The Common Ground Contemporary Service April 7 at 11:15 am will be in person and live-streamed.

Dear Church Family:

It was wonderful to gather with many of you over Holy Week to remember Christ’s redeeming sacrifice and to celebrate his triumphant resurrection. The Lord is risen indeed! is our faithful proclamation now and sure hope for the age to come.   

As we look ahead to the near future, I am happy to report that we received $2300 for our Easter Mission offering on Sunday that will go to help fund the Philippi Tiny House project. Much more information to come.  

Do you want to read the Bible with more understanding and confidence? The books are now in for our upcoming class when we will discuss how to read the Bible for faithful living and spiritual growth. I will lead our discussions of Scripture and the Life of God, by Rev. Dr. David Watson. You may pick up a gently used (or marked) copy from the church office for $7. The class will take place two times each week, Tuesdays at 7pm (beginning April 23), and Thursdays at 10am (beginning April 18). Let me know if you have questions. I hope you will consider joining us for this timely discussion.  

With General Conference to begin soon (April 23-May 3), I want to encourage each of us to continue praying for the conference delegates and leaders who will gather in Charlotte, for the UMC, and for Pender as we continue to discern a faithful path forward in Christ’s service. 

After a couple weeks off for Holy Week and Easter, our Sunday morning prayer meeting will resume this Sunday at 10:15 in room 218. You are welcome to join us as we pray for the church and all things.

It is good to be in the service of the risen Lord Jesus Christ with his disciples at Pender UMC,

Pastor Bruce 

Prayer is the Language of Faith

Talking and listening to God is the oldest form of communication. It is before any known language or means of conversing. We can even go back as far as Adam and Eve; for in the Garden of Eden we are taught that God walked with them in the cool of the day; a clear Scriptural image that God routinely walked and talked with the first couple. 

It is also recorded in Scripture that the ancient people of faith prayed for forgiveness, reconciliation, spiritual comfort, physical health, and deliverance from brutal and fierce enemies. Jesus prayed more often than any living soul. He also taught his apostles and disciples to pray. And when He was taken up into heaven, they made prayer their highest calling. And through the centuries we have continue to mediate, speak, and listen to God.

Faith is in the heart. The language of the faith is prayer, either silent or vocal, which pleads and confers with God to take hold of the benefits of faith. In the Book of Mathew Jesus said ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened. In this passage the asking, the seeking, and the finding are distinctive qualities of earnest and persistent prayer. We know there will always be insincere prayer that wants to be seen, or for some other unsuitable motive; yet we should also know that no one will earnestly ask, seek, or knock, without faith. And without faith no one will pray earnestly. So when we pray earnestly we should have confidence that we will be heard because of our faith; for God will teach us that earnest prayer is the language of faith. 

It is true that God knows our needs before we pray. Yet prayer is also a way we receive more specific needs. God graciously provides for the people of faith along with all of the world’s citizenry; for we are taught in Scripture that the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. This verse and others like it testify that many of God’s physical and natural provisions are given to all regardless of faith; yet the Scripture also teaches us from Genesis to Revelations that specific provisions are for people who have faith. 

When an infant cries when hungry or tired or cold it is natural for a parent to provide what is lacking. So it is for all the living to receive fatherly care. Yet when children mature they become more specific with their requests in which a learned language will clearly communicate their needs. In this likeness prayer is the language of faith in which the people of faith clearly and earnestly bring their specific needs to God. 

Prayer is a heavenly language that God has ordained and promised to hear. It is a language that is peculiar to some and doubtful to others, but for the people of faith they know if they seek God in earnest and for the right reasons, they will be heard; not because they deserve to receive anything from God; for it is only because they have faith.

Written By Joseph Hutchison

February 28, 2024 joehutchison Seed Thoughts Home Page, Short Christian Essays

After a four-year delay, the 2020 General Conference will take place April 23-May 3, 2024 in Charlotte, NC.

Kim Johnson, GC delegate and NOVA District Director of Communications, has created helpful infographics for individual and church use to explain the purpose of General Conference and more.

