Who: Kids Ages 3 (must be potty-trained)- 6th Grade
What:“Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected”
Where: Pender UMC Christmas VBS
Why: Celebrate Christmas and the Gift of Jesus Christ
When: Saturday, Dec. 5th @ 10 am – 2 pm
Cost: $10 per Kid or $20 total per Family
Join us for Christmas VBS on December 5, 2015 while your parents enjoy the gift of time to prepare for Christmas. We will enjoy music, crafts, lunch, recreation, a story and more!
RSVP: Register online on our website by clicking on this link, beginning November 1st & ending November 30th.
Please join us this Sunday, November 29, in worship at the 8:15, 9:30 or 11:00 Services.
Advent will start on Sunday, November 29, and we will start an exciting new Advent program,“Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected.” Prepared and piloted by The Woodlands United Methodist Church in Houston, this joyful program explores some of God’s unexpected qualities, presented over the four weeks of Advent, plus Christmas Eve:
God Is Expectant
God Is Dangerous
God Is Jealous
God Is Faithful
God is Joyful
Just as the first wrapped gift beneath the Christmas tree marks the new season, so the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day signaled that God’s hope and salvation and redemption plan had come into the world. In Jesus, God gift-wrapped himself in human flesh and was born in a stable so he could come and live among us and offer us life and salvation that we could never gain on our own.
Join us this Advent as we unwrap God’s greatest gift, our Savior Jesus!
“Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected”
Nov. 29 – Dec. 24, 2015
From the beginning, the Bible tells of a love story between God and his people. As the story works its way through the Old Testament into the New Testament, there are twists and turns but the ending is always clear – God’s plan is to rescue his people. And so God sent Jesus. God actually gift-wrapped himself in human flesh and was born in a stable so he could come and live among us and offer us life and salvation that we could never gain on our own. “Under Wraps” is an exciting Advent & Christmas experience that explores four characteristics of God described in the Old Testament and then revealed perfectly and completely through Jesus.
During Advent we expect the usual crowds at the malls, the usual Christmas TV specials, the usual visits with family and friends, and the usual church programs. If we approach Advent in a manner that routine, can we really expect anything different at Christmas? Does ho-ho-ho lead to ho-hum? Can life be different? Have you ever been surprised by God?
Preacher 8:15 & 11- Kenny
Preacher 9:30- Dan
For more information about our upcoming sermons, click here.
Listen to 252 past sermons by Pastors Kenny Newsome, Dan Elmore and others in the Pender Podcast.
Wondering where to take your children on Sunday mornings? Below is a summary. More detailed information is available at the Welcome desk located in the main lobby and here.
NURSERY CARE ~ Birth through 2 years, 9:30 am – 12:15 pm
SUNDAY SCHOOL 1 ~ 2 yrs. – Adults, 9:30 am – 10:40 am
SUNDAY SCHOOL 2 ~ Grades 4 – Adults, 10:45 am – 12:15 pm
CHERUB CHURCH ~ 3 yrs.- Kindergarten, 10:45 am – 12:15 pm
JUNIOR FELLOWSHIP ~ Grades 1-3, 10:45 am – 11:30 am
November 28: Items of the week needed for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries to distribute to the needy in our area:
Anything & Everything!
46 oz. bottles of oil, fruit juices, plastic bags and egg cartons are always needed and welcome too!
Donations can be left in the blue grocery cart in the coat rack section.
November 98: The Pender Podcast is available in the iTunes Podcast series. There is no charge to subscribe or listen to past sermons. There are currently 252 sermons available. More information
November 29- December 31: Nominate 2015 Pender Woman of the Year. Nomination forms are located in the United Methodist Women’s mailbox located by the elevators; and completed forms can be handed to Joyce Munt or emailed to her.
November 29: New Directions Sunday School Class. We will study the book entitled “The Holy Spirit – An Introduction” by John Bevere. We meet in Rooms 218-220 at 9:30 AM. If any questions, feel free to contact Carol Wilson If any questions, feel free to contact Carol Wilson by email or at (703) 815-1744.
November 29: Sunday School II for adults. 10:45 am-noon
November 29: The Pender Youth Orchestra, 4:15-5:00 pm. The Youth Orchestra is open to all youth grades 7 through 12 who play a wind, brass, stringed or percussion instrument. New members are always welcome! The Orchestra plays 4-5 times during Sunday morning worship from December-June. More information.
Monetary gifts to UMCOR International Disaster Response, Advance #982450, helps alleviate suffering as a result of disaster or crisis in Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere around the world.
We are excited to share with you the results of our congregational vote this past Sunday morning! Both questions were approved with near unanimity. The results are as follows:
For Resolution 1 – 207
Against Resolution 1 – 12
For Resolution 2 – 210
Against Resolution 2 – 9
We give thanks once again for the dedicated work of our Building Committee, chaired by Jeanne Osborne. Their work, as well as ours, is far from over, as now we will move to the phase of deciding on details, including the color of the carpet! The work of our financial team, led by Becky Bryan and Lloyd Rollins, will now formally begin as well. Stay tuned for more information, especially as the calendar turns to 2016. And most importantly, please keep all these plans and more in your prayers that we would be guided by the Holy Spirit in all that is before us.
As we turn toward thoughts of Thanksgiving, please know that our hearts are full of thanks to God for each of you, members and friends together of Pender United Methodist Church. Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving! We look forward to beginning the season of Advent with you in worship this coming Sunday.
Pastors Kenny and Dan
Please note: If you were unable to attend and would like to read the minutes from the Church Conference, click on this link.
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