Messenger | March 19, 2025

 This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Service of Wholeness
• Lenten Reflection Series
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• SPAN is Celebrating 35 Years
• Lenten Study: Remember
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer Series
• WoodsWork 2025
• Get Ready for VBS!
• Fifth Sunday Funday
  

Pastor's Message

During the recent national election cycle, I wrote a pastoral letter to the congregation before the actual election took place. In that letter, I named three things that we would lean into as a congregation regardless of the results:

• We will lean into Woods’ identity as a congregation that is characterized by mutual care and love for one another and for our neighbors.
• We will lean into Woods’ identity as a congregation that confronts the hard questions of our faith and our world without fear or division.
• We will lean into Woods’ identity as a congregation that places its faith and hope in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In another words, we will engage this new season through the lens of being Christians concerned about the world, which God loved enough to send God’s only Son to it, not as politically engaged Americans who happen to be Christian.

With that in mind, I want to announce that we will be having a Congregational Conversation on what it means to be Christian in a time of chaos on Tuesday, April 8, 6PM.

Over the past six weeks or so, more and more of you have been seeking out one of the pastors or members of staff to express your deep concerns about the state of affairs in our nation, particularly around the impact of DOGE’s work on the members of the U.S. Civil Service and the work of their departments and agencies, and the departure from long-established democratic norms for policy and process in the three branches of our government.

For many of you, as you have repeatedly expressed to us, this is a pastoral crisis, not simply a political one. The common threads of emotions have been some combination of anxiety, anger, exhaustion, despair, and especially fear, including among those who voted for the current President. As one of you said to me this past week, “the world isn’t ending, but the world I’ve always known seems like it might be ending, and that’s almost worse.” Theologically, I had to agree; as I often say, if Jesus came back tomorrow, that would solve a whole lot of problems! But in the absence of that, the underlying question for many of you has been, in effect: “What does it mean to be a faithful follower of Jesus when so many of the pillars of the world as we have known it are crumbling?”

Next October, I will have been ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament for 25 years, and I can state unequivocally that I have never experienced a time of greater collective pastoral trauma than the one in which we find ourselves now, and that includes not only the COVID-19 pandemic, but my being a pastor in and after 9/11 in a congregation located in the ZIP Code with the most deaths in all of New York City. With that in mind, I can also say unequivocally that the good news is this: Not only has the Christian faith survived countless scenarios of political / social / economic turmoil, but it has often been at its most vibrant and faithful under such circumstances. Determining what that means for us, here and now, is the challenge that we did not seek and do not want but which is before us nonetheless.

One of the bedrock principles of Presbyterianism is that the will of God is discerned most accurately and faithfully in community, where we are less likely to confuse our will with God’s because of having a diversity of perspectives. To that end, we are convening this pastoral conversation on April 8 as an important next step; not the first step, and certainly not the last step, but definitely the next step in wrestling with the question of what it means to be a faithful disciple in this season. I hope that you will make being part of this conversation on April 8 a priority. In the meantime, please keep our nation, our governmental leaders, our congregation, and our neighbors in your constant prayers.

Peace and blessings,

—Pastor J.C.

Church News

Service of Wholeness

Woods will host a Service of Wholeness on Wednesday, March 19, 6:15PM. 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 RSVP to Maureen Adams at 410.647.2550 or madams@woodschurch.org.

New Lenten Reflection Series

As we strive for community in times of chaos we turn to biblical reflection and meditation. During Lent, join us for our Lenten Reflective Series: Finding Community in Chaos, to gather together focused on these Lenten themes.

Community Gathers for Understanding

Thursday, March 20, 6PM, in the Founders Room

Come to the Table

Thursday, March 27, 6PM, in the Founders Room

The Lost are Found

Thursday, April 3, 6PM, in the Founders Room

Community Reflections

Tuesday, April 8, 6PM, in the Sanctuary

Let’s Raise Some Dough

Grab a slice! On Thursday, March 20, 4–9PM, part of the proceeds collected at Squisito's Pizza in the Magothy Gateway shops (147 Ritchie Hwy E, next to Harris Teeter) will support our Music Ministry! Please mention the “Wood Church Music Fundraiser” when placing your order.

For more information, email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Tickets on Sale Now

Woods Church will present The Hunchback of Notre Dame the weekends of March 28–30 & April 4–6.