See them and more on the General Conference Page at https://penderumc.org/conference/

Finance Chairman David Kinard brings an exciting update to the Pender community about our dynamic financial endeavor, the "Bridge of Hope" campaign. This initiative isn't just a campaign; it's a journey towards a brighter future for our church, and every member's contribution is a pivotal step on this bridge.

As of April 4, 2024, our collective efforts have already amassed a remarkable $161,905! What's even more heartening is that $10,000 of this is a matching grant from a generous member of our church family. This means every contribution to the "Bridge of Hope" is effectively doubled, up to an astounding $92,000. Every penny you give becomes two, making your impact even more significant.

Pamela and I are personally committed to this cause. All our weekly offerings are now channeled directly to the "Bridge of Hope," ensuring we fully leverage this matching opportunity. We encourage you to consider doing the same. Remember, undesignated funds go into our general fund, so let's be intentional with our giving. It's as simple as marking "Bridge of Hope" on your check, envelope, or selecting it from the dropdown menu when giving online.

Our goal is to maximize this matching gift and double our financial strength. This campaign is more than just numbers; it's about sustaining our beloved church's future. Over the past few years, our savings have dwindled as we've struggled to cover monthly expenses. The "Bridge to Hope" is our path to financial stability, ensuring we don't deplete our reserves.

To help everyone understand the depth and importance of this campaign, we've prepared informative handouts and giving cards available in the Pender narthex. These include answers to frequently asked questions and contact information for any further queries you might have.

Join us in this remarkable journey of faith and generosity. Let's seize this opportunity to double our impact and secure our church's financial future. Your participation in the "Bridge of Hope" campaign is not just a donation; it's an investment in the heart and soul of our Pender community.

To give, click here and choose "Bridge of Hope" - thank you!

The Pender Faith Promise Missions Celebration will begin Saturday May 18 with a Potluck Dinner.

Sunday May 19 at 9AM and 11:15AM Services David and Laura Shuping, long-term Pender members will share about their ministries.

The Annual Missions Conference is an opportunity to meet visiting missionaries, hear their stories about what God is doing in the lives of people, and how lives are being changed throughout the world because of Pender's Faith Promise Missions outreach.

"Experience the spirit of giving this Easter!

On Easter morning 2024, Jane McKee revealed exciting details about Pender's annual mission trip to Philippi happening in July.

She highlighted the diverse volunteer opportunities available for this transformative journey. But that's not all – she also announced that the Easter offering would be dedicated to building Tiny Houses for Philippi.

Imagine the impact! We have the chance to purchase kits, assemble them into cozy homes, and then watch as Ruston Seaman and his dedicated team transport these homes of hope to Philippi.

Dive into this heartwarming mission with us, contribute to a cause that rebuilds lives, and be a part of a community that cares.

Don’t miss out on this incredible journey of faith and service – stay tuned for updates!"

A hop, skip, and a jump of appreciation to all the wonderful volunteers who made Pender's 2024 Easter Egg Hunt an egg-straordinary success!

Whether you sweetened the day with candy donations, skillfully stuffed eggs and treat bags, or brought order to the excited chaos by organizing the little egg hunters, your efforts brought smiles as bright as spring flowers.

To those who were the captains of check-in, the champions of the game stations, and the bingo bosses – you are the heartbeat of our community fun. Special shoutout to the snack squad, who popped the popcorn, stirred the lemonade, and dished out the treats, ensuring nobody hopped away hungry. Let’s not forget the raffle wranglers, who spun the wheel of fortune for delightful surprises.

And to the Bunny Hop dancers – you brought the groove and the moves, making it an unforgettable jig under the spring sun. We couldn't have done it without each and every one of you. Your spirit of giving has truly been the sweetest treat of all!

 Liliana and Beth made 100 cookies for the youth and staff at the Fairfax Juvenile Detention Center (JDC).

They delivered the cookies and the blessing cards to the students at last Sunday’s worship service on Palm Sunday.

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!

No meeting Saturday 4/06/2024

All are welcome to join us for a 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.  

GBE Backpack Meal Program Thanks and Update

The next bags will be available April 7 to be returned by April 21st.

We wanted to thank you all so much for your very active participation in filling the blue bags for GBE. Each time we put them out they are all taken and brought back full! We can't tell you how much we and the counselors and students at GBE appreciate this! The bags will once again be available this weekend.

