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Category Archives: Pender UMC

Lent Quiz: How did the early church observe Lent?

In addition to being a time to remember the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus, the early church used Lent to prepare converts for baptism, and to offer opportunities for those who had been separated from the church to be reconciled.

Today Lent remains an ideal time to remember our baptism and to reconcile relationships with those we may have harmed. All of this signifies to us our sinfulness and the sacrifice of Jesus which makes our forgiveness possible.

Watch a video about baptism in the United Methodist church.

Learn more about ancient traditions that still influence Easter.

Check out all our resources for Lent and Easter.

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Posted by MaryO on March 13, 2025 in Easter, Holidays, Lent, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: baptism, Easter, Jesus, Lent

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

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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

Lent Quiz: True or False? Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent

09 Mar

The correct answer is True.

Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by new converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. Today, Christians focus on relationship with God, growing as disciples and extending ourselves, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of ourselves for others.

Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter.” This is why you will see the designation “Sunday in Lent” rather than “Sunday of Lent” in the naming of these Sundays. On each Lord’s Day in Lent, while Lenten fasts continue, the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

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Posted by MaryO on March 9, 2025 in Easter, Holidays, Lent, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: Lent, quiz, Sunday

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.

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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

Snow Prediction for Tomorrow, 1/19/2025

18 Jan

Although snow has been predicted, we will still worship in person at Pender. However, if you feel uncomfortable being out, please join us online on Youtube or Facebook.

Join us at Pender UMC on the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 19th, 2025, for a transformative sermon from Pastor Bruce Johnson titled “We Believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.”

This inspiring message is part of our sermon series “What Christians Believe and Why It Matters.” Delve into the profound connections between our faith and the Creator as expressed through scriptures including Galatians 4:4-7, Matthew 6:21-33, and Genesis 1:1-4, 1:26-28, and 1:31.

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and appreciation of God’s mighty acts of creation.

At Pender, you’re welcome just as you are! There’s no dress code—whether you prefer jeans and a t-shirt or a dress and suit, you’ll fit right in.

Join us live at Pender UMC
12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA US 22033

Do you need Closed Captioning/Subtitles?
You do not need to be a Facebook member to watch the Sunday service here.