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December 31, 2025

 This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• A Message from Pastor Nancy
• Church Hours This Week
• Medical Professional Volunteers Needed
• Sunday Fellowship Help Wanted
• Middle School Tubing Trip
• High School Ski Trip
• Save the Date for WoodsWork 2026
• New Adult Ed Series
• Weekly Bible Study
• Urgent Food Drive for SPAN
• Mission Trip to Guatemala
• Prayers for the Family of Robert R. Smith, III
• Prayers for the Family of Dennis Rohrback

Pastor's Message

Well, it’s that time of year again: with the new year comes the discussion of new year’s resolutions. And the most popular resolutions never seem to change: lose weight, eat healthier, exercise more, stop smoking, etc. Now, there’s nothing wrong with making resolutions, nor is there anything particularly hard about it. The challenge, of course, is keeping New Year’s resolutions, not making them. And there are two big reasons for that. The first is that the most common New Year’s resolutions tend to be about changing something that we think is wrong about us. So there’s an inherently negative frame around most of our resolutions, and they often come with the extra baggage of guilt, shame, and inadequacy, which makes it much harder to get motivated.

The second reason that New Year’s resolutions fail is related: they tend to be about stopping something that we think is a bad habit. Again, changing bad habits can be good, but there’s actually significant research on human behavior that says we can’t simply stop a bad habit; if we want to change our behavior, we have to replace a bad habit with a good one. And to do that, we can’t simply decide on a different direction, like a one-time pull on a lever to switch from one set of rails to another. No, we have to come up with an alternative set of practices that we use over time to build a new habit, practices that aren’t simply stopping something negative, but doing something positive. To practice something means to do something well over and over again over a long period; that’s how you get better at it, whether it’s another language, a musical instrument, or anything else along those lines.

It’s true of faith, as well. We often talk of “faith” as something we have, specifically a set of beliefs. But while belief is an important part of faith, they’re not the same thing. We don’t simply have faith, we practice it; we follow the practices of faith as a means of living it out well over a long period of time. Those practices include things like worship, Bible study, prayer, serving and caring for others, and much more. This first Sunday of 2026, we will be gathering as usual for the practice of worship, and that will include Communion, which is our practice as a congregation for the first Sunday of every month. So that is a great way to begin a good practice of faith this year. But I encourage you to consider what practices of faith you want to adopt in the coming year, as well; not as resolutions to change something wrong, but as practices to embrace something good as you dwell more deeply in God’s presence and purpose for you and for us as a congregation.

Happy New Year!

—Pastor JC

A Message from Pastor Nancy

As most of you already know, I will be retiring from my position as Associate Pastor at Woods in February, 2026, I want to notify you officially of the plan. My last Sunday will be February 8 and will mark 23 years of pastoral joy in ministry with you all.

I will be returning to full-time practice in psychotherapy and pastoral counseling which is where I started out before coming to Woods. I was ordained to my residency by the PC(USA) to that work back in 1983! I also look forward to devoting time to my writing and am grateful for the inspirations that I have received from having been at Woods.

More information and updates will be forthcoming I am sure, but I wanted to give you a definitive timeline and thank you for your amazing support over these years.

Peace and blessings,

—Pastor Nancy

Church News

Church Hours This Week

As a reminder, Woods Church will be closed on New Year's Day, January 1. The building will be open on Friday, January 2, until 4:30 PM.

We also will have one service on Sunday, January 4, 9:30AM.

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.

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

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

More Than Time: Measuring Days in Wisdom

“Teach us O’ Lord to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12

NOT a class about time management, NOT a class about New Year’s Resolutions...

• What is a “heart of wisdom?”
• What is the role and purpose of time in God’s creation?
• The difference between a busier life & a better life
• How does a person measure their life?

Led by David Lohff, whose eclectic journey as a pastor, hospice chaplain, business owner, and fitness instructor may be helpful to point out scenery as we observe life together.

Join us on Sundays, January 11–February 19, 11AM, in Room 208 and on Zoom.

Weekly Bible Study

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.

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.

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.

Church Family News

Prayers for the Family of Robert R. Smith, III

It is with sadness that we share the death of Woods member, Robert R. Smith, III. Bob has been a member of Woods Church since June, 1994, and served as a Deacon.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be announced at a later date.

Please keep Bob’s wife, Dixie, and all of his family and friends in your prayers.

Prayers for the Family of Dennis Rohrback

It is with sadness that we share the death of Woods member, Dennis Rohrback. Dennis has been a member of Woods Church since October, 2015.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will held at Kirkly-Ruddick Funeral Home in Glen Burnie on January 3, 11AM. A graveside burial will follow.

Please keep Dennis’ family and friends in your prayers.

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.