Pender has a powerful group of individuals who pray for the needs of the congregation. This group offers prayers of thanksgiving, for strength, for healing power for family and friends and for other issues in your life.

Please contact Iris Salcewicz with any prayer requests you have and if you would like to become a prayer warrior for Pender. 

Your joys and concerns will be added to the prayer list.

Be Imitators

Children learn to function in real life by imitating those around them.  They learn to speak by listening to their family’s words and copying what they hear. They learn to interact with others by observing how their loved ones interact with others. They learn what’s culturally and socially appropriate by watching and imitating.

They learn how to eat, play, read, pray, cook, fish, braid, draw, garden, build, worship, invest, and navigate relationships by noticing and mimicking those around them.  And it doesn’t stop with children. People will often reflect those closest to them, as well as their environment.

Perhaps that’s why, while writing from the confines of a Roman prison, the apostle Paul gave the believers in Ephesus a heartfelt charge: “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 NLT

Paul knew that loving and reflecting God was foundational. What we observe will get repeated and, eventually, passed along. The fancy word for this concept is discipleship—where we learn from those we trust and teach others what we’ve learned.

Regardless of where we’re at in life, we’re all being discipled by something. That’s why we should carefully consider who we are listening to and following.  It is vital to build our lives on Truth.  It’s already in our God-given makeup to reflect God. But as humans, we still have to intentionally remember who and whose we are, which is the first step in becoming more like Christ.

PRAYER

God, You are an unlimited God.  There is nothing that is too hard for you, and there’s nthing you cannot do. Lord, help me to understand the areas in my life where I can use the resources you gave me to help others. Help me be a light to others.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

“Be Imitators.”  YouVersion 24 August 2023.  https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/

Board of Discipleship Presentation of the Denman Award for Clergy for Pastor Bruce Johnson

The Denman Award presentation and dinner for Pastor Bruce Johnson was held at Pender UMC in Fairfax, VA on October 8, 2023.

District Superintendent Sarah Calvert was present along with representatives from the Virginia Conference UMC.

The Harry Denman Evangelism Awards honor a United Methodist clergy, youth, and layperson in each annual conference who has exhibited outstanding efforts in Wesleyan evangelism by faithfully carrying out the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ.”

The award is named for the late Dr. Harry Denman, a distinguished lay evangelist whom Dr. Billy Graham called “my mentor in evangelism.” The awards are made possible by The Foundation for Evangelism (www.foundationforevangelism.org, founded in 1949 by Dr. Denman, who felt it was the business of every Christian to be an evangelist. It is most fitting that annual conferences today honor persons who carry on the spirit of Harry Denman.

Those eligible for this prestigious award practice the Great Commission. This can involve personal witnessing, speaking, and inspiring individual persons or the local church to be actively involved in helping people experience God’s transforming love through Jesus Christ. Neither the size of the local church with which the person is affiliated, the age or gender of the person, nor the length of their service should limit one’s eligibility. What is essential are the persons whose lives have been changed by the life and ministry of the nominee.

The Virginia conferences honor an individual each year and present the awards at the Virginia Annual Conference gathering.

The selection process is directed by the Board of Discipleship of the Virginia conference, and all nominations are collected through the nomination process set by the board.

Board of Discipleship Presentation of the Denman Award for Clergy for Pastor Bruce Johnson

The Denman Award presentation and dinner for Pastor Bruce Johnson was held at Pender UMC in Fairfax, VA on October 8, 2023.

District Superintendent Sarah Calvert was present along with representatives from the Virginia Conference UMC.

The Harry Denman Evangelism Awards honor a United Methodist clergy, youth, and layperson in each annual conference who has exhibited outstanding efforts in Wesleyan evangelism by faithfully carrying out the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ.”

The award is named for the late Dr. Harry Denman, a distinguished lay evangelist whom Dr. Billy Graham called “my mentor in evangelism.” The awards are made possible by The Foundation for Evangelism (www.foundationforevangelism.org, founded in 1949 by Dr. Denman, who felt it was the business of every Christian to be an evangelist. It is most fitting that annual conferences today honor persons who carry on the spirit of Harry Denman.

Those eligible for this prestigious award practice the Great Commission. This can involve personal witnessing, speaking, and inspiring individual persons or the local church to be actively involved in helping people experience God’s transforming love through Jesus Christ. Neither the size of the local church with which the person is affiliated, the age or gender of the person, nor the length of their service should limit one’s eligibility. What is essential are the persons whose lives have been changed by the life and ministry of the nominee.

The Virginia conferences honor an individual each year and present the awards at the Virginia Annual Conference gathering.

The selection process is directed by the Board of Discipleship of the Virginia conference, and all nominations are collected through the nomination process set by the board.

Pender's Annual Trunk or Treat Slideshow

Our 2023 fall festival featured trunk or treat, snacks, games for all ages, and live music by our Common Ground Praise Band (including karaoke so everyone could get involved).

