Messenger is here!

October 21, 2026

This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Baltimore Presbytery Guatemala Trip
• Support the SPAN Turkey Trot
• Volunteer with The Well
• Restaurant Day and Night
• Picnic Table Build
• Halloween Candy Donations
• Collectibles and One-of-a-Kind Items
• The Carols of Christmas
• What Do Stephen Minister’s Do?
• Medical Professional Volunteers Needed
  

Pastor's Message

On the Christian calendar, All Saints’ Day is celebrated every November 1. In the Reformed theological tradition, from which Presbyterians come, there is not a tradition of saints being particularly virtuous or unusually faithful people. Rather, we follow the tradition of the early church which viewed every follower of Jesus Christ as a “saint,” meaning simply that through their Baptism they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit and have done their best to live in the Spirit and share Christ’s love throughout their lives.

And so here at Woods, we celebrate All Saints’ Day on the first Sunday of every November by remembering and giving thanks for all of those members of Woods that have died in the previous year and been received by God as one of Christ’s saints. We do so with a special service of remembrance that includes banners depicting each saint’s greatest passions and work, which are processed in at the beginning of the service and out again at the end of the service. It is a powerful and moving ritual, and so we will only be having a single worship service at 9:30AM this Sunday so that we can be all together as one community of worship.

When I think about the saints who have blessed my life, there are many people who come to mind: parents, teachers, pastors, friends, colleagues, even a few passing strangers. There are people in each of those groups who have taught me something important about what it means to be human, to be Christian, to be a friend, to be the person whom I strive to be.

Each of you have your own stories of people like that. And so this week, as we observe All Saints’ Day this Sunday, I invite you to consider the saints who have blessed your life, to cherish their memory and the gifts they gave to you, and to give thanks for them, their witness, and their ministry, whether they are still alive or have gone ahead to join the “great cloud of witnesses,” as the writer of Hebrews puts it, of all those faithful saints who have gone before us.

—Pastor JC

Church News

Baltimore Presbytery Guatemala Trip

The Baltimore Presbytery is hosting a spring intercultural encounters trip with our Guatemala Partnership, The Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA). Intercultural Encounters is a program that designs and facilitates experiences of encounter, reflection, dialogue, and mutual service between people of the United States and Canada with Central American communities in search of a more just, tolerant and equitable world.

Applications and a $500 deposit are due on Saturday, October 31!

Register online. Questions can be submitted to Tanya Morrel at tmorrel@gmail.com.

Arundel House of Hope Volunteers Needed!

Our Outreach and Service partners at Arundel House of Hope are looking for volunteers to help with an Upcoming Hygiene Clinic Visit. The clinic will take place on Friday, November 6, 8AM–4PM. Volunteers are needed to drive residents from Arundel House of Hope to the clinic and provide support to residents during their visit. Arundel House of Hope recommends groups of about five volunteers to help with this event if you or your friends and family are interested.

Contact Dawn Baskin at dbaskin@arundelhoh.org with questions!

Support the SPAN Turkey Trot

It is that time of year for SPAN's Turkey Trot! This year's 5k and 1-mile walk will be on Saturday, November 7, at Kinder Farm Park! This is SPAN's primary annual fundraiser to meet the extremely high levels of need for emergency food and financial assistance. Not interested in running? You can always sign up for the 1 mile fun walk, sign up as a sponsor of the event or donate to SPAN directly!

Volunteer with The Well

The Well is hosting a Learn + Serve Volunteer Information Session on Saturday, November 7, 9AM–12PM, for those interested in learning about their mission, best trauma-informed practices, community impact, and how to make a difference for women survivors! You can learn more by calling The Well at 410.589.6670 or registering online!

Picnic Table Build

Our Annual Picnic Table Build will be held on Saturday, November 14, and all members of Woods and the community are welcome to come help build with us. The tables will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, sold at the Holiday Bazaar to support our mission partners, and taken on the WoodsWork Mission trip to be donated to the new Habitat homeowners.

Work will take place in the parking area next to the garage storage units and the WoodsWork shed. No skill level required and all tools will be provided! Everyone is welcome! All work will be performed from 9AM–3PM. You may come at any time to help and you can leave when you need to. Liability Forms are required and are available at the beginning of the build. All volunteers must wear work boots or closed toe shoes. Lunch will be provided.

Any youth younger than 6th grade must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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

Restaurant Day and Night

Need a break from cooking? In the mood for some cozy food in the cooler weather? Our Outreach and Service partner, Hope for All, is hosting a fundraiser event on Thursday, November 12, 11AM–9PM, at Brian Boru (489 Ritchie Hwy)! Select from three courses of great food, with great company, for a great cause!

Halloween Candy Donations

The Holiday Bazaar takes place on Saturday, November 21, 9AM–1PM. Please consider donating your leftover Halloween candy for use in the Secret Santa Shop. All donated candy must be in its original wrappers and can be dropped off at the church front office starting Sunday, November 1.

Collectibles and One-of-a-Kind Items

Come shop the Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 21, 9AM–1PM, for hand-painted art and vintage items, or find the perfect gift for a hostess, dog walker, teacher, or grandparent. Options range from a cozy cup of tea to a "blind date with a book or movie"—perfect for a quiet evening at home.

