Baptism
BAPTISM
For literally hundreds of years, followers of Jesus have made public declarations that they are “all in” with Jesus in a ceremony called “Baptism.” Baptism is a public declaration of faith done by a believer in the presence of a local group of Christians. Here’s some information about what Baptism is, and what it isn’t:
Baptism was a nearly universal practice in the early church.
It was not only something Jesus Himself did, but something that He called His followers to do.
Baptism was a formal response to the Gospel.
It was not done accidentally, or haphazardly. People who were baptized usually were questioned and responded with an answer to ensure they clearly understood they were making a formal stand to identify with Jesus and claim and proclaim Him as their Messiah. It was an important aspect of the salvation process (Repent and be baptized. – Acts 2:38)
Baptism was a personal response to the Gospel.
This means that it was a personal decision made by an individual, not by a tribe or family or nation. Infants, because they cannot make decisions, were not baptized.
Baptism was communal.
The result of Baptism was reception into and identification with this new community that followed Jesus. Baptism signified communion with Jesus, and therefore, with all His followers.
Baptism is a sacrament.
A sacrament is a symbolic religious activity that physically points to an invisible reality. In this case, the cleansing of a person’s physical body with water represents the cleansing of that person from sin by the miraculous power of Jesus’ sacrifice. The person going under the water is a symbolic representation of the death of their old self. Emerging from the water symbolizes the resurrection, through the power of Jesus, into new and eternal life.
It was the new mark of God’s Covenant People.
There is a link between Baptism (and the New Covenant of Jesus) and the mark of God’s old covenant with the people of Israel. Similar to the old mark, Baptism can also serve as a signpost that helps people distinguish who God has called and chosen into His beloved community, though the real signpost is the presence of the Holy Spirit.
UPCOMING DATES
during services
Sunday November 19th
Discover Discipleship
DISCOVER DISCIPLESHIP
Are you ready to take a deeper step into the WestGate community? How can I learn and live the way of Jesus? What does it look like to belong and be a member of our church family?
Here's what you can expect:
In the short online Intro Zoom session, you will explore what it means to learn and live the way of Jesus here at WestGate Church, by loving God, loving one another and loving our neighbor.
We will provide you with self paced online video sessions that will help you dig deeper in your discipleship to Jesus.
When you are ready, you will be partnered in a smaller group with a pastor/coach to meet with you, listen to your story, and help you determine what your next step with God might be here at WestGate Church.
DISCOVER DISCIPLESIHP
(ONLINE INTRO)
UPCOMING DATES:
Wed October 4th 7-7:45pm
Or
Wed December 6th 7-7:45pm
Discover WestGate
If you’re newish to WestGate Church and want to find out more about our community, this is a place to learn about our story, culture and values. You’ll have a chance to hear about why learning and living the way of Jesus is central to everything we do, as well as meet some of our leadership team who can help answer your questions. We’d love to meet you!
SARATOGA
CAMPUS
We will be meeting at our Saratoga Campus from 12:30PM - 2:00PM. Lunch and childcare will be provided.
UPCOMING DATES
Sunday - October 1st
or
sunday - december 3rd
SOUTH HILLS
CAMPUS
We will be meeting at our South Hills Campus from 12:30PM - 2:00PM. Lunch and childcare will be provided.
UPCOMING DATEs
Sunday - november 5th
Casa de FE
CAMPUS
Nos reuniremos a las 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm el DOMINGO 5 DE Noviembre
Tendremos almuerzo.
Fechas siguientes
5 De Noviembre
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE
As you are exploring WestGate Church, we thought this article from Christianity Today, written by our lead pastor Jay Kim, would be helpful in your search for a church.
marriage conference
God has blessed us with the gift of marriage and yet there are many challenges that prevent us from living more fully into what God intended marriage to be. It takes intentional effort to work through our communication and listening styles and in our busy schedules we all need extra space to reflect and reassess how we are all doing. We hope that through our time together, God would deepen our connection to one another so that we may walk in step with each other though out this year.
We are thrilled to announce that Glenn and Holly Packiam will be guiding our time together.
Glenn Packiam is the Lead Pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. Glenn is the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor and the most recent title, The Intentional Year, which he co-authored with his wife, Holly. Holly is the Women's and Parenting Ministries Pastor at Rockharbor Church and together they have four children.
Register and join us for a time of teaching and interactive conversations.
We will be providing light refreshments and Voyager Craft Coffee.
