Sunday Worship:
In Person and
Streaming
at 9:00 and
11:15 am
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This Week at Pender
September 29, 2022
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By following Jesus
and reaching out to others,
we seek God's transformation
of ourselves and our world.
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On Sunday, October 2 2022, Pender Lead Pastor Will White will preach on "Rekindle the Gift" based on Luke 17:5-10.
“Rekindle the gift” is the way the blessing is pronounced. The epistles are full of talk about gifts. Lists abound, hierarchies even of which gifts we ought to seek and which ones the church needs most.
But this verse is not talking about those gifts – those individualized but community-supported gifts of the Spirit. Instead, there is something more fundamental here, something deeper and more personal but also more universal.
The mentor speaks of grace—the empowering presence of the Spirit and the redeeming love of Christ. It is that which we claim when we first say yes, when we first accept the embrace of Jesus through the arms of the church.
Go back, is the advice, and remember who you were and who you are. Go back and look forward. Go back and remember that you’ve been loved from the beginning, whether you knew it or not.
"Rekindle the Gift" is from the new sermon series titled Not Ashamed. This series is about claiming the faith we’ve been given with boldness and enthusiasm. But it is also about honoring those from whom we learned about Christ. So, there can be space for both: making new commitments to following or renewing commitments long standing. We look forward to seeing you!
We look forward to seeing you!
All of Pender's services are streamed live and in person. Masks are currently optional.
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The Sunday Traditional Service is in person and live-streamed at 9:00 am |
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Pender Common Ground Contemporary Worship is in person and live-streamed at 11:15 am |
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"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ. " 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pender is a church committed to the power of prayer. Our "prayer chain" is a group of church members constantly in prayer for the needs of our congregation. To make your prayer needs known, you may email the prayer chain by clicking here to send an email to our group of prayer warriors.
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World Communion Sunday is October 2, 2022
Holy Communion joins us in Christian unity. This sacrament invites us to focus on the holiness of communion with God and one another. On World Communion Sunday, United Methodists, in conjunction with other denominations and believers worldwide, participate in communion to recognize our unity in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. This universal and inclusive connection is the foundation of the special offering for World Communion Sunday.
Your donations support racial and ethnic students in achieving their educational goals and transforming communities. In 2021, World Communion Sunday offerings awarded 242 scholarships and grants. Your generosity continues to provide scholarships, grants, mentoring and training for leadership development. Fifty percent of the offering provides scholarships for graduate students from the U.S. and other countries. Thirty-five percent supports racial and ethnic scholarships for students pursuing ordained ministry (deacon or elder) and includes a mentoring program.
Fifteen percent funds Ethnic-In-Service Training Grant for leadership development, recruitment, training, and retention of ethnic United Methodist persons in leadership positions in every level of the church and its ministry.
The United Methodist Church, the world and our communities are in a time of transition. Now, perhaps more than ever, we are called to extend healing and hope which will guide us to becoming a new creation in Christ. Through our gifts and support, we can invest in talented, qualified students from around the globe to transform the world as witnesses for Christ!
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Following Jesus’ example of servant leadership means being willing to engage with those around us no matter their background. Because of Jesus’ love for us, we can show love to everyone, no matter our similarities or differences. So let us strive to show others a love that says, “We are more alike than we are different.” A love that respects everyone’s right to have differing opinions. A love that asks, “How can I help you?” A love that acknowledges our own weaknesses and shortcomings. A love that focuses on Jesus.
Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to remember your sacrifice for us. Guide us to spread the love and joy of Christ to all we meet. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thought for the Day: Jesus calls me to look beyond earthly divisions and to love all people. Prayer Focus: To love others as Christ does.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. - John 13:15 (NIV)
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Each act of financial giving to the Lord is a testimony to your willingness to TRUST God in your life. Each time you give, you are acknowledging your total and complete dependence on Him as your Heavenly Father. Not to give faithfully to the Lord’s work is a sign that you’re unwilling to trust God in your life.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21, 24-34
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 12:16-21
SUPPORT PENDER THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS, GIVING AND SERVICE
We are asking everyone to prayerfully ask for God’s provision to fulfill the spiritual, physical, people and financial needs of Pender United Methodist Church. Some of the current needs of the church include the following:
· The church building needs a new roof so that when God blesses us with much needed rain, the rain stays on the outside of the building.
