Dear Church Family:

Years ago, I heard the expression, “The only thing that doesn’t change in life is that things always change.” With a new political administration, change these days feels large and the pace of change rapid. Whether we favor these changes or not, the world as we knew it is being replaced with something that seems different and will impact us all. And unless we deliberately disengage from the day-to-day news cycle, the dynamic of change (political or otherwise) can become consuming and disorienting. When humans become obsessed with temporal changes, we may be fooled into thinking that nothing is stable, enduring, and trustworthy in this world of flux. We fear the loss of control. Could it be that this fear is at the root of the anxiety so widely expressed by many of our fellow citizens these days?    

Christians are citizens of this world, so we are attuned to the unpredictability of life, and the disorientation change can bring. At the same time, we know that our true citizenship is in heaven, the rule and realm of God that Jesus brought to earth and that will culminate one day in everlasting life with our Maker and Savior.  In this ever changing world, our faith is not in things seen but things unseen. Our hope is not in what is temporal but what is eternal. Our obsession is not with earthly changes but with God’s unchanging realities, made known in Jesus, God’s Son come to earth to show us the truth about God and God’s way for human beings. The book of Hebrews refocuses our sometimes, troubled hearts and disoriented minds, back to where they belong, on Jesus Christ, who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8). This week I was reminded just how important is our devotion to the unchanging Lord and Savior for the times in which we live.  

As most of us know, the United Methodist Church is struggling to live into a new season of our life together following the momentous changes brought about at the 2024 General Conference. Some of the most consequential changes came in the denomination’s affirmation of the full inclusion of “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals,” legalizing same-sex weddings and pastoral ordinations for sexually active gay and lesbian persons. Whether we approve of such changes or not, the UMC debated this very serious and personal matter over fifty years before making this change. What we may not have noticed, however, is that after this long season of serious debate about a carefully delimited question, the expression self-avowed, practicing homosexual seems antiquated now, having been replaced almost without notice by the much more expansive “LGBTQIA+” summary of gender possibilities now commonplace in the culture and advocated by some in the church. This novel change has come upon us (and American Christians everywhere) rapidly and sometime presented as a foregone conclusion.   And whether you approve of this change or not, it should concern us all that no similar effort has been made to help United Methodist Christians consider and address together the very real and weighty questions surrounding the meaning of this gender terminology that is now ubiquitous in American culture.  

Last summer’s Virginia Annual Conference demonstrated that the changes in the UMC are not resolved among the faithful. After a 50/50 vote on a controversial proposal, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson organized a task force to help us to address continuing issues and to make recommendations at the 2025 Annual Conference. The task force, composed of clergy and laity of differing persuasions and identities, has interviewed a wide range of United Methodists from across the conference to listen and learn, and has hired an internationally renowned “peace practitioner” to help us consider how we can live together as much as possible with a shared vision, mission, and life in the United Methodist Church.  

On Tuesday, I participated in one of these listening sessions as a representative of the “traditionalist” wing of the UMC. Several of the participants expressed their fear at speaking publicly about their convictions. Many spoke of their desire for the UMC to remain a “Big Tent” or “Big Table” church. At the same time, we were heartened by the repeated testimonies that that God is not finished with us yet, and that the evidence is in the changes the Holy Spirit is bringing about in our local churches. I was happy to report to the task force that I see the same Spirit-led changes happening at Pender UMC.  

Far and away the most important thing said yesterday, however, was the challenge repeated by many of the participants, that if the UMC is to have a viable future, it will be because we honor and place the living Lord Jesus once again at the center of who we are and all that we do, including our unresolved disagreements. I was deeply grateful to hear my colleagues speak with such candor and shared conviction about what matters most: the church’s founding and enduring faith that Jesus Christ, and no other, is the Head of the church. He will be Lord over us, or he will be nothing to us. If he is not Head of the table and Master of the tent, then we will soon be fighting again. If Jesus is to us anything other than the incarnate, crucified, risen, and ascended Savior and Lord, as taught in the New Testament and the Christian creeds, then whatever Jesus we claim to follow will be merely a fiction of our own imagining.  

