Dear Church Family:

With the start of a new year, as Jesus’ followers we seek guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit to live faithfully and to be his joyful witnesses in a new season.  

On Sunday, January 14, we will include a service of “baptismal reaffirmation” (UM Hymnal #50-53) in both services to celebrate God’s covenant blessings to his people and to recommit ourselves to Christ’s service for this time. Whether or not you have been baptized, I encourage you to be present to participate in this means of grace and to consider your life in Christ.  

Also on this Sunday, I will begin a new five-week sermon series inviting us to ponder the meaning and importance of the “Methodist” in United Methodism. If you have ever wondered what makes our living tradition of faith and practice distinct from other Christian churches, and what gifts we have to offer the larger Body of Christ, then this series is for you.   

This Saturday, January 13, all are welcome to join us for a new discussion to consider “Questions in Faith” that pertain to us all, no matter our station of life or faith. We will meet in the library at 10:30 to talk about biblical answers to questions about God, faith, and life that relate to us all. If you plan to come, contact me to make arrangement to get you a study book that will be the basis of our discussion. Bring your Bible with you and invite a friend.  

I am excited about what the triune God is doing at Pender UMC and filled with hope for 2024. I hope you will plan to be an active part of God’s new thing among us.

Pastor Bruce

A few more copies of the book (The Means of Grace) for the Tuesday/Thursday class have been ordered.

Pastor Bruce is leading a study on a topic of importance to us all.

As Christians we know that God has acted in Jesus Christ to be in relationship with us, and we want to grow in our relationship to God. From the start, this has also been a central feature of Methodist Christianity. But how does this growth happen? And what is our part? 

Beginning next week, we will begin a new study and conversation to consider the ways God works in our lives with grace, and the specific ways in which we can participate in the process of knowing and loving the Lord. 

If you are interested, join us either on Tuesday at 7:00pm or on Thursday at 10:00am in the library. 

If you are unable to join us but are interested, or if you have questions, please contact me by email or phone (bruce.j@penderumc.org 434-610-1115) as soon as possible. 

We will order books soon and encourage anyone who is able to reimburse the church for the cost ($16) If that is a stretch for you, the church will pick up the cost. Since growing in our relationship to God is a topic that is relevant to every person, feel free to invite a friend or acquaintance beyond our congregation. 

I hope to see you there. 

Pastor Bruce 

More Than a New Year 

“Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:3,4

Devotion based on Romans 6:3,4

How was your New Year’s celebration? Did you spend time with friends and family? Did you stay up until midnight? Did you sleep in on New Year’s Day?

Here’s another question: How has your New Year’s celebration impacted your life in the new year? I imagine not much. It may have been fun, but now you’re back to life as usual.

In today’s Bible reading, the apostle Paul tells us about an event that is more than a one-day celebration, an event that changes the rest of a person’s life. The event is a person’s baptism.

Christian baptism, you see, is not simply a ceremony. Paul tells us that when a person is baptized, they are spiritually covered in all the benefits of Jesus’ death on the cross. Their sins are forgiven. And because their sins are forgiven, they can look forward to an eternal life in heaven one day.

But there’s more. The apostle tells us that baptism also empowers a person to live a new kind of life, a life that no longer wants to do its own thing but rather wants to do God’s thing.

That’s much more exciting than any New Year’s resolution. It is God’s promise to empower those who have been baptized to live a new, God-pleasing life. How could those who have received such a gift have anything but a happy new year?

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me today of the remarkable blessings of baptism. Amen.

Daily Devotions brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Members of the 2024 S/PPRC:

David Hensley - Chair

Pastor Bruce Johnson

Mark Atwood

Maya Berry

Karen Cross

Carol-Anne Kaye

Thomas Parker

Glenn Lammi

2023 Woman of the Year

It’s time to nominate a Pender woman for the annual Woman of the Year award. Which woman has given support and encouragement to the Pender community? Who do you think deserves this special honor?  

