Messenger | October 23, 2024

 This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Reformation Sunday, October 27
• Advent & Christmas Art Exhibit
• Woods Church Holiday Bazaar
• Nominating Committee Invitation
• All Hallows’ Eve Organ Concert

Pastor's Message

Friends, as we mentioned in the announcements in worship last Sunday, the Session has approved holding a Contemplative Prayer Service on Tuesday, November 5 at 6 pm in the Sanctuary. That, of course, is Election Day, and as I said in worship, if there’s anything that people in the United States agree upon across the political spectrum these days, it’s that there is unusual anxiety and concern about how this year’s elections will go and what will come after them. This Contemplative Prayer Service is intended to create a worshipful space in which, regardless of our political identities and commitments, we can come together as Christians to seek solace and peace for ourselves as individuals, for our community, and for our nation. This service will not, in any way, engage the partisan dynamics of this election season, but rather affirm our common primary identity as followers of Jesus, and our common ministry as such. To paraphrase Paul in the letter to the Galatians: “there is neither Democrat nor Republican, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.”

So what do we mean by Contemplative Prayer? This is a broad term in the Christian tradition, but what it essentially means is a communal worship service that nurtures us in our individual prayers together. Thus, there can be Scripture readings with times for silent contemplation, some simple music designed to center us in God’s presence, and prayers of the people led by a pastor to help us come to God in areas of common need and concern. The whole service will take no more than 30 minutes, so if you are feeling the press of anxiety and stress around this election cycle, I encourage you to join us for this prayer service on the evening of Election Day. I hope to see you there!



Grace and peace,

—Pastor J.C.

Church News

Reformation Sunday

During our 9:30AM service on Reformation Sunday, October 27, we will welcome the Chesapeake Caledonian Bagpipe Band, Brass Quintet, and Percussion. The Chesapeake Caledonian Bagpipe Band was formed in 1985 to promote the highest standards in both traditional and contemporary bagpipe and drum ensemble performance. Since then, the band has regularly participated in parades, concerts, and pipe band competitions throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

To learn more, please visit their website at chesapeakecaledonian.net.

Advent & Christmas Art Exhibit

Calling All Artists! The Gallery at Woods is having their Annual Advent and Christmas Exhibit on Monday, November 18. Register your artwork for this exhibit by November 11 by providing your name, art title, and contact information to Jenny Henry, jennyhenry1188@comcast.net or Pam Ward, pward@woodschurch.org.

Your artwork must be framed and ready to hang (wire on back). There is a three-piece limit. Artwork will be dropped off in the office conference room from November 11–15, between 9AM–4PM. For more information on this exhibit email Pam Ward or call 443.261.2363.

Woods Holiday Bazaar Sneak Peek

Save the date, Saturday, November 23, 9AM–1PM, for our annual Holiday Bazaar! Visit the fan-favorite Sweet Shop offering our holiday treats like butter creams, buckeyes, fudge, candy trains and sleds, assorted chocolates, and more! Plus, Thanksgiving and Christmas themed pops! Surprise your guests with delicious homemade candies! Remember, all proceeds support Mission activities of our church.

And please save your extra Halloween candy for us. We will be using it in the Secret Santa Shop. All candy donations must be in the original wrappers and can be dropped off at the church office.

Questions? Contact Sue Hannahs at suehannahs@gmail.com. Please consider volunteering for a few hours before or after you shop. Contact Pam Blumenthal at mblumenthal1941@gmail.com or Beth Hadley at bbhadley@gmail.com.

Coffee & Conversation with Pastor J.C.

Our opportunities for conversations with the Rev. J.C. Austin, our new Lead Pastor, will be continuing this fall, but we are changing the schedule for them to allow for a wider range of timeslot opportunities than just ones following our 11AM service on Sundays. The next gathering will be on Monday, November 4, 10AM. Evening gatherings also are in the works, so if that timeslot is best for you, keep an eye out for announcements of those opportunities soon.

Contact Pam Ward at pward@woodschurch.org or 443.261.3263 to let her know which date you want to attend, or stop off in the church office on Sundays and sign up in person.

Pastor J.C. Meet & Greets

In an effort to get more Woods members to meet and chat with our new head of staff, Pastor J.C., we are starting a series of in-home "meet & greet J.C." gatherings. A number of Woods members have offered to host a 90-minute gathering in their home, with refreshments and conversation, and invite 10–15 of their Woods friends to meet Pastor J.C.

If you are interested in either hosting a small gathering in your home or attending one of these events, please reach out to Sue Ward at sward@woodschurch.org.

Woods Church Nominating Committee Invitation

At Woods, we gather to worship, to pray, to grow in faith, to minister to those in need, to share our sorrow, and to share our joy. We treasure our time together as brothers and sisters in this congregation of believers. Now we ask you, our brothers and sisters, to prayerfully consider supporting our congregation by nominating names of candidates to be part of our Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC).

We’re putting this APNC together now to ensure that our Associate Pastor Nancy Lincoln Reynolds can transition from her current full-time position at Woods to focus on her work at the Counseling Center, sometime in the second half of 2025.

