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Messenger | February 22, 2023
Messenger | February 22, 2023
This week's release at a glance:
- Pastor’s Message
- Ash Wednesday Services
- CAT Survey Reminder
- New "Into the Words" Mini-Podcast
- New Adult Education Class
- Winter Relief Sign-ups
- Jesus Christ Superstar Tickets
- St. Patrick's Day Dinner
- Disaster Relief for Turkey and Syria
Pastor's Message
Dear friends and family of Woods Church,
Today is the official start of the Lent season as we celebrate Ash Wednesday. It is a wonderful yet paradoxical day on our church calendar. We gather together as a living congregation of Christian believers to be reminded that we are mortal and destined to face the reality of death. We wear nice clothes and wash our faces before coming to church only to be marked with sooty ashes that often remain on us for the rest of the day.
Honestly, there is a reason that the rituals of Ash Wednesday are designed to disrupt our daily routines and move us out of our comfort zones. If your desire is to reflect on the ways your life has not measured up to Christ's example, it is only possible to gain that insight from a position of "unsettledness" and "dis-quiet." To do a prayerful self-inventory and to offer words of contrition, we must first step away from our usual routines and step into a different sacred space—a space of vulnerability, of quiet, and with tangible messy symbols like ashes.
Think for a moment about the actual mark that is imposed on your forehead with the ashes. It is a cross—intersecting vertical and horizontal lines. The religious philosopher G.K. Chesterton wrote these wise words in his book, Orthodoxy:
"The circle is perfect and infinite in its nature, but it is fixed forever in its size. [Once drawn] it can never be larger or smaller. But the cross, though it has at its heart a collision and contradiction, can extend its four arms forever without altering its shape. The circle returns upon itself and is bound. The cross opens its arms to the four winds; it can grow without changing."
The cross contains at its heart a contradiction—a symbol of torture now seen as a mark of spiritual hope; a Savior who was fully human, fully divine; an act long ago that still changes lives today. When you receive the ashes on Ash Wednesday, a closed circle is not drawn on your forehead. You receive a cross, one whose arms can be extended forever and never lose their shape. It's also a promise that extends beyond this life and gives us hope that never dies. So, welcome to Lent!
Christ's peace be with you,
Pastor Randy
Church News
Ash Wednesday Services
Join us on Ash Wednesday, February 22, as we begin our Lenten journey together. Services will be held at 12PM and 7 PM, and will include the imposition of ashes.
Following our 12PM service, you're invited to join us for a soup and bread luncheon in Fellowship Hall.
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.
Click the button below to download a copy, or pick up a printed copy at the church.
Lent Brochure Now Available
A special Lent brochure is now available, which provides information about upcoming Holy Week and Easter services, special church events, and other news from the ministries of Woods Church. Check it out!
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!
New "Into the Words" Mini-Podcast
Keep a look out for a new "Into the Words" mini-podcast with Pastor Randy. The first episode will launch on Facebook and YouTube beginning on Monday, February 27, and will focus on Anne Lamott's book, Traveling Mercies.
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
Ministry Announcements
New Adult Education Class
Beginning this Sunday, our 11AM Sunday Adult Education class will begin a Lenten series focusing on Witness at the Cross: A Beginners Guide to Holy Friday by AJ Levine. Books are available in the office.
Place yourself as a witness of the cross and determine what your own testimony will be! Experience Holy Friday from the perspective of those who watched Jesus die: Mary his mother; the Beloved Disciple; Mary Magdalene and the other women; the two thieves; the centurion and the soldiers; and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Other witnesses were the crowd of Jews and Romans, friends and strangers, the powerful and the powerless, and the hopeful and the despairing.
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.
Raising Funds Tastes Great
Join us at Ledo Pizza for a fundraiser to support Woods Child Development Center on Tuesday, March 7, 11AM–9PM. Bring in the flyer linked below or use the code "Fundraiser" when ordering online.
Ledo Pizza is located at 552 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD 21146.
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.
Woods St. Patrick's Day Dinner is back! Join us at the Severna Park Community Center in the gymnasium on Friday, March 17, 5:30PM, for Irish food, music, and fun! The Crawford Family Celtic Dancers, Irish music and leprechauns will entertain us!
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children (12 and under), $60 max/family.
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).
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. We meet on Thursdays through April 6, 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.
Church Family News
Standing in Solidarity with Those in Crisis in Syria and Turkey
The ministry of pastoral care at Woods Church invites you to come to the sanctuary for personal prayer for those impacted by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. We have placed a printed prayer in the narthex for your use in the sanctuary, or you may simply sit in silence and offer your own prayers.
Amid news of the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey, the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) has reached out to offer assistance to partners in the area, where over 46,000 have died, according to recent reports, and is asking Presbyterians to pray for those impacted by the quake and its aftershocks.
Through a coordinated response by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and World Mission, PMA is in contact with multiple long-term partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) including the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon; the Middle East Council of Churches; the Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue; and the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches.
Financial support can be sent directly to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance at PC(USA). To donate, or for more information, see their website.
"Pray for one another...the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective." (James 5:16)
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"
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