What makes a monster and what makes a man? Step into the heart of Paris and experience the powerful tale of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This evocative musical, inspired by Victor Hugo’s classic novel and the acclaimed Disney animated film, brings to life the story of love, acceptance, and heroism set against the backdrop of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. Join us as we follow Quasimodo, the gentle bell-ringer of Notre Dame, and his journey to find acceptance and love in a world that shuns him. Alongside the courageous Esmeralda and the conflicted Claude Frollo, the story unfolds with themes of compassion, justice, the resilience of the human spirit, and finding your sanctuary.

Purchase tickets at www.woodstix.org. Questions? Email Pam Ward at pward@woodschurch.org.

Parents & Caregivers: Start Your Engines

On the way to Sunday School pick up during Lent, stop by the bench by the joke buttons at 10:30AM for a quick “3-Point Pit Stop! “Hear what the story of the week is and get three talking points to use throughout your week to Walk With Others.

Walk with Others Weaving Station

How are you walking with others, accompanying others, this Lenten season? Add a prayer, a ribbon, or a found object to the Weaving Station near Fellowship Hall. Weave our worship and our words and our walk together during Lent.

Mission News

SPAN is Celebrating 35 Years

Come celebrate SPAN’s 35th anniversary Birthday Fest on Saturday, April 5, 12–4PM, at Severna Park United Methodist Church on Benfield Rd. There will be live music, food trucks, ice cream, lawn games, prizes, and fun! There will be more information at our Missions table following the 9:30AM service on Sundays, March 23 & 25.

For more information on how you can help, visit spanhelps.org or email spanhelps@yahoo.com.

Education & Small Groups

New Lenten Study: Remember

Adult Education is offering a Lenten study on Sundays through April 13, 11AM, featuring Remember by Rev. Susan Robb.

God’s covenants throughout the Old Testament show the character of God’s promises to the people of Israel. Rev. Robb discusses the covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, followed by the new covenant established during the Last Supper. The Lenten story culminates with a look at the cross as another example of God’s promise for a new world.

Join us in the Office Conference Room or on Zoom.

New Adult Class on Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Please join Adult Education for a six-part series, Sunday through –April 13, on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The twentieth century produced many interesting and provocative theologians. Among the most influential is Dietrich Bonhoeffer of Germany. He lived concurrently with Adolf Hitler and was among Hitler's most insistent critics. He was imprisoned in January 1943 and hanged on April 8, 1945. In 1937 he wrote his most famous book, Discipleship, which has two central themes: Grace and Obedience.

Please join us as we take a look at this remarkable man and his understanding of theology. Classes will be led by Greg Hubert and held in Room 208 from 11AM–12PM. No registration is required.

Pastors’ Bible Study

Lead Pastor J.C. Austin and Associate Pastor Nancy Lincoln Reynolds offer a weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays, 12PM, 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.

Youth News

WoodsWork 2025

WoodsWork 2025 is headed to Nelsonville, Ohio, this summer and all high school youth are invited! This house-building mission trip will be June 19–27, and registration is open now! Click the button below to sign up! For more information, download the flier!



Children's News

Get Ready for VBS!

Register today for Vacation Bible Study! This year’s program will be held July 14–17, 4–7PM, with dinner at 6:30PM.

Fifth Sunday Funday

The Mom Strong Group invites you to show your colors on our fifth Sunday in March. On March 30, will have a “Spring Sports Theme!” Children are invited to come to church dressed in the recreational best—dressed for their past-time of choice. How fun! Whether it is baseball, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball, equestrian...you get the picture. Uniforms or team colors are encouraged.

Let’s get to know each other a little better by seeing what we do for fun outside of church. We’ll save you a seat!

Church Family News

Support Our Bagel Ministry

In the 2025 new year, please consider supporting the Woods Bagel Ministry. The ministry offers bagels every Sunday after each service. You can honor or celebrate a person or special occasion of your choice. It is supported through your generosity and donations are $100. Your financial gift allows us to welcome all into fellowship.

To request a date, please email Kathie Hamlett at khamlett@woodschurch.org or stop by after worship on any Sunday.



"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."—Matthew 18:20

A Moment of Prayer

Loving and all present God, we are thankful that you see the big picture of our world and our lives. We know that you have plans for each one of us and we pray that we may know them and follow faithfully where you lead us. Let us reflect your love in Christ in all that we are and all that we do.

Amen.