Sunday Worship:
In Person and
Streaming
at 9:00 and
11:15 am
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This Week at Pender
October 23, 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 23, 2022, Pender Lead Pastor Will White will preach on "Poured Out" based on 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18.
We conclude this worship series completely out of breath—or we ought to anyway. This week, we’re about giving our all. About living full out, about being alive the way Jesus describes living. “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 NRSV). This is what the life of faith offers; this is the example that Paul presents with his full-out life, embracing all that came to him, the good and the bad.
"Poured Out" is the final sermon in the 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!
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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A CHARGE CONFERENCE for Pender United Methodist Church has been set for Monday, October 24th at 7:00 pm in room 215 in accordance with ¶246 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2016.
The purpose of the meeting is to approve Pastoral compensation and nominations for leadership for 2022. The Rev. Will White, or another designee of the Rev. Sarah Calvert (Northern Virginia District Superintendent), will preside.
The voting members shall be the Church Council.
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Week Two
In the coming weeks, a short segment of the overall presentation will be included in the newsletter each week.
We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the structure and missions of Pender.
For the second week, we begin a discussion of Pender UMC.
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Happy are those who trust in the LORD, who rely on the LORD. They will be like trees planted by the streams, whose roots reach down to the water. They won’t fear drought when it comes; their leaves will remain green. They won’t be stressed in the time of drought or fail to bear fruit. [Jeremiah 17:7-8, Common English Bible]
One morning I arrived at church before anyone else and had to wait. I decided to harvest mansanitas from a tree in front of the church and began reflecting on God’s grace. I started to view the tree, with its red, green, and pale orange fruits, as a symbol of God’s grace.
No one planted this tree; it just sprouted here. But it shades the church foyer and provides fruit for the children who come to church. For some time now, only a few people have come to church because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet even with no one to water it, this tree has continued to grow and bear fruit while also offering a home to many birds and insects. God has sustained the tree, and the tree sustains the lives of others. What an image of grace!
The tree is blessed as it blesses others. When I am blessed to be able to pick fruit from the tree, I share it with my two children waiting at home. My firstborn has asked me to bring home the fruit every Sunday because it makes him feel as if he and his brother also went to church. Although my children miss going to church, through the mansanita fruit I am able to extend a bit of God’s grace to them.
Today's Prayer: God our provider, teach us to know your grace, even through the smallest fruit that you provide in your creation. Amen.
Thought for the Day: What images of God’s grace do I see in my community?
Prayer Focus: Those who are home-bound.
Pasion-Bautista, Earlie. “Upper Room Devotional for October 19th, 2022.” The Upper Room, Upper Room Ministries, 19 Oct. 2022, https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2022-10-19.
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October is National Pastor (or Clergy) Appreciation Month
No matter how humble or unassuming they may be, most people get a warm glow inside when someone says “thank you” for what they’ve done or expresses appreciation simply for who they are. Clergy and others who fill pastoral roles are no exception.
October is Pastor (or Clergy) Appreciation Month. It is a time to say “thank you” to the people who may be most visible as preachers and teachers, but who, in reality, are on-call 24/7 standing with congregants and others to offer spiritual and other support in times of confusion, transition, times of heart-wrenching sorrow and times of overwhelming joy. They laugh, cry and pray with those whom they shepherd and serve.
Established as a worldwide recognition time in 1992, the call to honor the contributions of pastoral leaders can be traced back to Paul, who advised congregations to give “double honor” to the elders who managed the affairs of the church well, “especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17, NIV).
Here are some ways to extend appreciation to pastors or other clergy. And, remember, these suggestions are also good for birthdays, and other times when the congregation or individuals want to say “thank you.”
1. Send a hand-written note or greeting card with a message of gratitude.
2. Have children draw pictures or create other artwork for a clergy member or Sunday school leader.
3. Pray for your pastors – and let them know you do so (ask them what you might specifically pray for).
4. Lend your pastor a hand by volunteering at Pender, in the office, or where he needs assistance.
5. Give a “thank you basket” filled with coffee, favorite snack or hard-to-find allergy-friendly food items.
6. Provide a meal via a gift card to the pastor’s favorite restaurant or a home-cooked or takeout meal. Make a gift card large enough to include the spouse. Deliver meals at a time convenient to the recipient.
7. Consider giving gift cards that encourage self-care (massage, movie theater, a favorite local restaurant or upscale espresso spot).
8. Provide tickets to a sporting, cultural event, or concert they will enjoy. Make it easy for them to take a spouse or other companion and be sure the dates will work.
9. Give a service that your pastors are unlikely to get for themselves but would appreciate (house cleaning, landscaping, tailoring, consulting or financial advising).
10. Give a group gift, from a group or to a group, such as an espresso machine.
11. Provide a weekend getaway for the pastor and spouse and/or family.
Noble, Kathy. “Saying 'I Appreciate You' to Pastors.” ResourceUMC, The United Methodist Church, 16 Oct. 2019, https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/saying-i-appreciate-you-to-pastors.
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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 13th. 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.
There are signup sheets in the narthex.
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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Leaders Wanted
The Nominations Committee is currently in the midst of its annual nominations campaign and we are looking for leaders for a number of key positions. Two of these are the leads of the Finance Committee and the Serve God/Nominations Cluster. Following are very brief descriptions of the duties. If you think you might have the skill set and spiritual gifts for either of these positions, please contact David Hensley at dhhensley@gmail.comor 703-408-7750. Thank you very much.
