The Common Ground Contemporary Service August 4 at 11:15 am will be in person and live-streamed.

• July 28-August 4, Check out the Sandrock's Seashell Collection
• August 3, Questions in Faith will NOT meet
• August 11, Ice Cream Social
• 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
• 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 on break until the fall
• Mary Martha Circle, online
• Tuesday
• Handbell rehearsals return September 3
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study at 7pm
• Wednesday
• Ruth Circle on break until the fall
• AA Meetings at 6pm
• Thursday
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study at 10:00 am
• Lectio Divina Prayer Group Learn more here
• Choir Rehearsal on break until June 6
• Praise Band Rehearsal at 7:30

• Check here for other meetings.

Dear Church Family:

As many of you know, my daughter Anna had surgery yesterday. We had hoped that she would be able to return home today but there have been some complications with low blood pressure. Nancy and I remain at Fairfax INOVA hospital with her. I will keep you posted on Anna’s progress.

We are deeply grateful for your prayerful and tangible support of us during this challenging time. You have showed your love to your pastor and my family in heartfelt and practical ways, and we are very thankful.

I look forward to joining you again this Sunday to worship our grace-filled God, and to our continuing journey of growing together in the knowledge, love, and service of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Pastor Bruce

Addition after the above was written:

Pastor Bruce's daughter, Anna, is improving today.

Praise the Lord!

She will be in the hospital at least one more day so you may not see much of me until Sunday.

Because of the unforeseen developments with Anna's health, the Questions in Faith class will not meet this Saturday but plan to resume next week.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you for supporting me and my family in this time,

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/)

Come see Saundra and Steve Saundrock's captivating collection of sea shells at the Pender Gathering Place starting Sunday, July 28 through August 4.

The collection invites you to explore the intricate patterns and vibrant colors that make each shell unique. 

First photos from Philippi:

From Mark Atwood: "So the last couple of days I’ve built a fence, cleared ground for a picnic area, worked in a sawmill, and built a stone wall - all alongside some dedicated folks from Pender UMC and the people of Chestnut Ridge, near Philippi, WV. 

Not the usual way to spend my time, but amazingly meaningful, as we start work on a village of “tiny houses” for young people coming out of the foster care system. All the vision of Pastor Ruston Seaman…."

Cancelled this 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 
• Tomato Sauce
• Canned Pineapple and Canned Peaches (no sugar added)
• Family Sized Snacks (crackers, pretzels) 

Toiletries

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

• bar soap
• body wash
• toothpaste
• hair shampoo
• toilet paper
• 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 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.