Forms are in the church office. Once the form is completed, please leave the form in the church office. Forms need to be returned by Sunday, January 14th.

Hello Pender Family!

We're excited to see all the wonderful meetings and gatherings being planned within our community! To ensure everything runs smoothly, we kindly ask that all Pender meetings, whether they're happening on-campus, off-campus, or virtually via Zoom, be included on the church calendar. This little step helps us all stay connected and informed.

If you're looking to request a meeting, it's super easy! Just fill out this form, and voilà, you're on your way. We'll send you an email to let you know once your event is approved. Just a heads-up: if a room is already booked, we won't be able to schedule your event there, but we'll do our best to find a great alternative for you.

We appreciate your patience in waiting for the approval of your meeting. We know you're eager to get together, but it's best to hold off on resuming meetings until you get the green light. This ensures that your space is confirmed and ready for you. Remember, completing the form is the first step, but your room isn't booked until you receive that approval email.

Thanks for helping everything run like clockwork at Pender! We can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll be doing in your meetings. 

Questions or need help? Email webmaster@penderumc.org.

Blessings and Happy Planning!

This Saturday, January 13, all are welcome to join us for a new discussion to consider “Questions in Faith” that pertain to us all, no matter our station of life or faith. 

We will meet in the library at 10:30 to talk about biblical answers to questions about God, faith, and life that relate to us all. 

If you plan to come, contact me to make arrangement to get you a study book that will be the basis of our discussion. 

Bring your Bible with you and invite a friend.  

If you crochet or knit, please join the Pender Prayer Shawl Ministry this Saturday, January 13. We meet by Zoom from 10 AM - Noon.

The group makes prayer shawls, scarfs and lap blankets. Bring any projects you are making.  

Support our First Responders by helping us restock our Rest Stop.

The following donations are currently needed: bottled water, energy drinks and hot cups for coffee or tea.

Donations can be dropped off in the Church Office.

Our officers continually let us know how blessed they are to have a safe place here at Pender! In turn, we are safer because of their presence!

Please join the Pender Books Lovers as they discuss Madeline Martin’s book, The Last Bookshop in London. The group will meet by Zoom on Sunday, January 14 at 4 PM.

Please contact Iris Salcewicz for more details.

From Amazon: INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“An irresistible tale which showcases the transformative power of literacy, reminding us of the hope and sanctuary our neighborhood bookstores offer during the perilous trials of war and unrest.”

—KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON, author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and drawn curtains that she finds on her arrival are not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.

Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.

Retired Old Men Eating Out are currently meeting on the third Wednesday of the month at Bob Evens on Route 50. 

Contact Keith Saddler for more information.

Backpack Blessings

Thank you Pender for your generous support of the GBE Backpack Blessings meal program.  We are currently packing 50 meal bags per week for the school counselors to distribute to families in need of them.  

 Please look in the Church Lobby this Sunday for the next round of donation bags. Bags and food items should be returned to the blue bin in the lobby no later than Sunday January 28.  

Thank you for your continued support of this ministry in our community!

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!

Discover a supportive space for new beginnings! Join us every Wednesday at 6:00 PM, starting January 3rd, in the serene ambiance of Pender UMC's Library.

At 5:00 PM there will be a time of casual chat, known as the "meeting before the meeting".

Engage in meaningful conversations and find camaraderie at our AA meetings, guided by the experienced Tom O, a dedicated long-term member.

These are open meetings.

OPEN (Open to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous' program of recovery from alcoholism)

DISCUSSION (Group participation in discussion of topic relevant to the AA program)

STEP (Group discussion of the 12 steps of AA)

You can get a supportive text message and Bible verse on your phone everyday by texting the word "hope" to 540-712-6275.

Unsubscribe any time.

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.

~~~

The WFCM blue cart is outside the church.

All donations of food and toiletries are welcomed and needed.

Please no:

* Expired food

* Glass jars

* Egg Cartons

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.

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.