Sunday Worship:
In Person and
Streaming
at 9:00 and
11:15 am
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This Week at Pender
May 18, 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 21, 2023 is the seventh Sunday of Easter.
Since Pender Lead Pastor Will White is on renewal leave, Rev. Denise M. Childers will be our Guest Preacher.
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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Access the Sunday Bulletin through the QR code above
and on signs at Pender
QR code stands for "Quick Response" code. Pender's QR code is a 2D barcode that stores a link to our Sunday Bulletin.
The bulletin can be read using a QR code scanner or a QR code reader app on your smartphone. Many cellphone cameras read QR codes automatically.
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Forgiveness matters. Here’s why…
One of the most profound Biblical examples of forgiveness is found in a story Jesus told about a king who wanted to settle his debts. One man owed the king a lot of money that he couldn’t repay, but the king had mercy on him and forgave the debt.
Afterward, the forgiven man encountered someone who owed him a small debt. But instead of showing mercy and forgiveness, he sends the man to prison until the debt is repaid. When the king hears about this, he is outraged at the hypocrisy, and has the forgiven man arrested.
If we’re being honest with ourselves, we probably fit into this story somewhere. How often have we chosen not to forgive someone while happily receiving the forgiveness that God offers us? We’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all rebelled against God. And all wrongdoing is contrary to God’s ways. Some sins have bigger consequences—but every mistake causes us to fall short of God’s perfection.
Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily erase the hurt caused, but it does help us heal and move forward. We will never know someone else’s entire life story. We won’t always understand what experiences impact the decisions someone makes. That’s why empathy matters. Showing empathy requires placing ourselves in the position of the person who’s offended us, and choosing to understand their burdens.
This is what Jesus did when He came to earth, experienced what it was like to be human, and then took our sins on Himself when He died for us. Although we have all wronged Him, He gave up His life to forgive and rescue us.
Scripture isn’t asking us to do something that Jesus hasn’t already done for us. And, Scripture also says that to the extent we forgive, we will be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15). So if we truly want to experience God’s forgiveness, then we need to extend forgiveness to others—even when we can’t forget what they’ve done.
So is there someone you’re withholding forgiveness from? Ask God to show you who you need to forgive. Then, allow God to shift your perspective and soften your heart toward that person. Let Him give you the strength and empathy you need to forgive.
“Forgiveness Matters ... Here’s Why.” YouVersion, 10 May 2023.
https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/.
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Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee hosts a retirement dinner party and ceremony for Rev. Will White, his spouse Donna and their two sons.
This event is open to the entire congregation, Pender community, and persons Pastor White shepherd in previous UMC congregations.
The dinner and ceremony will take place in the Gathering Place.
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Now, it is time for Pender and the Fairfax community to say thank you and extend Best Wishes to Pastor Will and Donna White as they enter retirement.
You have three opportunities in addition to any personal notes you may want to offer:
- You can make a love offering gift – indicate "Love Offering Gift" in the memo of your check or online giving. Please note that love offerings are not tax deductible.
- You can send him a card and place it in the collection plate.
- You can send any pictures of Pastor Will and/or Donna with our children, youth, and/or adults from the congregation or community. We will incorporate the pictures into a PowerPoint slideshow to be viewed at the Saturday, June 10th dinner celebration.
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A Note from Brian Stevenson, Director of Music:
Hello Choir! I’m thrilled to announce that we have an accompanist!
Please come and meet Heidi Jacobs this Sunday May 21 AND lets rehearse at 8:15 to get ready for the first two Sundays in June.
As you might recall, June 11 is Music Appreciation Day, so we need to prepare for that! We will start rehearsing each Sunday at 8:15 until June 11, then you have the summer off (if we have time in rehearsal, we may sing in service prior to June, but we will at least lead worship music for now.)
I’ll have music to give you this Sunday and I will send a link to what we will be singing so you can listen to it! Look forward to seeing you!
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Heidi Jacobs earned her Bachelor’s in piano performance at the Eastern New Mexico University where she received a full piano scholarship and the first prize in the MTNA Young Artist State Piano Competition.
She went on to complete her Master’s in Piano Performance at Florida State University where she was awarded a graduate assistantship and performed with top instrumental and vocal students seeking advanced performance degrees.
She has worked as a church pianist in many churches and accompanied choirs, vocal and instrumental players in collegiate levels for over 15 years. Furthermore, she has conducted a church choir in her previous church position where she was both church pianist and choir director.
Aside from accompanying, she has taught piano lessons for many years and performed at recitals and concerts.
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95:1-2.
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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 21 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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Sharing God's message of salvation and justice to people desperate for hope and healing.
Bob and Carmen Morrison serve with "Reclaim Life", an international Christian ministry dedicated to transform the emotional and spiritual health of poor, marginalized adults, youth and children.
They equip churches to get engaged in their "Breaking Barriers and Enduring Love" programs to deepen healing across all their relationships and to be centers for healing and health. This will enable participants to become change agents who break the bonds of helplessness and poverty in their homes and communities for generations. Parenting programs have been especially needed that provide simple steps to be able to connect with their kids. Reclaim Life combines leading scientific research and in-depth scriptural teaching into life-changing small group programs that can be replicated at a low cost on the local level. Reclaim life is currently serving in Guayaquil, Ecuador and Mexico City, Mexico and Malaga, Spain. Please pray for Bob and Carmen as they seek new opportunities to serve in new places. Next stop - Ethiopia!
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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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If you crochet or knit, please join the Pender Prayer Shawl Ministry this Saturday, May 20th.
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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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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Turning Point Youth Group will take a day hike and have a picnic lunch at the Riverbend National Park in Great Falls, VA.
Youth will meet at 10:00 am in the church parking lot.
Please bring a water bottle, pack a lunch, wear comfortable walking shoes.
POC: Mark Atwood, Interim Youth Director.
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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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Slideshow of Photos from the Chris Atwood Tenth Anniversary Bash |
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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: Canned Fruit
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 20, GPS Youth Group Hike at Riverbend Park
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May 20, Prayer Shawl Ministry
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May 21, Sanctuary Choir Rehearsals resume
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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 8:15 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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