Sunday Worship:
In Person and
Streaming
at 9:00 and 11:15 am
This Week at Pender
May 12, 2022
By following Jesus
and reaching out to others,
we seek God's transformation
of ourselves and our world. 
Greetings!
May 15, 2022
On Sunday, May 15, 2022, Rev. Will White will preach on "What God Called Clean" from the series “We Are Witnesses” based on Acts 11:1-18.

Change is all around us, even in the church. And change is never easy. Our text this week is about a whole new direction for the beginnings of the church. It has to do with who was considered worthy to include and who should be avoided. Peter pushed the church to go further than they were comfortable going. Wait, no, it wasn’t Peter. The Holy Spirit pushed the church to go further than they were comfortable. And that has been the church’s story from then on.

May 15, 2022 is the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

We Are Witnesses

The season after Easter is where we consider what it means to walk with Jesus into eternity. But it is not about life after death, or rather not only about life after death. It is very much about life before death, life in the face of death. It is about life and about bearing witness to a life that resembles a kingdom existence right here and right now. It is this life, this justice and righteousness, this hope and this glory to which we can say with confidence, “We are witnesses.”


Join us live at Pender UMC
The Traditional Services are in person and live streamed at 9:00 am on Sunday.
The Common Ground Contemporary Services are in person and live streamed at 11:15 am on Sunday.
What a fantastic concert this was. The video of the complete concert will go live tomorrow at 10:oo am on the Pender Music Ministry page and on our YouTube channel.

This is the entire concert. Enjoy!.
The Pender Concert Supporting Ukraine on April 23 featured Liz Sellers on piano, Brian on harp, and local professional musicians, including woodwind quintet, drums, organ, guitar, flute, penny whistle, singing and violin.

Concert repertoire included: Harp arrangements by Debussy, Piano trio of Jazz/Baroque, Flute Concertino by Chaminade, Woodwind Quintet with music of Duke Ellington, The Widor Toccata Organ Symphony Movement V and an Irish session!

There was no charge for this concert but there was a free will offering taken to support Ukraine through Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund provides direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.

One hundred percent of all Advance contributions go to the designated cause. (The independent charity watchdog, “Charity Watch,” gives UMCOR an “A+” ranking, and includes the UM organization on a highly selective list of charities it recommends when considering how to support the Ukrainian people.

The United Methodist community in Ukraine, though quite small, is actively engaged in assisting neighbors in need. Global Ministries is in touch with the church’s leadership as well as with church leaders in countries welcoming those who are fleeing from violence in Ukraine.

Click this link and choose UMCOR to send direct aid. In the memo line, put Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery.

Thank you for your support!
Prayer Requests
"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.
UMCOR Advance #14053A
UMC Pastors Ukraine and Moldova

Our Easter Offering this year will support Ukrainian refugee relief and the Hypothermia Shelter at Pender. 

We’re thankful for your gifts. 

There is another immediate need if you feel the calling to make a donation. It will be impossible for some UMC pastors in Ukraine and Moldova to hold worship due to the invasion of Ukraine. 

They will need financial assistance in order to remain in ministry. If you want to help, you can make a check out to Pender UMC and write Advance #14053A on the memo portion. 

You can also visit our website and make an offering to UMCOR that way. 

Thanks for your gifts! 
A Disciple’s Path
2022
Pender UMC

Please join us on this journey in which we learn together about what it means to be a follower of Jesus within a Wesleyan context!  We hope to see you there!  All are welcome.  

Schedule (Tentative)

Each class session is 1 and ½ hours long unless we double and then we’ll meet for a total of two hours.


Sunday, May 15, 2022, 4PM, Cornerstone, Rev. White
            Session 1 – A Disciple’s Path Defined

Sunday, May 22, 2022, 4PM, Cornerstone, Rev. White
            Session 2 – Prayers
            Session 3 – Presence 
            
Sunday, May 29, NO CLASS – Rev. White is on vacation.  

Sunday, June 5, 2022, 4PM, Cornerstone, Rev. White
            Session 4 – Gifts (Financial Generosity)
Session 5 – Service (Spiritual Gifts and Gifts based Service)

Sunday, June 12, 2022, 2PM, Cornerstone, Rev. White
            Rev. White must attend the Annual Conference orientation held virtually at 4PM.  
            Session 6—Witness (Invitational Evangelism)


Sign up for using the sign-up genius (pender. church/signup). 

Please order your own books. You’ll need both “A Disciple's Path: Daily Workbook” (ISBN #-13:978-1-4267-4349-8) and “A Disciple's Path: Companion Reader” (ISBN#-13:978-1-4267-4350-4). These are available from Amazon.com or Cokesbury. 

A few books are available for free from Pender! The class will be concurrent.

Once you sign up, we’ll provide further participation instructions.    
Help Wanted! Common Ground 
 
Have you always wanted to play or sing in a worship band? Common Ground is looking for a few good men and women. Contact Uriah Moore @ 1-443-787-8989. Email Uriah at: uriahjmoore@hotmail.com. He’ll talk with you about an audition.
Help Wanted!

We’re also looking for some administrative leadership. Would you be willing to go to training to learn how to expand and promote Common Ground?

Are you someone who likes to greet people? Would you be willing to usher? 

Contact Rev. White @ will.w@penderumc.org  
Due Sunday! Thank you Pender for your generous support of the GBE Backpack Blessings meal program.  

We are currently packing 75 meal bags per week for the school counselors to distribute to families in need of them.   

Please look in the Narthex this Sunday, May 1, for the next round of donation bags. Bags and food items should be returned to the Narthex no later than Sunday, May 15.  

This will be the final GBE food collection for this school year.  

