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

• August 9, David - a showing of the Sight and Sound production
• August 11, Ice Cream Social
• August 18, Church Council
• August 19, Reaching New People/Common Ground Revitalization Team meeting 
• August 21, Reception for Hal Matthias
• August 29, Pender Hill School Open House
• September 3, Handbell Rehearsals resume
• September 8, One Combined Service at 10 am
• September 8, Back to School lunch
• September 8, Kirk Nave Installation Service as new District Superintendent
• September 9, Fun With Music resumes
• September 14, Ruth Circle at Roberta Pont's house
• October 19, Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat
• December 7, Christmas Caroling
• December 14, Breakfast with Santa
• January 12, Poetry Slam

Weekly Events

• Sunday
• Children's Sunday School Class at 10:15 am.
• Youth Sunday School Class meets at 10:15 am.
• Connections Adult Class meets at 10:15 am
• The Seeker Sunday School Class meets at 10:15 am.
• Pray for Pender, 10:15 am
• The Impact Youth Group at 5:00 pm
• Monday
• Fun with Music resumes September 9
• Mary Martha Circle, online
• Tuesday
• Handbell rehearsals return September 3
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study at 7pm
• Wednesday
• Ruth Circle
• AA Meetings at 6pm
• Thursday
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study at 10:00 am
• Lectio Divina Prayer Group Learn more here
• Choir Rehearsal at 6:30
• Praise Band Rehearsal at 7:30

• Check here for other meetings.

Dear Church Family:

As many of you know, the past week and a half has been tumultuous for my family, with our daughter Anna undergoing two surgeries, the second under dire emergency circumstances. Fortunately, she finally seems to be making progress, even though there are more questions to be answered and ongoing issues to be addressed about her care.  

I am very grateful to our loving Pender family for your tangible and spiritual support during this difficult time. Your prayers, along with many others, were instrumental in God’s mysterious but saving provision for Anna when things seemed most bleak, and her caregivers were all searching for help. I will forever be grateful for the unexpected intervention of a proactive anesthesiologist who became God’s instrument to save her life. Whether he knew it or not, Dr. Banks was the answer to our desperate prayers and the means of the Spirit’s life-renewing mercy for Anna’s body and spirit. 

As I reflect on this season of our family life, this week’s lectionary Psalm, Psalm 130, has taken on new and poignant meaning for me. Often read at funerals, Psalm 130 gives voice to the anguish we humans feel at the most desperate times in our lives, knowing that we are flawed and frail beings who can make no claim on our Creator other than according to his mercy, his “steadfast love.” But, in that humble confidence, our spirits become attuned to hope-filled possibilities born of a grace and strength not of our own making.  

Psalm 130 (NRSV)

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.

Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, 

and in his word I hope; 

My soul waits for the Lord

more than those who watch for the morning,

more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!

For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

and with him is great power to redeem.

It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

There are times in our lives when we are most attuned to our mortal vulnerability and dependency on God our Maker and Savior. When we know ourselves to be redeemed by the mercies of God, we cannot help but be changed. Anna told me recently that, through her harrowing life and death experience, she is finding a new sense of God’s purpose for her life. How good to know that even as we wait anxiously and struggle for hope, the Lord God is present with steadfast love and power to redeem and make us new, sometimes in the most unexpected way.  

What is true of our lives individually is true also of God’s people together. In this season of our church family life, I know many of you are joining with me to consciously wait on the Lord in hope that he may renew us for his holy purposes and guide us into a new, faithful, and fruitful future as a congregation of Jesus’ disciples. If you are feeling a sense of anxiety and uncertainty about Pender’s future right now, take time to wait on the Lord. Bring to him our needs and your grace-born faith. Remember that time in your life when the Lord provided you with unexpected grace and mercy where you could find none. Then give thanks in hopeful expectation of the power and mercy that is ours in Christ and cry out to the Lord who will surely come to our aid in just the right way and at just the right time. The future is the Lord’s, and by his gifts of faith, hope, and love, we will live into it for his glory and our salvation.

When God’s redeemed people together rediscover the depth of our need and the riches of God’s merciful supply, we cannot help but pray with more urgency, patience, and hope. In that confidence, I call on every member and friend of Pender to pray with me in the spirit of the Psalmist, together to seek the Lord who gives his people great gifts of life, redemption, and faith, and whose purposes for his people are always good and sure. The Lord our God is mighty to save and will surely come to our aid!  

I am ever grateful to be serving the risen Lord Jesus Christ with you,

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, scroll to the bottom and 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.

 Did you know that we have 25 newly appointed clergy on the Northern Virginia District?! These pastors began their new appointments on July 1. Over the next few weeks, we want to introduce them to you. 

Today we will start with our new District Superintendent, Rev. Kirk Nave. 

Before coming to the district, Kirk served at Braddock Street UMC. 

Top 10 things to know about Kirk:

1. Kirk Nave is a theological offspring.

2. Oak Hill is the 15th place in Virginia that he has lived, his second time in Northern Virginia.

3. He started in business before starting in ministry as lay supply in 1986.

4. Kirk and Stefanie have been married for 36 years, and have two adult children (both teachers), 1 grandchild, and 2 more grandchildren are due this fall.

5. Kirk and Stefanie met at the 1987 session of Annual Conference.

6. Kirk has served five churches (small, medium, and large; rural, small town, and suburban).

7. His favorite fulfillment in ministry is receiving new members. He received over 500 new members in his most recent church, nearly half by profession of faith.

8. He loves sports and was recruited by William & Mary and Randolph-Macon as a soccer player.

9. He graduated from Emory & Henry College as a business major, where he also played baseball.

10. Kirk replaced Lawrence Taylor on his high school football team.

We are so excited to welcome Kirk to the district team and to celebrate him at his installation service on September 8. (https://novaumc.org/ds-installation-service/)

We are thrilled to be offering a showing of DAVID: August 9th at 7pm!

From still waters to shadowed valleys, David's ascent to the throne is filled with towering giants, wild animals, and Philistine soldiers. After unprecedented victories lead to devastating failures, this passionate warrior will face the biggest battle of all: the one within himself.

Captured during a live broadcast, this extraordinary film gives you the best seat in the house for every spectacular moment of the show!

We will have popcorn and soft drinks. You may also bring a snack to share.

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! 🎵✨

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. 

Saturday!

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: 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!

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 food pantry this month:

• Flour
• 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.)

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 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.