August 21, 2022
More information:
Welcome
We're thrilled you're here! You're invited to visit us for a worship service or event, or listen to a sermon online to get to know us.
We’d love to learn more about you, where you are in your walk with Jesus, and how we can welcome you into the Pender Church family.
Our Vision Statement: By following Jesus and reaching out to others, we seek God's transformation of ourselves and our world.
Who to Expect
- Two Worship Styles - Learn more about each Worship Time here
- Traditional Worship at 9:00 am
- Common Ground Worship at 11:15 am
- Real People
- Lots of Children. Children are welcome during the services or our nursery is located downstairs. We provide infants and toddlers (newborns through age 4) with a safe and caring Christian environment
- An Opportunity to Connect with Others
- Time to Reflect Upon Jesus in our Lives
- Outstanding and Varied Music
- A Sense of Having Done Something Important with your Day
We are an “Access for All” church, meaning it is important to us for people with wheelchairs or other challenges to have easy access to doorways, hallways, bathrooms, ramps and elevator, seating (places for wheelchairs), and kid-friendly (coloring books, booster steps for toddlers, high chairs).
Hearing aid and large-print hymnals are available during the service. (See one of our ushers.)
What We Believe
It is our desire to create disciple making communities. We do this through reaching people, teaching them to love and serve Jesus, and sending them to reach, teach, and send others.
Our hearts cry out for more of God. Pender is a “big place” with a “huge heart.” We care about being a community.
In Fairfax, we know it’s possible for us to live a totally anonymous, distant-from-one-another life. At Pender, we desire a different kind of community and life together. We believe Jesus has called us to be a very special community who cares about the world. It’s the essence of what “makes us tick.”
Our mission statement says it this way, we exist to make disciples of Jesus Christ. For us, that takes a very special passion for real community.
For Your Kids and Youth
Our goal is that all children and youth will know and experience the love of God, and then extend that love to others.
Follow: We want those who are teaching and spending time with children at Pender to be followers of Jesus, who then teach children how to also be followers.
Reach: Our desire is for God to reach your child in a unique and meaningful way. This may come through some of our various Children’s Ministry events and activities, or through the loving community of Pender.
Transform: Ultimately, a relationship with Jesus changes lives. Living in the love that God has for us is a true gift and often times transforms the way in which we live.
Learn More
Newcomers Class
During COVID this class has been on hiatus but will resume soon
I'm interested!
Special Needs
Pender United Methodist Church has made a commitment to be an Accessible Congregation, as part of the National Organization on Disability campaign of the same name. We proudly display their logo -- a wheelchair user surrounded by a heart -- to show that as a congregation, we strive to provide physical access and also open our hearts and minds to people with all types of disabilities. Some of the ways we do this include:
- Automatic doors at the front entrance (for security reasons, these doors are functional during certain times only, including worship and meeting times)
- Large-print hymnals available upon request
- Hearing assistance devices available during worship
- Pews with space available to accommodate wheelchairs
Worship Styles: Contemporary
Not everyone is cut out for the same worship style.
Common Ground is Pender United Methodist Church's contemporary worship experience led by our worship leader and a rock-style worship band. You'll find worship to be more interactive and energetic, and you'll hear messages that are relevant to everyday life.
Young children are more than welcome! We have a play area within our worship space set aside just for them, or they can enjoy our awesome Sunday school program. We also have paid staff nursery care available for our littlest ones.
You will leave feeling closer to Jesus, challenged and more prepared to serve Him, and warmed by a relationship in a genuine community of Christ-followers. We hope to see you soon!
Worship Styles: Traditional/Blended
At 9:00 am, Pender offers a traditional/blended worship service. The service includes traditional hymns and music as well as some more contemporary worship and praise music.
You’ll find a variety of musical groups participating in these worship services, ranging from children, youth and adults to vocal, flute and bell choirs. On special occasions, we bring in an orchestra
At Pender’s traditional/blended service, you get the best of both worlds! We celebrate the traditions of our faith at these services with the scriptures, the creeds of the church, the symbols of our faith and a word from the Bible that applies spiritual principles to everyday life.
Holy Communion is shared the first Sunday of every month. Come and join us for worship every Sunday in the main sanctuary at Pender.
We hope to see you soon!
Opportunities to Serve

JDC (Juvenile Detention Center)
Join us in worship with the young men and women at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center.
You may feel like your individual participation doesn’t matter, but it does! Over and over again, the staff tells us how we make a difference in the young men’s and women’s lives and the lives of the staff!
Sign up at pender.church/signup

Calling All Shepherds!
If you like working with children (ages PreK - grade 6) and are willing to help distribute materials and assist children in the classroom, we'd love to have you join our Children's Sunday School team!
Help our children to feel God's love and the support/encouragement of our Pender family! (Sundays, 10:15 - 11am. Sign up for 1 week or 40!) Please contact Jane McKee or Joyce Munt.
Sign Up Here

Music Ministry
Choir and Handbell Rehearsals resume in September
Brian will find a place for you!
Common Ground
Have you always wanted to play or sing in a worship band? Common Ground is looking for a few good men and women. Contact Uriah Moore, common ground worship leader.
About Pender's Music MInistry

The Safety Committee
Our current needs:
- One person to sit in the office carefully observing the camera displays. That person would stay for a second hour, either before or after, to participate in either the traditional or contemporary service.
- Two Greeters, one outside each of the church's two entrances, performing a friendly greeting service, while keeping a watchful eye on folks approaching. Those Greeters come into church and participate in the service after it starts.

WFCM Food Pantry Donations
All donations of food and toiletries are welcomed and needed. Leave items in ehe Western Fairfax Christian Ministries blue cart outside Pender's main door.
Item of the Week: Rice (through 8/25/2022)

Technical and Creative Team
We work together for sound, lights, recording, computer graphics, and motion video. We need to grow our AV team!
Have you ever wondered how Pender Church produces our online live streaming services? Who runs the soundboard, slideshow, and camera, and what are their responsibilities?
If you are curious or interested in volunteering to help with the online production of our church services, please attend an AV rehearsal on Thursday night at 6:00 pm Teens are welcome!
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