Discover a supportive space for new beginnings! Join us every Wednesday at 6:00 PM in the serene ambiance of Pender UMC’s Library. At 5:30 PM there will be a time of casual chat, known as the ‘meeting before the meeting’.
Engage in meaningful conversations and find camaraderie at our AA meetings, guided by the experienced Tom O, a dedicated long-term member. These are open meetings.
OPEN (Open to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous’ program of recovery from alcoholism)
DISCUSSION (Group participation in discussion of topic relevant to the AA program)
📚✨ Embark on a Literary Journey with Fellow Bibliophiles! ✨📚
Are your shelves brimming with tales of intrigue, suspense, and the pursuit of knowledge? Whether you’re a devotee of the latest bestsellers or a connoisseur of timeless classics, the Book Lovers Group is your next chapter!
🗓️ Join us virtually each month on the second Sunday at 4:00 PM for an adventure through pages that promise to be as thrilling as the stories we devour. Our rendezvous lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours—perfect for a deep dive into the heart of each book.
Engage in spirited debates that will challenge your perspectives, enrich your reading experience, and connect you with stories in ways you never expected. Will you be the champion of the underdog novel, or the critic of the acclaimed bestseller? Our discussions are as varied and captivating as the books themselves.
📅 Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 10 at 4 PM, and let’s unravel the wonders of Jame’s world together, all from the comfort of your own reading nook.
Interested? Reach out to Iris for more details, or contact the webmaster to secure your Zoom link to this literary escape room!
🔍📖 All book lovers are welcome to join the quest. Let’s turn the page to a new adventure!
Step into a world of giggles and song with “Fun “with Music at Pender! This is not just any music class – it’s a journey through sound and imagination designed especially for preschoolers and their favorite grown-ups. Since 2013, Jim and Roberta Pont have been creating a space where tiny toes tap, and little voices echo with joy, crafting a magical musical experience for children from birth to five years old.
Wave ‘hello’ and join us every Monday morning for a delightful 30-minute musical escapade! Our littlest musicians and their families come together at 10 AM to sing, dance, and make friends with tunes. We dive into a treasure trove of stuffed animals and toys, transforming the room into an enchanting stage for our budding performers. With every stuffed lion’s roar or elephant’s trumpet, your child’s imagination will soar!
After the musical fiesta, it’s time for a yummy snack, followed by playtime where kids can explore and make-believe. Meanwhile, moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers can relish a homemade brunch prepared with love – a perfect chance to mingle and share stories.
Our box of wonders is always brimming with surprises! One day it’s a car zooming around, another day it’s a train chugging along. Flip it over and voilà, it’s a drum or even a rumbling thunder to match the beat of our songs. From “The Wheels on the Bus” to sparkling new Bible-based rhymes, we have tunes that will make your little one’s heart dance with every beat!
One week, our pint-sized percussionists marched on bubble wrap to the rhythm of a march, popping and hopping with glee. And guess what’s next? A tunnel adventure awaits their curious little eyes and eager hands!
So, if you’re a parent with a playful tot between zero to five, and Monday mornings are open, come and make a splash in our sea of melodies at ‘Melody Mornings’. It’s not just fun; it’s a musical hug for the heart and soul. Can’t wait to sing and swing into a new day of joy with you and your little one!
This class meets every Monday starting September 9 at 10 am except for school holidays.
From sea to shining sea, United Methodists are finding special ways to observe Memorial Day in the United States. Here is a sampling of ideas.
Pray for all who have given their lives for our freedom. “The major emphasis of the Memorial Day worship time,” said the Rev. Alan Brown, Hayes Memorial United Methodist Church, Fremont, Ohio, “is not on a secular observance; rather, it is the message of the gospels and the sacraments of the church.”
Read the names of fallen veterans, and toll a bell after each name is read. The Rev. Walter L. Graves encourages people to read the names when they see a war memorial. “Remember,” said the pastor of Reelsboro United Methodist Church, New Bern, N.C., “that was a person who had… dreams and desires.”
