Sunday Worship:
In Person and
Streaming
at 9:00 and
11:15 am
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This Week at Pender
May 11, 2023
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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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May 14, 2023 will be the sixth Sunday of Easter.
Since Pender Lead Pastor Will White is on renewal leave, Rev. Gene Thomas will be our Guest Preacher. He will preach on "The Marvelous Mother Hen". The Gospel Lesson will be Luke 13:34-35 and the Old Testament Lesson will be Proverbs 31:10, 31:28-31.
We look forward to seeing you!
All of Pender's services are streamed live and in person. Masks are currently optional.
Join us live at Pender UMC
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Pender's Traditional Service will be in person and live-streamed at 9:00 am |
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Pender's 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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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.
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ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW PASTORAL APPOINTMENT
On behalf of Bishop Sue Hapert-Johnson and the Virginia Conference Cabinet, Reverend Robert Bruce Johnson has been appointed to Pender United Methodist Church as its new lead pastor effective June 28, 2023.
Reverend Robert Bruce Johnson (he likes to be called Pastor Bruce) was born in Spokane, Washington and was raised in the the Seattle, Washington area. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Northwest Nazarene University (NNU), Nampa, Idaho. He attended Princeton Theological Seminary and later transferred to Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Historical Theology. It was at Nazarene Theological Seminary that he met and married his with wife, Reverend Nancy C. Johnson. After graduation, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he pursued a doctorate degree in Theology with a concentration in Wesleyan studies at Emory University. During this period, he joined the United Methodist Church and became convinced that the parish is an appropriate and needed place to practice theology in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition. When the opportunity was presented to them, Pastor Bruce and Pastor Nancy moved to Virginia (her home state) to accept an appointment within the Virginia Conference. Within a few years, Pastor Bruce was ordained as an Elder. He has now served as a pastor for the last 27 years in four different appointments in the Virginia Conference.
Fun Facts about Pastor Bruce
He is a lifelong fan of Seattle, Washington sports (don’t be surprised if you see him wearing a Mariners or Seahawks t-shirt or cap). Other hobbies include reading, music, singing, walking, and especially spending time with his family. He and Pastor Nancy have two adult daughters, Lydia John, a video photographer with Channel 3 in Norfolk, Virginia and Anna Johnson, a figure skating coach and clinical nutritionist in Lynchburg, Virginia. As a “city-boy,” Pastor Bruce is looing forward to urban/suburban life again after spending many years livig i and learning to appreciate rural and small-town Virginia.
For many years, Pastor Bruce walked two to three miles a day with their dog Riley, his “four-legged evangelist.” Because Riley is an unusual mix (Corgi and Samoyed), Riley draws a lot of attention from neighbors and strangers. Those long walks have taught Pastor Bruce to welcome the opportunity to make contact with new friends who sometimes became disciples of Jesus Christ.
Passion in Ministry
The most important thing to know about Pastor Bruce is that he is a disciple of Jesus Christ who serves our Lord by helping congregations to become more intentional and effective in disciple-making (Galatians 2:20 and Ephesians 4:12). When Christ s at the center of our shared life, there is no problem that discipleship cannot fix.
Pender United Methodist Church has a rich history and he has been praying daily for the disciples at Pender and for our shared appointment in ministry. Pastor Bruce is excited about hearing from and getting to know the congregation and discerning how together we can fulfill Christ’s great mission in our time and place.
Submitted by
Arlether Williams, Chairperson
Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee
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Walking Through Life with God
Every season of life has both ups and downs, positive and negative situations.
On top of that, there are spiritual powers in this world that are trying to get us to lose hope. In the midst of difficult seasons, or even persecution, it can be easy to forget that God is still present with us. He does not abandon us in the midst of suffering. Rather, He strengthens us and walks with us through the pain.
The church in Thessalonica experienced a very similar situation. As they were praying for the gospel to spread across their region, they encountered suffering and opposition. Paul writes to the members of these churches to not only encourage them, but to remind them of God’s character.
He tells them first that the Lord is faithful. This means that God doesn’t change—He is consistent in His character. If He was good and merciful yesterday, He will be good and merciful again today. It also means that He fulfills His promises. God is faithful to do what He says He is going to do. He is not like a human who changes his mind when things get difficult.
Second, Paul tells these believers that God will strengthen them and protect them in the midst of what they’re experiencing. Paul does not tell them they will never experience evil, but rather—that God will be with them in the midst of it. Because God never changes, He is able to strengthen and protect us through every experience in life.
