Dear Church Family:

Today, January 25 is a special day in many churches around the world. This day is set aside to commemorate the conversion of Saul of Tarsus into Paul the Apostle. Paul’s story is told more than once in the book of Acts, including at his appearance before the Roman King Agrippa recorded in Acts 26. The church’s commemoration of this day is a reminder of the gospel’s power to reach and change human beings, and of the ministry that we share to take the good news to our world, the world Jesus entered to save and make new through his saving mercies and his witnesses. What began with Paul is now Jesus’ mandate and our inheritance as witnesses to the risen Lord. 

This Sunday in worship, we will continue our look at the distinctive features of our Methodist heritage, focusing on the evangelistic mission that characterized the early Methodists. It is safe to say that over the years we who have inherited the mantle of John and Charles Wesley have sometimes forgotten and neglected this essential aspect of our life and ministry in Christ. I hope you will plan to join us in-person or by Zoom as we celebrate the world-changing gospel and consider anew our place as Jesus’ evangelists, God’s good news bearers in our world.  

During our worship we will also recognize those who have served in church leadership in the year past and dedicate those who are serving us in the new year. Copies of our Lay Leadership list will be available for all.

Now and always, the Lord be with you,

Pastor Bruce 

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.

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

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love.” Mark 1:11

He Knows

In our sinful weakness, there are times when we can slip into falsely accusing the God who loves us. The temptation can be strong when we face tragedy and grief. “God doesn’t know. God doesn’t understand. God has no idea how it feels to carry such difficulty, pain, and loss. And so, why should I listen to what he says? Why should I pay attention to his nice words? He doesn’t get it anyway.”

When such thinking creeps into our minds, we need to stop. First, we need to remember that God the Son not only knows all about real life in this fallen world; He has fully experienced the very worst that this world can dish out. He knows pain, grief, and loss.

God the Father understands, too. At Jesus’ baptism, God the Father spoke up. He spoke up because he had something to say—something he wanted you and me to know. In that moment, God the Father said to Jesus, “You are my Son, whom I love.”



“You are my Son, whom I love.” These are not words of some abstract theological concept. This is a Father speaking to his Son. This is a Father telling his Son that he loves him. It is this same Father who watched his Son sacrifice himself on a cross for the sins of the world. God the Father endured this loss because of his love for us. As Jesus himself says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.”

And so God loves us beyond what we can grasp. And He also understands.

Prayer:

Lord God, we sometimes forget that you understand the pain that sin and death can bring. Forgive our false presumptions. And thank you for your love for us. Amen.

Daily Devotions are 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.

Our technologies service is having trouble transmitting emails from Pender staff to certain members of the church and are receiving NDRs (non-delivery reports) in our inboxes. 

Email accounts that we are currently struggling to send emails to are those with the domain names of @verizon.net, @aol.com and @yahoo.com. and this is interrupting our communication with members and constituents.

The staff are receiving all emails from members, we are just unable to send emails to persons with these accounts.

We have prompted our service provider to quickly find a solution to this issue.

We will post communications updates to the newsletter as needed. 

If you suspect you are having a problem with undeliverable emails, contact the office at office.admin@penderumc.org or call 703-278-8023.

Thank you for your understanding on this matter!

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 this Wednesday, January 10, 2024, our collective efforts have already amassed a remarkable $37,909! 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!

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 27, 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.  

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!

We will lead worship at Fairfax Juvenile Detention Center this Sunday, January 28th. Folks need to arrive at the JDC at 1:15 PM. Worship runs from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. 

Liliana will serve as worship leader this Sunday. Please join us with an open spirit, as the youth truly appreciate the worship service.

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)

Pender VBS Registration opens soon!

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.

More information at https://penderumc.org/vbs

Spring is coming! Please support BSA Troop 1530’s Mulch Sale!

Order soon at: www.bsatroop1530mulch.org

Delivered to your driveway on March 9

(Also accepting donations, if mulch is not on your shopping list this year.)

Thank YOU for your consideration and support!

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. 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 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.