Dear Church Family:

As many have noted, Methodists are a people who gather in conferences. We “confer” about every aspect of our life together in service of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This goes back to the beginning. Early in the history of the Methodist revival in England, John Wesley gathered the Methodist Circuit Riders (traveling preachers) to consider the message they were to share, the means of delivering it, and how they were to live as disciples of Jesus Christ on a mission. As the movement grew, soon they were meeting quarterly. That pattern of regular conferencing together has continued ever since.  

Today, United Methodists have a conference for every level of our church’s life. Think of it in terms of concentric circles. The outer circle is represented by the General Conference, a quadrennial gathering of clergy and lay representatives from all over our connection to make decisions about matters of concern to us all. The results of the General Conference are reflected in the church’s Book of Discipline. Moving in, the next circle is the Jurisdictional Conference. Lay and clergy delegates from across the jurisdiction (or region within the worldwide church) meet every four years to elect bishops who will serve in the various areas of the jurisdiction. The next circle is the Annual Conference (there are approximately 50 annual conferences within the US church). . As the name implies, delegates from every church (one clergy, one lay) within the annual conference meet each year to consider our shared calling and ministry and to make decisions that will help to lead and express our ministry in Christ. Pender UMC is part of the Virginia Conference within the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the UMC. Also represented at the annual conference are district delegates (the next circle inward). Pender is part of the Northern Virginia District of the Virginia Annual Conference. Because of willing and faithful servants, Pender has had anywhere from 2-4 district delegates to the annual conference for the past several years. In the inner most circle is the Charge Conference. Each local church (or “charge,” if multiple churches are yoked together) in the annual conference holds its own annual meeting that is one part business (approving a budget and slate of lay leaders for the coming year) and one part celebration of the congregation’s ministry in the year past.  

This year, Pender’s Charge Conference will take place immediately following our worship on Sunday November 15 (yes, this is a change from a prior announcement). After the dismissal from worship, we will invite everyone who is able to stay and participate in the Charge Conference that will start a few minutes after the service is concluded. By participating in the Charge Conference, each of us can get to know the workings of the church better. Most important, we will encourage each other by sharing stories of Pender’s mission and ministry in the past year. We will keep the business to a minimum so that we can spend most of the Charge Conference giving testimonies and reports of Pender’s life in service to Christ and others.

I want to encourage you to attend our Charge Conference on the 15^th because I believe you will find it inspiring and encouraging for us all in this time. Also, if you have a particular area of ministry that you are involved in and that your church family needs to hear about, please write a summary report for 2025-2026 and turn it in to Vicki to be included in our official Charge Conference record. Then, as you feel led, please consider giving your church family a brief verbal report at the Charge Conference itself. No one will be called on to share, but all may have opportunity. Whether or not you have a report to give, I believe each of us will be blessed and strengthened in our service of Christ and his church at Pender UMC as we conference together.

In a world where too many people and parties talk only past each other or about each other, it is good to be part of the body of Christ that prizes face to face meetings and conferences. May the Lord bless our time of conferencing together.

Pastor Bruce

💙 Help Others Find Pender — Share Your Story!

Have you found a church home at Pender? Your story could help someone else find theirs!

When people are looking for a church, they often turn to online reviews to learn what a church is really like. Take a few minutes to share what Pender United Methodist Church means to you—whether it’s the welcoming people, meaningful worship, music, fellowship, or the many ways we serve our community.

Your words may be just what someone needs to take that first step through Pender’s doors.

👉 Share your Pender story and help others find us:

visit.penderumc.org/reviews

Thank you for helping Pender welcome our neighbors! 💙

Chuck Knows Church — THE HYMNAL. “Turn in your hymnal to page….” Heard that before in church?

Chuck digs into the book that’s usually within your reach each Sunday. And he starts it all off with a solo! 

Or, how about Charles Wesley?

Charles Wesley, born in 1707 in Epworth, England, was a prolific hymn writer and an important figure in the Methodist movement. Along with his brother John Wesley, Charles played a key role in the growth and development of Methodism, and his hymns continue to be an important part of Christian worship to this day.

Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns during his lifetime, many of which are still sung in churches around the world. His hymns were often written to accompany specific sermons by John Wesley or to convey a particular theological message, and they were designed to be sung by congregations as a form of worship.

In addition to his hymns, Charles Wesley was also a poet and a theologian. He wrote extensively on Christian doctrine and published several collections of sermons and essays. His writing helped to shape the theology of the Methodist movement and to establish it as a distinct branch of Christianity. Charles’ hymns used a rich texture of metaphor, parallelism, and Scriptural allusion to create a poetic tapestry of stunning beauty and scope.

Charles Wesley’s legacy as a hymn writer and theologian continues to inspire Christians today. His hymns are beloved for their timeless messages of faith and hope, and his theological writings continue to influence Christian thought and practice.

