Messenger | September 6, 2023

This week's release at a glance:

Pastor’s Message

Kickoff Sunday

Children, Youth, & Families Open House

SPAN Food Drive

Confirmation Class

Continue the Conversation at Home

Woods Women's Circles

Welcome Mr. Roderick Demmings, Jr.

Open Dance Classes

Pastor's Message

Dear Friends and Family of Woods Church,

Thank you for what you're doing at this very moment—namely reading this weekly Messenger email from our church. You are one of over 1,200 active recipients of our Messenger newsletter. And according to recent statistics, on average more than half of all recipients (55%) open this email and look over its contents.

A second "thank you" needs to be extended if you are one of the recipients of the Friday Worship email, because an even higher percentage of you (58%) open that email and review its contents. The Wednesday Messenger keeps you informed about the ongoing programs and ministries of Woods. The Friday Worship email lets you know the upcoming sermon passage, review the bulletin and prayer concerns, and consider the range of educational offerings happening on the coming Sunday.

Offering words of thanks are appropriate given how many emails and texts you likely receive on a daily basis and how many groups are vying for your attention. According to our internet service provider, only about 28% of emails from religious groups/churches are opened by their recipients. The fact that the rate of engagement from our Woods family is more than double the national average is worth celebrating.

Staying in touch is hard. Think of how seldom it is for any of us to receive personal mail anymore, or to answer our phone and not have it be a robo-call or telemarketer. Yet staying in touch is how we stay connected to the people and groups that are important to us, including our church family. Is there someone you haven't seen at church for a while? Give them a call (or contact our office to get their phone number) just to see how they're doing. Drop a card to someone who is special in your life and who'd love to hear from you. Say a prayer of gratitude for a couple church acquaintances when you're out for a walk. Invite a neighbor to come for Kick Off Sunday or one of our upcoming events. And keep our church staff informed of any congregational prayer concerns or special needs.

If you've read this far, you deserve another "thank you." Now, keep going through the Messenger and be open to the Spirit's leading in all that you read!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Randy

Church News

Kickoff Sunday

See you Sunday, September 10, 12–2PM, for our annual Woods Kick-off celebration!

Join us for this multi-generational event as we celebrate the new program year. Limited seating will be available, so feel free to bring your favorite lawn chair!

Rain or shine, come for fellowship, food and fun. Most of all, come because you belong!

Children, Youth, & Families Open House

Join Oliver, Kat, and all of our volunteers for youth and children's ministries on Kickoff Sunday, September 10. Our fun will start at worship, 9:30AM, then we'll enjoy snacks and an Open House for families of children and youth. Parents should pick up their children in their respective classrooms. Grab a donut, see our meeting spaces, meet our teachers, and hear about our upcoming year!

Then stick around for our 11AM worship service, and enjoy our Kickoff Picnic at noon! There will be a bounce house and boxed lunches—and Sundae School's the cherry on top!

Youth Kickoff BBQ

Our Youth Group will start back up on Kickoff Sunday, September 10, 5PM–7:30PM with a BBQ for middle and high school students.

Then, we’ll begin meeting weekly on Sunday, September 17, 5:30–7PM, in Fellowship Hall. This fellowship time includes a meal, activity, lesson, and time for connecting with friends old and new.

SPAN Food Drive

On Kickoff Sunday, September 10, Woods Church will host a SPAN Food Drive. Consider making a difference and supporting our neighbors by purchasing some of the items listed below. Donations may be dropped off at the Missions table on Kick-Off Sunday.

• Canned meat and fish
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Hamburger and Tuna Helper
• Instant potatoes
• Breakfast items: pancake mix, syrup, oatmeal, cereal, coffee and tea
• Pasta, sauce and other canned tomato products
• Snacks: nuts, bars, crackers and cookies
• Vegetables: cans, fresh, or frozen
• Basic toiletries: shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, soap
• Basic cleaning products: paper towels, laundry detergent, dish soap
  

2022–2023 Annual Report Now Available

The Woods Church 2022–2023 Annual Report is now available. Click here to access it.

Youth & Children's Ministries

Confirmation Signups Are Open

Any students 8th Grade and up who haven't yet been confirmed are invited to join us for a year of faith development. Our parent meeting will be on Sunday, September 17, 4PM, in Room 212, and the class will officially begin on Sunday, September 24.

The fee for the class is $150 for the year, including two retreats! Register online to sign up. Contact Oliver Page at opage@woodschurch.org with any questions.

