Hanging of the Greens

We decorated Pender for Christmas on November 20 after a light lunch was served.

Holiday Concert

Usher in the holidays with the sounds of the Harp, Flute, Piano, Organ, Soprano vocalist, Violin, Handbells, Jazz duo and an Irish session!

The concert concluded with everyone joining in singing some traditional carols.

A reception followed.

Videos are located on the Concert Series page

United Women in Faith Ugly Christmas Sweater and Sing Along Party

The Women in Faith program is for all women in the church. It's an open meeting we were asked to host on December 4 for the District. There were many UMC churches women's groups attending.

Youth Orchestra Concert

Winter Frost (Chamber Music Program), 7-9 pm

The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras (TCSYO) provides a place for all student musicians within its four orchestras: Prelude Orchestra, String Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Symphonic Orchestra. We also offer a Chamber Music Program (quartets) and Percussion Ensemble.

Christmas Caroling

December 11 at 2:30 pm. We walkea, sing, and invited the neighbors to Christmas Eve worship.

Build Your Own Gingerbread House

Build Your Own Gingerbread House, Christmas event sponsored by the Grow in God Cluster.

This was a multi-generational hands on event open to everyone in the church and Pender community. Saint Nick was available for photos!

JDC Christmas Party

We brought some Christmas cheer to the teens at the Juvenile Detention Center on December 17, 2022.

Matthew 25:39 'When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ Pender is in mission to incarcerated Fairfax youth as they await their sentencing.

We worship monthly, and once a year, we host a Christmas Party. It is a particularly difficult environment in which to establish a party mood. Is joining me something you could do and is on your heart?

Covid restrictions are lifted and we can bring as many as who want to come. Still masks, though.

Christmas Cantata

The PUMC Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra provided a Christmas Cantata during Traditional Worship on December 18, 2022. (Narration by Andy Kaye included poems by Pender member, Saundra Sandrock)

The Cantata was live-streamed and individual videos are available here.

The entire Christmas Cantata dis available below:

Christmas Social

The Christmas Social was held between the services on December 18 at 10 am in our Gathering Place. We had carols, cookies, tacky Christmas sweaters and ties.

Advent Continues

December 18 was the fourth Sunday of Advent.

The season of Advent, which comes comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming" or "visit," begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the church year for Christians.

During Advent, we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for and need of forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming.

Although we are accustomed to celebrating Christmas on a single day, in both Christian tradition and on the church calendar, the Christmas season lasts from sundown on Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) through Epiphany of the Lord (Jan. 6). This is sometimes referred to as "the 12 days of Christmas."

Advent begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. 

The color for Advent has traditionally been purple, although some churches have adopted blue. In practice, however, as churches increasingly incorporate the symbols and decorations of Christmas during Advent, more and more red, green and gold are appearing. The United Methodist Book of Worship upholds the traditional color of purple for Advent, signifying penitence and royalty, but also allows blue, the color of hope."

Adapted from https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/to-be-united-methodist-what-is-advent

Christmas Eve 4:00 pm

Family Service

This service will feature an extended “time with children” for the little ones. Kids will be invited to be a part of the nativity scene in an impromptu way. We will also have electric candles to light at the end. There will be scripture reading and preaching.

Music will be provided jointly by Traditional and Common Ground teams both services on Christmas Eve!

This night is about the tradition, about the familiar, about feeling at home in this newly renovated sanctuary. It seems that with the text from Luke this year that we can’t get enough of the shepherds. As they are among the first witnesses of the miracle, their presence is a clue to the meaning of this mystery. Come experience the joy with us!

This service was live-streamed. and in person.

Christmas Eve 9:00 pm

Candles, Carols and Communion

Join us for a traditional candlelight service. You’ll hear and sing the traditional Christmas Carols. There will be scripture reading and preaching. We’ll serve Holy Communion. There will not be a children’s activity at this service.

Music will be provided jointly by Traditional and Common Ground teams both services on Christmas Eve!

This night is about the tradition, about the familiar, about feeling at home in this newly renovated sanctuary. It seems that with the text from Luke this year that we can’t get enough of the shepherds. As they are among the first witnesses of the miracle, their presence is a clue to the meaning of this mystery. Come experience the joy with us!

This service was live-streamed and in person.