Our goal is to minimize the length of the transition period between associates and ensure that we continue to move forward as a congregation with momentum and purpose.

Please search your heart and prayerfully consider serving or nominating another member as a candidate for the APNC. Please place your recommendations in the Nominating Committee mailbox in the church office or email Jenny Henry at nominations@woodschurch.org.

Children's News

Third Grade Bibles

Third grade Bibles will be given out during worship on Reformation Sunday, October 27. Bibles are presented as part of our baptismal promises to our youth. This is one way that the Children's Ministry honors the congregation's promise to teach them the stories of our faith. This year’s recipients include:

Rocco Matthew Bianco

Grayson Clarke

Leo DiMenna

Catriona Elizabeth Dziennik

CoCo Hetrick

Caroline Barbara Hillyer

Jackson Jones

Theodore Hopper Laque

Madeline Leer

Connor Jacob Lewis

Chloe Meriwether Mead

Ellie Marie Mohr

Paul Nowottnick

Elle Richards

Broderick Robert Ward

Kaylee Jade Ward

Harper Lewis Wasserman

James Wheeless

Continue the Conversation at Home

Music News

All Hallows' Eve Organ Concert

On Tuesday October 29, 7PM, join organist Roderick Demmings, Jr., as he presents a free All Hallows' Eve organ concert. His performance will include works by Bach, Buxtehude, Massenet, Boëllmann, and Brahms, as well as readings by Edgar Allen Poe and Charles Dickens. It’s sure to be spooktacular!

A love offering will be collected to support Indigenous music throughout the year! This concert is sure to be Spooktacular! For more information please email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Woods church will be presenting the musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, March 28–30 & April 4–6 . And auditions are just around the corner! Come join us on this exciting adventure! 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.

Auditions November 3 and 4

Go to wmpcauditions.com for more information and to sign up for an audition slot.

Behind The Scenes Help

Interested in helping behind the scenes with the show? We would love too have you! Please email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.

Opus 3: An Evening of Debuts

Join us for an exciting evening of music on Saturday, November 9, 7PM! The evening will feature newly composed works and performances by classical guitarist Alec Green, renowned pianists Jung-hoon Park, and Roderick Demmings, Jr., and original choreography by Elysian Dance Theater. This is a free concert with all donations going to support our Woods Church music department. Come and experience these premiere performances and compositions!

For more information, please email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org. This event also will be available via livestream.

Mission News

A Note of Thanks

Thank you for the tremendous generosity our faith family has shown in supporting our Missions Ministry and our Cuba partnership with medicine donations.

Picnic Table Build

Our Youth and Mission Ministries will be holding our Annual Picnic Table Build on Saturday, November 16, 9AM–3PM. Help out as your time permits. No skill Level is required! Tools—and lunch—will be provided!

We will be building 28 picnic tables. Most will be given to Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake families. Extra tables will either be sold in the Habitat Restore or taken on the WoodsWork mission trip to be donated to the new habitat homeowners.

This is open to all members of Woods and members of the community, and will be led by the high school youth with support from the high school advisors and members of the Missions Ministry. Any youth younger than 6th grade must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Liability forms are required and are available at the beginning of the build. You must wear work boots or closed toe shoes.

Work will take place in the parking area next to the garage storage units and the WoodsWork shed.

Questions? Contact Oliver Page at opage@woodschurch.org or Scott Wiley at wilecoy2us@gmail.com or 410.353.1491.

Yarn Requested for the Guatemala Partnership Trip

There is a request being made for yarn to be taken to Guatemala for the women who create beautiful scarves for their prayer shawl ministry. The yarn will be taken by the Presbytery of Baltimore group traveling there, November 2–9. This will include visits to the Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA) programs that support women and families. There is a box in the church office for dropping off your yarn over the next few weeks. Please donate what you can.

For questions contact Bev Haines at 410.551.8412 or Sher Atkinson at 410.647.4824.

Counseling & Care Center Offerings

Spirituality for the 21st Century

Bill Hocking's next Seminar will be held on Monday, October 21, 4:30PM, at the Woods Counseling & Care Center, Large Group Room. Bill will lead a discussion on the work of Richard Rohr, a Franciscan Priest and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation. Fr. Rohr raises social justice issues, with an emphasis on love and suffering, the exclusionary nature of religion and how the "Cosmic Christ" relates to the vast universe.

For more information, contact Bill Hocking at billhocking100@comcast.net or Nancy Sullivan at nsullivan@woodschurch.org.

Church Family News

Condolences to the Family of Carolyn Decker

It is with sadness that we share the death of Woods member, Carolyn Decker. Carolyn was a member of Woods Church since January 1990.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be announced in a future email. Please keep Carolyn’s family and friends in your prayers.

We’re Hiring 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.

A Moment of Prayer

Our souls bless you, O God:

for your imagination that created us,

your wisdom that guides us,

your example in Jesus Christ that inspires us.

Help us to follow Christ's way, to mold our lives in his likeness,

and to reflect your image to all that we meet.