· Pender has faithfully paid its share of apportionments in the past. The apportionments represent the share Pender, as a local church, contributes to the Virginia United Methodist Conference to support local, national, and international missions and pastor retirements. Current levels of giving are currently insufficient to allow for the payment of apportionments this year.
Please prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to be the answer to prayer to meet the needs of the church.
The following prayer is being shared to guide you as you pray for Pender’s needs.
Dear Lord,
You are worthy to be praised. You are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Equip us to strive for Your kingdom and for Your righteousness. You promise that if we do so, all these things will be given us. You know what Pender United Methodist church needs. We pray using Your word for the funding needed for a brand-new roof. We also pray using Your word for the funding to allow Pender to pay its share of apportionments this year.
We thank You for Your providence and we pray with gratitude and expectation. In Your Precious Name we pray. Amen and Alleluia.
We trust that the One who has been faithful in the past will be faithful in the future. Thank you for your continued giving, service and prayers.
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The 11:15 AM Common Ground Worship Service team is beginning the journey of doubling our service’s attendance by Fall 2023. Assisting us in accomplishing this goal is our consultant Rev. Jim Chandler.
We will be meeting with Rev. Chandler once per month virtually to discuss strategies that will allow us to achieve our goal. Our first team meeting will take place on the evening of October 5th. Please stay tuned for ways to contribute and get involved.
If you have any questions or thoughts regarding this new outreach team, please reach out to Garrett Armentrout at garrettarmentrout@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Garrett
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Flood Buckets
Flood Buckets can be brought to the Trunk or Treat event on October 29 at 4:30 pm.
Pender United Methodist Church is requesting that each family donate an item in support of our assisting our neighbors in Florida and Puerto Rico who are working through the devastation and impact of natural disasters, specifically hurricanes. It is our hope that everyone will join with us in assisting to build flood bucket cleaning kits that will assist the families.
All items must be new. All cleaning agents must be in liquid form. No powders can be accepted. Items for donation may not be imprinted with cartoon characters, advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols.
Requested Cleaning Kit Materials:
One Five-gallon round bucket with lid (14.35" h x 12.19" w x1)
- No screw lids
- This may be used, but it must be free from all residual product
- Advertisements on the outside are acceptable.
- No patriotic or religious symbols are to be displayed.
One 32-64 oz. bottle liquid laundry
One 16-40 oz. bottle liquid concentrate household cleaner (please, no spray cleaners)
One 16-34 oz. bottle liquid dish soap
One 4-8 oz. pump spray air freshener
One 6-14 oz. pump spray insect repellent (pack of 10-20 wipes also acceptable)
- Pump spray bottles must have protective covers
One scrub brush (with or without handle)
18 re-usable cleaning wipes
- No terrycloth, microfiber or paper towels
- Remove the packaging
Five scouring pads
- No stainless steel or pads with soap on them
- Remove from packaging
36-50 clothespins
One 50-100 ft. clothesline (cotton or plastic line)
24 roll of heavy-duty trash bags (33-45 gallon sizes)
Five N95 particulate respirator dust masks (1-3 mm thickness)
Two pairs kitchen gloves
- Durable for multiple uses
- Remove from packaging
One pair work gloves
Cotton with leather palm or all leather
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United Women in Faith General Membership Meeting
Slideshow of pictures from PUMC United Women in Faith quarterly business breakfast meeting and service project event.
We had 16 women from Pender and another neighboring UMC who assembled 100 personal hygiene kits for incarcerated women.
