Messenger | June 26, 2024

This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Guess Who's 106 Years Old?!
• Sing with Our Summer Choir
• Stewardship Update
• Tuesday Night Thrive
• Mission Trip to Guatemala
• Aloha from Hawaii!
• What’s Your Superpower?
• Softball: Woods Church vs. St. Andrew’s

Pastor's Message

I continue to be struck by the generous outpouring of love and support that Woods Church offers to the community of Severna Park. This past week, our Sanctuary has been full and spilling over with people, prayers, love, and hope offered to hundreds of people. Thank you all for such compassion and service.

The simple Scripture passage from I John states that "God is love and whoever abides in love abides in God and God abides in them." God's love is something to be known by experience. This is what I see at Woods. Additionally, as visitors attend services of all kinds here, they are witnesses to God's love through us...and they are encouraged to come and abide with us again.

As we continue into these persistent heated days of summer, let us be refreshed by the persistent grace of God.

Grace and Peace,

—Pastor Nancy

Church News

Guess Who's 106 Years Old?!

Charlie Phelps will turn 106 on Thursday, June 27, and is still setting the pace for the Rehabbers at Woods Church. To celebrate, the Rehabbers are throwing him a party. Stop by Room 208 on Thursday, 11AM, to wish Charlie a Happy Birthday!

Charlie also has now joined our Pastoral Care Team and Prayer Shawl Ministry as he prays for individuals, followed by having a special “Charlie Phelps” prayer square delivered to the prayer recipient. Dixie Smith has creatively designed these squares with a hammer that symbolizes building lives with faith and hope.

Sing with Our Summer Choir

Come and sing with us on these summer Sundays: June 30, July 21, July 28, August 18, and September 1. Members of the Adult Choir will meet at 8:45AM in the Sanctuary to rehearse an anthem, and then sing it for worship!

It’s fun, easy, and a great way to lend your voice over the summer! For more information, please email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.



Summer Worship Schedule

Join us for worship on Sundays this summer for a blended service at 9:30AM. This single-service will continue through Kick-Off Sunday, September 8.



Stewardship Update

This Stewardship season, our Clouds of Witnesses have pledged $1,229,855, which represents 80% of our $1,540,000 goal. Thank you so much for your continued support of Woods missions.

If you have not done so already, please make your pledge online at woodschurch.org or fill out a pledge card in the front office.

Tuesday Night Thrive

On Tuesdays, July 9 and August 13, gather with us for a time of praise and prayer followed by food, friends, and fun in Fellowship Hall. Look for more details in the weeks to come.

(Jesus said) “…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”—John 10:10

We're Looking for an Accountant

Woods Church is looking to hire an accountant—someone to maintain the various church funds and accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the church’s Financial Policies & Procedures Manual. This is a benefit eligible, 40-hour per week position. Knowledge of accounting software and Microsoft Office applications required.

If you’re interested in this position, please contact John McLaughlin at 410.647.2550 x335 or jmclaughlin@woodschurch.org.

Mission News

Mission Trip to Guatemala

Join Sher Atkinson on Sunday, July 7, 10:30–11AM, in Founders Room to chat about an exciting mission trip with Baltimore Presbytery to the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA) in Guatemala.

The trip is November 2–9, and focuses on causes of immigration as well as visits to CEDEPCA programs that support women and families, efforts to reduce emigration and domestic violence, and projects to provide sustainable employment in the country.

If you would like more information, email Sher at sheratkinson@earthlink.net or call at 410.647.4824.

Aloha from Hawaii!

Please visit the new art display in the Gallery. This month’s art exhibit is titled, Tropical Summer Love by artist Michelle Nelson Love. Michelle grew up at Woods and was recently married in our sanctuary. Most of her art has been created while living on the beautiful island of Oahu. Aloha from Hawaii!

Education & Small Groups

New Adult Education Class: Wrestling with Doubt

Woods is offering a new Adult Education class on Sundays through June 30, 11AM, in the Office Conference Room and on Zoom, featuring Wrestling with Doubt: Finding Faith, by Pastor Adam Hamilton.

Everyone has doubts. Where is God when bad things happen? Does God hear our prayers? Is there a Heaven? How can we know? Often, we treat such questions as the enemy of faith. But uncertainty doesn’t mean our belief is lacking. Doubt can be a path to a deeper, richer encounter with God.

Study books are available on the office credenza.

Children's News

What is Your Superpower?

Let's celebrate that LOVE is the church's super power.

Join us for fifth Sunday fun on June 30 and come to Jammies & Jesus and/or worship dressed as your favorite superhero!

Continue the Conversation at Home

Let's Continue the Conversation at Home from Sunday. We have been talking about prayer. During the baptism, Pastor Nancy asked us if we would pray for the baby being baptized. We said, "Yes!" We talked about the WoodsWork youth and adults who said a holy "yes" to going to North Carolina and helping to build two houses with Habitat for Humanity. We took leaves, each with a WoodsWork participant's name on them, and we have been praying for them.

Matthew Turner wrote a book, When I Pray for You, that reminds us that when we pray for someone, it is not just for one specific thing. It is a lot of times that we think of someone and lift them up to God. "Cause when I pray for you, I imagine God's view. And pray that all that God sees comes alive inside of you."

Sometimes, prayer is talking with God. Sometimes, prayer is writing a letter or sharing with a friend. All of this is a way of being moved by God's love for us and everyone. Love is what calls us to say the "holy yes" to helping others. Love is what gives us words and actions to pray for others.

I wonder, how will you pray for others this week?

In Our Community

Woods Church vs. St. Andrew's

This week, we’ll take the field against St. Andrew’s at Elvaton #1 on Sunday, June 30, 2PM. If you’d like to play, contact Andrew Wiley at 443.867.8803 or wileyas1@gmail.com.

No experience required! Players must be at least 16 years of age as of December 31, 2023. Play as your schedule permits.

A Moment of Prayer

Lord God, we look to you as author of all good things and give you thanks for giving us more than we can ever imagine. Be with us in days of challenge and days filled with grace. In all days, O God, we ask that your Spirit will embrace and guide us.

In Christ's name, Amen.