For many, Charles Wesley is not only the greatest hymn writer in the English language but also a significant figure in the history of Christianity.



Here are 25 of Charles Wesley’s most cherished and powerful hymns:

Charles Wesley’s 25 most famous hymns:

1. “Arise, My Soul, Arise”
2. “And Can It Be That I Should Gain?”
3. “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”
4. “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
5. “A Charge to Keep I Have”
6. “I Want a Principle Within”
7. “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies”
8. “Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown”
9. “Depth of Mercy, Can it Be”
10. “Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee”
11. “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”
12. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
13. “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
14. “Jesus, The Name High Over All”
15. “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending”
16. “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
17. “O for a Heart to Praise My God”
18. “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
19. “O Thou Who Camest from Above”
20. “Rejoice, the Lord is King”
21. “Soldiers of Christ, Arise”
22. “Sun of Unclouded Righteousness”
23. “Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose”
24. “Ye Servants of God”
25. “Come Holy Spirit, Our Hearts Inspire”

• October 15, Choir Rehearsal
• October 16, Becoming a Godly Woman
• October 17, Walk to End Hunger
• October 17, Washington Soloists Ensemble Concert 
• October 18, Laity Sunday
• October 18, Impact Youth
• October 19 Fun With Music
• October 19, Mary Martha Circle
• October 20, Handbell Rehearsals
• October 20, Pastor Bruce Evening Bible Study
• October 21, AA Open Meeting
• October 22, Pastor Bruce Morning Bible Study
• October 24, Pender United Women in Faith General Meeting
• October 25, Focus on the Heart ABCs for Women (Small Group Study)
• October 25, Youth Harvest Festival
• October 26, Focus on the Heart ABCs for Women (Small Group Study)
• November 1, Fall back (change your clocks back one hour)
• November 5, Joyful Thursday
• November 15, Charge Conference
• November 21, Handbell Concert, 2:00 pm in Manassas
• November 26, Thanksgiving
• November 28, Celebration of Life service for Richard Taddeo at Ox Hill Baptist, 11:30 am
• November 29, Advent Begins
• December 5, Christmas Joy at Pender
• December 6, Fellowship Feast
• December 12, Christmas Concert
• December 19, JDC Christmas Party
• December 24, Christmas Eve, 7:00 pm

Weekly Events

• Sunday
• Children's Sunday School Classes. The children meet in the sanctuary until just after Children's Time. They then leave for Sunday School with their teachers. We are asking for volunteers to periodically relieve the Sunday School teachers so they may attend the full worship service.
• Seeker Adult Sunday School Class meets at 9:00 am.
• Praying Our Faith at 9:00 am.
• 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, Second Wednesday of the month
• AA Meetings at 6pm
• Thursday
• Pastor Bruce Bible Study
• Lectio Divina Prayer Group
• Choir Rehearsal

Check here for other meetings.

To submit an event to our calendar please fill in this form:
 https://tockify.com/tkf2/submitEvent/eb89c10e1f3b459eaf46987291312ce5.

You’ll receive an email once your event has been added to the Pender calendar. We’ll also reach out if we have any questions about your submission.

Need help? Contact our webmaster.

Items below:

• Drivers Needed
• WFCM News
• Faith in Action
• WFCM News
• Upcoming Events including Pender United Women in Faith General Meeting, Focus on the Heart ABC's for Women, A Youth Harvest Festival, Pender Ringers playing in a Handbell Concert, A Family Christmas Morning
• Medical Equipment
• JDC Christmas Party
• Financial News
• United Women in Faith Announces 2027 Reading Program List
• A Bit of Methodist Humor

Drivers Needed

Would you be able to driver some of our Pender family members to worship from time to time? 

We are blessed to have a couple of us who have done this on a regular basis, but now they need help in getting some of our younger brothers and sisters to church. 

Please contact Pastor Bruce if you would like to consider helping with this important ministry.

WFCM Executive Director's Update 

I am happy to share that we were awarded Emergency Food and Emergency Housing grants from Fairfax County Government. These grants will provide $10,000 per month for us to purchase food and $20,000 per month for direct rent/utility assistance for a two-year period, as well as administrative funds to operate these programs. These funds and the county partnership are a key part of ensuring we can meet the needs of community members in western Fairfax County. While we have not received the funds yet, we look forward to this multi-year partnership.

One of the requirements of the Emergency Food grant is to ask community members selecting food in our markets, receiving home delivery, or picking up immediate pre-bagged food if the food offered is healthy, if it meets their needs (including cultural/religious), and if by receiving food at WFCM, they are ablet to use income to meet other needs (such as towards rent or utility bills) while reducing food insecurity. Wanting to keep this process as easy for community members as possible while respecting their dignity and voice, we have started asking individuals selecting food if they agree with these statements (in English, Spanish, Korean, or otherwise translated as needed).

