Sunday Worship:
In Person and
Streaming
at 9:00 and
11:15 am
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This Week at Pender
August 31, 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 “Our New Identity in Christ: Awesome Devotion” (Acts 2:41-47).
Sunday is the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
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:
Bible Study to Begin:
Beginning this week, Pastor Bruce will lead a Bible Study at two times each week: Tuesdays at 7:00pm and Thursdays at 10:00.
For our first meeting, we will talk about what Biblical book or topic you would like to begin with, so bring your good ideas. I will also present some suggestions for us to consider.
For this first week, both sessions will meet in the library.
I hope to see you soon as we explore God’s Word and our life in Christ together.
Pastor Bruce
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Board of Discipleship Presentation of the Denman Award for Clergy for Pastor Bruce Johnson.
Award presentation and dinner to be held at 4:00 PM October 8 in the Gathering Place.
District Superintendent Sarah Calvert will be present along with representatives from the Virginia Conference UMC.
The Harry Denman Evangelism Awards honor a United Methodist clergy, youth, and layperson in each annual conference who has exhibited outstanding efforts in Wesleyan evangelism by faithfully carrying out the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ.”
The award is named for the late Dr. Harry Denman, a distinguished lay evangelist whom Dr. Billy Graham called “my mentor in evangelism.” The awards are made possible by The Foundation for Evangelism (www.foundationforevangelism.org), founded in 1949 by Dr. Denman, who felt it was the business of every Christian to be an evangelist. It is most fitting that annual conferences today honor persons who carry on the spirit of Harry Denman.
Those eligible for this prestigious award practice the Great Commission. This can involve personal witnessing, speaking, and inspiring individual persons or the local church to be actively involved in helping people experience God’s transforming love through Jesus Christ. Neither the size of the local church with which the person is affiliated, the age or gender of the person, nor the length of their service should limit one’s eligibility. What is essential are the persons whose lives have been changed by the life and ministry of the nominee.
The Virginia conferences honor an individual each year and present the awards at the Virginia Annual Conference gathering.
The selection process is directed by the Board of Discipleship of the Virginia conference, and all nominations are collected through the nomination process set by the board.
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Fight Back with Truth
At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, a strange thing happened: He was led into the wilderness, by the Spirit, where He encountered the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry—taunted by the enemy to satisfy His craving for food. Essentially, Satan provoked Jesus to prove that He was God’s Son by turning rocks into bread.
Can you sense the manipulation?
If you’re really the Son of God, do something. Take matters into your own hands. Give in to your desire. Provide for yourself. Is God even good if He holds out on you?
But Jesus refused to be bullied.
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NIV
This pattern continued throughout two more temptations—where the devil temped Jesus with protection and power, but Jesus rebuked him with Scripture. So what are some things we can learn from Jesus’ encounter with the enemy?
• Jesus knew that life is more than having a full stomach. Though He surely longed to satisfy his physical craving, He knew that true sustenance comes from God.
• Jesus knew that engaging in debate with the enemy isn’t wise. Instead, He relied on the power of Scripture, quoting from Deuteronomy as His weapon of defense.
• Jesus knew He had nothing to prove. Unlike Adam and Eve in Genesis, who doubted God’s goodness and gave into temptation, Jesus was able to resist the enemy.
• Jesus knew He was being tempted by the devil and acted in accordance. We must learn to recognize when we're under attack, and remember to fight back with God’s Word.
So, how is the enemy tempting you this week? How is he enticing you to doubt God’s trustworthiness? Remember, God has enabled you to fight back with truth by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Fight Back With Truth.” YouVersion, 28 July 2023.
https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/.
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Jim and Roberta Pont will be offering Fun With Music again starting in early October. They could use a few more toys for children ages 0 to 5.
Also any children's books also for ages 0 to 5 that would be in good condition to give to the children on their birthday month. During their birthday month we sing Happy Birthday and the children get to pick a book to take home.
They are really looking forward to beginning this program again after the pandemic when we had to shut down.
Please bring toys and books to Pender. Roberta has left a bin marked Fun With Music in the church office.
Any questions? Please feel free to call or email Roberta Pont.
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The United Women in Faith will have a membership meeting on Saturday, September 16 at 10 AM.
We will be meeting in the Gathering Space and will be having a light breakfast. We will be discussing Luke 13.
All ladies are invited and please bring a friend with you. Questions, contact Iris Salcewicz.
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Marcellus McSquiddles, a giant Pacific octopus, is a main character in the story.
We meet by Zoom at 4 PM. Contact Iris Salcewicz for Zoom details.
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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 School
Topic: Youth Sunday School
Time: Sundays @ 10:oo am-11am
At Pender
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October 1, 2023 - Youth Ministry Event: The Power of Clean Clothes
Pender's Impact for Youth will host a youth ministry event: filling water bottles with powdered detergent that will enable the homeless and the poor to clean their clothes.
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Sanctuary Choir Rehearsals will resume Thursday, September 7 at 7:30 pm. All are 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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There are two bins in the narthex for the congregation to supply individually wrapped candy and snacks for the fall festival on October 21. |
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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: 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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August 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 5, Bible Study with Pastor Bruce at 7 pm
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September 7, Bible Study with Pastor Bruce at 10 am
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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 10, Book Club
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September 16, United Women in Faith General Membership Meeting
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September 17, Impact Youth Ministry Event: Activity to support Maui victims
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October 1, Youth Ministry Event: The Power of Clean Clothes
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October 2, Fun With Music resumes
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October 8, Board of Discipleship Presentation of the Denman Award for Clergy for Pastor Bruce Johnson
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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 return September 5.
- 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 return September 7.
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