Friday September 8th, 7pm-9pm
Saturday September 9th, 9am-12pm
WestGate Church Saratoga Campus
1735 Saratoga Ave San Jose CA 95129
Schedule:
Friday
6:30-7:00pm: Check In/Coffee and Light Refreshments
7:00-8:00pm: Session 1: How to Connect With Each Other
8:00-8:20pm: Q & R
8:20-9:00pm: Guided Reflection
Saturday
8:30-9:00am: Coffee and Light Refreshments
9:00-10:00am: Session 2: Our Attachment Styles
10:00-10:20am: Guided Reflection
10:20-10:30am: Break
10:30-11:00am: Session 3: Rhythms of Intentionality
11:00-11:20am: Q & R
11:20-11:40am: Guided Reflection
11:40-12:00pm: Resources and Helpful Next Steps
FAQs
-- If we are engaged or in a serious relationship, can we still sign up? Yes!
-- If my spouse can't make it, can I still attend? Yes!
-- If I'm single but want to learn and grow in my understanding of marriage, can I join? Yes!
Childcare is available for walkers through 11 years old.
If you need a scholarship, please let us know. Email formation@westgatechurch.org for more information.
KIDZCAMP 2023
KIDZCAMP - STELLAR
Join us for a Stellar KizCamp this summer! This year KidzCamp will launch our kids on a cosmic quest where they’ll have a blast shining Jesus’ light to the world and will take them on an out-of-this-world adventure that’s light years of faith-building fun.
Registration is now CLOSED for children entering Kindergarten through Fifth Grade in the Fall of 2023.
Saratoga Campus
July 17-20
9:00am – 12:00pm
South Hills Campus
July 10-13
9:00am – 12:00pm
July 14
Evening family event
SERVE
We hope to impact the lives of about 300 children over the week of KidzCamp, and we'd love to have teams full of excited and engaged volunteers.
Bible Lab
Bible Lab :Historical narratives + Wisdom Literature
(with David Tieche)
Join WestGate Church teaching pastor David Tieche as he explores some of the most common - and most difficult questions found in the Old Testament. Questions like:
Is God a moral monster for commanding (what seems to be) genocide of the Caananites in the Book of Joshua?
Why do the Proverbs seem to imply an easy if/then pattern to life, when it’s clear things are not always that neat or clean?
What is up with the Psalms where someone wished they could bash the heads of the enemies’ babies against rocks? How is that even Christian?
This interactive lab will give you tools and frameworks to help you when you encounter difficult texts that can leave us bewildered (and honestly, a bit afraid that God might not be too good).
Childcare is available for walkers through 5th grade. ($7 per child)
Date/Time
DATE: Tuesday , May 2nd
TIME: 7:00-9:00pm
Location
WestGate Church - Saratoga Campus
(1735 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA 95129)
Foster Care at WestGate
Foster Care Information Dinner
Are you interested in learning more about how to take the next steps towards becoming a foster parent or how you can be a blessing to foster families? Do you have any questions on what it would look like to join WestGate Church in supporting the foster system in your area?
Then check out our upcoming Foster Care Info Event.
Hear from our ministry partners: Foster the City and Help One Child as they talk about some possible next steps for you and from current WestGate foster families!
Mar 24, 2023
6:30–8:30pm
WestGate Saratoga Campus
1735 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA
Ash Wednesday
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Join us for a time of reflection and contemplation as we begin the Lent season.
FEBRUARY 22, 7-8:30PM
South Hills Worship Center
6601 Camden Ave
San Jose, 95136
Dive into a daily devotional this Lent season.
The Heard | Parents Praying for Their Adult Children
The Heard Prayer Gathering
We are a community of parents of adult children who believe in the power of prayer. We gather once a month to corporately pray, knowing when our prayers have been heard we are freed from the anxiety and worry that often weighs us down. As we release our children to the God who hears us, we can leave with a renewed sense of hope and peace, confident in His work on their behalf.
For more information please email Lisa Averill (laverill@westgatechurch.org) or Lisa Palumbo (lpalumbo@westgatechurch.org)
Date/Time
We meet the LAST MONDAY of the month at 6:30PM.
Location
Online ZOOM Gathering
Reset Conference
RESET CONFERENCE
Reset Conference is WestGate Church's annual new year conference to intentionally take a deep breath, rest and realign ourselves to Jesus. We will have a time of prayer, worship, reflection, and discussion. Our desire is for you to come out of the conference refreshed and recharged for the year ahead. Our keynote speaker will be Glenn Packiam, lead pastor of Rockharbor and author of The Resilient Pastor and The Intentional Year.
