Messenger is here!

December 3, 2025

 This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Woods Christmas Concert, December 6
• Come Christmas Caroling
• Blue Christmas Service
• Winter Daydreams Piano Concert
• Browse Our Advent Brochure
• Poinsettia Orders
• Browse Our Alternative Gift Guide
• Woods Church Crosses are Available
• Watch for Email Scammers
• Medical Professional Volunteers Needed
• Bound for Bethlehem: An Advent Journey
• Save the Date for WoodsWork 2026
• Christmas Club
• Urgent Food Drive for SPAN
• Mission Trip to Guatemala
  

Pastor's Message

As we journey deeper into Advent, I’ve been thinking about the fact that, in the next few weeks, we will have an increased number of people coming to worship with us either for the first time ever or the first time in a long time. This is an opportunity for us to welcome them not only to worship, but to Woods Church as a community. Now, “welcoming” someone is very different from “warm” or “friendly.” Hopefully, welcoming includes both of those things, too, but it is much more than that. It is possible to be warm or even friendly to someone while not connecting with them in any way: a friendly “hello” in passing, for example. But to welcome someone is to engage them directly as a person, proactively reaching out to them and helping them to feel at home in this community of faith, which is the first step in a ministry of hospitality, one of the oldest and most basic Christian ministries. The gospels and the book of Acts are full of stories in which Jesus and/or his followers receive hospitality in ways that are transforming for the hosts themselves, and offer hospitality in ways that open the way for others to experience a transformative encounter with Christ. And the really good news is, there are just two easy steps in doing this!

First, when you first come into worship or especially Fellowship Hall after the service, look around you to see who you do not know. And when you find someone, talk to them, even before you talk to your friends! If you’re sitting right next to them, you can introduce yourself. When you do, though, don’t ask, “are you new here?” If they are, it can communicate that you think they look out of place, and if they are not, it can make people feel unseen or create an awkward situation (“no, I’ve been a part of this church since 1975!”). Instead, simply ask: “how long have you been part of Woods?” Then, whether they say “50 years” or “this is my first time,” you have a gracious way to begin a conversation. If they are new, a good follow up is, “what brought you here today?” That will give you a sense of what their interest and motives are, and you can respond with relevant parts of your own story or what you know about the church’s ministry in their areas of interest.

Second, if they are new, try to introduce them to someone else before you leave them. It might be a friend standing nearby, or someone who’s active in their area of interest, or simply one of the pastors. That helps them to have a larger sense of the congregation AND a sense that this is a welcoming congregation, not just one welcoming person.

So: I look forward to being with you in worship this coming Second Sunday of Advent, and I am grateful to be with you in this ministry of hospitality as a church that is truly welcoming!

Peace and blessings,

—Pastor JC

Church News

Woods Christmas Concert

On Sunday, December 6, 7PM, in the Sanctuary join us a for Storybook Christmas Concert, Wonder and Glory! The concert will include the Adult Choir, Praise Band, SEEK Band, Children’s Choir, Woods Dancers, Elysian Dance Theater, guest musicians, and members of our Woods family telling the stories of their Christmas treasures. We will sing popular Christmas Carols and enjoy in the sounds and the music of Christmas! It’s a Christmas chapter not to be missed!

The concert is free, but registration is required at www.woodstix.org. Please email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org with any questions.

Come Christmas Caroling

Get into the holiday spirit by joining the Deacons on Sunday, December 14, 2PM, for Christmas Caroling. We will visit our homebound friends and bring some Christmas cheer through music. Meet on the church steps and we will organize into groups. Carolers will enjoy cookies and cocoa in Fellowship Hall following caroling. For more information, please contact Kathy Lohff at kathylohff@msn.com.

Winter Daydreams Piano Concert

On Saturday, December 13, 2PM, in the Woods Sanctuary, join Woods pianist/organist Jung-hoon Park for his concert, Winter Daydreams: From Bach’s Solitude to Tchaikovsky’s Snow Silhouette. This concert is free and no registration is required. A love offering will be collected to support the Woods Music Ministry.

For questions, please email David Merrill dmerrill!@woodschurch.org.

Browse Our Advent Brochure

Woods Church is pleased to present this year’s Advent Brochure, highlighting all the special events and opportunities to celebrate the season together. We invite you to explore, participate, and experience the joy and hope of Advent at Woods. Click here to download a copy. Enjoy!

Browse Our Alternative Gift Guide

Make a gift donation to a Woods’ partner organization. Receive a Christmas card to give as a gift to a friend or loved one and change a life. Alternative Gift Catalogs are available in Fellowship Hall or at woodschurch.org.

For those making online donations, your gift cards can be picked up on Sundays or in the church office. Gift donations will be taken until December 21.

Consider purchasing a product from one of our many mission Partners!

• Cuba Partnership – December 7, 14, and 21
• Annapolis Immigration Justice Network (AIJN) – December 7
• Hon’s Honey – December 7 and 21
  

Remember a Loved One with a Poinsettia this Holiday Season

Each Christmas, Woods’ Sanctuary is beautifully decorated with poinsettias donated by members and friends in honor or memory of loved ones. If you would like to contribute, the suggested donation is $30 per plant. Donations can be made at woodschurch.org or in person in Fellowship Hall on December 7 and 14. Poinsettias will be available to take home on Sunday, December 28. Help share the beauty and joy of the season through this meaningful tradition.

