• September 22, JDC, Juvenile Detention Center
• September 22, Church Council
• September 23, Book Squad! Begins
• September 29, Phonics Fun
• October 3, Girl Scouts resume
• October 5, Bread of Life Ministry begins
• October 6, Fellowship Feast begins
• October 19, Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat
• November 10, Charge Conference
• December 7, Christmas Caroling
• December 14, Breakfast with Santa
• January 12, Poetry Slam

Weekly Events

• Sunday
• Children's Sunday School Classes. The children will meet in the sanctuary until just after Children's Time. They will then leave for Sunday School with their teachers. We are asking for volunteers to relieve the Sunday School teachers so they may periodically attend the full worship service.
• Youth Sunday School Class Time TBD
• Connections Adult Class Time TBD
• The Seeker Sunday School Class meets at 9:00 am.
• Pray for Pender, Time TBD
• The Impact Youth Group at 5:00 pm
• Monday
• Fun with Music resumes September 9
• Mary Martha Circle, online
• Tuesday
• Handbell rehearsals
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study returns 9/17 at 7pm
• Wednesday
• Ruth Circle returns September 11
• AA Meetings at 6pm
• Thursday
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study returns 9/19 at 10:00 am
• Lectio Divina Prayer Group
• Choir Rehearsal at 6:30
• Praise Band Rehearsal at 7:30

Check here for other meetings.

Dear Church Family:

The Gospel of John begins like this: 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-4, 14 NIV)

Some churches read John 1:1-18 every Christmas Day as the scheduled Gospel lesson. But with most churches in this country not worshiping on Christmas Day, many Christians rarely hear John’s wondrous and inspired testimony to the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, words that are essential for Christians to grasp and understand the whole New Testament portrait of Jesus who is “the Word,” creator, life, light, glorified, grace and truth-filled, and so much more, God with us in the flesh. John’s testimony is a mysterious revelation and a revealed mystery, given for our salvation.

While there is much more to John’s account of the life of Jesus Christ than the prologue of chapter one, the fourth Gospel is unique in helping believers to consider the deeper meaning of Jesus’ person and ministry, and the good news of God’s purposes for our lives and fellowship in Christ.  

Beginning next week, all members and friends of Pender are invited to begin a study of John’s Gospel together at the church. There will be two weekly opportunities to participate, on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 and Thursday mornings at 10:00 in the library. The class will consist of reading and discussing John together, with as eye toward how it speaks to us as the church and individual disciples of Jesus in our time. I will serve as facilitator and resource. If you would like to be a part of this opportunity, simply read through the book of John between now and then and join us at one or the other of the weekly sessions. If for some reason you can’t be there next week, come the following week. And please feel free to invite an interested friend or curious neighbor.    

John the apostle closes his Gospel with this admission: while Jesus did much more than I could ever record, I write these words that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in his name (20:31). I look forward to exploring with you the life that is ours in Jesus’ name.

Pastor Bruce

All Pender Meetings run by the school year. Recurring meetings (weekly or monthly) taking place after June 30, 2024 will need to be scheduled again for the 2024-2025 school year.

Pender Members and Pender-sponsored groups such as Boy Scouts should go here, click add event. Please list your first-choice of room number. 

You will get an email when your event is approved. Note that you cannot add an event to a room that is already reserved for another meeting.

On the fourth Sunday of the month, people in the Pender community lead a one hour worship service at Fairfax Juvenile Detention Center (JDC). This worship service supports teenagers (7th to 12th grade) and the staff.

Worship service is from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Volunteers are asked to meet at JDC at 1:15 PM. You do not need to have any special skills, just a willing heart and spirit to share the gospel with teens and young adults.

"Phonics Fun" How to empower your child's reading skills with a SIMPLE approach to phonics. FREE WORKSHOP!

Pender UMC

12401 Alder Woods Dr.

Fairfax, VA 22033

Sunday September 22 at 3:00 PM

Please register- limit of 50 participants

Taught by a retired First Grade teacher

* Tricks to enable decoding of words

* Explanations of phonetic "mysteries"

* Practical and fun applications

Calling All Young Readers (Grades K - 3) Join the Book Squad!

Does your child love books, snacks and fun activities? Then they'll love the Book Squad!