From early times, Christians adopted as an image for the church’s life a ship sailing across a vast and dangerous sea to its homeland, rescuing many drowning persons along the way. The sloped roof of many modern church buildings, when inverted, represents the hull of the ship, while the cross shaped “nave” of the sanctuary symbolizes our life with Jesus at the helm. In our shared voyage, we look to this One who is our sure Captain and Anchor in the storm—Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, the same yesterday, today, and forever. In our ever changing world, he has proven to be the true and unending source of God’s grace and truth, love and goodness, justice and beauty in whom we find our true lives, the renewal of the Church, and the hope of the world.  

To be a disciple of Jesus is to know that by his grace we are called and equipped to become part of God’s rescue plan for the drowning world and the Holy Spirit’s renewing efforts for Jesus’ forgetful and contentious church. The real question in our changing world is not, how can we manage the changes, but rather: will the eternal and ever-present Jesus be at the center of our lives and congregation?       

Pastor Bruce

• Now until February 28, Boy Scout Troop 1530 Online Mulch Sale
• February 23, Juvenile Detention Center
• March 1, Bread of Life
• March 2, Fellowship Feast/Chili Cookoff
• March 4, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
• March 5, Ash Wednesday
• March 6, Joyful Thursdays
• March 8, Boy Scout Troop 1530 Mulch Delivery Weekend
• March 9, Woman of the Year Tea
• June 23 to 27 - VBS 2025 Road Trip
• July 18 to 26 - Youth Mission to Philippi, WV

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 at 10:30
• Seeker Adult Sunday School Class meets at 9:00 am.
• Pray for Pender
• The Impact Youth Group at 5:00 pm
• Monday
• Fun with Music
• Mary Martha Circle, online
• Tuesday
• Handbell rehearsals
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study.
• Wednesday
• Ruth Circle
• AA Meetings at 6pm
• Thursday
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study
• Lectio Divina Prayer Group
• Choir Rehearsal at 6:30

Check here for other meetings.

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.

Now that we have 5 additional congregations meeting at Pender, it is more important than ever to get your room reserved and on the church calendar.

It is also important to remove it if you are no longer meeting so that other groups can use the space.

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.

2024 Woman of the Year: Saundra Sandrock 

On January 26, 2025, Saundra Sandrock was honored as the 2024 Woman of the Year by Pender's Women in Faith in recognition of her incredible dedication and service to the church community. 

Throughout the years, Saundra has given her time and talents to many ministries, including: 

~Sunday School Teacher – Inspiring and guiding young minds in faith. 

~Sanctuary Choir Member – Enriching worship through music. 

~Vacation Bible School Helper – Sharing God’s love with children. 

~And much more!

Her unwavering commitment and servant’s heart have made a lasting impact on Pender UMC. Join us in celebrating Saundra’s well-deserved recognition! 

Congratulations, Saundra! Thank you for your faith, kindness, and leadership.

Get ready for a deliciously fun lunch at Pender’s Chili Cook-Off, where the best home chefs will compete for bragging rights and the ultimate chili champion title!

What’s on the Menu?

A variety of homemade chili recipes – from classic beef to spicy, smoky, and even vegetarian options!

Freshly baked bread – the perfect pairing to soak up all that chili goodness!

Fresh bread made is made for Communion Sundays and First Sunday Fellowship Feast luncheons.

Extra loaves are donated on Monday to the Lamb Center

Toppings galore! Cheese, sour cream, onions, and more!

Whether you're here to compete, taste, or just enjoy great food and company, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Bring your appetite and your chili-loving friends!

Join us for a fun-filled evening of delicious pancakes, savory sausage, and fun games as we celebrate Shrove Tuesday together!