Jim and Roberta Pont are offering Fun With Music again. They could use a few more toys for children ages 0 to 5.

Also any children's books also for ages 0 to 5 that would be in good condition to give to the children on their birthday month. During their birthday month we sing Happy Birthday and the children get to pick a book to take home. 

They are really looking forward to beginning this program again after the pandemic when we had to shut down.

Please bring toys and books to Pender. Roberta has left a bin marked Fun With Music in the narthex. 

Any questions? Please feel free to call or email Roberta Pont.

Pender continues to partner 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 ways that you can help support this important ministry.

Visit the table in the church lobby, 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 29th.

Friends and Disciples,

You may have noticed that we no longer have a "My Pender Page" link on our website menu, that is because we have changed the name to "Realm Connect"!

Do not worry, all of your information and accounts are still there, we have just changed the name of the link to organize and reflect on the updates our database has recently experienced. 

Click the "Realm Connect" link on the menu to visit the page. 

On this page, there is a link that reads:

Quick Link to Realm Connect

You can click on this link to access the sign-in page to get to your original account that had all of your My Pender Page information.

If you have trouble logging in, contact the church office for a new "invitation".

Thank you!

Please note that the link to add an event to the Church Calendar remains the same.

PUMC members may add events to the Church calendar.

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. You cannot add an event to a room that is already reserved for another meeting.

More information at Building Use

Please join us on Saturday, October 28 from 9:30 to 3:00 PM at Pender United Methodist Church for a powerful women's retreat enabling you an opportunity to engage in corporate and individual worship and prayer.

The retreat Unshakable Faith will offer two powerful sermons, workshops, and a healing and anointment service that addresses, hope, healing, renewal, and overcoming doubt to stand firm in the midst of your trials.

There is a $25.00 fee that includes breakfast, lunch, and a swag bag with items to encourage your journey of faith and renewal after the retreat experience.

Please note that you may need to update your Pender account. If so, email the church office for an invitation.

"For nothing will be impossible with God" Luke 1:37 NIV

"I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20 NLT

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Hi Sunday School Families & Friends, 

There are some wonderful family/children's activities happening ithis year. Please come and enjoy! All are welcome -- and invite a friend!

On Sunday, October 15, 2023, Pender's Impact Youth Group packed 500 kits to help those affected by the fires in Maui.

Impact Youth is a place where you can learn and grow in your walk with Christ at your own pace. We strive to make a safe place for students to be themselves and to turn their lives towards Jesus Christ.

Don’t worry about where you stand in your faith walk. Whether you are a Bible Vet or still figuring out where Genesis is, YOU ARE WELCOME! We would love to have you.

You will have the chance to meet new friends, learn new music or sing along to songs you already know, experience the Bible in a completely different way.

It is whatever you need it to be, come see what we're all about!

All youth in grades 7th-12th are invited to bring your friends and join our Impact Youth Group every Sunday night.

Can't wait to see you on Sunday!

Nov 5: making 100 sandwiches

Nov 19: birthday in a box

Dec 3: Christmas party and kitty catnip socks

Sanctuary Choir Rehearsals continue this evening Thursday, October 19 at 6:30 pm.

Praise Band Rehearsals continue this evening Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 pm.

Come meet our new Director of Music Ministries!

All are welcome!

Handbells are not just for children and teens! We have adult handbell groups for beginner to advanced ringers.  The difficulty level of handbell music is rated from Level 1 (easy) to Level 6 (most difficult). Each of the groups rings 6-8 times in worship between September and June and participates in the annual Christmas handbell concert. 

The groups also like to participate in the various festivals that are held by the regional handbell guild (Handbell Musicians of America – Area 3). Our rehearsals are full of laughing and ringing (sometimes more laughing than ringing!) You do not have to know how to read music to learn how to ring handbells! 

Carillon Ringers group is for ringers who ring Level 2 and Level 3 music.

Carillon Ringers rehearse at 6:45 Tuesday. The handbells will play during the Traditional Service about once every four to six weeks. 

Joy Ringers group is for advanced ringers who ring Level 4 and Level 5 music

Joy Ringers rehearse at 7:30 Tuesday. The handbells will play during the Traditional Service about once every four to six weeks. 

Interested? Contact Brian or the Music Ministry

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries ("WFCM") Current Request for Donations

WFCM has been providing food and services to the community for 35 years. Pender was one of the twelve founding churches that set the path and began the journey.

Thanks goes out to all of you who continue to support WFCM many programs.

~~~

The WFCM blue cart is outside the church.

All donations of food and toiletries are welcomed and needed.

Item of the Week: Pasta

Please no:

* Expired food

* Glass jars

* Egg Cartons

Thank you for your continuing generous support of WFCM.

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.

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.