• At WFCM I can get healthy food.
• At WFCM I can get food that meets my needs (including cultural or religious special needs).
• Getting food at WFCM helps me have food I need and use income for other needs.

During our first week of surveying, 97% of community members answered yes to all three questions. Some shared stories. One man said that the need to come to WFCM for food began earlier this year when he and his wife found out she was pregnant with twins. They were expecting and prepared for one child, but carrying two meant that she had to stop working earlier than expected when she was placed on bedrest by her doctor. The cost of two babies, and care for two babies, has kept his wife home while he is working to support the three of them. He said he is proud to do this and thankful for the help that WFCM provides. By getting food and diapers at WFCM, he is able to pay other bills.

This is the difference that WFCM is making for families in our community. Your monetary and food donations enabled us to turn each $1 the county allocated for the Emergency Food grant into $13 during the month of September. Your partnership is the reason that families are able to receive hundreds of dollars worth of food each month (including toiletries and diapers) that last up to two weeks.

Your support is critical and impactful for thousands of community members!

God bless,

Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director

School's Out/ Holiday Food

Thank you to the partners who have already signed up to provide Thanksgiving or December food boxes and or funds for fresh food. We have commitments for 960 out of the 1,100 boxes needed for Thanksgiving and 800 of the 900 we need for December. If your congregation wants to support these distributions, please complete the survey below by October 16th.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MFB5RXM

What's New in the Food Markets and Client Services



In September, we provided client choice food selection for 729 unduplicated families (212 of those families were served at our Centreville Free Food Market). We served 73 new families. We are grateful for our partnership with DoorDash that enabled us to provide deliveries of groceries to 63 households during the month.

Average weight of a bag of food is 21 lbs.

Food value of 1 lb. of food FY 2027 = $1.92

WFCM provides more than food to our neighbors – they also provide direct financial assistance for rent as well as other support programs to help families become self-sufficient. All of these activities are funding by financial donations.

How YOU can help:

1.  Place needed items into the cart at Pender for weekly delivery to WFCM

2.  Provide a monetary donation through Pender by designating WFCM on your check or on-line giving. 

3.  Order from Amazon for direct delivery to WFCM at 4511 Daly Drive, Suite H, Chantilly, VA 20151 (Amazon is best for heavy items.)

4.  Donate your time by volunteering in the Food Pantry or another of their many services.

To learn more, click here to link to the WFCM website. www.wfcmva.org​

If you have any questions, please contact Becky Bryan, the Pender coordinator with WFCM. 

Breakfast on Saturday October 17, 2026. The Walk to End Hunger is part of the Centreville Day Parade. 

​

Date: October 17

Breakfast: 8:45-10am

Walk to End Hunger: 10:45-11:30am 

The Fellowship Breakfast will feature a hearty meal including pancakes, eggs, crispy potatoes, and breakfast meat. Families can enjoy having their faces painted while we eat, chat, and hear WFCM updates. ​​The Walk to End Hunger is a one-mile family-friendly walk at the end of the Centreville Day Parade to raise awareness about food insecurity in our communities and ​raise funds for our Free Food Markets in Chantilly and Centreville. To learn more about Centreville Day activities, visit historiccentrevilleva.org. 

​

New this year, WFCM participants will have our own shuttle buses between the breakfast location and Centreville Day. While you may register for the breakfast only or walk only, we encourage you to join us for both. If you are concerned about walking the full mile in the parade, you may take the WFCM shuttle and watch the parade, with minimal walking to and from the shuttle drop-off location.

​

Also new this year, instead of a virtual auction WFCM will offer a raffle for dining gift cards for registered participants. Each Adult/Youth registered participant will receive one raffle ticket. You can purchase additional raffle tickets when signing up for the breakfast and or walk online. All prizes are valued at $100+. Limit one prize per person. Raffle ticket sales are tax deductible less the value of any prize won. Raffle sales end October 14th prior to the breakfast and walk. ​

From Facebook this week and shared with permission:

The cold reminds me to share this each year, but the offer always stands.

If you’re struggling to make ends meet, please don’t let yourself or your kids go to bed hungry.

In Fairfax County, text me at 646-620-6317. We can drop off groceries or arrange delivery. My 17-year-old son would love to help, too.

Outside the D.C. area? Text me anyway. We’ll figure something out.

Always confidential. No explanation needed. Just reach out. A friend loveth at all times.

Although the offer mentioned Fairfax County, a woman from NYC responded on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

On Sunday morning (October 4, 2026) all this food was delivered to her home.

Very early conversations have begun about a possible partnership between Pender United Methodist Church and a United Methodist church in Troy, New York, with the goal of working together to help address food insecurity and support people in need in the community.

It’s still in the early stages, but we’re excited to explore how our churches might work together to share resources, build connections, and make a difference in the lives of others.

