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Tag Archives: Pender UMC

Sunday November 30 Is the Beginning of Advent

Sunday, November 30, 2025 is the First Sunday in Advent.

The first Candle of the Advent Wreath is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, on November 30 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.

Suggested Bible Reading: Luke 1:26-38

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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Posted by MaryO on November 30, 2025 in Advent, Books of The Bible, Chuck Knows Church, Holidays, Posts of Interest, The Holy Bible, Videos

Tags: Advent, Advent wreath, Chuck Knows Church, Jesus, King of Kings, Luke 1:26-28, Pender UMC, Sunday Is the Beginning of Advent, video

Holy Week at Pender UMC

08 Apr

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most important week of the church year. At the other end of Holy Week is Easter, the most important day of the church year.

For Christians, this is the big event! And it’s all about the mystery that somehow Jesus Christ makes us one with God.

Palm/Passion Sunday. April 13. 10am. Pender Sanctuary

Join us as we begin the Holy Week journey to Easter with our Palm Sunday celebration. Come together to reflect on the significance of this day and honor the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem!

Holy Thursday Seder Meal. Thursday. April 17. 7pm. PUMC Gathering Place

Chag Sameach! (Happy Holiday!) We are excited to invite you for a warm and meaningful Passover Seder as we gather to experience the symbolism of this meal celebrating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, a pivotal event in Jewish and Christian history!

Please note that the Seder Meal will not include a full meal. We have timed it for after the dinner hour.

Good Friday Stations of the Cross. April 19, 10 am, Pender UMC Sanctuary

A contemporary expression of the traditional Stations of the Cross Prayer Walk to enhance your experience of the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday.

Please enter in silence, walk and pray in silence, and depart in silence. Our prayer walk recalls Jesus’ passion. Visit each of the four “Stations of the Cross” in order (left to right). You may pause to pray at anytime using the kneeling rail or seats in our sanctuary. Stations of the Cross is a devotional practice which originated in the early centuries of Christianity.

Good Friday Service. Friday. April 18. 7:30pm. Pender UMC Sanctuary

We invite you to join us for a meaningful service as we come together to remember and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made for us. The Service will feature a moving combination of drama, scripture, and music, all designed to guide our hearts through the profound story of Christ’s love, suffering, and redemption.

Holy Saturday Prayer Vigil. April 19. 7pm. Pender UMC Parking Area.

We warmly invite you to join us for a special service of prayer, song, and scripture to prepare our hearts for the Easter celebration ahead.

Easter Sunday Celebrations! April 20. Pender UMC

Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the new life we have in Him. Whether you’re a long-time member or a first-time guest, we would love to welcome you!

Sunrise Service with Korean UMC – Koinonia! 6am. Pender Parking area

Sunrise Breakfast! 7am. Pender UMC Gathering Place Please let us know you’ll be having breakfast.

Easter Worship! 10am. Pender UMC Sanctuary with bells, scripture, and special music!

All of our worship is Christ-centered, Biblically-minded and relevant to life today. Pender UMC desires that you feel God’s Spirit nurturing you and that in worship you experience the very real presence of Christ with us. May you be blessed by God as you gather with us.

Where do I enter the building?

First, we want you to know that our church has worked hard to create a building with access for all. Whether you find yourself in a wheelchair or carting babies in a buggy, you’ll find automatically opening doors and large entrances.

As you enter the parking lot, you will notice two doors, both under porticos so that you may get out of the rain if it is wet. To enter through the main sanctuary entrance doors, simply look for the semi-circular driveway.

If instead you enter the sliding glass doors entrance, make a left into the hallway to the end where you will notice the welcome area on your left.

What do my children do?
We invite older children (3rd grade and up) to become fully involved in worship. At the back of the sanctuary are “children’s bulletins” and supplies like crayons.

Our younger children have the option of remaining with their family or being cared for by our wonderful nursery and childcare staff. Childcare is available for children ages birth through 2nd grade in the lower level of our building. Ask an Usher to help you find where to take your children!

