Messenger | August 16, 2023

This week's release at a glance:

Pastor’s Message

Come Home to Woods: A Place to Belong

Choirs & Seek Band Are Tuning Up

Fall Seminar: From Age-ing to Sage-ing

Coming Soon: Savvy Seniors

Continue the Conversation at Home: What Do You Do With A Problem?

Woods Women's Circles

Artist Meet & Greet

Pastor's Message

Dear friends and family of Woods Church,

The sequel to the last two Sundays' focus on Joseph (Genesis 45: 1–15) reveals the unity among Joseph's family in spite of their previous differences and offences. Last week, Pastor Randy addressed the frustration and jealousy Joseph's brothers felt over his being the favored son and being given a special colorful coat by their father. Similarly, we might only imagine the anger Joseph could have experienced in response to being sold into slavery by them and their treatment of him.

But Joseph's response was the opposite of what we might expect. Rather than dwelling on the wrong done to him, he took a different perspective and determined to redeem the situation. He spoke of God's use of his circumstances to send him ahead to preserve life for his family and for others. In other words, he sought to find the good in his adversity.

Our Children's Ministry vlog, Continuing the Conversation at Home, has been reading a book, What Do You Do With A Problem, to illustrate this. The book concludes with the message: "Every problem has an opportunity for something good. You just have to look for it."

Joseph looked for and found such an opportunity in his difficulty. And the result was unity in his family and a revisioning of their lives together. God's vision for their lives became their own as they relinquished their disagreements and divisions to God's plan.

Here at Woods, we seek to transform lives and society using God's vision of unity for us all.

—Pastor Nancy

Church News

Come Home to Woods: A Place to Belong

Join us on Sunday, September 10, for our annual Woods Kick-Off picnic and celebrate the beginning of our new program year. Come learn more about each of the ministries at Woods. Enjoy live music from the very talented group, Chozen. Families will love the bounce house, photo booth, shaved ice, and fun activities!

Read about our Kick-Off Picnic on the PC(USA) Presbyterian Mission website.

Choirs & SEEK Band Are Tuning Up

Adult Choir
The Adult Choir’s church year has begun! All are welcome to come and sing as we sing and lead worship through all styles and genres of music. We rehearse Thursday evening’s, beginning August 31, 7PM, in the choir room. We look forward to having you with us!

Children's Choir

Our Children’s Choir is about to start back up! Wahoo! Any child in grades 1–5 is welcome to come sing! Our first rehearsal will be Sunday, September 17, 12:15–12:45PM in the choir room. And yes, we have CANDY!

SEEK Band

Do you play an instrument, enjoy singing, or just love music? Then come on down! Any youth in grades 6–12 can join our SEEK Band. The band offers music for worship regularly, with many wonderful solo and musical opportunities. Our first rehearsal is Sunday, September 17, 1–2PM.

For more information about any of these opportunities, please email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.

Fall Seminar: From Age-ing to Sage-ing

Led by Bill Hocking, this seminar presents a new approach to aging—one of life-long learning, healthy lifestyle practices, and spiritual growth. It's an inspirational look at aging and how to develop a creative, fulfilling aging process.

"Sage-ing" refers to becoming "spiritually radiant, physically vital, and socially responsible." The seminar delves into our interconnectedness with the earth, with nature, and discovering the most rewarding work of a lifetime: becoming a sage.

Book: Age-ing to Sage-ing (2014 edition) by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Ronald Miller

Zoom: 10AM, September 16, and every third Saturday through May 18, 2024

In Person: 4:30PM, September 18, and monthly through May 20, 2024, Large Group Room, Woods Counseling & Care Center

To Register: Email billhocking100@comcast.net or nancy.sullivan@woodsccc.org

Word of Advice

If you pay bills with checks, do not place these envelopes in your home mailbox or in an outside postal service mailbox. An increasing number of cases are occurring in which thieves steal personal checks, erase the amounts and payee, and cash the check for higher amounts. Banks are supposed to refund any lost funds, but the process can take a while.

It is safer to use letter boxes inside post offices or hand the letters directly to a postal employee.

Coming Soon: Savvy Seniors

Woods Church is offering a program for Woods members and the Severna Park community aged 65+. Monthly forums are designed to educate and promote a sense of connection and inclusion among participants as they experience the physical, financial, and social changes aging brings.

Topics include Aging; Health & Wellness; Estate Planning; Grief, Loss, & Legacy; Meaningful Movement; Tech/Media Savvy; and Elder Law.

When: Every third Tuesday, 1–2:30 pm, beginning September 26

Where: Woods Church, Fellowship Hall

What: Refreshments, conversation, forum presentation and discussion.

Contact: swilson@woodschurch.org or nsullivan@woodschurch.org

Ministry Announcements

Youth Group Summer Gathering

Our last Youth Group gathering at Rita's Italian Ice will be on Wednesday, August 23, 5–6PM. Stop by for a free Rita's ice!