Serve God/Nominations:
1. Recognize retired leaders from the previous year.
2. Highlight opportunities for leadership training.
3. Present leadership training, e.g. Pender 101.
4. Identify and recruit candidates for leadership positions.
Finance:
5. Lead Finance Committee meetings.
6. Track Church finances.
7. Oversee stewardship.
8. Compile an annual budget.
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We need volunteers to put door hangers for Trunk or Treat on the homes along Alder Woods Drive on Sunday, October 16 at 3:30 pm.
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MISSIONS UPDATE October 20, 2022
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matt 7:7-8
One of Pender's faith promise missionaries works with Arab focused media, using radio, TV, etc. to provide an open door for the Gospel to proclaim Christ to the people in North Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf. He is very involved with giving testimony, preaching and teaching. As a result from this ministry, he often receives communications from those that have heard, and asks questions about the Christian faith. Examples:
- " I want to tell you that I am not religious man, but When I read the words of Jesus I found peace, salvation and eternal rest. Now, I want to be a true Christian. Thank you for all you are doing to help." Noor*
- "I would like to thank you for your kind dealing with me. For 7 years now I have been an atheist. I used to be fundamental in my traditional faith which I abandoned due to the inconsistency I have seen. I heard about Christianity and I liked what I read but I need more information to have a deep understanding and I don't have Christian friends around me. I need your help." Ahmed*
- "I hope you don't reject me. I am a teen age girl. I grew up in a traditional family where girls do not have any rights. One day I saw a program about the Lord Christ and that He loves us. He touched my heart. I searched more to find that he gave dignity to women. I love the Lord Christ and I call upon Him every night before I go to bed. I need to learn more about him. Samantha*
Please pray for those who asked questions about the Christian faith, that they would benefit from the answers provided. Pray in particular for those who want to profess Christ to be their Lord but are hesitant to do so because they fear rejection from their families and communities.
*Names have been changed.
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Woman of the Year forms are on the desk in Pender's front office.
They're due November 6, 2022
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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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We did so well with last Sunday's door hangers that we're going back out again on Sunday afternoon.
We'll meet in the Pender Parking lot to deliver 250 door hangers to our neighbors inviting them to Trunk or Treat.
All ages are welcome! See you there!
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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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A Note of Thanks & Appreciation
Pender United Methodist Church, Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee sadly announces that this Sunday, October 24, 2022, will be the last working day for Ms. Kim Overholt, our Senior Lead Nursery Worker.
Kim joined Pender staff as a church nursery worker on May 31, 2009 . Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated compassion, kindness, and a wonderful sense of humor in caring for our infants and toddlers -- our most precious gifts from God. During this period, she was also instrumental in volunteering with other ministries in support of our children, and youth to include the choirs, music ministries, las well as eading a Girl Scout troop.
Ms. Overholt was participated in United Methodist Women activities that focused on supporting under-served and at risk women and children within Fairfax.
Please extend a note or word of thanks to Kim as you see her in the church.
An excerpt from the poem These Hands, These Hands written by Susan Jeavons speaks to Kim's work within our nursery and her contributions to our Pender family ministries program.
I have seen hands like this before
Caring hands that teach and guide
Encourage and praise,
Motherly hands nurturing, holding,
Rocking, gently disciplining without ever harming,
Hands always willing to reach out
and help their fellow man.
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The Pender Nursery is available on Sundays during services and Sunday School classes.
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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Sunday School
Topic: Youth Sunday School
Time: Sundays @ 10:oo am-11am
At Pender
Pastor White and Mark Atwood continue to meet with the youth on Sunday evenings, unless otherwise indicated. Join us!
- Sunday, October 23, 4:00 pm – We’ll meet for a program and to talk about “Trunk or Treat” plans.
- Saturday, October 29, 4:30-6:30 pm – Trunk or Treat in the church’s parking lot.
- Sunday, October 30 – No youth meeting.
- Saturday, November 5, 9:30am – Meet in the church parking lot. We’ll car caravan to the Metro. We’ll travel to The National Museum of the American Indian downtown. After the tour, we’ll have lunch. Please bring $20. We’ll call for rides on the way home, returning in the early afternoon.
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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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Do you order from Amazon?
Pender United Methodist Church (EIN: 54-0856924) has been issued a $43.12 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between April 1 and June 30, 2022.
So far, AmazonSmile has donated:
• $1,133.46 to Pender United Methodist Church
• Over $306 million to US charities
• Over $346 million to charities worldwide
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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: Canned Vegetables
Please no:
* Expired food
* Glass jars
Thank you for your continuing generous support of WFCM.
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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 22, Safe Sitter Class
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October 23, Door Hanger Delivery
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October 24, Charge Conference
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October 29, Trunk or Treat, 4:30
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November 5, Youth Trip to The National Museum of the American Indian
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November 6, Woman of the Year Nominations Due
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November 6, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Disaffiliation
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November 12, Scouting for Food
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November 12, Scout After-Party
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November 13, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Disaffiliation
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November 16, Common Ground Growth team Meeting #2
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November 23, Thanksgiving Eve Community Service
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November 20, Hanging of the Greens
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November 27, Advent begins
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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 4, Door Hanger Delivery
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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, Christmas Social
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December 11, Build Your Own Gingerbread House
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December 11, Christmas Caroling
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December 17, JDC Christmas Party
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December 18, Christmas Cantata
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December 24, Christmas Eve Services
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December 25, Christmas/Birthday Party for Jesus
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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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