Where do I park?
We attempt to have plenty of parking on Easter morning for our guests. However, we suggest you plan to arrive early, and if parking is full on our lot, there is parking on the street.

What if I need further information?
Our friendly volunteers and staff will welcome your questions! Please call our church office at 703-278-8023 between 9 am and 3 pm, Monday through Friday. Once at Pender, ask any friendly face for help! We are here to assist you.

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Posted by MaryO on April 8, 2025 in Easter, Get Involved!, Holidays, Lent, Music, Palm Sunday, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest, Sermon

Tags: Communion, Easter, Easter Breakfast, Easter Story, Easter Sunday, Good Friday, Holy Thursday, Holy Week, hymns, Jesus Christ, Kids' Easter Event, KUMC, Lent, Palm Sunday, Pender UMC, prayer vigil, Sanctuary Choir, sermon, Stations of the Cross, Sunrise service, the Passion

Hymn History: ‘It Is Well With My Soul’

09 Feb

The Pender UMC Traditional Service Middle Hymn “It is Well With My Soul” on Sunday November 13, 2022 was played by Liz Eunji Moon on piano, directed by Brian Stevenson and sung the Pender Sanctuary Choir and congregation.

The hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” was written by a successful Christian lawyer called Horatio Spafford.

His only son died at age 4 in 1871. That year, the Great Chicago Fire wiped out his vast estate, made from a successful legal career.

In 1873 he sent his wife Anna and four daughters over to Europe on a summer trip on the ill-fated SS Ville du Havre. Since he had a lot of work to do, he had planned to travel to England with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, to help with D. L. Moody’s upcoming evangelistic campaigns. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire.

On November 22 the ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel killing 226 people, including all four of Spafford’s daughters: Annie, age 12; Maggie, 7; Bessie, 4; and an 18-month old baby. His wife survived the tragedy.

Upon arriving in England, she sent a telegram to Spafford that read “Saved alone.”

Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.;Bliss called his tune Ville du Havre, from the name of the stricken vessel.

It is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
- Refrain:
  It is well with my soul,
  It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

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Posted by MaryO on February 9, 2024 in Hymn History, hymns, Ministries, Music, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest, Videos

Tags: Brian Stevenson, congregation, D. L. Moody, history, Horatio Spafford, hymn, It Is Well with My Soul, liz eunji moon, pender sanctuary choir, Pender UMC, Pender UMC Traditional Service, piano, Saved Alone, Ss Ville Du Havre, The Great Chicago Fire, video

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)

21 Dec

Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial Cairn

On December 21 at 1:30PM, the Pender UMC Choir traditionally sang for the Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie) Memorial Service at Arlington National Cemetery.

One of the songs we traditionally sing at this service – “Under His Wings” – was composed in memory of the victims. On June 20, 2022, a Memorial Concert was held for long-time choir member, Diane Martini. The Pender Sanctuary Choir and the former Master Chorale of Washington sang several of Diane’s favorites. One of her favorites had been “Under His Wings”.

A few years ago was the 25th anniversary of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. A C-Span video of the anniversary event

http://www.c-span.org/video/?316910-1/pan-flight-103-25th-anniversary-memorial-service

Another video from the anniversary year:

For full remarks about the anniversary service, including speaker’s notes, please see https://www.victimsofpanamflight103.org/events/2013/arlington

Here’s a timeline of the terrible event on December 21, 1988:

Extraordinary Response Pan Am 103

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Posted by MaryO on December 21, 2023 in Ministries, Music, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Videos, Webmaster posts

Tags: Arlington National Cemetery, Lockerbie, Pan Am Flight 103, Pender UMC, Sanctuary Choir, Scotland, Under His Wings, video

Today Is the Beginning of Advent

03 Dec

Today, December 3, 2023 is the First Sunday in Advent.

The first Candle of the Advent Wreath is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, on December 3 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.

Suggested Bible Reading: Luke 1:26-38

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?