All thanks to one Facebook post!

Pender United Women in Faith General Meeting October 24 at 9 am

Please come enjoy breakfast and fellowship with sisters in Christ.

We'll plan for Christmas activities and get ideas for our Spring Retreat and fundraisers. We value your input.

All women welcome!

Focus on the Heart ABC's for Women small group study with Rev Christine Hanak. (5 day study program)

Sunday, October 25 from 3-6pm

Monday to Thursday 9:45AM-12:45PM

$30 registration & materials fee

Please contact Becky or Maya for more information.

🍂🎃 Youth Harvest Festival at Pender! 🎃🍂

Get ready for an evening of food, fun, and fall festivities! 🍁

Our Harvest Festival will be hosted during our regular Impact Youth time, but all youth are welcome and encouraged to join us! Bring a friend and come ready to have some fun! 👍

📅 Sunday, October 25

⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM

🍽️ Yummy dinner + dessert

🎉 Fun, age-appropriate activities

👫 Friends, fellowship & lots of laughs!

We’re still planning the details, but one thing is certain: it’s going to be a fun night! 🍂

Impact Youth — and all youth — are invited!

Free Handbell Concert!

Come experience the joy and beauty of handbell music on Saturday, November 21, at 2:30 p.m. in the Grace UMC Fellowship Hall in Manassas!

We’re especially excited that Pender’s Joy Ringers and Carillon will be among the 10 handbell choirs coming together for this special concert, directed by renowned composer and conductor Jason Krug.

Bring a friend and enjoy an afternoon of beautiful music, ringing bells, and joyful fellowship. Admission is free, and you won’t want to miss it! 🔔🎶

• Grace UMC Fellowship Hall
• 9750 Wellington Rd, Manassas, VA 20110

Create • Celebrate • Share

A Family Christmas Morning at Pender UMC, December 5, 10:30 am

🍪 Decorate Christmas Cookies

✨ Celebrate Jesus, the Light of the World

🎄 Make Chrismons & Christmas Ornaments

👼 Create Angels

🎶 Sing Christmas Carols Together

Plus: Homemade treats for sale, prayer shawls for those in need, Christmas music, and a special outdoor Nativity!

Free Medical Equipment

Pender has accumulated gently used medical equipment that is free to anyone who needs it.  It is presently stored in the “Go” room (the old library). 

If you know someone who might benefit from this, feel free to direct them to the office and we’ll make sure they can see what is available.

Please join us at the Fairfax Juvenile Detention Center located at 10650 Page Avenue, Fairfax, VA. 22030, on December 19 from 11:30 to 1:00 PM, for our annual Christmas Party with the JDC staff and students.

This is a wonderful opportunity to share the love and joy of the Christmas season with at-risk youth.

We serve pizza, soda, and home made cookies, sing Christmas carols with a live Christian band.

Questions please reach out to Arlet Williams.

Established in 1993, Washington Soloist Ensemble has been an integral part of the Korean diaspora that has represented Korean culture in the United States through music. The group has performed in numerous key events over the years including the Centennial of Korean Immigration to the United States. By harmonizing the choral artistry of Korea and the United States, the group’s music resonates with the heart and leaves a lasting impression.

Concert Day: Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Stewardship is about more than weekly donations. It is a demonstration of your trust, gratitude, and commitment to the Lord Almighty. 

Take some quiet time through bible study and heartfelt prayer to discern God’s will in your life. 

During this time, we appreciate your continued generosity in providing your weekly tithes and offerings.

As of September 30, 2026:



MTD actual revenue was $36,261;  YTD actual revenue was $396,164;

MTD actual expenses was $45,320; YTD actual expenses was $449,643;

MTD net loss was ($9,059);      YTD net loss was ($53,478).

United Women in Faith Announces 2027 Reading Program List

We are delighted to announce the release of the 2027 Reading Program! It is available at uwfaith.org/read for free download.

This year's Reading Program features a carefully-selected collection of contemporary books on spiritual growth, social action, leadership development, nurturing for community, and education for mission for readers of all ages. Selections include books in English, Spanish, and Korean.

Borrow the 2027 Reading Program books from your local library or purchase them from the bookseller of your choice, as you prefer. If you're looking for a centralized spot to buy most Reading Program books while earning 10% cash back for United Women in Faith, visit bookshop.org/shop/uwfaith.

If you would like to receive invitations to author talks, book discussions, and volunteer opportunities throughout the year, click here to join our Reading Program email list.

Finally, thank you to the wonderful group of 175+ volunteer evaluators and eight Reading Program Committee members who do the behind-the-scenes work to make the 2027 Reading Program possible. Extra special appreciation goes to Reading Program Committee Chair Kelly G. Loeb and Administrative Assistant Robin Johnson.

Here's to another year of reading and growing together!

In keeping with the hymn theme above...

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.