RSS

Category Archives: Ministries

Lenten Hymn and Devotion, Week 4

Lenten Hymn and Devotion 4, Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Brian Stevenson, Pender UMC Director of Handbells and Ensembles, presents a series of hymn-based devotions on Wednesdays during Lent.

The Fourth is Beneath the Cross of Jesus

1. Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat,
and the burden of the day.

2. Upon that cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me;
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.

3. I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross.

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 297

Leave a comment

Posted by MaryO on March 26, 2025 in Holidays, Lent, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: Beneath the Cross of Jesus, Brian Stevenson, Christ, devotion, hymn, Lent, melody, video

Lenten Hymn and Devotion, Week 3

19 Mar

Brian Stevenson, Pender UMC Director of Music, presents a series of hymn-based devotions at noon on Wednesdays during Lent.

The Third is When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

1. When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of Glory died;

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

save in the death of Christ, my God;

all the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to his blood.

3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far too small;

love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 298

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Music: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872

Tune: HAMBURG, Meter: LM

and

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 299

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Music: Anonymous; arr. by Edward Miller

Tune: ROCKINGHAM, Meter: LM

Leave a comment

Posted by MaryO on March 19, 2025 in Holidays, Lent, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: Brian Stevenson, Christ, devotion, Greek, HAMBURG, Hebrew, hymn, Isaac Watts, Latin, Lent, Liz Eunji Sellers, Lowell Mason, major, melody, minor, ROCKINGHAM, stanza, video

Lenten Hymn and Devotion, Week 2

12 Mar

Brian Stevenson, Pender UMC Director of Music, presents a series of hymn-based devotions at noon on Wednesdays during Lent.

The Second Hymn-based Devotion is Ah, Holy Jesus

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,

That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?

By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,

O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty- Who brought this upon Thee?

Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee.
‘

Twas I, Lord, Jesus, I it was denied Thee!

I crucified Thee.

For me, kind Jesus, was Thine incarnation,

Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life’s oblation;

Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion,

For my salvation.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;

The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;

For our atonement, while he nothing heedeth,

God intercedeth.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee,

I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee,

Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving,

Not my deserving.

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 289

Text: Johann Heermann

Music: Johann Crüger (1640)

Tune: HERZLIEBSTER JESU

Leave a comment

Posted by MaryO on March 12, 2025 in Holidays, Lent, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: Ah Holy Jesus, breathing, Brian Stevenson, calmness, Christ, cross, Crucifixion, devotion, HERZLIEBSTER JESU, hymn, Johann Crüger, Johann Heermann, Lent, minor, organ, Peter, poet, Saint Paul Lutheran, sin, spiritual, suffering, video

Lenten Hymn and Devotion, Week 1

05 Mar

Brian Stevenson, Pender UMC Director of Music, presents a series of hymn-based devotions on Wednesdays during Lent.

The first is Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross by Fanny Crosby

Jesus, keep me near the cross;

there a precious fountain,

free to all, a healing stream,

flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Refrain:

In the cross, in the cross,

be my glory ever,

till my raptured soul shall find

rest beyond the river.

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 301

Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915

Music: William H. Doane, 1832-1915

Tune: NEAR THE CROSS, Meter: 76.76 with Refrain

The Pender UMC Traditional Service Middle Hymn “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross” on Sunday January 29, 2023 was played by Liz Eunji Moon on piano, accompanied on guitar by Brian Stevenson, a student cellist and sung the Pender Sanctuary Choir and congregation.

Leave a comment

Posted by MaryO on March 5, 2025 in Holidays, Lent, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: blind, breathing, Brian Stevenson, calmness, Celtic, cross, devotion, earth, Fanny Crosby, healing, heaven, hymn, immortal, Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross, joy, pain, peace, refuge, spiritual altar, thin places, video

Sign up for the Poetry Slam

16 Jan

Scan the QR code below for the Poetry Slam Application and Guidelines.

POETRY SLAM GUIDELINES

Please review and make sure to adhere to the following guidelines before submitting your poem:

Submit only one poem.
Your poem must be an original piece of work. Plagiarism is a very serious offense.
The theme is TRANSFORMATION.
Poetry can be written in any style on the subject of TRANSFORMATION.
Please use proper language. Poems containing language that is vulgar, offensive, or wholly inappropriate will not be accepted.
All poems must be written in English.
The writer must be a student, at least 13 years old in the 7th grade.
By submitting your poem to this poetry slam, you accept that your poem will appear online and may appear in a print anthology. Regardless of how your poem will appear, you will be credited as the author.
We reserve the right to not publish a poem for any reason.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
Originality and creativity.
Quality of the poem – is the idea of TRANSFORMATION communicated clearly?
Is the poem well organized?
Poets can recite poems from memory or read from paper.
Poets cannot use props, costumes, or musical instruments.
The delivery of the poem is just as important as the content.
Performers will be treated with respect.
A poet who is physically unable to read their poem onstage due to a permanent or temporary impairment may have a substitute reader perform the poem as long as: (a) the primary author is in the space and positioned where they are clearly visible to the audience and (b) the reader delivers the poem without significant affectation that draws attention away from the author.

We recognize that being on stage may be terrifying. A poet who experiences extreme anxiety about being on stage or who otherwise requires physical support to be on stage may have a teammate or coach accompany, provided that the accompanying support person remains physically neutral on stage and does not engage in anyway that could be considered to make them a performer.
Entries can be submitted electronically with this poetry slam application completed to Pender United Methodist Church OR mailed to Pender United Methodist Church, 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22033, or dropped off at the church office.
All entries must be received in Pender United Methodist Church office no later than Saturday, February 15, 2025.

PRIZES

Three swag bags will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winner.
Each swag bag will have a variety of items to include a $100, $75, and $50 Amazon gift card respectively included.