has taught me to advocate for people. Charles, in his metallic-pink construction clothes, reminds me to never be ashamed of who I am. Brian, the artist, showed me that work can be joyful.
Every time I look someone in the eye and greet them by name, I watch their face light up. They feel seen. And honestly, they’ve helped me as much as I’ve helped them.”

That’s the jewel of King Park: seeing and being seen on a regular basis. It is rhythm, relationship and the love of God in action.

If you want to learn more about how to get involved with this meaningful monthly gathering, reach out to Martin Hunt (martin4hunt@gmail.com).

Faith Rising After the Flood

A Visit to First Presbyterian Church, Kerrville
by Pastor Stephen Finkel

Last week, I had the privilege of visiting our faith partners at First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville—a congregation that has become a lifeline for their community in the wake of the devastating Central Texas floods.

Eighty-two days after the floodwaters rose, I sat in the pastor’s office, jaw dropped, listening to story after story of heartbreak—and hope. The room was calm, but just outside its walls, the work of rebuilding lives continues in full force.

Finding Hope, Building Futures: An Update from PCHAS

At Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, we believe in the power of restoration—the kind of transformation that happens when someone hears, perhaps for the first time, “You matter. You are not alone. There is hope.” That’s exactly what Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services (PCHAS) offers families across Texas—and why we’re proud to call them a mission partner. We recently got an update from PCHAS during our monthly Mission Spotlight at WHPC.

EMPLOYMENT

Featured

Co-Director of Student Ministry

The Co-Director of Student Ministry provides collaborative leadership to the middle and high school ministries of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church (WHPC). This role helps students experience faith in Jesus Christ in ways that connect meaningfully to their everyday lives. The Co-Director works alongside a fellow Co-Director and the broader Faith Formation team (Preschool, Children, and Young Adult Ministry) to develop students who are equipped as apostles of Jesus for their adult lives—grounded in faith, rooted in community, and confident that WHPC will always be “home.” The Co-Director of Student Ministry will serve in a collaborative leadership model, leveraging individual strengths while continuing to grow alongside the other Co-Director to best support the overall ministry.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Contact

Kory Tomlinson kory@whpc.org

Organist/Pianist

The Church Organist/Pianist at WHPC is a part-time, non-exempt position accountable to the Senior Pastor through the Director of Music. The primary responsibility is to provide organ and piano music for worship services, funerals, and special events while accompanying the congregation, choir, and Worship Band in various musical styles. Additional duties include attending staff and worship planning meetings, educating the congregation about the sanctuary organ, overseeing its maintenance, and organizing the Annual Lenten Organ Recital Series. The role also involves serving on the Worship Ministry Team and managing relevant budget items.

JOB DESCRIPTION

CONTACT:
Emily Craven emilyc@whpc.org

WHPC BLOG

Featured

Pizza and Game Night

Pizza and Game night was a wonderful evening of delicious DoubleDave's Westlake's pizza, fun games, and most importantly another opportunity for intergenerational connections with our faith community. The room was filled with joy & laughter as we played Bunco, Mexican Train Dominoes, Swoop, Golf and minute-to-win-it games with the kids! Thank you to everyone who attended, it was a blast!

Thrilling Thursday

WHPC's Thrilling Thursday was a complete success! Our children had an amazing time doing ALL the fun things. We had bounce houses, homemade bubbles, reading with Ms. Peggy, water slides on our playground, paining with Lorraine, a balloon parade, Olympic relays, themed snacks, and most importantly a lot of laughter, friendships, surrounded by love. Thank you to everyone who participated. We are SO excited for next summer! Stay tuned dear families!

VBS - Start The Party

The party never stopped at VBS this year. We had so much fun with our children and volunteers as we learned all about how Jesus gives us endless reasons to celebrate. All week we danced, played silly and sometimes messy games, flew paper airplanes, and painted paper mâché bowls. What a blast to start the summer with so much joy and celebration for the Lord.

Pop Up Sunday

School is over and our kiddos are moving up! Every child was celebrated and promoted as we paraded through the church wearing our graduation hats and waving our pom poms. Goodbye 2023/2024 school year!

Children’s Thrilling Thursday: Inflatable Funday

🎉🎈 Children’s Thrilling Thursday: Inflatable Funday was a blast! Our little artists had a great time drawing on balloons and letting their creativity soar. Stay tuned for more fun and exciting events coming your way! 🎨✨

Confirmation Sunday 2024

On April 14th, our church joyfully received 25 new members from this year’s confirmation class. These students gave so much of their time to this six-month experience of exploring their faith with gifted teachers and mentors. I was in awe when the three teachers spoke to their small groups at the breakfast that morning. One talked about the earnestness of her group - earnest in their pursuit of knowledge, with their questions and with their honesty. All talked about how privileged they were to walk alongside these students. It was such a beautiful example of the blessing that comes from serving others - especially young people.

It took a lot of people to make confirmation successful - staff, mentors, parents, teachers, and of course - you! Your financial giving allowed us to offer this amazing ministry for the year and to celebrate them well. Thank you!

Sunday Funday - Bingo & Bouquets

You could feel the anticipation when you walked into the dining hall for Sunday Funday. The kids’ eager eyes stared at the bingo prize table full of squishmallows, nerf guns, giant candy bars and games. We ate, we played, and we cheered for the winners. And everyone got to take home a beautiful bouquet of flowers. It was a lovely time together for the families of WHPC.

Stellar VBS

Our week of VBS was stellar in so many ways and we have much to celebrate! First, we want to thank all of our volunteers who dedicated their time to help the children of our church and community know Jesus better. We learned how to shine Jesus’ light in our lives, so people around us can see the love of God.

Easter Sunday Funday Egg Hunt

Easter is a time to celebrate and we did just that at our Sunday Funday. With over 1,000 Easter eggs, the kids filled their baskets with candy and treats as they hunted for eggs on the playgrounds. Family and friends enjoyed a wonderful lunch and fellowship throughout the afternoon. It was fun for all and we are so happy you joined us!

2023 High School Winter Retreat

This retreat was full of God-filled moments. From the student-led talks and student-written devotionals to the family-style meals and copious amounts of free time - these students I know experienced something miraculous. From camping on top of a mountain, to early sunrise kayak adventures, and all the free time to fellowship with one another in this community. I hope that you will be able to hear the God-filled stories in the coming weeks! To help you get a better picture of what it was like check out the pictures above!