Messenger | October 23, 2024

 This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• All Saints’ Sunday Service
• Banner Carriers Needed
• Daylight Savings Time Ends
• Advent & Christmas Art Exhibit
• Woods Church Holiday Bazaar
• Nominating Committee Invitation
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame Auditions
• Let’s Raise Some Dough

Pastor's Message

As colors around us burst forth from trees of green announcing a change of seasons, I am reminded of Bob Dylan’s song released in 1964: The Times They Are A-Changin’. Green leaves transforming into multiple bright colors, temperatures episodically dipping into the 40s, political elections looming just around the corner, children planning costumes for Halloween—shifting their identities from reality to imaginary characters. Quite literally, this Sunday, the times will be “a-changin’,” as we move our clocks an hour back to accommodate EST.

Jesus perhaps could have sung Dylan’s song in his day as his arrival launched a salvific change for all of humanity. Granted our lives change at a slower pace than those who must live in places of violence and war where “here today/gone tomorrow” predicts radical change. We all would do well to consider the call to faith that changed the world for “the battle outside is ragin’” as “the present now will later be past.”

This Sunday, All Saints Sunday, we are compelled to consider the saints gone before us whose legacies we now embrace. We may recognize their imprints within and on our lives and be thankful (or ambivalent). What makes the difference in their change from life to death is what we choose to do with those imprints…those legacies. And what we choose to do with Jesus’ legacy. And how that impacts our own journeys on the way to joining that great Cloud of Witnesses.

As we seek to become the good and whole people we are called to be, we may heed both Dylan’s warning and Jesus’ invitation. “Your old road is rapidly agin’. Please get out of the new one of you can’t lend a hand for the times they are -changin’.”

Jesus changes us and reminds us what lending that hand might look like as we embrace our neighbor as ourselves regardless of our differences. As he recognizes the struggling woman who reaches out to simply touch the hem of his garment for healing, he declares, “Woman, your faith has made you whole.”

May it be so for us in these challenging and changing times.

Peace,

—Pastor Nancy

Church News

All Saints’ Sunday Service

Please join us for our All Saints’ Service on Sunday, November 3, 9:30AM. As a reminder, we will have only one service this week, so that we may, honor our Saints who have passed away from October 1, 2023–September 30, 2024. Through worship, we will remember their lives and legacies with banners that our deacons have lovingly worked on with the help of family members throughout the year. To honor family members who were not members of Woods, their names will appear on a slide during the service.

Please click the links below to view the names of our members who will be honored with banners and the family of members who will be honored by name on the screen.

If you had a family member pass away during the past year and do not see their name listed, email Maureen Adams at madams@woodschurch.org to have their name added for our service.

Banner Carriers Needed

We are looking for a few more youth or young adult volunteers to carry banners during our All Saints’ service this Sunday, November 3, 9:30AM! We will meet in Fellowship Hall at 9AM.

If you're interested in participating, please contact Oliver Page at opage@woodschurch.org.

It’s Time to Fall Back

As a reminder, Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, November 3, 2AM. Remember to set your clocks back by one hour and we’ll see you bright and early for worship at Woods!

Woods Holiday Bazaar Sneak Peek

You will not want to miss all the treasures in Zimmerman Hall at the Woods Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 23, 9AM–1PM! And remember, 100% of the proceeds support our church’s many Mission activities.

White Elephant Donations

We’re looking for games, puzzles, artwork & crafts, toys, small sporting goods, musical instruments, dishes, glassware, kitchen utensils, small appliances, lamps, antiques, linens, tools, and more. Search your cabinets, basements, garages, anywhere you have collected “treasures” that you no longer use and drop them off at the Zimmerman Hall stage on Sunday, November 17, 12:30–5PM, or Monday–Thursday, November 18–21 , 9AM–5PM.

Support the Book Shop

Fill up your bookshelves or winter reading list by shopping in the Book Shop! Book donations can be dropped off in Room 155 and stacked against the wall. (We do not accept textbooks, encyclopedias, or magazines). We will gladly accept grocery-size brown paper bags!

Questions?

Contact Patt Haun at patt.haun@gmail.com or Barbara Gosnell at bigosnell@gmail.com with any questions. And if you’re able to help set up for a few hours during the week, especially on Friday, contact Pam Blumenthal at mblumenthal1941@gmail.com or Beth Hadley at bbhadley@gmail.com.

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.

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

It’s a Coat Party!

Thank you to Woods Church and the Woods CDC for your extravagant display of Christ-like love! Matthew 25:36 was made present; we collected 70 coats for Hope for All! There will be 70 folks who feel the warmth of God's love in a very tangible way this winter. Bless you all and thank you for participating in the Children's Ministry Sunday School Offering!

Continue the Conversation at Home

Reformation Sunday is "Hand out Bible Sunday." It used to be "Hand out Third Grade Bibles Sunday," but I'm getting a reputation. It was bound to happen!

On Reformation Sunday I seem to take on a “Bible glow” and folks ask me for Bibles. Two years ago, it was a woman who needed a large print Bible, twice.

Click here to read more and continue the conversation!

Music News

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.

Baroque by Candlelight Christmas Concert

Save the date, Saturday, December 7, 7PM, for our Baroque by Candlelight Christmas Concert! The concert is free, so invite your family and friends. More information will be available soon, but make sure to mark your calendars now.

Mission News

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.

In Our Community

Let’s Raise Some Dough

On Wednesday, November 6, 4–9PM, stop by the Squisito's Pizza in the Magothy Gateway shops (147 Ritchie Hwy E, next to Harris Teeter). A slice of the proceeds—15%—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.

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.