Messenger | April 9, 2025

 This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Holy Week Services
• Dedicate a Lily
• Parents & Caregivers: Start Your Engines
• A Night at the Opera
• Help Provide Medical MAP PACKS for Malawi
• A Message From Cuba with Love
• Lenten Study: Remember
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer Series
• Parkinson's Disease 101
• Pastors’ Bible Study
• WoodsWork 2025
• Get Ready for VBS
• Langton Green Produce Baskets
• Woods Seeks Coordinator for Children’s and Youth Ministry
  

Pastor's Message

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, the most important week of the Christian calendar. Palm Sunday is a day of celebration, recalling the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, when crowds of people lined the streets, waved palms, and laid branches and cloaks on the ground as a sign of honor. So it will be a celebratory day here at Wood with palms, of course, but also with a live donkey to commemorate Jesus’ mode of arrival! If you’re coming to the 9:30AM service, you can come early to be part of the procession from the Cypress Creek entrance at Sunrise next door. The procession will depart for the church at 9:15AM. Or you can wait on the front steps for its arrival at 9:30AM.

Next Sunday, of course, is Easter, the most important day of the Christian calendar, when we celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead, opening the way to the abundant and eternal life he promised. But if you go from Palm Sunday straight to Easter, it’s like watching the first 10 minutes of a movie before the main conflict begins, and then fast-forwarding to the end where everyone lives happily ever after. You miss the real depth and power and meaning of the story. So I urge you to make a point of experiencing the fullness of the central story of Christ’s gospel by participating in the special services we will have during the week.

The first is Maundy Thursday, at 7:30PM in the Sanctuary. The word “Maundy” comes from a Latin word for mandate, and refers to Jesus’ new commandment to his disciples that they love one another as he loved them. So the service will center on Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, and will include communion because the sacrament was instituted by Jesus at that meal before his arrest and crucifixion.

The second service is Good Friday, also at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary, and will be a Tenebrae Service. “Tenebrae” is Latin for “darkness,” and it is a service that walks through the narrative of Jesus’ arrest, torture, crucifixion, and death. A series of Scripture readings is read, interspersed with appropriate hymns and music. After each reading, the lights in the Sanctuary are dimmed, until finally there is only candlelight to illumine the final reading. The Christ candle, symbolizing Christ’s life, is then extinguished, and the service concludes in darkness and silence, symbolizing Christ’s interment in the tomb. I always struggle with choosing a single “favorite” of anything, but the Tenebrae service would certainly be in my top two or three favorite services of the year because of its simple power in helping us experience the profundity of Christ’s sacrifice in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

I am certain that your experience of both Palm Sunday and Easter will be much richer if you participate in these Holy Week services, and that your faith will be enhanced by them. I hope you will join in and experience the full blessings of Holy Week. See you in worship!

Peace and blessings,

—Pastor J.C.

Church News

Dedicate a Lily in Honor or Memory of a Loved One

Every year, we decorate our Sanctuary with lovely lilies at Easter. The flowers are donated by members and friends to remember special people in their lives.

If you would like to dedicate a lily in memory or in honor of a loved one, the suggested donation is $25. Dedications will be accepted online through Tuesday, April 15, as well as in Fellowship Hall on Sundays, March 30, April 6, and April 13. Plants may be picked up after our 11AM Easter services.

Parents & Caregivers: Start Your Engines

On the way to Sunday School pick up during Lent, stop by the bench by the joke buttons at 10:30AM for a quick “3-Point Pit Stop! “Hear what the story of the week is and get three talking points to use throughout your week to Walk With Others.

A Night at the Opera

Join us Saturday, May 10, for an enchanting evening of music and fine dining! Over a delicious spaghetti dinner, enjoy performances by talented opera singers: Soprano Kimberly Christie, Bass/Baritone Jason Buckwalter, Bass Shouvik Mondle, Alto Jennifer Cooper, and Tenor David Merrill as they serenade you with popular opera arias and classic musical theater songs.

Dinner Menu: Spaghetti, salad, bread, and dessert

Doors Open: 5:30PM

️Dinner Begins: 6PM

Performance Starts: 6:30PM

️Tickets: $25

For questions, please email Pam Ward at pward@woodschurch.org.