Christmas Morning

Birthday party for Jesus. A carol sing and a message for children and adults was the order of morning worship. We joiedn for cake in the Gathering Place. Kids, and young at heart, wore their pajamas if they like! There was one service only that morning!

Journey to Bethlehem

For children and their families…

Kids had the opportunity to walk along with Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

They completed a census with the Roman guard before they met Mary and Elizabeth to grind some grain and sew a quilt square, helped Joseph in his carpentry shop, and visited the manger scene to take a photo with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and the animals in the stable.

Children also created their own ornament and drew a picture to remember the Nativity scene.

This was an excellent way for preschool and elementary age children to develop memories of Christmas. Moms and Dads tagged along as children walked through the journey at their own pace.

Christmas Caroling

We met in the church’s parking lot on December 5th at 6:30 pm. We reached out to our community though singing. Do you like to sing in the shower? You need not be a choir member.

In Bethlehem Inn Dinner Theater

Sunday, December 12 at 5:00 pm

In Bethlehem Inn, December 12 at 5:00 PM

The church’s newly remodeled Gathering Place became the Bethlehem Inn!

This is a slideshow of the firsthand observers of the events that occurred on the night Christ was born. The Innkeeper and his family presided over the guests who travelled to Bethlehem 2,000 years ago for the census.

Our dinner was interrupted by famous travelers and astral influences. Others arrived looking for the promised birth of a baby.

There was harp music and singing too!

All proceeds will be used to support Pender assistance to an Afghan refugee family, FACETS (Hypothermia Shelter), and Layette and Hygiene Kits for the United Methodist Commission on Relief.

This was a unique, fun, humorous, and memorable way to experience the Nativity of the Lord.

Santa's Ride Toy Collection

Pender Hill School collected toys for the Santa's Ride program again this year. We are excited to work with the Fairfax County Police Motor Squad to collect new toys and books for children in local hospitals.

Items were donated in the marked bins in the Church Lobby and the downstairs Preschool hallway until Sunday, December 12.

Please contact Ann Hines or Sarah Hocker with any questions.

JDC Holiday Party

Bring some Christmas cheer to the teens at the Juvenile Detention Center on December from 18th 10:30 am - 1:30 pm.

When you sign up, Maryann Weber will e-mail instructions closer to the date.

Christmas Cantata

The Pender UMC Sanctuary Choir and members of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra provided a music cantata during traditional worship service on December 19 at 9:00 am. The Narrator was Ken Ferris. Selections included Let There Be Christmas, Breath of Heaven, Angels We Have Heard on High and All is Well.

The Cantata was live-streamed.

Christmas Social

There was a Christmas Social between the services on December 19 at 10 am in our Fellowship Hall.

We had carols, cookies, tacky Christmas sweaters and ties. There wias a tacky Christmas outfit contest. Someone won a prize!

Slideshow coming soon.

Christmas Eve 4:00 pm

Family Service

This service will feature an extended “time with children” for the little ones. Kids will be invited to be a part of the nativity scene in an impromptu way. We will also have electric candles to light at the end. There will be scripture reading and preaching.

Music will be provided jointly by Traditional and Common Ground teams both services on Christmas Eve!

This night is about the tradition, about the familiar, about feeling at home in this newly renovated sanctuary. It seems that with this year’s dinner theater and the text from Luke this year that we can’t get enough of the shepherds. As they are among the first witnesses of the miracle, their presence is a clue to the meaning of this mystery. Come experience the joy with us!

The scriptures will be Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20.

This service will be live-streamed. and in person.

Join us live at Pender UMC 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA US 22033

Christmas Eve 9:00 pm

Candles, Carols and Communion

Join us for a traditional candlelight service. You’ll hear and sing the traditional Christmas Carols. There will be scripture reading and preaching. We’ll serve Holy Communion. There will not be a children’s activity at this service.

Music will be provided jointly by Traditional and Common Ground teams both services on Christmas Eve!

This night is about the tradition, about the familiar, about feeling at home in this newly renovated sanctuary. It seems that with this year’s dinner theater and the text from Luke this year that we can’t get enough of the shepherds. As they are among the first witnesses of the miracle, their presence is a clue to the meaning of this mystery. Come experience the joy with us!

The scriptures will be Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20.

This service will be live-streamed and in person.

Join us live at Pender UMC 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA US 22033