What to Expect:

• Exciting Books: Explore new stories and adventures each week!
• Yummy Snacks: Enjoy delicious treats while we read.
• Fun Activities: Games, crafts, and more to bring the stories to life!
• Note: We will close in conjunction with FCPS schools

Why? Reading is fundamental to learning. It helps children learn about the world, develop critical thinking skills, and improve their imagination and creativity!

Presented to you by teachers (Miss Vicki, Miss Saundra, Miss Jane)

Please let us know your child(ren) will be there.

Join Us for Bread of Life!

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and spread some love!

What: Bread of Life – A chance to give back to the community!

When: First Saturday of every month, Starting October 5th! 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Where: Pender UMC Kitchen

12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033

Why join us?

• We provide all the ingredients. You bring your enthusiasm and a heart full of love!
• Meet new friends while making a real difference.
• Help those in need and feel the joy of giving back.

All are welcome! Whether you're a seasoned chef or just love the smell of fresh bread, there's a spot for you in our kitchen. Together, we can knead some dough and do good!

See you there – let’s make magic happen!

Calling All Musicians: Join Our Church's Vibrant Music Ministry! 🎶🙌

Are you passionate about music? Do you feel called to share your musical gifts in a community of faith? Pender is seeking talented musicians to join our vibrant Music Ministry team and contribute to our uplifting and spiritually enriching worship services!

What We're Looking For:

• Instrumentalists: Whether you shine on the strings, whisper with the woodwinds, or resonate with the brass, we need your skills to fill our sanctuary with harmonious sounds.
• Vocalists: Sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses—lend your voices to help lead our congregation in song and praise.
• Handbell Ringers: We will teach you to play during our services and special events.

Why Join Us?

• Community Impact: Through your music, you can touch the hearts of our congregation and inspire joy and contemplation in our weekly gatherings.
• Spiritual Growth: Participate in a ministry that not only serves others but also nurtures your own faith and connection to the divine.
• Musical Development: Collaborate with experienced musicians and vocalists that will help you hone your craft and explore new musical opportunities.

Get Involved:

• Rehearsals: We meet weekly to practice and prepare, ensuring every service is both spiritually and musically fulfilling.
• Sunday Services: Be a part of our regular worship schedule and special holiday performances that highlight the church calendar.
• Community Outreach: Occasionally, our music ministry participates in local events and services, expanding our impact beyond the church walls.

If you're excited about making a joyful noise unto the Lord and enhancing our worship experiences, we would love to hear from you! Contact our Music Director today to learn more about how you can get involved.

Let your talent soar in a place where music meets ministry, and together, we'll create beautiful worship experiences that resonate with all who attend.

Join us and be a key note in our melody of faith! 🎵✨

Blessing Box

Pender has a Blessing Box at the end of the driveway near the lower parking lot which could always use donations. When you’re near Pender, please pay it forward and share a few groceries with those in need. There is no lock on it- it’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“Take what you need.

Leave what you can.

Little becomes much

In the Master’s hand.”

Hebrews 13:16: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

No clothing, note cards, calendars, plastic utensils, glass items, expired food, fresh, or frozen food items.

Some ideas:

Rice

Dry beans (red, black, pink, pinto, black recipes)

Pasta

Canned spaghetti sauce (traditional)

Canned tomato sauce

Canned diced or whole tomatoes 

Canned tomato paste

Flour

Sugar

Yeast packets 

Baking powder

Baking soda

Oil

Salt

Pepper

Soy sauce

Taco seasoning mix

Canned tuna

Canned mackerel 

Canned chicken 

Canned salmon 

Spam

Canned luncheon meat

Canned fruit (packed in juice)

Canned jalapeños

Canned adobo peppers

Oatmeal

Grits

Yellow or white cornmeal

Together We Walk To End Hunger is a one-mile family-friendly walk during the Centreville Day Parade to raise awareness of food insecurity in our community and fund solutions. Generously sponsored by Keener Insurance Agency, Inc., 100% of walker registration fees benefit Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) and our Free Food Market operations. 

Date and Time: Saturday, October 19, 2024. Parade line-up begins at 10:45 am with the parade starting at 11:00 am and the walk finishing by approximately 11:30 am.

Walk Details: The parade route is officially 0.92 miles. The walk will not be timed. Children in strollers or wagons are welcome. For safety reasons, please no headphones / ear buds, pets, bicycles, or skates. 

