Messenger | April 19, 2023

This week's release at a glance:

Pastor’s Message

Into the Words

It's Stewardship Season

Celebrating Earth Day

New Member Class

VBS Registration is Open

Spots Open for WoodsWork

Woods CDC Earns Accreditation Renewal

Pastor's Message

Dear friends and family of Woods Church,

There's a medium-sized, green birdhouse outside my office window. A pair of sparrows have adopted it and over the past weeks have been busy creating a nest inside it. Both parents have been bringing bits of dried grass and twigs, negotiating them through the small round opening, and occasionally pausing on the resting peg extending from the side of the birdhouse. It's a lovely way to be daily reminded of the cycles of life happening all around us.

As I mentioned last week, the season of Easter continues all the way into late May, when we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. This means each day is an opportunity to remember that, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, the language of resurrection has been inserted into our daily vocabulary. New life—rebirth—new beginnings—lasting hope: these are no longer just abstract phrases, but living expressions of what life is now about. And this is good news not just for us individually, but also for us as a church family.

The work of Woods church has aspects to it that resemble the birds making their nest. There are mundane details that fill the days; there are times of conversation and connection, as well as moments of sitting on "resting pegs" to catch up and catch our breath. Just as the birds are preparing for new arrivals, our church now has permission from the Presbytery's Commission on Ministry to form a Pastor Nominating Committee. This too heralds a future arrival and a coming new chapter.

The recent congregational survey affirmed that one priority for us as a church is to create opportunities for people to form meaningful relationships through shared work, small groups, and time spent together. Ask yourself how you are helping make Woods not just a "house" but a home. Consider what you are bringing to the church that both creates a nurturing "nest" and is preparing it for the coming chapter. And take time to meet others in the congregation; sit together on a bench or in Fellowship Hall for conversation, so that we can support one another in times of need and moments of joy. These are ways we keep Easter alive all year round—by seeking out new beginnings, perspectives of hope, and trusting a living Savior is with us for the journey ahead.

Peace in Christ,

Randy Bush

Church News

“Into the Words” Mini-Podcast

In this week's episode of “Into the Words,” Pastor Randy discusses Thomas Lynch's book, The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade. Click the button below to watch previous episodes.

It's Stewardship Season

The countdown has begun and this year's Stewardship Campaign is underway! Our theme is simply Come Home to Woods. Our hope is that Woods Church is a place in which people find a spiritual home, a community of faithful witness, compassionate service, invigorating worship, and intergenerational education. Through the act of making a stewardship pledge, you help our church leaders budget wisely and plan effectively the various programs for the coming year. In the coming weeks, you'll receive a letter and pledge card, which we hope you will return on or before Commitment Sunday, May 7. You also can click on the link below to fill out a pledge form.

To set the tone for this campaign, a short video was created that captured the stories of how two families, one new member and one long-time member, found their home here at Woods. Click on the link below to watch it. And thank you from our Stewardship Team!

New Members Class

Our next New Members Class will be held on Sunday, April 30, 11AM. If you have any family, friends, or neighbors who you'd like to invite, please contact Pastor Nancy at nreynolds@woodschurch.org.

Gratitude for Easter Hangings

A special thanks to Marcy Magette and her team of Woods Quilters who stitched the beautiful Easter paraments in the sanctuary. They add so much to our worship experience and visually celebrate the wonderful news of Christ's resurrection. Alleluia!

Ministry Announcements

New 11AM Sunday Class

Join us for our new 11AM Sunday class, April 23–June 4, to discover Jesus' character through Jesus Revealed: The I Am Statements in the Gospel of John by pastor and author Matt Rawle. We'll meet in the Conference Room or on Zoom.

Light, Bread, Shepherd, Life. The Gospel uses these and other symbols to paint a picture of who Jesus is. Through the "I Am" statements, Jesus describes himself with rich images, showing us that he is both fully human and fully divine, and is calling us as his followers.

The "I Am" statements are symbols that resonate throughout the Gospel and all of Scripture. These words point beyond themselves to the deep mystery of Jesus Christ. Experience the profound truth at the heart of the gospel, that Jesus calls us to himself and offers us the hope of resurrection.

VBS Registration is Open

BEE sure to register for VBS online at WoodsChurch.org. VBS is for children age 3–rising 6th graders and will run daily, June 26–29, 4–7PM! The cost includes dinner, and parents are welcome. Scholarships are available. Please contact a pastor or Kat Green for details.

The whole church is invited to be part of a welcoming community of faith! Volunteers are needed to decorate, set up each day, be a “Plus One” for a classroom, classroom teachers, music leaders, story helpers, dinner orderers, musicians, game leaders, nursery caregivers, and art leaders. The curriculum is based on the BEE-atitudes, and asks, "How does Jesus teach us to BEE in the world?" Let us be called children of God.

Nursery care is available for volunteers' younger children.

Spots Open for WoodsWork

There is still space available for youth to sign up for WoodsWork, a Youth Ministry Mission Trip supporting Habitat for Humanity. We will travel to Hartsville, South Carolina, June 22–30, to build two homes for deserving families, and to complete other needed construction projects.

No construction skills are needed. The trip is available to youth who are entering 9th grade through graduated seniors.

Registration is open until Friday, May 12. Register at WoodsChurch.org.

Food Donations Needed

Our Mission partner, SPAN ( Serving People Across Neighborhoods), is in need of some non-perishable food items for their Food Pantry. Their wish list consists of:

Baked beans

Canned tomato products,

Peanut butter and jelly

Canned meats including tuna and chicken

Ham

SPAM

Sausages

Canned chili meat

Please drop off donations in the SPAN barrel in Fellowship Hall. Your gifts of nonperishable food to SPAN make a difference in many of our neighbors’ lives. Without your help, many local families might otherwise go hungry.

Upcoming Events

Senior Spring Fellowship Dinner

Save the date for our Senior Spring Fellowship Dinner on Friday, May 5, 5:30–7:30PM. We invite all who are 70 and older (spouses welcome) to join us for our Homecoming Themed dinner. RSVP by calling the church office at 410.647.2550.

In Our Community

Woods CDC Earns Accreditation Renewal

The teachers at Woods Child Development Center are proud to report that they have earned high marks from the Maryland State Department of Education and that Woods CDC has earned Maryland Accreditation.

Woods CDC also has been voted "Best Preschool" in the Severna Park Voice "Best of 2023" competition.

Thank you all for your support and help.

—Roxann and the Woods CDC Family

Drink at the Well Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

Limited tickets are available for the 10th anniversary celebration of Drink at the Well, which provides a wide range of therapeutic recovery services for abused women. The celebration will be held on Friday, April 28, 5:30–8:30PM, at the Baltimore Museum of Industry (1415 Key Hwy, 21230). Register at bit.ly/diamond-anniversary.

Boy Scout Book Drive

Cooper Powell, a Boy Scout from Troop 339 (which meets at Woods Church), will be hosting a book drive through April 30, for his Eagle Scout Project.

Woods Church is one of several drop off locations. Additional drop-off locations include The Big Bean and Park Books. All books are welcome and will either be used in the little free library he’ll be building at Earleigh Heights Ranger Station or donated to the Maryland Book Bank. Questions? Contact Cooper Powell at cooperpow06@gmail.com.

Congregational Prayer

God of mercy, as an Easter people, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead. He is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.



Amen.