Bring your friends, family, and your biggest pancake appetite for a night of food, laughter, and friendly competition!

Whether you're here for the stacks of fluffy pancakes, the fun and games, or just great company, there’s something for everyone.

Don’t forget to wear green, gold, purple…or your favorite festive Mardi Gras colors!

More details to come, but mark your calendars now—you won’t want to miss this sweet celebration!

Thank you for all your donations of warm clothes, shoes, and new socks and underwear for the Lamb Center! 

We made our second delivery recently, and they were very appreciative! 

We will continue taking clothes through March.



Please contact Jane McKee if you have any questions.

A Lamb Center Poem

A true God sighting. At The Lamb Center you never know what you'll find on the wall - showcasing a special poem by one of our guests written in the art room.

Thank you for allowing us to share this beautiful piece, Ron.

Our donors, volunteers, and friends of The Lamb Center like you allow us to continue impacting lives on a day-to-day basis. Thank you for partnering with The Lamb Center mission as we live out the compassionate heart of Christ by serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness! 

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Real Last call!

Hey guys, remember our monthly ROMEOS meet-ups at iHop? It wasn't just about enjoying some great food; it was a chance to kick back and connect with other men through a variety of fun and casual activities.

Interested in starting these lunches up again? Several men have already expressed their interest.

Let us know by email or contacting the office at 703-278-8023

Don't miss out on the good times and great conversations. Join us and make some memories!

Although Pender is not able to sustain our Hypothermia outreach this year, we are still interested in helping other churches that are involved.

This year Centreville UMC is again helping to host the hypothermia shelter for two nights at St. Stephens UMC in Fairfax. We will be hosting on Wednesday, February 19 and Thursday, February 20. We will be cooking the meal and providing evening volunteers, but we will not be having overnight hosts again this year. We will also provide breakfast and lunch for the guests for Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21.

We invite you to sign up as an individual or as a ministry group (Bible study group, small group, music group, etc.) to help provide the meal. The menus are as follows: Wednesday -

Taco Night, and Thursday - Soups and Grilled Cheese. 

Your group will be organizing the purchase and cooking of the ingredients for your meal.  Cooks will report directly to St. Stephens UMC. The meal is served at 6 PM, so your arrival time will depend on your cooking needs.

Below is a list of items we need donated.  Please bring donations to Centreville UMC starting on Sunday, February 16 and no later than noon on Wednesday, February 19. Please make sure to label everything "Hypothermia Shelter".

If you have questions, please contact Johannah Evans at johannahevans@yahoo.com or 443-340-1313



Sign up to Help Host the Hypothermia Shelter

Fairfax UMC is hosting the 2025 Hypothermia Shelter March 9th-16th. 



We have several ways you can share love and care for our guests! 

We need groups/individuals to volunteer to help in the early mornings (5-7 AM) making coffee and serving breakfast casseroles,  afternoon set up (4-5 PM or earlier) before guests arrive, sponsoring/preparing and serving of evening meals (5:30-7 PM), or to provide breakfast items - see opportunities below to sign up. 

Whatever the weather, we plan to provide a loving, warm, and safe environment for our brothers and sisters. Thank you for your help and support!



Contact Christie Johnson, christie.johnson92@gmail.com with any questions

Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B48A4A72FA0F85-54509055-fairfax#/

The Rest Stop could use some snacks, M& M’s and flavored waters.

It needs frozen items to munch on but since they are frozen it's hard to have them donated.

Please drop items off in the office so they can be given to our hard-working officers.

Thank you!

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. March 1 from 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!

Jane said that she and Bruce McCall walked this last year (or 2 years ago!).

It’s fun and a great cause!

Thank you for participating in the Feed Fairfax 5K over the last four years. With your help, we have raised $178,846 and packed and donated 138,241 meals for kids in Fairfax County Public Schools. 

We are so excited to announce that the Feed Fairfax 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run is back for 2025! The race will take place Saturday, May 3rd at 8am in the Chantilly Planet Fitness parking lot. 