Holiday Nut Orders

Fall has arrived, and it’s time to place your holiday nut orders! Don’t miss out on your seasonal favorites. You can download the order form at woodschurch.org or pick one up at the Welcome Desk. Return your completed form to Woods Church by mail or drop it off at the Office with your check made out to Woods Church (note “Nut Order” on the memo line).

If you have any questions, please contact Kay Mitchell at 410.757.7103.

The Carols of Christmas: A Contemplative Christmas Concert with Harp, Choir, and Soloists

Join us on Friday & Saturday, December 4 & 5, 7PM, for our annual Christmas concert, The Carols of Christmas. Through the angelic sounds of the harp—and the light of flickering candles—this concert is about reflection and finding peace. Accompanied only by the harp, we will spend an hour bringing beloved carols to life, through harp solos, vocal duets, and choral anthems, including our main piece, A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten.

We kindly ask that you register for this FREE concert at www.wooodstix.org. For questions, please email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.

In-Home Gatherings with Pastor Ashley

A number of people are hosting small groups of people in their homes to meet for conversation with Pastor Ashley so that she and we can get to know each other better. If you are interested in attending one, please email apnc@woodschurch.org or call the Church Office at 410.647.2550 and we'll connect you with a gathering that works for your schedule.

What Do Stephen Minister’s Do?

Stephen Ministry was founded in 1975 by the Rev. Kenneth Haugk in St. Louis, Missouri. Rev. Haugk was looking for a way to expand pastoral care to his and other congregations. Stephen Ministry is designed to provide highly confidential, one-on-one ministry to those grieving the loss of a loved one, a divorce, a job, or any other life crisis. Over the 50 years since Stephen Ministry was founded, the program has expanded to 190 Christian denominations, 600,000 Stephen Ministers in this and other countries, and 1.5 million care providers.

Below is a testimonial to the effectiveness of Stephen Ministry by Phyllis Beardmore, a former Stephen Minister care receiver and now a Stephen Minister herself. If you need a Stephen Minister, please call Woods Church at 410.647.2550 x334, or talk with me—Bill Hadley—or any other member of our Stephen Ministry team. If you wish to become a Stephen Minister yourself, we also will be happy to discuss this with you.

Testimonial from Phyllis Beardmore

I first became acquainted with the words” Stephen Ministry “20 years ago after my husband was hospitalized after a fall from his Parkinson’s disease. Joan Clinch, a nurse from Woods, had visited Bud and called me asking if he would want a Stephen minister to visit him. I was unfamiliar with what a Stephen minister really did, but I thought he might like a visitor with a spiritual background, since he no longer could attend the Men’s Bible Group that he enjoyed.

Fast-forward! Bud had a faithful person who visited once a week for almost 10 years until his death. He listened to Bud as he related his struggles dealing with his disease and brought an encouraging heart into his life.

I recently took the training in order to “Pay-it-forward” and hopefully help someone going through a difficult time in their own life. From Bud’s experience, I witnessed first-hand how a caring relationship from a Stephen Minister can help a person work through their challenges. His loving care and prayers offered spiritual support.

I felt the need for a Stephen minister for myself two years ago when I suddenly lost my son. I was fortunate enough to have friends and family to support me in my grief but felt the need to share openly with someone outside my usual circle. My Stephen minister listened objectively and offered spiritual support and prayed with me. Sometimes even a Stephen Minister needs a Stephen Minister!

If you, or someone you care about, is experiencing a difficult time in life, you may want someone to listen and walk beside you. Stephen Ministers are matched to a care receiver of the same gender. They serve as an extension of Christ’s love and the pastoral care of our congregation.

Thank you,

—Phyllis Beardmore

Education & Small Groups

Weekly Bible Study

Lead Pastor JC Austin and our Associate Pastor Ashley Brown offer a weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays, 11AM, 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.

Church Family News

Medical Professional Volunteers Needed

Woods is looking for members who are either physicians, physician's assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, anyone in the medical field, who would be willing to note their presence in a particular worship service or church event (musical production, etc.)—in the event there is a medical emergency—and would be able to help assist until the EMTs arrive.

A notebook and sign will be placed in the Narthex just outside the Sanctuary (to be monitored by the head usher) for the above person(s) to note their name, cell phone number, and presence in the service or particular event being held in the Sanctuary.

Email Jason Jackson at jjackson@woodschurch.org for more information.

Tech Volunteers Needed

Easy to learn! We’re currently looking for volunteers to help with running slides and cameras during our worship services. This would be a great opportunity to support our church behind the scenes and/or pick up a new skill or two!

If you’re interested in helping or have any questions, email Eric Willner at ewillner@woodschurch.org.



Support Our Bagel Ministry

Looking for a way to honor, celebrate and/or remember a family member, friend, or special event? Consider sponsoring bagels following our worship services on Sunday mornings! The cost is $100.

For more information, contact Kathie Hamlett at khamlett@woodschurch.org.

Lost & Found

Eyeglasses, water bottles, and keys are some of the items regularly turned in to the Church Office. If you’ve misplaced something, please check the Lost & Found located in the sliding cabinets under the staff mailboxes. Volunteers clean out the collection at the end of each season and donate what remains.

Have faith that you and your objects will be reunited!