Worship Styles

At 9:00 am, Pender offers a traditional/blended worship service.  The service includes traditional music as well as some 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.

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

We have digital bulletins available listed on this site.  If you would like one, either text the word "9am" (no quotations) to (540) 712-6278 or scan the QR code with your cell phone.

Be sure to note, that whatever you save that number as in your phone book, that is how it will appear on your phone. You can save it as the name of Pender UMC!


Welcome to Common Ground

Not everyone is cut out for the same worship style.

Common Ground is Pender UMC'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! 

We have digital bulletins available.  If you would like one, either text the word "11am" (no quotations) to (540) 712-6278 or scan the QR code with your cell phone.

Be sure to note, that whatever you save that number as in your phone book, that is how it will appear on your phone. You can save it as the name of Pender UMC!



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

Palm Sunday April 2, 2023 - Pender Lead Pastor Will White will preach on "This is the Day" based on Matthew 21:1-11.

This is the day that the Lord has made. For us. Because of us. It could be argued that out of all these high and holy days, this one is the most … human. “Well, of course,” you might think. This week is a divine and human encounter; in fact, we might argue it is THE divine and human encounter. This is true; but hear me out. This day, this slash day, this Palm/Passion Day is the most human day of this whole event.

"This is the Day" is the first sermon in the Holy Week series titled "In Awe of Grace". Every day is a holy day if you live into the truth of the ever-present God. Every moment is a moment rich with possibility and hope; every relationship is a potential insight into the activity of the Spirit; every conversation is a living word of grace and peace. “Best of all,” John Wesley supposedly said as his last words, “God is with us.” Amen. Yet there are times and seasons that seem even more holy. There are moments that reverberate with the living presence of the living God, and our only proper response is to fall to our knees in awe of grace. These eight days are one of those times. Some argue they are the preeminent days when history, our history, and our understanding of self and God and life itself all changed. From Palm Sunday through Easter, the world is remade, a new creation, and we are blessed to be a part of it, blessed to receive a gift beyond words, which is nothing less than eternity itself.

We look forward to seeing you!

All of Pender's services are streamed live and in person. Masks are currently optional.

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


The Next Traditional Service will be April 2 at 9:00 am


The Next Contemporary Worship will be April 2 at 11:15 am