Sunday Worship:
In Person and
Streaming
at 9:00 and
11:15 am
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This Week at Pender
August 17, 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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Pastor Bruce Johnson will preach on "New Identity in Christ: It’s All About Jesus” (Acts 2:22-36).
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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Dear Church Family:
I have now been privileged to meet with several of you who have introduced yourselves and shared with me your passion for ministry in the service of Christ and his church at Pender.
It has been a joy to get to know those who have taken the time to meet and to catch a glimpse of the willing and faithful spirit that is so prevalent in our congregation.
Tonight at 7:00 pm there will be an onboarding session in the Gathering Place where I will share some of my thoughts, hopes and visions for Pender.
I hope to see you there!
It is good to be serving our Lord Jesus Christ with you,
Pastor Bruce
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Pender United Methodist Church, Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee (S/PPRC) is announcing the following to Church Council leadership, our congregation, and the greater Pender UMC community:
1. Brian Stevenson is stepping down as Director of Music Ministries effective Friday, August 18, 2023. However, we are happy to report that he will not be leaving Pender, as he will assume the new position of Director of Handbells. This new appointment is effective as of Monday, August 21, 2023.
2. Uriah Moore is stepping down as Director of the Contemporary Worship Service. His last Sunday with us will be August 27th. He has both a new job (other than his musical pursuits) and a new baby which will keep him very busy. We want to wish Uriah the very best in his future endeavors. Uriah expressed that he is grateful for the opportunity to serve Pender and that he cherishes his interactions with many members of the congregation.
3. Charlie Tucker is stepping down as the Senior Nursery Worker. His last day of service in the nursery will be August 20th. We wish Charlie all the best in his new professional career journey in the Arlington, VA. area.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Brian and Uriah for their outstanding service to Pender, and for their contributions to the advancement of the Lord’s kingdom. Pender has been privileged to witness their exceptional musical talents and exemplary performances for some time. Brian has been our Director of Music since August 2020 and Uriah has served as Worship Leader for the contemporary service since November 2020. We would also like to thank Charlie for his invaluable service to Pender in the nursery, which has afforded many Pender families the opportunity to attend worship services.
Please continue to keep our congregation and staff in your prayers as we prayerfully search for new music ministry leadership for Pender.
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How to Heal
Imagine a sick person who won’t tell anyone about their symptoms. Without help, getting through their illness would be challenging. Whether they need help from a doctor or just someone checking to see how they’re doing—it’s much easier to heal with the help of others.
Similarly, when we don’t tell anyone about the challenges we’re facing, it can be hard to work through them. Sometimes we do things we know are wrong, but we don’t tell anyone about it simply because we know it’s wrong. This is because we’re all affected by sin—our wrongdoing and brokenness that separate us from God. It can be hard to share our wrongdoings with others, but when we keep our sin to ourselves, we’re like the sick person who won’t ask for help—we suffer in isolation rather than allowing others to help us heal.
James 5:16 tells us to share our wrongdoings with other believers so that we can heal together and pray for one another. When we share our past mistakes with someone, we are released from isolation. And when we pray together, we give God the opportunity to heal our hearts. God is our healer—He saved us from the eternal consequences of sin through His Son Jesus. And because of Jesus, we have access to a relationship with God, and we can bring our requests to Him and trust that He will hear us.
This doesn’t mean God will always answer our prayers in the way we think they should be answered. Instead, when we share our brokenness with Him, He invites us on a journey that will help us grow closer to Him.
If you’re struggling with something today, take some time to share it with a trusted believer. Allow them to pray with you and ask God to guide you as you heal.
“How to Heal.” YouVersion, 20 July 2023.
https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/.
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On Sunday, August 13, Charlie Taylor played the offertory anthem, Davidsbündlertänze No. 2 and No. 1 by Robert Schumann on the piano.
Charlie is 13 years old and was a student at our Pender Hill Preschool ten years ago.
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NOVA Onboarding with Pastor Bruce
Onboarding takes place after the start of the pastor new appointment and is done over two days, in three blocks of time, about 5 hours total. The experience brings staff and key lay leadership together, with a facilitator who leads them through questions about their hopes, dreams, landmines, sensitive areas, deepest longings for the church, and much more.
In this session tonight at 7pm, Pastor Bruce will share some of his thoughts, hopes and visions for Pender.
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The latest challenging puzzle is all coffee cups.
The pieces have been sorted out already - see what you can do!
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If you crochet or knit, please join the Pender Prayer Shawl Ministry this Saturday, August 19. We meet by Zoom from 10 AM - Noon.
The group makes prayer shawls, scarfs and lap blankets.
Bring any projects you are making. Contact Iris Salcewicz for the Zoom details.
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August 19, 2:00 PM, The Grow in God Cluster and Pender's Youth Group invites everyone to join us in the Gathering Place for a free ice cream social with all the fixings.
Please bring a friend.
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BackPack Blessings – calling all students (children and adults), teachers, day-care workers to bring their backpacks with them to church on Sunday, August 20th (either worship service) so that we can offer a special prayer for a safe and successful school year for you.
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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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Starting Thursday, September 7. The Music Experience is a weekly 45 minute session for third through sixth grade children.
Children can perform, read, write, and experience music, no prior music knowledge necessary.
Cost is $25 for the first child and $15 for additional family members.
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Sunday Schoorol
Topic: Youth Sunday School
Time: Sundays @ 10:oo am-11am
At Pender
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August 27, 12:30 PM, Back to Church Sunday
Traditional Southern Potluck, bring your favorite main course that serves six people.
We will provide the salads and desserts.
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Sanctuary Choir Rehearsals will resume Thursday, September 7 at 7:30 pm. All singers welcome! |
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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.
Brian will make out the usual schedule at the beginning of rehearsals starting on September 5th
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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.
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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: Oatmeal
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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August 17, NOVA Onboarding with Pastor Bruce
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August 19, Prayer Shawl Ministry
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August 19, The Grow in God Cluster and Pender's Youth Group invites everyone to join us in the Gathering Place for a free ice cream social with all the fixings. Please bring a friend.
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August 20, Blessing of the Backpacks
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August 20, Delia Sales Celebration of Life
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August 27, Searching? A Special Music Service of Songs and Stories during Common Ground Worship
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August 27, Back to Church Sunday with the Pender Praise Band. Traditional Southern Potluck, bring your favorite main course that serves six people. We will provide the salads and desserts.
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August 27, JDC - Juvenile Detention Center
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August 30-31, Pender Hill School Open House
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September 5, Handbell Rehearsals return. Contact Brian Stevenson for more info.
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September 7. Every Thursday from 4:30 to 5:15 PM, all third through sixth grade children are invited to The Music Experience! Children can perform, read, write, and experience music. No prior music knowledge necessary. Cost is $25.00 for the first child and $15.00 for additional family members.
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September 7, Sanctuary Choir Rehearsals resume
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September 16, United Women in Faith General Membership Meeting
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October 2, Fun With Music resumes
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October 21, Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat
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, online
- Tuesday
- Recorder Consort rehearsal on hiatus until fall.
- Handbell Rehearsals on hiatus until fall.
- Wednesday
- Ruth Circle meets in person the second and fourth Wednesday of each month
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3rd Wednesdays Romeos at 11:45
- Thursday
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Lectio Divina Prayer Group Learn more here
- Choir Rehearsals on hiatus until fall.
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