Continue the Conversation at Home

Let's Continue the Conversation at Home about obstacles. Sometimes obstacles are actual things like a big mountain, or something that "got in your way." However, sometimes, obstacles are inside us. The Selfish Giant is a story by Oscar Wilde about a giant who tried to keep his garden all-to-him-self. He thought that the children would hurt his garden, or take his garden. But putting a big wall around the garden to keep everyone and everything out didn't make him happy.

Sometimes we get in our own way. I wonder if you can think of a time when you misunderstood, or thought something would be a problem...so it became one. In the giant's case, it became a big wall and no springtime.

Are there things that stand in the way of you and your family? Maybe your family members can each name an obstacles. You could each pick out boxes or footstools or bags of leaves and name them. "Homework," "not knowing where all of your classes are in school," or "forgetting your shoes for practice." Then put them in the back yard or another large space. When you get to the obstacle, think about why it is in your way and maybe a family plan could help you move the obstacle or make it smaller.

However many obstacles we have, God promised to be with us and to help us. That's a covenant promise! Maybe you could put a rainbow at the end of your obstacle course to remind you that God will always be there with us and for us.

Save the Date for Our Holiday Bazaar

The Woods Church Holiday Bazaar will take place on Saturday, November 18, 9AM–1PM.

We also will be collecting donations and will happily accept the following new or gently used items starting Sunday, November 12, 12:30–5PM; and Monday–Friday, November 13–17, 9AM–5PM, in Zimmerman Hall.

• Jewelry
• Hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, and purses
• Books, records, CDs, videotapes, puzzles, and DVDs
• Games, Toys, cameras, and small sporting goods
• House wares: dishes, glassware, kitchen utensils, lamps, art objects, pictures, and small appliances.
• Collectibles, antiques, knickknacks, crafts, and other giftware.
• Christmas and other holiday items
• Domestics: gently used or new linens, curtains etc.
• Furniture: children’s furniture, small table and chairs, bookcases, stools, and other reasonably sized furniture.

If you have any questions, contact Pam Blumenthal or Beth Hadley, co chairs of the 2023 Holiday Bazaar.

Education & Small Groups

Woods Women's Circles

 The Women's Circles of Woods Church will be starting a new monthly Bible study in September from New Horizon's Bible Study. You are invited to join us for this hope-filled study, titled Sacred Encounters. The author, Rev. Olive Mahabir, invites readers to consider Jesus, "the good shepherd," who shared the good news through sacred encounters with everyday people.

We meet on the second Tuesday of each month, 10AM, in the Founders Room, or on the fourth Wednesday of each month, 7PM, on Zoom. Copies of Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke–Acts will be available each Sunday in August at a table in Fellowship Hall. Stop by to sign up and pick up a book. (Cost for the study guide is $10.)

The contact for Tuesday morning Circle is Bev Haines, bhaines2218@gmail.com, and for the Wednesday evening Circle it's Nancy Nolan, msmum@sent.com.

A Study on The Screwtape Letters

Clive Staples Lewis was an intellectual and religious leader around the war years and the decade that followed. He is arguably one of the most influential people of his day. His voice was more widely recognized than Hitler, FDR, or Churchill due to his internationally syndicated radio broadcasts. He was an Oxford don who taught medieval literature. He was also a prolific writer and close friend of J.R. R. Tolkien to whom he dedicated his book, The Screwtape Letters.

This book is a classic in Christian literature. It is a short, fun to read, witty satire—and deadly serious. It holds up a mirror to our innermost being and throws a clear light on our darkest corners. It is a must read for any Christian.

We will be exploring the world of Screwtape starting Sunday, September 17, 11AM. Having read Screwtape is helpful but not necessary as we will read together each letter as we advance through the book. This class will be in Room 208 and taught by Greg Hubert.

New Adult Education Class

Discover the good news in the Gospel of Mark. Walk through the Bible’s earliest source for the life of Jesus with scholar Amy-Jill Levine as she examines John the Baptizer, the Little Apocalypse, the Transfiguration, and several of Jesus's most notable stories and parables. The Good News of the gospel message comes alive in this book as readers see Jesus as divine and human, powerful and weak, approachable yet mysterious. The book features an in-depth study of select passages and illuminates the Gospel in its historical context and as a source for the other gospels. Books are available on the office credenza.

The class will meet on Sundays, September 17–October 22, 11AM, in the office conference room and on Zoom (Meeting ID 875 3771 2467 | Passcode 634741).

Fall Seminar: From Age-ing to Sage-ing

Led by Bill Hocking, this seminar presents a new approach to aging—one of life-long learning, healthy lifestyle practices, and spiritual growth. It's an inspirational look at aging and how to develop a creative, fulfilling aging process.