Thank you for your continued support of this ministry in our community!
WOMEN OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION AND MORNING TEA -

We will be honoring our women of the year, Cathleen Dockweiler, Karen Staggs and Jane McKee, on May 22nd at 10-11am in the Gathering Place. 

Our whole church is invited! Enjoy a time of celebration, music and fellowship.
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.
Children's Sunday School resumed in person and on Zoom

Welcome to Sunday School!

The children's Sunday School is meeting face-to-face (at the church).

Please note, teachers and children need to wear a mask during class. All children will get their own bag of materials to avoid sharing.

We hope to see you soon!
Pender Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a week-long program from June 20-24, 2022 from 9:00am-12 noon, where children explore, celebrate, and care for God's good creation! Through worship and drama, Bible study, nature-themed art projects and snacks, active games, songs, arts and crafts, skits, puppet shows and science explorations, children 3.5-12 will discover God's love for all of creation. They will be challenged to care for God's world in tangible ways - both during VBS and at home.

This week at VBS, we will be exploring God’s Great Big Beautiful World! Your child will experience Bible stories about God’s amazing world and discover the ways God cares for every part of creation. Your child will make new friends, sing fun songs, watch dramatic presentations of the Bible stories, play active games, go on a nature scavenger hunt, do art projects and science explorations, and dig into the Bible.

Every day your child will bring home a Creation Care Card. This card lets you know what your child learned and provides ideas for how your family can HELP creation by endeavoring to Heal, Enjoy, Learn, and Pray. Try to complete at least one activity together before your children returns to VBS the next day.

Our offering this week will go to a group that is helping to provide fresh, clean water to a community that needs it. There is no pressure or requirement to contribute!

Be sure your child arrives by 9:00 am each day. Children will gather with a small group and leader in the same place each day.

Please bring the whole family for the “Creation Celebration” closing program on Friday!

Welcome to Great Big Beautiful World VBS!


VBS will be from 9-12, June 20-24, 2022.
We are looking for VBS teachers to share in a fun teaching experience
beginning June 20th-24th, 9am-12noon.

The theme: "A Great Big Beautiful World!"

Contact Minister Howard for more information
Turning Point Youth
Sunday School
Topic: Youth Sunday School
Time: Sundays @ 10:oo am-11am
At Pender

Sunday Night Youth the new time is 4:00-5:30 pm
ONE OF THE STREET BOYS ASKED IF HE COULD RECEIVE CHRIST! 

A report from Brad Smith, with Men of Valor International. 

In April, Brad traveled across the US-Mexican border at Del Rio, TX to teach a small gathering of men in Zaragoza, Mexico at a conference center. This conference center is used for a local outreach ministry to the poor in five area cities. A growing area of ministry is to reach the young men in the streets who, because of domestic issues or drug use, roam these cities as young as age ten. While children's and women's outreaches have been plentiful, the ministry to men in the communities has struggled. Local churches in these cities see few men in attendance.

At this meeting, Brad spoke to men, ages 11-80. They responded with enthusiasm to the introductory teachings. They asked many questions, actively participated in the breakout groups after each session, and even the young men joined in. 

After the church services on Sunday, a pastor texted Brad that one of the street boys who had attended asked if he could receive Christ. The first full Men of Valor Conference in Mexico will be this October. 

Please lift this up in your prayers. Brad thanks Pender and all others for being a part of the Men of Valor ministry through your prayers and financial support so that we can reach men around the world.  
Piano Concert May 20, 7:00 p.m. -- The Church of the Good Shepherd UMC, 2351 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna, will be hosting award-winning Oregon pianist, John Nilsen, for a piano concert on Friday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m. 

All are invited to hear a successful performing and recording artist from the Pacific Northwest in an evening of music and stories. John Nilsen has performed at over 2,000 churches across the U.S. and 1,500 globally. "The musicianship is flawless." -Keyboard Magazine.  

Please join your neighbors at the Church of the Good Shepherd this Friday evening. Free will offering. All are welcome! 
 
 
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: Cereal

Please no:
* Expired food
* Glass jars

Thank you for your continuing generous support of WFCM.
WFCM


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.
Registration is now open for the 4th Annual WFCM Spring into Action Golf Tournament – Join us on Monday, May 23, 2022 at Chantilly National Golf & Country Club

“Everyone can see that my swing is homegrown; that means everybody has a chance to do it.” Bubba Watson

Take your chance at WFCM’s Fourth Annual Spring into Action Golf Tournament on Monday, May 23, 2022, at Chantilly National Golf & Country Club. Registration is now open at wfcmva.org/golf. We tee off at 8:30 a.m. and the day includes continental breakfast, barbecue lunch to go or enjoy on the patio, contests, free beverages and snacks on the course, and 18 holes of fun with your team. As Bubba Watson suggests, let's all just get out on the course and enjoy the day!
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.
Save the Date


Every Sunday - In Person and Streaming Services.
  • Traditional at 9:00 am
  • Common Ground Contemporary at 11:15 am

Weekly Events

  • Sunday
  • The Cornerstone Class meets at 10:00 am.
  • Children's Sunday School Class meets at 10:00 am.
  • Connections Video and Discussion meets at 10:00 a
  • 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
  • Boy Scout Troop 1530 meets in-person at 7:00 pm
  • Tuesday
  • Staff Meeting at 11:00 am.
  • NO rehearsal this week - Carillon Ringers at 6:45 pm
  • NO rehearsal this week - Joy Ringers at 7:30 pm
  • Wednesday
  • Ruth Circle meets on Zoom at 10 am
  • Thursday
  • AV and Worship Team Rehearsals in-person at 6:00 pm
  • Choir Rehearsal at 7:30 pm