Continue the Conversation at Home

Let's Continue the Conversation at Home! "What do you do with a problem?" asks Kobi Yamada with illustrations by Mae Besom. Instead of running away from problems, maybe you can be curious. The "problem" might be something new or unexpected or an opportunity to figure something out. On Sunday, we heard about Peter and the disciples who were in a boat during a storm at night. They were afraid when something/someone came towards them over the water. What if it was a huge monster from the deep? What if it capsized their boat? What if... Being afraid can be a BIG problem. Instead of "what if," Peter asked, "Who are you?" Peter was curious about what he saw coming towards him over the water. It was Jesus! Mr. Yamada tells us that inside of a problem is an opportunity. I wonder, what are some ways you can be curious this week about things that are new or unexpected. With school about to start, instead of feeling afraid, can you ask what your day will be like or how will you know where to go? Be curious about your problems!

Calvin the Chipmunk Asks, "How's Your Summer Goin'?"

Have you travelled near, far, or been stay-cationing at home? Calvin reminds you and your family to reflect on how you have been involved in Woods Church Mission and Service activities in the past year. We want to celebrate that! How? "X" marks the spot on our Mission and Service Bingo! Download your sheet or pick one up at the Welcome desk at church.

If none of those activities are accessible for your family, add your own 5 boxes as a "bonus bottom row" and name the ways you and your family helped out from August 2022–August 2023. Bring your Bingo marked card to church! We have a sweet treat for those who serve in the name of Jesus!

Get Involved with the ACT Advocacy Group

Woods Church is part of the ACT advocacy group (Anne Arundel Connecting Together). There are four current ACT initiatives focusing on Mental Health, Education, Gun Violence Prevention, and Attainable Housing. The Gun Violence Prevention group has a Zoom meeting happening on Tuesday, August 22, 7–8:30PM. For information on this and the other initiatives, visit the ACT website at actaaco.org.

Woods Women's Circles

 The Women's Circles of Woods Church will be starting a new monthly Bible study in September from New Horizon's Bible Study. You are invited to join us for this hope-filled study, titled Sacred Encounters. The author, Rev. Olive Mahabir, invites readers to consider Jesus, "the good shepherd," who shared the good news through sacred encounters with everyday people.

We meet on the second Tuesday of each month, 10AM, in the Founders Room, or on the fourth Wednesday of each month, 7PM, on Zoom. Copies of Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke–Acts will be available each Sunday in August at a table in Fellowship Hall. Stop by to sign up and pick up a book. (Cost for the study guide is $10.)

The contact for Tuesday morning Circle is Bev Haines, bhaines2218@gmail.com, and for the Wednesday evening Circle it's Nancy Nolan, msmum@sent.com.

Biweekly Faith Connection Group

What: We Make the Road by Walking Discussion Group

Details: Join us to discuss We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren. This book's 52 readings will guide us through growing our faith together. Each chapter is 3–4 pages. If you are seeking a faith connection, come. The book can be purchased on Amazon.

Location: Boone Station Gazebo

(Inclement weather: Room 150)

When: Sunday, August 27, 11AM–12PM

POC: Reach out to charitymatta@gmail.com.

Children’s Church Club is available for this group gathering.

In Our Community

Coed Softball

Our last game will be on Sunday, August 20, 2PM, against Saint Andrew's at Elvaton #1.

No experience required! Players must be at least 16 years of age by December 31, 2022. Play as your schedule permits

If you are interested, contact Andrew Wiley at 443.867.8803 or wileyas1@gmail.com.

Artist Meet and Greet

"Summer Fun," a new art exhibit featuring works by mother and daughter artists Jenny and Melissa Henry, is on display in the art gallery. The pieces reflect their different styles, techniques, and personalities.



A "meet and greet" with the artists will be held on Sunday, August 20, 10:30–11:30AM.

The exhibit will run through September 11, and is available during normal church hours, 9AM–5PM.

Church News

Best Wishes to Ted Markle

Ted Markle, our talented church organist, has taken a new position at a Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Maryland, much closer to where he lives. Ted's last Sunday will be August 27. A reception in his honor will take place in Fellowship Hall following the 9:30AM service. Join us for this event as we celebrate Ted and wish him well at his new position.

Service for Emily Johnson

A service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held for Woods member, Emily Johnson, on Sunday, August 27, 1PM, in the sanctuary. A reception will follow. Please continue to lift Emily’s family and friends in your prayers.

Congregational Prayer

Loving God, thank you for the gift of this day. I will look and listen for signs of your goodness present in my life, in the lives of others, and in the beautiful world you garden. Strengthen my soul so that whatever your purpose is for me, it will be fulfilled in faithfulness and love. In Christ's name I pray.

Amen.