We have just been requested to provide 74 bags for each of our remaining three weeks versus the 50 we have been providing weekly. Because of this...there are even more blue bags in need of filling, but a friendly note that this is the LAST time for us to do this for the school year, because of the help of WFCM.

In addition to filling the blue bags if you have any plastic grocery bags that you would like to recycle, they have said that would be of great help in distributing the additional WFCM provided items. Thank you again for your continued support. If you have any questions, please contact Jami Flemmons or Ann Hines.

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

The following donations are currently needed: 16 oz bottled water and energy drinks.

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!

BlackGirlScientist, LLC. will sponsor a FREE STEM Workshop (Lava Lip Gloss Lab) at Pender UMC for the maximum of 30 middle school age girls. The goal will be to expose young girls to STEM through an interactive workshop.

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It's a term used to group together these related technical disciplines. STEM is often used in the context of education policy and school curriculum choices.

Register today!

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 in the serene ambiance of Pender UMC's Library.

At 5:00 PM there is 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)

Pender VBS Registration is open!

VBS will be the week of June 24 through June 28

In the bustling, whimsical world of Hero Hotline Headquarters, superheroes of every shape, size, and superpower come together under the watchful eye of the wise Professor and the legendary Super Meer, a daring Meerkat hero.

Here, in this vibrant hub of heroism, young and old heroes alike answer the call of duty, joining forces to lend their extraordinary talents to Hero Teams across the globe.

Whether it's solving perplexing puzzles, battling dastardly villains, or rescuing those in peril, these superheroes are always ready to save the day with a dash of fun, a sprinkle of humor, and a whole lot of heart.

Register at https://penderumc.org/vbs

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. Becky Bryan is our current liaison with WFCM.

Thanks goes out to all of you who continue to support WFCM many programs.

~~~

The WFCM blue cart is between the two front doors of he church.

WFCM pantry needs:

Food & Beverages

• Cereal (low sugar preferred)
• Hot Cereal (Oatmeal, Grits)
• Maseca Corn Flour
• Sugar (1 or 2 lb. bags)
• Red Beans (low salt preferred)
• Black Beans (low salt preferred)
• Canned Tomatoes (stewed, crushed, diced, paste)
• Canned Pasta
• Pasta Sauce
• Flavored Pasta (Pasta Helpers)
• Flavored Rice (Rice A Roni)
• Risotto
• Pancake Mix
• Peanut Butter
• Family Sized Snacks (pretzels, crackers, etc.)
• Canned Mixed Vegetables (low salt preferred)
• Coffee (ground, no k-cups)
• Individual juice boxes (100% juice preferred)

Toiletries

NOTE: Toiletry items cannot be purchased by our clients with SNAP 

• Body Wash
• Body Lotion
• Toothpaste
• Hair Shampoo
• Hair Conditioner
• Lotion
• Toilet Paper
• Large size pull-ups (size 4T/5T for toddlers)
• Size 6 Diapers
• Baby Wipes

NOTE:  Only size 6 diapers and large pull-ups are needed at this time thanks to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank.

All donations of food and toiletries are welcomed and needed.

Please no:

* Expired food

* Glass jars

* Egg Cartons

Thanks to all of you who faithfully extend your loving mercy to those in our community who may face food insecurity without the donations we make to WFCM. Usually this Pender weekly email does not contain the entire letter from WFCM with their monthly update. Since it may have been awhile since you’ve seen how your contributions make a difference, please take a couple of minutes to read this. You’ll also learn about the various ways WFCM gets food to those who need it. 

Below is an excerpt from the letter which I want to bring to your attention. 

Please consider a recurring monthly donation. How does this help? We are able to turn your monthly donation of $50 into $300 of groceries.

When you give a cash donation to Pender designated for the WFCM Food Pantry, Pender will forward the donation to WFCM with the restriction to use it for the food pantry. In March we have sent $1,000 – which multiplies into $6,000 worth of food when WFCM makes bulk purchases.

If you have any questions, please contact me, Becky Bryan, or you may contact WFCM directly.

Again, thanks to each of you who continue to support this important ministry.

Read this month's WFCM Newsletter.

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.