Registration is now live, and this year is going to be even more impactful than last year! 

After you register, you will get a custom discount code to share with a friend! The code is only good for 72 hours, so make sure to use it right after you register!

Save the Date! Pender VBS 2025 - Road Trip - is coming June 23 to 27th.

Want to volunteer or need the Zoom link? Contact Jane McKee

Help children discover God’s presence everywhere!

Embark on an exciting journey with Road Trip VBS is based on Joshua 1:9 – "The LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Discover God's presence everywhere as we explore new places, make new friends, and experience God's goodness together.

Join us in a fun-filled adventure on the open road, taking all the kids (Travelers) on thrilling journeys to exciting destinations. Led by the Navigator and an adventurous puppet Scout, kids will learn that God is always with them. Through engaging stories from the Navigators' Guide (the Bible), Travelers will delve into timeless tales of faith from the Old and New Testaments. Get ready for twists, turns, and excitement as they face new challenges and find strength in God's presence on this unforgettable trip!

Road trips are a great way to build strong relationships and create indelible memories. This makes Road Trip! VBS not only a fun experience for kids but also an opportunity for them to strengthen their faith and bond with others in their community. With engaging activities, interactive games, and meaningful lessons, children will have a blast while they grow in their understanding of God's love and promises for everyone.

Green Light: “The LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Mile Markers:

God is with us on the journey

God is with us when we go off course

God is with us when we’re joyful

God is with us when we’re lonely

God is with us near and far

Bible Stories

Session 1: Abraham and Sarah Follow God (Genesis 12:1-9)

Session 2: The Israelites Take the Scenic Route (Exodus 13:17-12)

Session 3: Mary & Elizabeth’s Family Reunion (Luke 1:39-56)

Session 4: Jesus Visits Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

Session 5: On the Road with Paul (Acts 18:1-11)

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!

As of January 31, 2025:

MTD actual revenue was MTD/YTD actual revenue was $38,858;

MTD/YTD actual expenses was $57,904;

MTD/YTD net loss was ($19,046)

Bridge of Hope Fund:

2023 $37,159

2024 (as of 12/31/24) $132,201

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.

~~~

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries - “WFCM”

Update from Becky Bryan, our liaison with WFCM:

From the January WFCM Newsletter we learn that 850 families were served Thanksgiving food as a result of the food donations.  One of the important donations was from the Scouts who collected 44,145 pounds of groceries and toiletries for WFCM. 

These toiletries and canned goods help stock our shelves and provide more options for families WFCM was grateful that the Scouts collection provided enough toilet paper and bar soap donations to resume providing those items to each family in addition to the usual one toiletry per person in the household each month. 

Thanks to each of you at Pender who support these amazing programs with your donations of funds, non-perishable food and toiletries.  

There are 2 ways to support the WFCM food provisions through Pender:

1.     Financial donations designated WFCM may be made to Pender to be forwarded to WFCM.

2.     Donations of food and toiletries may be left in the blue grocery cart located by Pender’s front doors.

Another way I’ve found to be quite easy is to make purchased through Amazon and have them delivered directly to WFCM at 4511 Daly Drive, Chantilly 20151.

The most needed items in the Free Food Market this month:

Most needed items in the Free Food Market this month:

·    Flour (Maseca preferred)

·    Sugar (1 or 2 lb. bags)

·    Vegetable Oil 

·    Pasta Sauce

·    Pasta

·    Brown Rice 

·    Pancake Mix 

·    Family Sized Snacks (crackers, pretzels, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, etc.) 

·    Canned Chicken 

·    Hot Beverages (ground coffee, tea bags, etc.)

·    Toiletries: bar soap, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, feminine hygiene products, 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.) 

Financial donations designated WFCM can be made to Pender to be forwarded to WFCM. 

Donations of food and toiletries may be left in the blue grocery cart located by Pender’s front doors.

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.