World Communion Sunday offers us an opportunity to experience Holy Communion in the context of the global community of faith.
The first Sunday of October has become a time when Christians in every culture break bread and pour the cup to remember and affirm Christ as the Head of the Church.
On that day, we remember that we are part of the whole body of believers.
Christians celebrate the communion liturgy in as many ways as there are congregations. World Communion Sunday can be both a profound worship experience and a time for learning more about our wider community of faith.
A brief Ash Wednesday Service will be held, Feb. 26, 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. Burned palm branches from last Palm Sunday will provide the ashes. The service will include scripture, prayers, hymns, as well as the imposition of ashes.
Pastor Marg is also offering ashes to the Pender Hill Preschool parents and staff at the time of drop off on Ash Wednesday at 9:30 am. The sign of ashes on the forehead is a powerful symbol of repentance and marks the beginning of Lent.
Ever seen a little smudge mark on someone’s forehead as they walk out of church? That’s a sign of the cross and it means it’s Ash Wednesday during Lent.
Chuck tells you about this important worship service:
When did United Methodists start the “imposition of ashes” on Ash Wednesday?
While many think of actions such as the imposition of ashes, signing with the cross, footwashing, and the use of incense as something that only Roman Catholics or high church Episcopalians do, there has been a move among Protestant churches, including United Methodists to recover these more multisensory ways of worship. This is in keeping with a growing recognition that people have multiple ways of learning and praying.
Worship that is oriented to the intellect or to the emotions, both interior, leaves out those who engage in prayer through vision, smell, touch, movement, and so forth. We are increasingly aware that people are formed in faith when practices become embedded in memory, nerves, muscles and bone through sensory engagement.
United Methodists have had resources for worship that include the imposition of ashes since 1979 when Ashes to Fire was published as Supplemental Worship Resource 8. This practice became part of our official worship resources in 1992 when General Conference adopted The United Methodist Book of Worship. See the service for Ash Wednesday, p. 321-324. It is, of course, optional and no congregation or individual is required to use it.
Chrismon Tree. Did you know that Pender has a Chrismon Tree in the sanctuary during Advent and at Christmas time?
Do you know what do those symbols mean on the tree? Who made them and why?
Ornaments made from Christian symbols (or Chrismons, a contraction for ‘Christ monograms’) were first developed by Frances Spencer and the women of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, VA. Many churches display a Chrismon tree during the Advent and Christmas season decorated with handmade ornaments.
Pender’s ornaments were made by our Prayer Shawl Ministry in 2013 (At that time, it was called Casting God’s Love). This is a sample of what they made using a technique called counted cross stitch:
In the video below, Chuck talks about the Chrismon Tree.
Sunday, December 1, 2019 is the First Sunday in Advent.
The first Candle of the Advent Wreath is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, on December 1 this year. It is called the Prophecy Candle and reminds us that Jesus’ coming was prophesied hundreds of years before He was born. The candle’s purple color represents Christ’s royalty as the King of Kings.
Chuck Knows Church — ADVENT WREATH. Four candles in a circle with a big one in the middle? Yep, take a moment and learn the basics about the advent wreath. And why is the pink candle…pink?
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At Pender's Common Ground Contemporary Worship on October 25, 2020 Pastor Will White concluded the Worship Series "… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…5 days ago
At Pender's Traditional Worship on October 18, 2020 Pastor Will White preached on “Not Weary” based on Matthew 13:1… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…1 week ago
At Pender's Common Ground Contemporary Worship on October 18, 2020, Pastor Will White preached on “Not Weary” based… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…1 week ago