"Sage-ing" refers to becoming "spiritually radiant, physically vital, and socially responsible." The seminar delves into our interconnectedness with the earth, with nature, and discovering the most rewarding work of a lifetime: becoming a sage.

Book: Age-ing to Sage-ing (2014 edition) by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Ronald Miller

Zoom: 10AM, September 16, and every third Saturday through May 18, 2024

Zoom: September 16, 10AM, and

every third Saturday through May 18, 2024

To Register: Email billhocking100@comcast.net or nancy.sullivan@woodsccc.org

Savvy Seniors

The first Savvy Seniors forum will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 1–2:30PM, in Fellowship Hall. Come for refreshments and conversation before the presentation, Transitions: Packing the Past and Unpacking the Future. Rev. Nancy Lincoln Reynolds and Elder Peggy Newman, M.A, History of Decorative Arts, will discuss the complex issue of downsizing.

The Savvy Seniors program is for Woods members and the Severna Park community aged 65+. Monthly forums are designed to educate and promote a sense of connection and inclusion among participants as they experience the physical, financial, and social changes aging brings.

Contact: swilson@woodschurch.org or nsullivan@woodschurch.org

Music News

Welcome Mr. Roderick Demmings, Jr.

We would like to welcome our new organist, Mr. Roderick Demmings, Jr. to our Woods family! Rod is an award-winning pianist and organist. He began his performance career at New York’s Carnegie Hall in a debut, solo performance at the age of 12. In addition to piano, Rod began taking pipe organ lessons at 12 and merited a full scholarship to attend Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in organ performance.

Since Carnegie Hall, Rod’s performed around the globe. He’s toured Europe and Africa, performing in concert halls and cathedrals, including the Vatican. At home, Rod’s performed as a soloist in concerts halls from Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, to Philadelphia’s Verizon Center, to Los Angeles’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, and many more.

 An ardent advocate for social justice, Rod formed #BlackMusicMatters, an arts ensemble for singers and instrumentalists aimed at empowering and healing the Beloved Community through Black Music. In 2018, #BlackMusicMatters performed at the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis, Tennessee. As an entertainer, Rod’s transcription of George Clinton’s “We Want the Funk” for Pipe Organ garnered more than 81k views online.

 Rod is the proud organist of the First Baptist Church of Baltimore where he gladly serves under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Johnson, Sr.

In addition to music, Rod is an avid aviation aficionado, competes athletically, and loves most things culinary.

Open Dance Classes

Woods Church is offering Open Dance Classes! Our first dance class starts on Sunday, September 17! Woods Church has teamed up with some amazing local dance teachers to teach a variety of dance styles on select Sunday's this fall. Come and try them all, you may find a new dance style just for you!

Interested in attending? Please register using the link below. For further questions, please email Alyssa Barlis at alyssabarlis@gmail.com.

The Secret Garden Auditions

Mark your calendars for The Secret Garden auditions, November 5–6. This enchanting literary classic is reimagined in brilliant musical style. A compelling tale of forgiveness, belonging, and renewal. The Secret Garden won three Tony Awards® and three Drama Desk Awards when it premiered on Broadway in 1991.

Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his disabled son Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her new life.

Cast Details: Approximately 25 actors. We are looking for a cast of all ages, shapes, sizes, races, and gender identities. For more information, email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.

Opus 2: An Evening of Debuts

Join us on Saturday, November 11, 7PM, for Opus 2: An Evening of Debuts! The evening will feature newly composed works by local composers and performances by some beloved musicians! More information to come.

This is a free concert with all donations going to support our Woods Church music department. Come and experience these premiere performances and compositions! This event also will be livestreamed.

For more info email David Merrill at dmerrill@woodschurch.org.

Church Family News

Prayers for Rev. Terry Schoener

Many of you have asked how you may support Rev. Terry Schoener, Pastor Emeritus, while he is in hospice care. At this time he is not able to receive visitors but please know that we have conveyed your prayers and gratitude to him. If you would like to write a card or note and leave it at the front office desk I will make sure that he gets it.

I and the Pastoral Care Team will keep you updated. And, again, thank you for your prayers.

—Pastor Nancy

Death Notice

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection for Woods member and deacon Charlene VanMeter, will be held at Woods Church on Wednesday, September 20, 1PM, in the sanctuary. Please keep Charlene's family and friends in your prayers.

Congregational Prayer

Gracious and sustaining God, thank you for this day. Strengthen my resolve to love and show mercy through the hours ahead. Guide my work that I have to do today. May I ever walk in the strength and confidence that comes from following where you lead. In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.