Messenger is here!

July 16, 2026

This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Family Summer Choir
• Confirmation Class Sign-ups
• Children’s Ministry Updates
• Softball Game vs. Heritage Church
• Tech Volunteers Needed
• Lost & Found
  

Pastor's Message

When I was in high school, the bane of my summer existence was summer reading. That’s a little ironic, given how much I love to read, but I love being told what to do a lot less than that. And so being ordered to read something, and have to take a test on it when I returned in the fall, turned one of my favorite activities into one of drudgery and obligation. And so I remember reading things like All the King’s Men, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and Animal Farm not with a sense of curiosity and joy, but with scowling resignation instead.

All that is to say that, as summer approaches once more, I have decided to re-invent summer reading for myself. With the demands of the pandemic on top of the normal busyness of church leadership over the past 2+ years, I would have to say that I have neither rested enough nor read enough, and both of those are crucial to leadership in general and pastoral ministry in particular. So, I am in the process of trying to plan my vacation time this summer and to build in a practice of summer reading that will make me feel grateful rather than resentful, as I did in those high school summers.

So: I have decided that, in July and August, I will read at least two books a month. Each month, one of those books will be intentionally related to ministry, and one of those books will be intentionally unrelated to ministry! So for July, I am reading The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans, which I suspect at least some of you have already read! The book centers on a woman who is a retired lawyer living in Annapolis, and it is an “epistolary novel,” meaning that the entire book is the text of letters she writes to various people, though one series of letters are written to an unknown person but remain unsent. My wife Sarah read it recently and loved it, and I was taken both by the premise and by the local setting!

For my ministry book in July, I will be reading a book called MetaChurch: How to Use Digital Ministry to Reach People and Make Disciples by Dave Adamson. Like so many churches, our digital ministry at Woods during the pandemic focused on allowing people to virtually attend worship and other gatherings that they would normally attend in person, and we actually do that quite well. But the much bigger question moving forward is how we can expand and improve our digital ministry so that it is designed specifically for digital users, not just as “the next best thing” to in-person ministry. That is what this book is all about.

In August, I plan to turn to Democracy: A Life, by Paul Cartlidge. This book by a renowned Cambridge historian traces the origins and forms of democracy in ancient Greece, its decline and eventual abandonment by the Romans, and its subsequent revivals and transformations in the modern age. With many questions and controversies about the nature of democracy in the air, this seemed like a timely read. And finally, I will take up some light beach reading (!) in the form of The A.I. Mirror: How to Reclaim our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking, by Shannon Valor. Back in April and May, I was privileged to get invited to the inauguration of the new director of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, NJ, as well as the annual Religion and Foreign Policy Workshop of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. Together, it was a collection of some of the sharpest theological minds in the country, and all of them were wrestling with the rapid rise of A.I. in all aspects of American society. This book came up regularly among the people who were doing so, and explores the implications of how A.I. essentially reflects our own thoughts and data back to us rather than doing actual intelligent thinking. This is not inherently bad (it’s why A.I. is so good at synthesizing and collating data), but it’s important to understand what it does and does not do, and how it’s impacting our own thinking if we misunderstand or misuse it.

What about you? What books are on your summer reading list? What books would you recommend to me or others? I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions as the summer unfolds; happy reading!

Peace and blessings,

—Pastor JC

Church News

Family Summer Choir

Are you around over the summer and interested in singing, then come on by and sing with us! The Family Summer Choir will be singing on Sundays, July 26, August 16, and September 6. We will meet at 8:45AM in the Sanctuary Choir Loft and learn the piece that morning. Not to worry all, the tunes are recognizable, and a quick learn!

If you have any questions, please email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org. Looking forward to hearing you sing!

Support Our Bagel Ministry

Looking for a way to honor, celebrate and/or remember a family member, friend, or special event? Consider sponsoring bagels following our worship services on Sunday mornings! The cost is $100.

For more information, contact Kathie Hamlett at khamlett@woodschurch.org.

Youth News

Children's News

Summer Sunday School is Doing a New Thing!

Join us for immersive Bible story experiences each Sunday this summer!

• July 19 – Computers & Games
• July 26 – Surprise! Wear a Super Hero costume!
• August 2 – Story & Stretch (wear comfy clothes)
• August 9 – Music & Arts (three volunteers needed)
• August 16 – Traditional Sunday School class led by Ms. Marsha and Ms. Gale
• August 23 – Outdoor Play
• August 30 – Computers & Games
• September 6 – Labor Day Weekend Story & Stretch (wear comfy clothes)

Education & Small Groups

Weekly Bible Study

Lead Pastor JC Austin and our Interim Pastoral Associate Sarah Wilson 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.

In Our Community

Woods Softball Game vs. Heritage Church

This Sunday, July 19, 2PM, Woods Church takes the field against Heritage Church at Elvaton #1.

No experience is required and you already made the team! You must bring a smile, and be at least 16 years of age by December 31. No full-time commitment is necessary.

If you are thinking… “There’s no way I can participate... I am way out of shape...” then don't worry, you’ll fit right in! Although the GSPCCSL may sound super legit, it’s actually just a bunch of post-prime athletes working to stay young. You’ll have fun!

Interested? Contact Andrew Wiley at 443.867.8803 or wileyas1@gmail.com.

Church Family News

Tech Volunteers Needed

Easy to learn! We’re currently looking for volunteers to help with running slides and cameras during our worship services. This would be a great opportunity to support our church behind the scenes and/or pick up a new skill or two!

If you’re interested in helping or have any questions, email Eric Willner at ewillner@woodschurch.org.

Lost & Found

Please check the Church Office’s Lost & Found for items that you are missing. Items will sit on the counter for one week and then will be housed in the sliding cabinet under the staff mailboxes. The collection will be donated at the turn of the next season, so please check the cabinet if you are missing something!

Water bottles, jewelry, and eyeglasses often turn up—have faith!