Music by Pender's pianist/organist, Liz Moon.
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GBE Backpack Blessings
Pender is partnering with Greenbriar East Elementary School again this school year to provide weekend food bags to students.
GBE Backpack program is back with a need to support 50 students each week. We have 3 ways that you can help support this important ministry.
OPTION #1
- Visit the table in the church lobby beginning October 2nd, select a Shopping bag based on the attached shopping list (please note approximate cost to purchase items is included)
- Sign out the Bag # that you have chosen on the sign-up sheet and please include your email address (This way we can keep track of the bags and send out friendly reminders and important information regarding our packing schedule)
- Take the bag and list home and have fun shopping
- Return the shopping bag, list and items to the designated container in the narthex no later than Sunday, October 16th
OPTION #2
OPTION #3
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Make a donation to help sponsor a child or children and we will do the bulk shopping for you. Donations can be made online using your mypenderpage or by writing a check and specifying it go to the line item: GBE Backpack Program
If you have questions, please contact Ann Hines or Jami Flemmons.
Thank you for supporting this ministry in our community!
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Spiritual Gifts Discovery Fair
A Spiritual Gifts Discovery Fair will be held on October 2nd between worship services from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM in the Gathering Place.
There will be a very brief video and attendees will be given the opportunity to fill out a short questionnaire that will help them to identify their spiritual gifts.
Everyone who fills out a questionnaire will receive a door prize. There will also be a few booths highlighting opportunities for service. In addition, there will be refreshments for all. If you attend the early service, stick around for the fair. If you attend the late services, come a little bit early.
We hope to see you there.
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Reaching Out to New People
By Pete Andrews
Have you ever wondered how to reach out to new people to bring him or her to God and to Pender UMC? Well, that is what the Reaching New People Team at Pender is all about. Reverend Melissa Dunlap, an Elder within the Virginia Annual Conference, is Pender’s consultant to discuss and implement ways to do just that in the community around Pender UMC.
Our first event will be Pender’s Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 29th. We are currently thinking of ways we can get to know the guests who will come.
We are looking for new members to join our group. If you would like to be a part of this, please email me at Andrepr100@aol.com.
We are just getting started and will be planning more events throughout the year.
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Office Volunteers
We are looking for a few volunteers that would be willing and able to help out at the Church Office during the week. We could use some volunteers to help answer the phone, sort mail, and fold the bulletins if anyone feels so called to help. We would want help primarily on Monday and Wednesday mornings, but if you have availability on Thursdays, we can also use your help then as well!
Please contact Joe Mace or Pastor Will for further details and information.
As always, thanks for everything that you all continue to do for Pender and the Church. We are truly blessed to have a foundation in Christ upon which we can always depend on in these crazy days that have made up the past few years!
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The Connections Sunday School Class will resume on Sunday, October 9, at 10 am.
Rev. White, Brian Stevenson, and other volunteers will lead the class based on the lectionary readings for each Sunday.
Come join us in Room 206 (Library)!
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Do you like to read and talk about books? Do you like to read current bestsellers or classic books - mysteries, thrillers or non-fiction?
The Book Lovers Group meets monthly on the second Sunday at 4:00 PM. We are meeting by Zoom and normally we meet about 1 1/2 hours. We have a lively discussion about the book since sometimes we all like the book and other times, we can’t agree if we like the book.
The Pender Book Lovers Group will be reading Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz in October. The group will be meeting by Zoom on Sunday, October 9 at 4 PM. The book is available for purchase on Amazon or at the local public library.
The TV series will premiere on PBS MASTERPIECE Mystery October 16th!
Contact Iris for more information or the webmaster for the Zoom link.
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The Pender Nursery is available on Sundays during services and Sunday School classes.
Please let us know the ages of your children so we can best prepare for them at pender.church/signup.
Note that all children must wear masks and have their temperature taken.
