“Invitation to a Miracle: A Cantata for Christmas” by Joseph Martin
Presented by: The Pender UMC Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra
Sunday, December 4 All 3 Services
Joyful sounds abound in this colorful Christmas gift for choirs. Through poetic narration, scripture passages and creatively arranged carols, the timeless story of the birth of Christ is presented. Gathered around the wonders that accompanied Jesus’ birth, this cantata journeys from the miracle of prophecy to the incarnation and proclamation of this most significant moment.
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
December 4: New Directions Sunday School Class. 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.
December 4: The 10:30am Sunday School Class is reading a new study by Adam Hamilton entitled Seeing Gray in A World of Black and White: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and Politics. Contact Angie Green for more information.
December 4: Sunday School II for adults. 10:45 am-noon
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 27: New Directions Sunday School Class. 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 27: The 10:30am Sunday School Class is reading a new study by Adam Hamilton entitled Seeing Gray in A World of Black and White: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and Politics. Contact Angie Green for more information.
November 27: Sunday School II for adults. 10:45 am-noon
Recommended Advent Devotional Materials from Pastor Dan:
Top recommendation is written by JD Walt, “Sower-in-Chief” at Seedbed, which is the publishing arm of Asbury Seminary. You can find more details by clicking on this link.
If you use the Bible app from You version (available on App and Play stores), go to “Plans,” then in the search box, type in “Advent”. Many available plans should come up. One Pastor Dan recommends that he’s used before is “Rediscovering the Christmas Season” from Life.Church.
There is another online devotional called d365, found here. It’s a bit more focused toward youth and young adults, sometimes more obviously so than others. As the season turns to Advent, he expects their devotions will take up the theme as well.
Another resource Pastor Dan turned to many years is a book called, “Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Christmas Sermons.” It begins with some of his Advent thoughts and turns to Christmas. If you search for your favorite theologian, or preacher, they might have a similar volume.
Be sure to invite a friend during this Advent/Christmas season as we celebrate “Christmas at the Movies!” Check out the bulletin, weekly email, and cards in the pew racks in the sanctuary for the many events at Pender in the weeks to come as we celebrate Messiah’s incarnation and second coming!
Join us this Sunday, December 13th, at our 8:15, 9:30 & 11am worship services. Pastor Kenny & Pastor Dan will continue our sermon series,“Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected” and will be preaching on“God is Dangerous & Jealous”(Matthew 2:1-3)
God’s mighty power brings danger. God is not tame. As C. S. Lewis writes in his book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, God is not “quite safe. . . but he’s good.” What does this mean? God also doesn’t tolerate competition. God wants the full attention of our hearts and minds. In a season filled with many distractions like shopping and parties, what would it mean to give our good God our full devotion?
For more information about our upcoming sermons, click here.
For more information about our upcoming sermons, click here.
Listen to 253 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
December 13: Items of the week needed for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries to distribute to the needy in our area:
Bags of Apples, Oranges, Onions & Potatoes
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.
December 13: The Pender Podcast is available in the iTunes Podcast series. There is no charge to subscribe or listen to past sermons. There are currently 253 sermons available. More information
December 13-31: 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.
December 13: 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.
December 13: Sunday School II for adults. 10:45 am-noon
As part of our Advent Journey, join us as we focus on another, most difficult journey which brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, where we feature the reaction of an innkeeper and his wife who had nothing but a stable to offer to this special couple. Hope was born in the midst of disappointment.
We are looking forward to hearing the Christmas praise music of the new band which will be auditioning.