Childcare is available for walkers through 11 years old.
Date/Time
Saturday, 1-28-2023 | 9am-12pm
Location
WestGate Church - Saratoga Campus
1735 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA 95129
Registration
Early Bird: $25
After January 16th: $30
Childcare: $5 per child
Vision and Prayer Night
Vision and Prayer Night
As we look towards the future of our church, and the impact we hope we will make to further God’s Kingdom, we want to take a step back and reflect on the incredible things He has already done.
Join us in this journey to prayerfully cast vision for the future of WestGate Church, as a community of people learning to live the way of Jesus in Silicon Valley.
Date/Time
Friday, January 27th
7:00pm-8:30pm
Location
WestGate Church - Saratoga Campus
(1735 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA 95129)
WestGate Women - Worship & Reflection
WESTGATE WOMEN: WORSHIP AND REFLECTION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14: 7-8:30pm
The Christmas Season is a busy time. Even more than that, it’s a draining time. So many things to do. So many demands on our time and lives. And if we’re not careful, we’ll enter into the New Year more exhausted than ever. To combat this, WestGate Women is creating a night where you can have space to connect with God. This is a time for you to experience the quiet and peace so often missing in this season - a chance for your soul to breathe and connect with the God who has come to be With Us. If you need it, we have childcare provided.
Date/Time
Wednesday, December 14th | 7:00p-8:30p
Location
WestGate Church (1735 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA 95129)
Advent Devotionals
ADVENT 2022 DEVOTIONAL
This Advent Season, we’re partnering with Christianity Today to make their 2022 Advent Devotional available to you for free. Each day starting Nov. 27th, you’ll get a devotional that features a devotional reading, written by a host of gifted authors and pastors, along with Scriptures to meditate on and personal reflection questions. All of these can help you focus your mind and heart on the reality of Jesus and the Advent.
Men's Retreat
MEN'S RETREAT 2022 | November 4-6
KOINONIA CONFERENCE CENTER
Join us this year for our Men’s Retreat on November 4th-6th at Koinonia Conference Center.
Our speaker this year will be Chase Replogle. Chase will talk about the 5 Masculine Instincts (Sarcasm, Adventure, Ambition, Reputation and Apathy) and how these instincts can’t be ignored, but can’t be indulged. We’ll discuss how Jesus leads us on the path to being better men.
We’ll also hang out, eat great food, and have a blast with laser tag, campfires, a ropes course and more. Don’t miss this chance to not only have fun, but make meaningful connections with other guys.
Registration cost is $230, so sign up today by clicking the button below!
NOV 4 - NOV 6
AT KOINONIA CONFERENCE CENTER
Additional questions? Fill out the form below.
Managing Leadership Anxiety
MANAGING LEADERSHIP ANXIETY
"The goal of managing anxiety is not simply for relief, it is to connect more fully with God."
According to a recent study from Barna, nearly 40% of pastors have seriously considered leaving ministry in recent months. Many if not most of us serving and leading local churches in the Bay Area can relate. It's a uniquely challenging time to be a pastor.
Join us on Wednesday, Sept.21st for a learning experience and conversation with Steve Cuss, author of Managing Leadership Anxiety. Steve's experience as a hospice and trauma chaplain, then as a local church pastor, will help us navigate both our own personal anxiety and the corporate anxiety of the communities we serve, as we move collectively toward becoming a non-anxious presence in an anxiety-stricken world.
This event is designed for pastors and key church staff and lay leaders who are serving and leading in the trenches people's lives.
Date/Time
Wednesday, Sept.21st | 9am-12pm
Location
WestGate Church (1735 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA 95129)
Jingle Jam
JINGLE JAM
This is our special KidzTown Jingle Jam! It will be a fun night of FREE pizza, a spectacular show, and dessert. This event is intended for families with K-5th grade children but younger siblings are always welcome. Bring your friends too!
Date/Time
Wednesday, December 7th | 5:30pm
Location
WestGate Church (1735 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA 95129)
Intentional Christian Grandparents Lab
Intentional Christian Grandparents Lab
“This intentional Christian Grandparenting lab is designed to encourage and equip Christian Grandparents by teaching Biblical principles that will inspire you to be a spiritual influencer to your grandchildren and leave a legacy of faith as God commands us in Deuteronomy 4:9.