Provide special worship music with a PowerPoint presentation. “My church has a slide show of friends and family, living and dead, who have served in the military,” reported Leslie Haggs, lay leader at Angelica United Methodist Church in New York.
Offer a candlelight service. Bishop James Swanson of the Holston Annual (regional) Conference will preach at joint services of three congregations — Mount Wesley and New Victory, Telford, Tenn., and Mayberry, Jonesborough, Tenn. A candlelight service for those interred in the church cemetery will be part of worship.
Wave a flag. Youth of First United Methodist Church, Koppel, Pa., raised money to buy an American flag for all 225 residences in the little town. “I’m a flag-waver,” admitted the Rev. Donald A. Anderson. Quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he expressed hope that the flags would “bring Koppel a sense of pride in participating in this great holiday honoring those who fought to protect our freedoms.”
At Arlington (Va.) National Cemetary, flags decorate the tombs of those who died in the service of their country. Photo courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery.
Lay a wreath. In Illinois, Malta United Methodist Church will have a special worship service. The congregation invites veterans of the community to pay tribute to fellow soldiers by marching as a unit from the church to the township library, where a wreath will be dedicated.
Decorate veterans’ graves. “After Sunday service,” said the Rev. Charlie Johnson Jr., a local pastor serving three congregations in the Lynchburg, Va., area, “we go into the church cemetery, remove the old flags placed on the graves of veterans last Memorial Day and replace them with new ones…We remember our active-duty military every Sunday during prayer.”
Do a project for active troops. In Maine, the North Searsport United Methodist Church is recruiting the community to join parishioners in a mission project to benefit soldiers going overseas. Participants will sew small pillows for military personnel. The project is in response to recent articles about soldiers having to pay for pillows on their flights.
Make military care packages. The congregation of First United Methodist Church, Alice, Texas, brought items for military care packages to mail to troops serving overseas. “Many of us have loved ones who are serving in the military,” member Stefany Simmons explained. “Each of us signed cards to include for the troops.”
Be part of a community-service day. Manatee United Methodist Church is one of two Bradenton, Fla., locations for the Journey of Remembrance, an annual community-service day honoring U.S. military veterans and their families for their care and sacrifice.
Parades are one way to honor those who sacrifice daily for our freedom. A web-only photo by Dee Dee Cobb.
Learn about issues affecting veterans. At Christ United Methodist Church, Troy, N.Y., a guest speaker will focus on the history and social justice issues related to military mental illness. “At Christ Church,” said the Rev. Nina Nichols in the Bennington Banner, “we honor those who serve their country, who served with the hope of bringing justice on behalf of our nation. But as a people of faith, we must not fail to call for a better way to peace than war. This Memorial Day we pray for peace for the war-weary.”
Glorify Jesus as the Prince of Peace and reach out to those whom others may forget. On Memorial Day – as he does throughout the year – John Alexander, a member of East Lake United Methodist Church, Birmingham, Ala., will be involved with Kairos Prison Ministries. A Christian, lay-led, ecumenical, volunteer, international prison ministry, Kairos brings Christ’s love and forgiveness to incarcerated individuals and their families.
*Dunlap-Berg is internal content editor for United Methodist Communications.
News media contact: Barbara Dunlap-Berg, Nashville, Tenn., 615-742-5470 ornewsdesk@umcom.org.
We’re calling on helping hands for a Parking Lot Workday this Saturday, April 5, and we’d love your support!
The HOA across the street recently alerted us to a fallen tree on our property that needs to be cleared. Thanks to coordination by Robert Parker, head of Trustees, we have a tree cleanup scheduled for that day to take care of it.
In addition to the tree removal, we’ll be refreshing the parking lot with newly painted lines to clearly define parking spaces and give the area a much-needed spruce-up.
We’re also excited to share that KUMC Koinonia will be joining us to lend a hand — so it’s a great opportunity to work together, build community, and take care of God’s house!
Come dressed for outdoor work and bring any tools you might have that could help with clean-up or painting prep. Many hands make light work!
Thank you for supporting the care and upkeep of our church grounds!
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