So take some time to thank God for His strength and faithfulness. Ask Him to help you, and to give you confidence in His power.
“Walking through LIfe with God.” YouVersion, Life Church, 19 Apr. 2023. https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/.
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We are very proud of our 2023 graduates and plan to honor them during our Traditional Worship Service on Sunday, June 4 at 9am. A slideshow of our graduates will be shown at the beginning of our 9 and 11:15 am worship services.
A dinner reception for the graduates and their families will be provided at 4pm.
Please provide the following information for your high school, trade school, college, or post-doctorate graduate: high school/college/trade school senior is graduating from; future plans; your senior’s parents or guardians names, as you would like for them to be listed; and a photo of your senior.
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Sunday May 14 at 10 am
From 10 to 10:15 we'll have coffee and fellowship. At 10:15 there will be a short 10 minute video and then conversation.
Our music director, Brian Stevenson facilitated the “Nooma” series to start this group off, and then look to class members for areas of topic and/or service ideas (books, lunch meetings, mission work etc.)
All are welcome. The classes are not sequential so nothing is missed if a week is missed.
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Please pray for Sharon Ranalli Folkhart serving in Ecuador.
Several years ago Sharon started a Child Development Center in a very poor area, setting up a sponsorship program, so that children can go to school, receive a lunch, afternoon tutoring and a Bible class. A Pastor moved into the area and working with Sharon, they built a church and are presenting the gospel to these people who have never before heard the word. Now they are again praying and planning for the new school year, getting uniforms made and buying shoes, school supplies., The project will continue this school year with 25 children. Multiple requests to Compassion International that they take over this project are finally being considered by new leadership in Ecuador. Compassion will ensure that which Sharon and her fellow workers have sown will be taken care of in the years to come. Sharon shares that it is hard to explain in a letter the brokenness of the families of these children, the obstacles and traumas that they face at such young ages.
Ecuador is going through a time of great violence, kidnapping for ransom, and robbing churches and people, gang fighting, drug cartels, store closings, etc. Please pray for Ecuador and for the safety of Sharon as she continues her ministry that began here with a Bible Institute in 1985.
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Join us for a contemporary worship experience featuring music from Doe, Elevation Worship, Kari Jobe, Karen Clark Sheard, and more. |
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Please join the Book Lovers Group as they read The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. The group will meet by Zoom on Sunday, May 21 at 4 PM.
Please contact Iris Salcewicz for Zoom information.
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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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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!
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Pender Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a week-long program from June 26-30, 2023 from 9:00am-12:30pm, for children ages 4-12.
This week at VBS, we will be exploring the Rocky Railway! 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.
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.
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Sunday School
Topic: Youth Sunday School
Time: Sundays @ 10:oo am-11am
At Pender
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If anyone would like to contribute items for the Rest Stop, those items can be left in the blue bin or in the church office labeled "Rest Stop".
Items often needed are: full size water bottles (They do not use the 4oz ones), seltzers, energy drinks, Aspire, Gatorade and Propel.
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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.
During 2022, WFCM was able to support the needy in the community by:
* $0.96 of every $1 spent was used on programs.
* Served 4,489 individuals, providing the equivalent of 458,745 meals to 2,733 individuals and $4,658,637 in financial assistance to 2,454 individuals keeping them housed.
* Provided 427,075 diapers through a partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank
* 110 volunteers served 10,437 hours along 11 staff members
* Were supported by 568 individual household donors, 36 Congregation Partners and 38 Corporate Partners in addition to 48 Grantors, Foundations and Organizations and Fairfax County Government
Together we can do it - provide help for the less fortunate in our community.
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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
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.
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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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May 13, Spring Concert
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May 21, Book Club
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May 21, Common Ground Contemporary Cantata, "Songs and Stories"
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June 4, Graduation Sunday
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June 5, Masterclass with United States Army “Pershing’s Own
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June 10, Rev. Will White Retirement Dinner Ceremony
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June 11, Music Appreciation Sunday
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June 18, Volunteer Appreciation Sunday
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June 26-30, Vacation Bible School
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July 16, Meet & Greet Barbecue for PUMC New Pastor
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October 21, Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat
Weekly Events
- Sunday
- Choir Rehearsal at 8 am
- Coffee, Video and Conversation, 10 am
- 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.
- Recorder Consort
- Handbell Rehearsals at 6:45 and 7:30.
- Wednesday
- Ruth Circle meets in person the second and fourth Wednesday of each month
- Thursday
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4th Thursday Romeos at 11:45
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Lectio Divina Prayer Group Learn more here
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