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Children's Sunday School meets Sunday in person from 10:15 - 11am.
Welcome to Sunday School!
Any questions? Please speak with Miss Jane or Miss Maya!
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Calling all Shepherds! If you like working with children (ages PreK - grade 6) and are willing to help distribute materials, and assist children in the classroom, we'd love to have you join our Children's Sunday School team!
Help our children to feel God's love and the support/encouragement of our Pender family!
(Sundays, 10:15 - 11am. Sign up for 1 week or 40!)
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Presentation of Bibles to Children September 25.
Presentation of Bibles to children and sending blessings and prayers to all the Sunday School teachers and shepherds was held during the traditional morning worship service.
Some photos from the reception
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Sunday School
Topic: Youth Sunday School
Time: Sundays @ 10:oo am-11am
At Pender
Youth Group Sunday - 4:00-5:30
TRIP TO ATWOOD’S CABIN FOR YOUTH October 7-9
The youth group is headed to Mark Atwood’s cabin October 7-9. This will be a great opportunity to relax in Christian fellowship. Youth and parents, please let us know if your youth will be coming. We’ll arrive on Friday, and most will stay until Sunday when they’ll return home. Others may leave earlier if need be. We’ll explore beautiful downtown Ruckersville, located a half hour from Charlottesville on 29 North. Perhaps we’ll take a hike, see some historical sites, BBQ, or tell stories. Rev. White may share the secret of “crossed and uncrossed”, but maybe not. We’ll try to do whatever else you are interested in. Please come.
By the way, we continue to meet on Sunday afternoons at 4pm. Be on the lookout for a trip to the Native American museum in DC in November.
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With the departure of Minister Howard Finley, church leaders are seeking ways to support the youth of our church and reach out to our community while continuing to investigate all options (including staff) to support youth ministries.
In the meantime, Mark Atwood is planning Sunday evening meetings with support from Rev. White.
Rev. White is discussing with youth and parents possible Educational Day trips and fun outings the youth might enjoy this fall. We’ll continue to let you know what we are doing as we seek to support the youth of Pender while reaching out to our community. ~Rev. White
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MIRACLES OF MISSIONARY MINISTRY
Let me introduce you to another one of Pender Supported Missionaries. Neal Hicks and his wife served in Japan for about 30 years. After his wife's death, Neal settled in Nashville, TN after discovering that a significant number of Japanese families lived and worked there in two Japanese companies, Nissan and Bridgestone, and are largely untouched with the Gospel. So Neal continues to work in the greater Nashville area bringing the gospel to unreached Japanese families. He also continues to work with Rev. Hiruma in his ministry to the homeless in Tokyo, a ministry his wife was very passionate about continuing.
Neal has shared with us a testimony with Mr. Kaz.Ogawa, a top executive with Nissan During a Sunday worship, Mr. Kaz gave a powerful testimony of coming to know Christ and was later baptized. Very soon thereafter, Kaz was notified by his company that he was being relocated back to Tokyo. Prior to Kaz coming to Christ, Neal had shared with him a few pictures of the Homeless ministry he was previously involved in, while living in Tokyo. Just to see many hundreds of homeless men and women touched Kaz deeply. He was a bit overwhelmed but responded by saying, "I'm going to be involved in this Ministry."
A couple weeks ago, Neal received an email from Kaz in Tokyo saying, "my oldest daughter has briefly joined me and we are now here in the town of Ueno, Japan. Right now, we are both here with Rev. Hiruma, the Director of the Homeless Ministry, and we are helping to cook the food for the homeless people." Only a short time later, Neal received a phone call from Japan and it was Rev. Hiruma. He told Neal how blessed he was to have Mr. Kaz interested in helping with this ongoing outreach. Most likely, Kaz will be sharing his personal testimony with them very soon.
