Messenger | February 15, 2023

This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• CAT Survey
• Service of Wholeneeeess
• Disaster Relief for Turkey and Syria
  

Pastor's Message

Dear friends and family of Woods Church,

We are fast approaching the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is February 22nd; I'll talk more about that day in next week's Messenger. But let's spend a moment or two thinking about this season in which we prepare our hearts for the good news of Easter resurrection.

We're all taught that Lent is a time of 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. If we're being honest, the church hasn't always celebrated it for 40 days and the rules about fasting during Lent have ebbed and flowed over the centuries. The broad idea is that Lent is a time for penance and reflection—to abstain from frivolous things, to strive to do more good deeds, and to remember that in life and in death we belong to God. For Presbyterians, Lent is a helpful time to think of Jesus' death on the cross and the world's brokenness he sought to repair through his sacrifice.

Too often we think about Lent in negative terms—as a time for us to give up something. The common Protestant reaction is to counter that Lent is actually a positive season—a time to commit to doing something extra, good, and generous. But Lent (like faith itself) is never just about "pluses" and "minuses." Let me share a poem by Presbyterian poet Ann Weems that re-frames how we should understand this season.

Lent is a time to take the time to let the power of our faith story take hold of us,

A time to let the events get up and walk around in us,

a time to intensify our living unto Christ,

a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts,

a time to place our feet in the streets of Jerusalem or to walk along the sea or touch his robe and feel the healing surge through us,

a time to ponder and a time to wonder...

Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God.

—Ann Weems "Lent", from Kneeling in Jerusalem

In the coming weeks, let the Bible events "get up and walk around in you." Let them take hold of you, hover nearby, and become part of your daily vocabulary for the days ahead. Lent is not something you do; Lent is something we are, as we savor each year a "fresh new taste of God."

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Randy

Church News

CAT Survey

As part of our interim time Mission Study, the Woods congregation is requested to take an online Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT) Survey. This will provide important information as the church leadership names priorities for the coming months and qualities we hope to find in any called pastors.

You can read a letter from Pastor Randy and take the survey by clicking on the buttons below.

Thank you for helping shape our church's future!

Hooray...the Woods Library is Open!

Come see all the wonderful new books that have been added while we have been closed! We bought nonfiction—including other books by Gary Chapman, the author of Five Love Languages; the new book by Adam Hamilton called Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws; and copies of 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying: How to Nurture What Really Matters; plus Breathing Under Water. just to name a few.



I just finished A Passionate Hope by Jill Eileen Smith, a historical novel about Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, who share a deep and abiding love, for each other, for their God, and for his tabernacle at Shiloh. Greatly disturbed by the corruption of the priests, they long for restoration and pray for a deliverer. As years pass, Hannah remains barren. Pressured by his family to take another wife, Elkanah marries Peninnah, who quickly begins to bear children. Hannah struggles with the question of why God remains silent and indifferent to her pleas for a child.

The library has other novels about women of the Bible, including The Prophetess: Deborah’s Story, Redeeming Grace: Ruth’s Story, The Shepherd’s Wife, Daughter of Cana, and A Lineage of Grace.

And there are plenty of offerings for adults, teens, and children! The library is always open, and the directions for checking items out is on the door and the yellow bins on the cart.

—Barbara Gosnell, Church Librarian

Service of Wholeness Wednesday, February 15, 6:45PM, in the Sanctuary

Services of Wholeness with pastors and elders are small, intimate, deeply spiritual gatherings of prayer and the laying on of hands. They offer reassurance to those experiencing grief, illness, loss, or other physical/emotional concerns. The services also provide a special time to lift prayers of gratitude to God for blessings received.

Please email Maureen Adams to RSVP for our next wholeness service.

Ministry Announcements

Lent Devotion Booklet

Read and consider ways of intentionally focusing on your faith at home. Whether it is a special place for prayer and play, or an activity to engage with the holy you will find various ways of being with God and each other in our Lent Devotion Booklet. Several children of Woods Church are featured on the pages. We pray you will find several new ways of listening for God’s directions through the season of Lent.

The booklet (both in printed and online form) will be available as of February 21.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

The Children's and Youth Ministries invite you to enjoy a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper as we prepare for Lent. Join us on Tuesday, February 21, 5:30–7:30PM, in Fellowship Hall.

Disaster Assistance to Wilmington, North Carolina, April 23–29

"But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith." (James 2:18)

In September 2022, Hurricane Ian brought heavy rain and flooding to New Bern and Wilmington, North Carolina...and then Nicole hit in November. And believe it or not, there are still "finish repairs" needed to rectify the significant damage from the 2018 Hurricane Florence.

