Pastor's Greeting

Welcome to Westside UMC – where you come as you are and go forth transformed by Jesus. Representing a mosaic of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages, we have experienced God through Jesus Christ here in this body and are learning both to be more honest and vulnerable in all our relationships with one another while we grow in the hope and faith that comes from God.

Along the way we are learning to serve our neighbors through the Lord’s Harvest House, Grace for the Road, Prayer ministries, Migrant Camp ministries, City Team, Family Bridge and other opportunities.

Sunday worship is both casual and deeply meaningful. We would love the opportunity to meet, welcome and worship with you. Come as you are and visit us soon.

Yours in great Joy,
Pastor Brian

Westside's History
Westside UMC was chartered as a new United Methodist congregation on June 2, 1996. Jesus Christ prompted Rev. Dan Pitney to start this new congregation by gathering a small group of adventurous people who wanted a church home where worship is central and all could “come as you are.”

In March of 1996, the first worship service was held at Five Oaks Middle School in Beaverton. Westside continued meeting in the school for six years, hauling equipment and materials back and forth each week in a truck. Originally, office space was provided by the Aloha United Methodist Church and then a house was rented for office and meeting spaces while the church continued to grow.

In the spring of 2002, the current property was purchased from another congregation. We moved in later that fall and have since been adapting the building to fit our needs. Jesus recently miraculously provided new carpet for the education wing! 

Since then we have continued to grow in number and depth of experience of the life God gives. In March of 2009 Pastor Dan was asked by Bishop Robert Hoshibata to take the reigns of another congregation needing his gifts, and Pastor Brian Shimer was similarly asked to take over leadership at Westside. The current membership of the church is 176 people. We average 156 people in attendance on Sunday mornings.

Together we are preparing to take the next faithful step God has for us. Come join us!

Mission

The mission of Westside United Methodist Church is to connect people to Jesus Christ, nurture them in the faith, and equip them to serve in our community and world.

We see the mission as a pathway-- a means for us all to be growing from initial connection to growth and being equipped in the faith, to maturity.  We are now seeking to build into our ministries through all age-levels the opportunity for all to be "on that pathway" of growing up in Jesus.

God is calling us to be a multicultural congregation, known for serving our community.

Staff

Pastor: Brian Shimer was called by God to ordained ministry in 1983, graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in May 1988 and has now been a United Methodist pastor since then. He married Karen in August of 1981, they have four beautiful daughters ages 18 to 25, and live in the Beaverton area. Brian and Karen are both clergy in the United Methodist Church, with Karen taking her first full time appointment in July 2010 at the Canby UMC.  Alongside the joyful privilege of pastoral ministry, Brian enjoys bike riding, walking, family outings, water color painting and cooking.

Worship Music Director: Karen Shimer has served as worship pastor since September of 2009 and will be leaving this position in July of 2010.  She has brought a great gift of unity and direction to the worship ministry of the congregation.

Youth Director: Nancy Miller is our Youth Director. Nancy brings with her a fire for the Lord along with working with our young adults. Nancy married Darrell in 1989 at Twinlow United Methodist Camp. They live in Hillsboro with their 15-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. Darrel has a backround in professional theatre and now does theatrical and architectural lighting. Nancy works part-time as a social worker for Dove Adpotions International and enjoys being a Music/Drama/Dance/Soccer mom.

Secretary: Sherrell Davis has been secretary at Westside since the beginning and comes with 22 years of secretarial experience.  She works part-time for us, with her office hours from 1:00-5:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday each week.

Contact Us
Visit us at 13420 SW Butner Road Beaverton, OR 97005
Call us at 503-643-8070
Email us at info@westsideumc.org