Woods Church Crosses are Available

Both small and large, gold and silver crosses will be sold in the Fellowship Hall between services (10:30–11AM) on November 30 and December 14, or you can come to the church office Monday–Friday 9AM–4PM. These crosses are replicas of the forged iron cross hanging in our Sanctuary. Any questions, contact Liz Pringle at 410.647.8914.

Winter Relief

Winter Relief is coming January 19–26. Sign-ups start on Sunday, December 14, 9AM. You will be able to sign up to help after each service in Fellowship Hall or online in Sign-Up-Genius on the Church website. Sign-ups will continue live until we start. There are opportunities for meal prep, brown bag lunch prep, evening and overnight chaperones, drivers, shower escorts, Stephens Ministers, laundry support, youth volunteers, and snack donations. Please help us help the homeless!

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.

Thank you for helping with this important Mission.

Watch for Email Scammers

Alert! Emails from scammers have been circulating through church member emails, as well as Woods staff. Most times, these emails look very legitimate.

Woods will never email you asking for gift cards, Amazon orders, or money. All emails from Woods Church end in “.org” (not “.com”).



Please use caution and always call the church for verification at 410.647.2550.

Medical Professional Volunteers Needed

Woods is looking for members who are either physicians, physician's assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, anyone in the medical field, who would be willing to note their presence in a particular worship service or church event (musical production, etc.)—in the event there is a medical emergency—and would be able to help assist until the EMTs arrive.

A notebook and sign will be placed in the Narthex just outside the Sanctuary (to be monitored by the head usher) for the above person(s) to note their name, cell phone number, and presence in the service or particular event being held in the Sanctuary.

Email Jason Jackson at jjackson@woodschurch.org for more information.

Youth News

Save the Date for WoodsWork 2026

WoodsWork 2026 will be held June 22–30. We are still finalizing our location, but we are hoping to open registration by the end of the year! Download the flyer for more details.

Children's News

Christmas Club

During Advent, the children and friends of Woods Church are invited to journey towards the manger of Christmas morning with Christmas Club. We will journey together through Advent learning about the different ways Christians prepare and celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Do you need a little extra “merry” in your holidays this year? How about an extra moment of fun and friendship? Join a group of friends who like to read, craft, and play games? Then, Christmas Club is for you! Sunday nights in December, 5–6:30PM, includes a potluck summer. Contact Kat Green for more information.

PART Book Club, PART Christmas Party, PART Craft Club, ALL FUN!

Between now and November 30, the Children's Ministry and our Sunday School leadership team would appreciate your donation of four- or two-hole sew-through buttons.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make the season bright with the story of the first promises of “Faith, Hope, Love, and Joy.”

Everyone is Welcome in Worship at Woods

Sometimes little ears are sensory sensitive. Therefore, the Children’s Ministry has noise dampening headphones available on Sunday mornings. See Kat or Lindsey to sign out a set of headphones. Return them after the service. The headphones are cleaned after each use and ear guards will be changed.

This is one way that Woods Church works to be inclusive of all from the tall to the small!

Education & Small Groups

Bound for Bethlehem: An Advent Journey

Mary and Joseph lived in a world riddled with political division and fear. Their journey was a fulfillment of prophecy and a representation of hope for humanity.

During Advent, join us for an adult education class and potluck supper on Sundays through December 21, 5–6:30PM, in Founders Room. Led by Kathy Lohff, we will follow Mary and Joseph on their journey and spiritual pilgrimage to Bethlehem.

A special program for kids will be provided by the Children’s Ministry.

Pastors’ Bible Study Resumes Next Wednesday

Please note, there will be no Pastors’ Bible Study this Wednesday, November 26. Our regular schedule will resume on December 3.

Lead Pastor JC Austin and Associate Pastor Nancy Lincoln Reynolds offer a weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays, 11AM, 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.

Music News

Open Dance Classes

In order to bring our community together in a fun and movement-based way, join our Worship Ministry for a series of dance classes this fall! Professional teachers are set to offer a variety of dance styles including jazz, musical theater, contemporary, tap, yoga, and more!

Open to anyone ages 12 and over in and outside the Woods community. All experience levels are welcome, though classes will be taught at an intermediate level with options for beginners and advanced students.

We meet on Sundays, 2–3:15PM, in Fellowship Hall. For more information email Alyssa Barlis at alyssabarlis@gmail.com.

Mission News

Urgent November Food Drive for SPAN

Did you know 1 in 9 Marylanders may no longer receive SNAP benefits due to impending stoppage of federal food aid? This will have an immediate effect on food requests above and beyond our typical needs.

Please donate canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, beans, pasta, rice, instant potatoes, broth, bouillon, canned fruit, laundry detergent, dish soap, deodorant, and toothpaste. Place donations in SPAN bins behind the Welcome Desk in the Church lobby.

Mission Trip to Guatemala

The Baltimore Presbytery Guatemala Partnership Spring Mission Trip—in collaboration with the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPA)—will take place March 14–20, 2026.

Find out more about CEDEPA and the upcoming trip on Sunday, December 7, 10:30AM, in Room 212.

The cost is approximately $2,200. Adult and youth scholarships are available. The deadline to sign up is December 31, 2025.

The CEDEPA is an ecumenical educational organization headquartered in Guatemala that works to transform lives in Central America. They have four areas of focus: Biblical and Theological Training, Women’s Ministry, Disaster Ministry, and Intercultural Encounter.

For more information, contact Michelle Wallen at mwallen@baltimorepresbytery.org or visit BaltimorePresbytery.org.