Mission News

Help Provide Medical MAP PACKS for Malawi

We each have an opportunity to help supply medications and medical supplies for the mobile medical clinics of Ministry of Hope (MOH) Malawi. A Woods team is traveling to MOH in July, and we are able to take Medical Mission MAP PACKS with us. Each RX pack contains at least 300 treatments that are typically needed in developing countries. The packs provide thousands of dollars’ worth of medicine and supplies for medical mission teams at a cost of $200 per pack, plus about $50–$75 per pack for freight to Maryland.

If you are able to contribute to providing these necessary medicines to children and adults in villages where the only health care access is the monthly MOH mobile clinic, the team and MOH will be so grateful. You may contribute a monetary gift of any size at the Missions table in Fellowship Hall each Sunday in April, online through Realm, or in the church office.

For more information, call or email Pat Johnson at 443.994.3201 or paj10041949@gmail.com. To see more about MOH, visit www.ministryofhope.org.

For information on RX Packs, see www.map.org.

A Message From Cuba with Love

“We have just received the food. Many thanks to the community of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church for sharing with the brothers and sisters of Sancti Spíritus. Thanks be to God such love.”

Education & Small Groups

Lenten Study: Remember

Adult Education is offering a Lenten study on Sundays through April 13, 11AM, featuring Remember by Rev. Susan Robb.

God’s covenants throughout the Old Testament show the character of God’s promises to the people of Israel. Rev. Robb discusses the covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, followed by the new covenant established during the Last Supper. The Lenten story culminates with a look at the cross as another example of God’s promise for a new world.

Join us in the Office Conference Room or on Zoom.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Series

Please join Adult Education for a six-part series, Sunday through –April 13, on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The twentieth century produced many interesting and provocative theologians. Among the most influential is Dietrich Bonhoeffer of Germany. He lived concurrently with Adolf Hitler and was among Hitler's most insistent critics. He was imprisoned in January 1943 and hanged on April 8, 1945. In 1937 he wrote his most famous book, Discipleship, which has two central themes: Grace and Obedience.

Please join us as we take a look at this remarkable man and his understanding of theology. Classes will be led by Greg Hubert and held in Room 208 from 11AM–12PM. No registration is required.

Parkinson's Disease 101

On Tuesday, April 15, 1–2:30PM, Jaelyn Swan of the Parkinson’s Foundation will be with us in Fellowship Hall to offer an overview of Parkinson’s disease, covering the basics of its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. We’ll explore how Parkinson’s affects movement, cognition, and quality of life, as well as practical tips and resources to help individuals and their care partners navigate life with Parkinson’s.

Pastors’ Bible Study

Lead Pastor J.C. Austin and Associate Pastor Nancy Lincoln Reynolds offer a weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays, 12PM, to examine the upcoming Sunday’s scripture readings before they are presented in worship.

Join us on Zoom and gain a new understanding of scripture and enhance your worship experience.

Youth News

WoodsWork 2025

WoodsWork 2025 is headed to Nelsonville, Ohio, this summer and all high school youth are invited! This house-building mission trip will be June 19–27, and registration is open now! Click the button below to sign up! For more information, download the flier!



Children's News

Get Ready for VBS!

Register today for Vacation Bible Study! This year’s program will be held July 14–17, 4–7PM, with dinner at 6:30PM.

Church Family News

Woods Seeks Coordinator for Children’s and Youth Ministry

Woods is seeking a dedicated, organized individual to serve as Coordinator for our Children’s and Youth Ministry. This is a part-time job, 25 hours per week, with hours to include Sunday mornings.

The Coordinator will assist the Director of Children's Ministry as well as the Director of Youth Ministry in planning and implementing programs to engage the young people of Woods Church in their spiritual formation.

Click the button below to view the job description. Interested applicants should contact Kat Green at kgreen@woodschurch.org.

In Our Community

Langton Green Produce Baskets

Langton Green, one of our mission partners, is an Anne Arundel County–based residential community that supports neurodivergent adults. They are offering produce baskets from June–October. For more information, see the attached flyer

A Moment of Prayer

Gracious and creating God, help us in the midst of our chaotic lives to find what good may be brought forth by your Spirit. Let us be able and willing to find hope and to pursue community with one another in order to enact your plan for our living. We ask your comforting hand upon all those who are challenged and who struggle in these times.

In Christ's name we pray.

Amen.