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Author Archives: MaryO

About MaryO

Cushing's and kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) patient, founder, owner and webmaster of Cushing's Help and Support, web designer, piano teacher and mom. I am a Cushing's patient who has dealt with Cushing's symptoms since 1983 (or earlier) and the aftereffects of pituitary surgery since 1987. Because I had very little support for my symptoms, diagnosis and surgery, I decided to try to make things a little better for other patients and started a support site called Cushing's Help and Support in 2000. The site has grown to astronomical numbers. This disease isn't as rare as doctors have told us! In 2006, I was also diagnosed with kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). My left kidney and adrenal gland were removed. Having an adrenal gland removed complicates my post-Cushing's symptoms. I am not planning to have any more rare and unusual diseases. My entire bio to date can be found here: http://www.cushings-help.com/maryos_story.htm But, enough of that - it's not always about Cushing's, or even Cancer. This one is about Life!

Today, June 4, at Pender UMC

04 Jun

Today, Sunday, June 4th, WEAR RED! It’s Pentecost Sunday! Pentecost is the day on which the Christian church commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and others assembled in Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of the Christian church and the proclamation of its message throughout the world and is often referred to as the birthday of the church.

Please join us at our 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 am worship services. Pastor Dan will be preaching at all 3 services on “Get in the Flow” (John 7:37-39)

Sunday is also Confirmation Sunday! At the 11:00 service, our 2017 Confirmation Class will profess their faith and become official members of our Church! Let’s celebrate together as a church family this important day in the lives of these teens and the plan God has for their lives.

Also today:

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Posted by MaryO on June 4, 2017 in Holidays, Pender UMC, Pentecost, Posts of Interest, Sermon

Tags: confirmation, John 7:37-39, Pastor Dan, Pentecost, Rev. Dan Elmore, video

What’s Happening with our Pender Youth

30 May

– Confirmation Class
Come and celebrate our 2017 Confirmation Class! They will be confirmed on Pentecost Sunday, June 4th, at the 11:00 am Worship Service.

– Senior Sunday

Our High School Seniors will be recognized at the 11:00 am Worship Service on Sunday, June 18th (when we will also recognize our 2017 college graduates). Seniors: please wear your cap and gown! In addition, our high school seniors will be honored at a dinner along with their parents at 6:30 pm that night in the Fellowship Hall.

– Philippi Youth Mission Trip

The youth and all others interested in serving on our annual mission trip to Philippi, WV, will be leaving on Friday, July 21st, at 10:00 am and returning to Pender on Saturday, July 29th. The main project will be to attach a bedroom to an existing home. Along with other projects and fun, the youth will enjoy white water rafting and a special time of worship and dinner with Mount Vernon UMC. Contact Tim Lyberger for more details and a registration packet.

– Youth Bible Study
All 7th-12th Graders are invited to join our Youth Bible Study every Tuesday at 7:30-8:30 pm in the Youth Room.

— Rising 7th Graders
All rising 7th graders are invited to start attending our Pender Turning Point Youth Group, for all 7th-12th graders, beginning June 25th! Bring your friends!

Contact Tim Lyberger, Youth Director

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Posted by MaryO on May 30, 2017 in Bible Study, Get Involved!, Holidays, Ministries, Missions, Pender UMC, Pentecost, Philippi, Posts of Interest, Youth

Tags: Confirmation Class, Pender UMC, Pentecost, Philippi West Virginia, Senior Sunday, Turning Point Youth Ministry, Youth Bible Study

Registration is Now Open!

29 May

Pender VBS, July 10-14, 9 am to noon

Focus your telescopes! Galactic Starveyors reignites children’s sense of discovery and exploration as they marvel at the wonders of the starry sky. Most of all, they gaze toward the God who created the universe and everything in it learning that He wants to have a personal relationship with them! Come on into the clubhouse and show kids that God is over the moon in love with them! Kids will rotate through music, recreation, snack, crafts and storytelling!

For ages 3 years (potty trained) through 6th grade.

Adults and 7th through 12th graders are welcome to volunteer.

Click here to register for VBS

Pender Music Camp, July 10-14, 12:30-3:30 pm

The theme for this summer’s Pender UMC music camp will be “Star Quest.” We will be exploring music that expresses the goodness of God’s creation, and tells of the truth of His word in the Bible. Children will be rotating through handbell, Orff, drumming and craft classes. In addition to these “out-of-this-world” classes, we will be preparing and presenting excerpts from the musical “Star Quest – The Search for the Stolen Scriptures.” Join us this year as we blast off to fun and song!

For ages rising 2nd grade – rising 6th grade. Registration is open now.

We are also seeking teens and adults who would like to be a part of our staff.

Click here to register or to sign up to Volunteer

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Posted by MaryO on May 29, 2017 in Children's Council, Get Involved!, Ministries, Music Ministry, Pender UMC

Tags: crafts, drumming, Galactic Starveyors, handbell, music, Music Camp, Orff, recreation, registration, snack, Star Quest - The Search for the Stolen Scriptures, storytelling, Vacation Bible School, VBS, volunteer

Preaching on Sunday at Pender UMC

26 May

Please join us this Sunday, May 28th, at our 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 am worship services. We welcome our guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert, who will be preaching at all 3 services on “In Your Neighborhood” (John 1:14; Matthew 10:5-15)

Sarah is a United Methodist elder beginning her fourth year serving the Arlington and Alexandria districts as the Bi-District Coordinator for Church Revitalization and Leadership Development. Sarah says you can shorten the title to: “I’m from theDistricts, and I’m here to help!”

Sarah grew up all over as a military kid, ending up in Fairfax, Va. She has a BA in Economics from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg followed by J.D. from George Mason Law School, opening a law firm in Fairfax as her first career.After an overwhelming and literal calling from God, Sarah attended Wesley Theological Seminary for her Masters of Divinity and then again a few years later for her Doctorate in Church Leadership. Her dissertation work was on clergy support groups.

Sarah served as associate pastor for 6 years at a large church in Loudoun, planting an offsite for them and developing outreach into the community. She then spent 3 years as a sole pastor, helping grow a small church in Luray, Virginia. She now lives in Fairfax with her boxer Sugar Ray and has one 23-year-old son, Matthew.

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Posted by MaryO on May 26, 2017 in Books of The Bible, Pender UMC, Sermon, The Holy Bible

Tags: John 1:14, Matthew 10:5-15, Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert

Happy Mother’s Day!

14 May

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ~ Proverbs 31:26

Statistics say that 20.7 billion dollars will be spent on moms in honor of the U.S. holiday that falls on the second Sunday in May: Mother’s Day. All that cash and commercialism goes against everything the women who originated the idea wanted.

In this video, meet the Methodist mother and daughter team who worked to create a day to honor a mother’s love and to emphasize how important a mother’s role is in building a peaceful world.