Gratitude is the appreciation of a gift received. Happiness is the enjoyment of completely living in the present while sharing God’s love and grace with our neighbors. Hope is the belief and knowledge that our Father will provide for all of our needs. Today, the Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee (S/PPRC) encourages all of us to think of these gifts and prayerfully consider providing a Christmas Love Offering for all our staff. Our staff continually, faithfully, and with great reverence actively support Pender’s world-changing mission of: inclusive love, deepening our faith walk, racial and social justice, providing passionate worship, offering radical hospitality, teaching and encouraging each other to develop an authentic relationship with Christ, and participating in sacred resistance activities as the Holy Spirit calls us.
In partnership with the Pender family, our staff share the good news, provide hope, and are making disciples for Jesus Christ—the core of what we do at Pender. It is hope that keeps us moving forward, towards becoming more Christ-like in our daily lives. Hope has sustained our work in the domestic and international mission field for more than 150 years. We have celebrated and rejoiced with our children, youth, and families as they have connected with each other, in learning about Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit all through our recorded, streaming, and online Bible studies, Sunday School classes, and youth group sessions. The staff have delivered essential and insightful weekly podcasts highlighting sermons and critical conversations with people from the community. Our staff partnered with our volunteers to provide opportunities of sharing the sacrament of holy communion together, and to joyfully engage with each other through a variety of evangelical outdoor parking lot and fireside chat events. Telephone calls, cards, visits, and our powerful prayer warriors have reached out into the community letting folks know they are loved and remembered.
The collaboration of Pender staff and volunteers have provided worship music in both contemporary and traditional styles that encourages us to disconnect from the outside noise and be fully present in worship services, funerals, and weddings. Newsletters, Constant Contact announcements, outdoor message signs, as well as our creative social media presence on Facebook, You Tube, Tic Toc, and Twitter repeatedly provide information to us and the Fairfax community regarding Pender events. The powerful sermons that challenge and encourage us to reflect on our personal relationship with Christ and how we share the good news and the gospel with others is a testimony of our staff gifts and offerings to each of us.
S/PPRC encourages each of you to prayerfully consider making a love offering gift – indicate "Love Offering Gift" in the memo of your check or online giving by Friday, December 31, 2021. Please note that love offerings are not tax deductible.