Registration: All walkers must register online by Friday, September 20th to receive official walk swag. Please wear your t-shirt and/or wristband on October 19th. 

• Adult registration, includes commemorative t-shirt: $35 (+$2.42 online payment processing fee)
• Youth, aged 13 - 17, includes adult-sized t-shirt and wristband: $35 (+$2.42 online payment processing fee)
• OR Youth under age 18, includes wristband (no t-shirt): $15 (+$1.21 online payment processing fee)
• Children aged 3 - 12, includes wristband (no t-shirt): $15 (+$1.21 online payment processing fee)
• Children age 2 and younger: Free

​

Swag Pick-Up: You will be emailed with dates and times to pick up your commemorative t-shirt and /or silicone wristbands at WFCM offices in Chantilly. Walk items will not be delivered.

Location: The Centreville Day Parade takes place in Historic Centreville at the intersections for Route 29 and Braddock Road. A street address you can use to locate the event is 5714 Mt. Gilead Road, Centreville 20120. NOTE: streets are closed to vehicles! The parade begins at the very end of Wharton Lane and marches down that road past the Centreville Day stage on Mount Gilead Road and ends on Braddock Road. 

​

Parking: Remote parking is available on Rt 29 near Carrabba's. Free shuttles will take you from parking on Rt 29 to Braddock Road. 

Centreville Day Activities: For more information about Centreville Day activities, please visit https://www.historiccentrevilleva.org/

Waiver required to participate. Return signed waivers to donorsupport@wfcmva.org. 

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

The following donations are currently needed: individual packages beef jerky, 16 oz bottled water and energy drinks. They don't currently need chips.

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!

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!

Pender's amazing new tuba player, Mark Severeniuk, will be playing in this concert. He's love to see some familiar Pender faces!

New Worlds

Saturday

September 14, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

• Michael Giacchino: Voyage

• Duke Ellington: New World a-comin with piano soloist Russell Wilson

• Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9

A season of new beginnings opens with three vibrant takes on new worlds. Join us as we blast off with Giacchino’s Voyage celebrating the 60th anniversary of NASA; explore Ellington’s rhapsodic piano concerto evoking his vision of a world without greed or war; and traverse Dvorak’s most famous symphonic work incorporating the musics he heard while living in America.

howard county center for the arts

8510 High Ridge Road

Ellicott City, MD 21043

410.465.8777

New sekunda balalaika player, Mary O'Connor, will be playing in this concert supporting an important cause - Ukraine.

If anyone can find Culpeper, she'd be happy to find you in the audience.

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries ("WFCM") Current Request for Donations

WFCM has been providing food and services to the community for 37 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.  Please contact her with any questions.

In May more than 700 families were provided groceries from the Food Pantries, a 15% increase over May of 2023. Serving more families means we have a greater opportunity to make an impact with our donations. 

There are multiple ways you can support this community ministry.  The ways we hear of most often are donations of goods or money. Another way to participate is through volunteering of time to work in the Food Pantry.  If you are interested in volunteering, contact the WFCM office or Becky Bryan.

Financial donations to be used to stock the Food Pantry can be made to Pender to be forwarded to WFCM.  In a recent newsletter, WFCM explained that, because of the savings that flow out of bulk purchases, a donation of $100 is used to purchase the equivalent of $600 of food. 

For donations of food and toiletry items, you may leave your gifts in the grocery cart located by Pender’s front doors.  OR, you can order from Amazon for direct delivery to WFCM at 4511 Daly Drive, Suite J, Chantilly, VA 20151.

~~~

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

Most needed items in the Free Food Market this month:

• Flour (Maseca preferred)
• Sugar (1 or 2 lb. bags)
• Vegetable Oil 
• Pasta Sauce
• Pasta
• Cereal (low sugar preferred)
• Pancake Mix 
• Family Sized Snacks (crackers, pretzels) 
• Canned Chicken 
• Toiletries: bar soap, body wash, toothpaste, hair shampoo, toilet paper, and baby wipes (NOTE: we are not currently in need of diapers size 0-5 due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate larger size pull ups size 4T/5T for toddlers, size 6 diapers, or baby wipes if you want to donate items for babies.)

Please only donate larger size pull ups size 4T/5T for toddlers, size 6 diapers, or baby wipes if you want to donate items for babies.

Please no:

* Expired food

* Glass jars

* Egg Cartons

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.