Beyond this, and since Kaz returned to Japan, he witnessed how his relationship with Jesus has greatly and favorably impacted the way he now relates to those he is boss over at Nissan. ALREADY JESUS' LIGHT IS SHINING THROUGH HIS LIFE.
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All Pender Meetings, Classes and Events on the Church Calendar for the 2021-2022 school year expired at the end of June 2022.
If you are the leader of a meeting, Sunday School Teacher or event leader, please add your events for the 2022/2023 school year to the Event Calendar.
This applies to events at Pender, Zoom Meetings, groups at people's homes, enjoying a meal at a restaurant. All Pender events must be accounted for as they are reported to the District Office.
Pender Members can add your own events to the calendar through MyPenderPage.
Log onto MyPenderPage, find "Events" on the menu bar, then "Calendar". On the right top, click on "Add Event" to add it to the Pending Calendar.
You will get an email when your event is approved. Note that you cannot add an event to a room that is already reserved for another meeting.
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries |
The WFCM blue cart is outside the church.
All donations of food and toiletries are welcomed and needed.
Item of the Week: Vegetable Oil
Please no:
* Expired food
* Glass jars
Thank you for your continuing generous support of WFCM.
Save the Date!
WFCM’s Annual Fall FUNdraiser
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Chantilly National Golf & Country Club
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Appetizer and Dessert Reception with in-person fun OR participate online only.
Online Auction for all participants.
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries ("WFCM") Current Request for Donations
The WFCM Food Pantry is accepting outside donations at their address below. There is a greater need for food but fewer donations.
You can also help by ordering from Amazon for delivery to WFCM. Rice, beans, canned fruit, diapers (Sizes 4, 5, 6), pasta, pasta sauce, etc.
WFCM
4511 Daly Drive, Suite J
Chantilly, VA 20151
Financial contributions are also accepted (cash, check or through our website). Please mark your tax deductible donation "WFCM Food Pantry." This will be recorded on your giving statement.
Thank you for your continuing support of WFCM. In 2021, Pender donated 6,128.74 pounds of food and personal care items to help the needy in the community. Thank you for your ongoing and generous support of WFCM.
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Pender is an open and welcoming church. We accept and embrace all persons, period. All people are blessed children of God. Pender is a caring and praying church community; we believe as Christians that we are called to follow and practice the ways of Jesus Christ, who is our ever present and living God.
Our mission is to practice and embrace, providing unconditional love and acceptance of all of God's children as He loves and accepts all of us.
We do not discriminate based on age, mental, physical, or intellectual ability, culture, gender, race, religious belief or unbelief, or sexual orientation.
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October 1, Walk to Fight Suicide
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October 2, World Communion Sunday
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October 2, Spiritual Gifts Discovery/Ministry Fair
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October 2, WFCM Annual Fall FUNdraiser
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October 7-9, Youth Trip to Atwood Cabin
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October 9, The Connections Class resumes
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October 9, Pender Book Lovers Group
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October 29, Trunk or Treat, 4:30
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November 12, Scouting for Food
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November 12, Boy Scout After-Party
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December 3, Christmas Concert
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December 4, United Women in Faith Ugly Christmas Sweater and Sing Along Party
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December 9, Youth Orchestra Concert
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December 10, United Women in Faith General Membership
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December 11, Build Your Own Gingerbread House
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February 12 through the 18, Hypothermia
Weekly Events
- Sunday
- Children's Sunday School Class at 10:15 am.
- Youth Sunday School Class meets at 10:00 am.
- The Seeker Sunday School Class meets at 10:15 am.
- The Turning Point Youth Group at 4:00 pm
- Monday
- Mary Martha Circle, in person and online
- Tuesday
- Staff Meeting at 11:00 am.
- Handbell Rehearsals at 6:45 and 7:30.
- Wednesday
- Ruth Circle meets in person.
- Thursday
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4th Thursday Romeos at 11:45
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Lectio Divina Prayer Group Learn more here
- AV and Worship Team
- Choir Rehearsal
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