Reaching New People – This is proven, current, methodology for “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” UMC BOD, 2016, ¶ 120, It utilizes local church strengths and people to “project the church’s presence” into the community. 

The Rev. Melissa Dunlap has agreed to be our consultant. She is coming on Sunday, September 18, from 3-5pm, to lead an introductory workshop. Everyone is welcome with the goal that there will be a Reaching New People team, made up of both volunteer and recruited members, that will meet monthly with our consultant over a twelve-month period. 

This is the first of a series of articles we will present to offer accurate responses to such misperceptions or misinformation. This article focuses on matters relating to theology, pensions, and benefits. The next article in the series will focus on matters relating to human sexuality.

We welcome your questions, and invite you to contribute to future articles in this series by sharing what you are hearing about the process of disaffiliation or the future of The United Methodist Church. Write to AskTheUMC@umc.org.

A more accurate term, as suggested by the Rev. William Lawrence, retired dean of Perkins School of Theology and former member of the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church, is “splintering.” What is happening is that some traditionalist leaders have decided to create their own denomination (the Global Methodist Church). Leaders of that denomination and other unofficial advocacy groups, such as the Wesleyan Covenant Association, which created it, are encouraging like-minded United Methodist congregations and clergy to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church and join their denomination instead.

No. The requests for disaffiliations are coming largely from traditionalists. Keith Boyette, former president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and now leader of the Global Methodist Church, describes the reasons he and other leaders are asking traditionalists to leave beginning at 13:32 in this video.

For additional information, see this FAQ from Wespath.

Christian giving is not a natural act, but a supernatural act of God in your life.  It is God’s grace and love that will give you the ability to give and share according to what He’s given you.  Your Christian giving is to be more delight than drudgery, more privilege than pressure, more anticipation than anxiety, and more worshipful than worrisome!

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”     II Corinthians 9:7

·       The church building needs a new roof so that when God blesses us with much needed rain, the rain stays on the outside of the building.

·       Pender has faithfully paid its share of apportionments in the past.  The apportionments represent the share Pender, as a local church, contributes to the Virginia United Methodist Conference to support local, national, and international missions and pastor retirements.  Current levels of giving are currently insufficient to allow for the payment of apportionments this year.

Sign up at pender.church/signup

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!

Presentation of Bibles to Children September 25.

More information at https://penderumc.org/events/

The Virginia Conference United Women in Faith (UWF) Young Women’s Event will be held Saturday, September 17, from 9:00 a.m. – noon via Zoom. It is open to all young women ages 18-40. They do not need to be a member of United Women in Faith, The United Methodist Church, or any church. 

This is a time set aside for young women ages 18 to 40 for their spiritual refreshment and growth. They will consider “Who Can We Be Together? – Building Communities of Hope and Joy.” The Rev. Kendra Grimes, Chaplain and Director of Church Relations at Randolph-Macon College, will lead this mini-retreat.

Sponsored annually by the Virginia Conference United Women in Faith (UWF), this Young Women’s Event will continue this year virtually with no registration fee. However, Please register by Sept. 14 by clicking on this link:  Young Women’s Event Registration  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcodOuvqT4oGdfQ4JhmJgExleR-KKADsfF7, or at www.vaumw.com/events.

Confirmation will be sent by email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Information: Marlene Dakita, Va. Conf. UWF Mission Coordinator for Membership, Nurture & Outreach (MNO), mdakita@comcast.net / 703-244-4524 (cell)

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.

If you need a paper form, you can download it here.

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.