Messenger | December 27, 2023

This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• New Year’s Eve Worship
• Rewatch a Worship Service
• Continue the Conversation at Home
• Youth Programming Winter Break
• New Adult Ed Class
• Winter Relief Sign-Ups

Pastor's Message

Dear Friends and Family of Woods Church,

We tend to forget that after the Christ child was born to Mary and Joseph, they had to flee from Bethlehem to avoid Herod's soldiers and the death sentence decreed upon all infant boys. William Barclay has re-told a legend about this chapter in the Holy Family's life.

While Joseph, Mary and Jesus were on their way to Egypt, they took refuge one night in a cave. A spider saw the Christ child and decided to spin a web across the entrance of the cave to make a type of curtain as protection against the cold night air. It was all the spider could offer and it worked all night spinning this web.

Later, down the path came a detachment of Herod's soldiers, seeking to carry out the order to strike down all children two years and younger. When they came to the cave, they were about to enter and search it to see if anyone was hiding there. But their captain noticed the spider's web covered in frost, stretched across the entrance to the cave. "Look at the spider's web there," he said. "There can't possibly be anyone inside for the web would surely have been torn." So the soldiers passed on and left the Holy Family in peace. (Some say this is the reason we put tinsel on Christmas trees, as a reminder of the glistening web shining with winter frost.)

I like how this story reminds us that even the small things we do in life can have a significant difference on others. Sometimes a small act of kindness can be life-saving and life-changing. (Think of the few loaves and fish that were able to feed a hungry multitude.) I am grateful for the many, many acts of kindness this congregation has shown me and my family, as well as our entire church staff. As the calendar year draws to a close, let me extend my heartfelt thanks to the families of Woods Church. May Christ's peace and God's sustaining grace abide with each of you now and in the year to come!

Blessings to you in Christ's name,

Pastor Randy

Church News

New Year’s Eve Worship

As a reminder, there will only be one service on New Year’s Eve, Sunday, December 31, 9:30AM. Join us for worship and Sunday School before ringing in 2024 with your family and friends.

Rewatch a Worship Service

Did you enjoy a particular worship service during the past year or would you like to watch one that you missed? All of our livestreamed services (both Traditional and Contemporary) are available online! Visit our website at Woodschurch.org and click on the homepage button that says "View Past Services."



Year-End Giving

Thank you very much for your ongoing participation in the life and worship of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church and for your financial support. These tithes and offerings fund our educational programs and mission outreach, and support the work of our entire pastoral and program staff. Our annual budget is around $2 million per year and we simply couldn’t reach that level of income without the generous help of our congregation.

Over the past months, we have welcomed new staff and new church members, organized special worship services and music concerts, and provided programming and pastoral care to groups of all sizes. While the financial support we have received has been quite generous, we remain mindful that our fiscal year budget projects a deficit that will need to be covered by June 2024. Any extra contribution or support you can provide Woods Church in the next few weeks would be greatly appreciated. Click here to make a contribution.

Please contact Ada Sell (asell@woodschurch.org or 410.647.2550), or Jonathan Davidov at Morgan Stanley (J.N.Davidov@morganstanley.com or 410.736.5324) if you will be making a stock donation to Woods. This will ensure that your gift is posted and acknowledged in a timely manner.

Thank you again for your faithfulness in supporting our church through your financial resources. Your stewardship means a lot and makes a big difference with our ministries!

Youth & Children's Ministries

Come Enjoy Our Christmas Pageant

You’re invited to hear the retelling of Jesus’ birth at our annual Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 24, 3PM & 4 PM. Come join us for the special event!



Continue the Conversation at Home

Let's Continue the Conversation at Home about CHRISTMAS! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson helps us hear the Christmas story in a whole new way...or maybe in an old way. It is like hearing the story for the very first time! The Herdmans are an unlikely troupe to tell the story, but they make it real. There are 7 chapters in this book. You could read one a day between now and next Sunday! Keep the Christmas going by telling the story in your home. Merry Christmas!

Youth News

Youth Programming Winter Break

Youth Group, Middle & High School Sunday School, and Confirmation Class are all taking a short break for Christmas and New Years! Enjoy the holidays with your families, and we will return on Sunday, January 7, at our normal meeting times. Merry Christmas!

Education & Small Groups

New Adult Ed Class

Adult Education is offering a new study on The Difficult Words of Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine, Sundays, January 7–February 11, 11AM. Jesus provided his disciples teachings for how to follow God’s word, parables to help them discern questions of ethics and of human nature, and beatitudes for comfort and encouragement. But sometimes Jesus spoke words that followers—then and now—have found difficult. He instructs disciples to act as if they are slaves, and to sell their possessions and give the money to the poor. Dr. Levine shows how these difficult teachings might be interpreted today.

Books are on the office credenza. Class will meet in the office conference room and on Zoom

Missions News

Winter Relief Sign-Ups

Winter Relief is coming January 22–29, 2024. During this time, our church serves as a shelter for people who are housing insecure. Please sign up to donate a meal or volunteer at the shelter below or going to Fellowship Hall after services on Sundays, January 7 & 14. There are many ways you can show Christ's love to our neighbors in need. We need assistance with meal prep, brown-bag lunch prep, snack donations, evening and overnight chaperoning, driving, and escorting guests to showers at the community center. There are volunteer opportunities for youth and Stephen Ministers, as well.

If you want more information about Winter Relief and how you can help, please contact Scott Wiley at 410.353.1491 or email wilecoy2us@gmail.com.

New SPAN Donation Location

SPAN donations can now be dropped off in the bins outside Zimmerman Hall. Help us help our neighbors! We’re always collecting:

• Canned & Boxed Foods
• Paper Towels
• Laundry Detergent
• Dishwashing Liquid
• Depends
• Bathing Wipes
• Diapers: Sizes 4, 5, & 6

Church Family News

We’re Looking for a Kitchen Coordinator

Woods Church is seeking a kitchen coordinator who will assist with food ordering, preparation, and serving meals for the Child Development Center and church events. This is an hourly, full-time position and the person is eligible for Woods health insurance coverage.

To apply, submit information to John McLaughlin, director of operations, by emailing jmclaughlin@woodschurch.org.



Service for Rev. Dr. Terry Schoener

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection for the Rev. Dr. W. Terry Schoener, Woods Church’s Pastor Emeritus, will be held on Saturday, January 13, 1PM.

Rev. Dr. Schoener was the senior pastor at Woods Church from 1979–2006, and was responsible for the development of many community services, including the Community Center, Sunrise of Severna Park, Woods Counseling and Care Center, and Back Pack Buddies. A significant leader in the Civil Rights movement, he was known for his faithfulness to God’s call, his personal commitment to the church, and his devotion to family.

The service will be followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall.



Prayers for the Family of Jim Roberts

It is with sadness that we inform you of the death of Woods member, James Boswell Roberts. Jim was a member of Woods Church since February 1984.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at Woods Church on Friday, January 5, 1PM, in the Sanctuary. Interment will take place at the Lakemont Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Please keep his wife Laurie, his daughter Pam, and all of their family and friends in your prayers.

Congregational Prayer

Lord, I give thanks for the blessing of this day as we celebrate your coming to us in the Savior born in Bethlehem. I give thanks that you have become one of us, that we may become more like you. May I serve you faithfully, follow you humbly, and sing of your love all the days of my life. In Christ I pray.



Amen.