“Attending this lab gave us a whole new heart on what it means to be an intentional Christian grandparent.
We always felt we were good grandparents, but the lab opened our eyes to what God’s vision of what a grandparent should be. ”
Future Meeting Dates
10/04, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15.
South Hills Campus Theater
Starting
October 4th
6:30-8:30pm
Parenting Teens with Confidence
Parenting Teens with Confidence
Having a calm and loving home is often a parent’s goal but can be quite difficult to achieve especially when the teenage years arrive. If you feel alone and frustrated in dealing with your teen or tween then this lab is for you! In this Lab parents of middle and high school students will learn to counteract common parenting mishaps – dealing with choices, setting boundaries and allowing for problem solving so they can move through these years with confidence.
We’ll cover both the impacts of different parenting styles and ways to move toward more positive ways to parent that allows for love, kindness and discipline at the same time. Learn how to deal with allowing our teens to grow in independence and trust so they are ready for the “real world” when they leave your home.
We will also cover how to manage anger in our homes – both ours and our kids -- which often destroys relationships for a lifetime.
You’ll learn how to recruit your entire family to be on the same team in tackling everyday issues especially with screens and social media.
Saratoga Campus Theater
6:30pm-8pm
Wednesdays, October 5 & 19
Wednesdays, November 2 & 16
Wednesday, December 7
Back 2 School
Donate your time by serving with our local students.
You can’t put a price tag on quality time, but it can make an impact far greater than you could ever imagine. We have a number of different ways for you to get involved with mentoring and coming alongside students in our local area. Find out all these way at our info meeting on August 11th.
Thank you for your donations!
Thanks to all who generously contributed, we have now reached our goal and will be providing backpacks, shoes and supplies to over 300 students in our community!
College Crew
A group of young adults ages 18-21 who are striving to know their identity in Christ, learn their God-given purpose, and all the while be a part of a relational community.
This is an open invitation for you to come and be a part of something that matters.
Join us for our weekly gathering on Mondays at 530pm at the Saratoga campus!
1735 Saratoga Ave San Jose CA 95129
CURRENT
TEACHING SERIES
CONNECT WITH US
Stay up to date with all things College Crew on our Instagram! Find our latest events, weekly devotionals, and opportunities to serve!
Having a mentor especially as a college student/young adult is essential. We believe mentors who can pour into your life both spiritually and personally will help grow your faith even deeper in Jesus.
Creatives Night - Meetup
A Community of Creatives at WestGate Church
Calling all creative types, amateurs and professionals alike, to enjoy a night of food, art, worship and meeting other great creatives.
If you enjoy art, videography, photography, writing, music, dance, spoken word, social media content creation, doodling, or really any other form of "creativity", we would love to invite you to join us.
Thursday, June 30 | 7pm-8:30pm
Saratoga Campus Theater
Share this image with your friends!
Hygiene Kits Drive
Hygiene Kit Drive
We are collecting hygiene kits to donate to the city so they can use it to help the unhoused in our city and connect them to much needed resources
Both Westgate campuses will be collecting items listed for the kits on July 10th, 2022, so the city can pick them up later the same day.
Hygiene Kit Packing List
Razors and shaving cream
Small shampoo and conditioner
Body Soap
Loofas or wash cloths
Underwear
Socks
Brush, combs
Sunblock
Bug repellant
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Floss
Hair ties
Small first aid kits (Neosporin, bandaids, alcohol wipes, mask, hand sanitizer)
Instant Ice Packs
KIDZCAMP 2022
KIDZCAMP - MAKE WAVES
Come and join us for KidzCamp Make Waves where kids discover what they do today can change the world around them. The week will be jam packed with games, songs, and Bible stories that will show our kids how to create a ripple effect that can impact the world around them in ways they will never forget. So, come ready to have fun as we learn how God put all of us on this planet to do the same thing- to make waves!
WestGate Church's Summer KidzCamp is for children entering Kindergarten through Fifth Grade in the Fall of 2022 (not for those entering transitional or junior kindergarten). Cost is $40 per child.
Questions? Email kids@westgatechurch.org
SARATOGA CAMPUS
July 11-14 from 9:00-12:00pm
July 15 Family Night Wrap Up Celebration
SOUTH HILLS CAMPUS
July 18-21 from 9:00-12:00pm
July 22 Family Night Wrap Up Celebration