Thus, the Woods Disaster Assistance effort will again focus in New Bern while staying at Neuse Forest Presbyterian Church. But we need more volunteers. No experience necessary! Currently, we only have 7 volunteers...and we really are looking for 7 more. Depart by car after church on Sunday, April 23, and return either Friday, April 28 (after work) or the morning of Saturday, April 29.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the 2023 PDA trip, please contact Dick Moore at irpmoore@verizon.net!

Youth Ministry Announcement

Starting on February 19, we will be gathering bi-weekly in Fellowship Hall for Youth Group for both sets of students and their friends from 5:30–7PM.

For more information contact Pastor Randy or the church office.

Upcoming Youth Trips

Visit our church website (WoodsChurch.org) and register for the upcoming Middle School Tubing trip (February 25) or for the High School Overnight Ski Trip (February 24–26). Registration and deposit are needed soon so plans can be finalized.

Also, our website has the registration form for those older youth interested in our Summer 2023 WoodsWork trip to Hartsville, SC (June 22–30).

Kat’s Corner: Update from Children’s Ministry

Will you BEE ready this Summer? VBS is going to BEE amazing. Monday–Thursday, June 26–29, 4–7 pm, children in Pre-K through 5th grade will BEE learning about God’s love! Start the buzz now! Registration begins in March. The registration fee will include dinner.

How will you BEE part of this event? Tell a story! Play a game! Take a hike! Play along!



VBEES is the best! Mark your calendars and tell your friends.

–Kat Green, Director of Children’s Ministry

Winter Relief

Winter Relief is coming Monday, March 13, through Monday, March 20. Sign-ups will start this Sunday, February 12. You will be able to sign up to help after each Service or online in Signup Genius. 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 wilecoy2us@gmail.com.

Supplies are Needed for the Winter Relief Shelter Guests

The Winter Relief Shelter at Woods is in need of various supplies. Please donate NEW travel size toiletries: deodorant, soap, shampoo, and brushes/combs (conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrushes are not needed this year). The shelter is also in need of men’s and women’s underwear and T-Shirts of various sizes and socks, both dark and white. The items can be dropped off at the church office marked "Scott Wiley/Winter Relief."



Upcoming Events

Jesus Christ Superstar

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church presents Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice's rock opera tracing the last seven days of the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of contemporary, modern storytellers. Come and experience legendary hit music and dynamic choreography as performed by local musical theater talents. The production includes flashing lights and loud noises, and may not be suitable for young children. Tickets are $15, doors open at 7PM.

Performance Schedule

Friday, March 24 | 7:30–10PM

Saturday, March 25 | 7:30–10PM

Sunday, March 26 | 7:30–10PM

Friday, March 31 | 7:30–10PM

Saturday, April 1 | 7:30–10PM

Sunday, April 2 | 7:30–10PM

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.woodstix.org. Click here to learn more about how Woods will be presenting the show.

St. Patrick's Day Dinner

The Deacons at Woods are bringing back our St. Patrick’s Day dinner! This event will take place on St. Patrick's Day, Friday, March 17, 5:30–7:30PM at the Severna Park Community Center! Dinner and Entertainment included! Keep an eye out for more information.

Coming Soon to the Woods
Counseling & Care Center

Caregivers Support Group

If you are a caregiver to a family member or friend, this group provides an opportunity to share experiences with those in similar situations. Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month during 2023, 1–2:30PM, in the large group room of the Woods Counseling & Care Center (8 Cypress Creek Road).

The group will begin on Wednesday, February 8. Meetings will be facilitated by Teri Hocking and Jean Clarke, both long-time educators and facilitators of groups for youth and adults. To register, email Nancy Sullivan at nsullivan@woodschurch.org.

Seven Lessons for the Living

This is a seven-week seminar for those interested in nourishing their spirituality and addressing what really matters in life. In-person meetings will begin on Thursday, February 23, 4–5:30PM, at the Woods Counseling & Care Center. The seminar also will be offered on Zoom, date and time TBD.

Discussion will center on the book, 7 Lessons for the Living from the Dying, by hospice physician Dr. Karen Wyatt. To register, contact Bill Hocking at billhocking100@comcast.net or Nancy Sullivan at nsullivan@woodschurch.org.

It is with sadness that we inform you of the death of Marion Miller. Marion has been a member of Woods Church since 2009.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be announced soon.

Please keep Marion's husband, Stuart Miller, and daughter's Mary Beth Dearing and Carrie Hilliard, and all of their family and friends in your prayers.

Congregational Prayer

O God, help us in our lives and all our attitudes to work out this force of love, this controlling power that can solve every problem that we confront in all areas. Oh, we talk about politics; we talk about the problems facing our (modern) civilization. Grant that all people will come together and discover that we can solve the problems before us - the international problems, the nuclear problems, and yes, even the race problems. Let us join together in a great fellowship of love and bow down at the feet of Jesus. Give us this strong determination. In the name and spirit of this Christ, we pray. Amen.

Prayer by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., November 17, 1957, after a sermon on "Loving Your Enemies"