Messenger | May 8, 2024

This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Service of Wholeness
• Celebrating Pentecost
• Summer Worship Schedule Begins June 9
• New Adult Ed Class: Wrestling with Doubt
• Register for VBS
• Rutter and Friends Spring Concert

Pastor's Message

What a great day we had on Sunday! So many gifts and commitments were presented before God through our pledges and confirmands. Many thanks to all those who devoted time, creativity, and service to pull it all together.

This week, we are on the journey to Pentecost, which we will recognize on May 19. We usually associate the speaking of multiple languages with Pentecost and the fact that, despite cultural differences, everyone could be understood and understand others.

The Holy Spirit was responsible for this apparent miracle, and those present were compelled then to go out into the world carrying and proclaiming the message about Jesus Christ. We are blessed at Woods as a church with the faith and knowledge of Christ that calls us out into the community around us.

As I watched the spiritual energy on Sunday, I realized that we may be already filled with Pentecost celebration and call. Thanks be to God.

Faithfully,

Pastor Nancy

Church News

Service of Wholeness

A Service of Wholeness will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 6:15PM, in the Sanctuary. The service of wholeness is a small, intimate, deeply spiritual gathering of prayer and laying of hands with pastors and Elders. They offer reassurance to those experiencing grief, illness, loss, or other physical/emotional concerns. The service also provides a special time to lift prayers of gratitude to God for blessings received.



Please RSVP if you would like to attend by emailing Maureen Adams at madams@woodschurch.org.

Celebrating Pentecost

Pentecost is Sunday, May 19! Woods will be hosting The Baltimore Presbytery on Thursday, May 16, and our sanctuary will be prepared and decorated for our Pentecost celebration.

Remember that—recalling "tongues of fire" experienced in the New Testament—you are invited to wear something red on Pentecost Sunday! See you then.

Summer Worship Schedule

On Sunday, June 9, we will launch single-service Sundays throughout the summer to Kick-Off Sunday, September 8. It also initiates Second Sunday Fellowship following worship. Please join us in Fellowship Hall for food and special activities hosted by our various ministries—there will be fun for all!

On June 9, to kick off the first of our Second Sunday Fellowships, we will be featuring cotton candy to commemorate our Clouds of Witnesses! Don't miss any of them: June 9, July 14, August 10, and Kick-Off Sunday on September 8!

Education & Small Groups

New Adult Education Class: Wrestling with Doubt

Woods is offering a new Adult Education class on Sundays, May 12 – June 23, 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.

Youth News

Getting Ready for WoodsWork

WoodsWork registration has closed, and we are excited to share that this summer, we are bringing a group of 84 amazing youth on our house-building mission to Roanoke, Virginia.

If you would like to support this summer's WoodsWork, we encourage you to donate directly to a Youth participant, as they are all fundraising towards the trip and will graciously accept your support.

Look for information coming soon about an early June carwash to support the Words Work participants. Please plan to attend!

Children's News

VBS Registration is Open

VBS 2024 will be held July 15–18, 4–7PM, for all children 3-years-old to 5th grade. Come explore how Jesus practices justice, model’s kindness, and walks humbly with God. Children will explore lessons on mercy, compassion, generosity, and encouragement through songs, art, gardening, and story time.

The cost is $50 per child with a maximum of $100 per family. Dinner is included for registrants. Register online using the button below.

Join the VBS Supper Club!

Friends and family are invited to join us for dinner, Bible stories, and fun July 15–18, 6:30PM! Tickets are available on the Children’s Ministry website or by calling the church office.

Continue the Conversation at Home

Let's Continue the Conversation at Home from Sunday morning! Our Sunday School lesson was about how the “last is first!” If you want to be important, then you have to help others. The affirmation of faith that our confirmands wrote tells us that “God is like kindness...” Sophie Beer’s book, Kindness Makes us Strong, tells us lots of ways to be kind. I wonder, how can you be kind? Does being kind make you feel closer to God?

Let’s Pray in May!

Families of all sizes are invited to Pray in May! Children will receive a Pray in May cloud-path. Each day has a prayerful activity or topic. There are biblical citations for those families that want to add a bit of scripture to the practice. Maybe this is a nice breakfast buddy to start your day off? Additional copies are available upon request.

Need Help at Church?

Look for the blue nametags if you need help! Staff, Deacons, Elders and Children’s Ministry Volunteers have blue nametags. Look for the blue nametags if you need directions or if you have questions about our Sunday morning programs. Our volunteers are background checked and ready to help. Additionally, Miss Kat or Miss Frances are our Children’s Ministry staff members. One of them will be in the hallways on Sunday mornings at 10:30AM.

Music News

Rutter and Friends Spring Concert

If you enjoy choral and instrumental music, then join us for our Rutter and Friends Spring Concert on Saturday, June 8, 7PM! The adult choir, SEEK Band, and children’s choir with a full orchestra will present works of John Rutter and composers who influenced him such as Bach, Schubert, Beethoven, and even The Beatles. Rutter’s music is eclectic with influences of French and English choral traditions, and American classical songwriting.

It’s a concert for the ages—and it’s free! Come, be our friend, and enjoy this end-of-the year-concert! For more information, please email Dave Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.

Congregational Prayer

Gracious, we pray for inspiration that calls us to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and for the courage to pursue that call. Let us be filled with your Spirit at this time of Pentecost, so that we might hear your voice clearly and anew.

Amen