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January 28, 2026

 This week's release at a glance:

• Pastor’s Message
• Pastor Nancy’s Retirement
• Winter Weather Advisory
• New Members Class, February 1
• The Prince of Egypt Tickets
• Prince of Egypt Family Movie Night
• Adult Mission Trip, April 20–25
• Won’t You Be My Valentine?
• Super Bowl of Caring
• Middle School Tubing Trip
• High School Ski Trip
• Save the Date for WoodsWork 2026
• New Adult Ed Series
• Weekly Bible Study
• Support SPAN

Pastor's Message

Friends, I want to thank you for all the love and support that Sarah and I have enjoyed from you during our engagement and for our wedding. It has meant so much to both of us to have you celebrating with us, and I am very grateful for the time away for the wedding and a honeymoon in Belize. However, I am back as of this Sunday, and there are three very important things happening in the life of the church in the first week of February that I want to hold up for you.

The first is to remind you that we are celebrating with the Rev. Nancy Lincoln Reynolds the weekend of February 7–8 as she concludes her extraordinary service to God with Woods Church for 23+ years, retires from pastoral ministry, and returns fully to her calling as a psychotherapist. Please make every effort to be with us in person for at least some of these events to give thanks for Nancy’s ministry and express your own appreciation to her.

On February 7, we will be having a retirement celebration at Chartwell Country Club from 2:30–5:30PM. I encourage you to be there for as much time as you can, since there will be a full program of celebratory presentations, so it is not simply a reception! Tickets are $20; contact the Church Office for more information.

On Sunday, February 8, we will have a single worship service at 9:30AM in the Sanctuary, in which Nancy will preach her final sermon as our pastor. Immediately following the service, there will be a brief Congregational Meeting in which we will conduct the formal business of “dissolving the pastoral call,” as Presbyterians describe this moment. Following the meeting, we will adjourn to a reception in Fellowship Hall, at which we will have the opportunity to speak with Nancy personally as well as present the congregational Love Offering and say a blessing over her as she retires. It will be a weekend of wonderful stories, presentations, laughter, and a few tears, and all of those things are gifts from God!

The second important thing relates to the pastoral transition process. As you know, the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee that you elected is hard at work searching for our next Associate Pastor. However, it is a long process, and we anticipate it will be at least six months after Nancy’s retirement before we will have a new associate pastor nominated, elected, and starting ministry with us, and it could easily be months longer than that; it is the nature of pastoral searches in the Presbyterian Church (USA) these days.

So, if you’ve been wondering, “what will we do when Nancy is gone?” There are two important things to say about that. First, nobody could ever replace Nancy Lincoln Reynolds! But, at its January meeting, the Session approved a job description for an “Interim Pastoral Associate,” which is a full-time pastoral position designed to bridge the gap between Nancy’s departure and the new Associate Pastor’s arrival. The position will focus on Adult Education/Formation, our Welcome ministries, and Pastoral Care, while participating fully in worship leadership on a weekly basis.

The third important thing is that the Session also approved a candidate for that position, which is our own Sarah Wilson! As you know, Sarah has been serving as the Interim Coordinator for Adult Education, Pastoral Care, and Small Groups at Woods already, so she is ideally suited for this interim pastoral role. Sarah has her M.Div. from Union Presbyterian Seminary and is well into the ordination process in the PC(USA). Because of recent policies approved by the Presbytery of Baltimore, she is able to fulfill all the pastoral responsibilities of this role despite not yet being ordained, including celebrating the sacraments, since she is on the ordination track, so we are grateful for that new flexibility from the presbytery. Sarah will shift into this new role as of February 1, so there will be a seamless transition for Nancy’s departure.

I look forward to being back with you all, to celebrating Nancy and her ministry with you next weekend, and to working with Sarah as we move towards the next chapter of pastoral leadership here at Woods!

Peace and blessings,

—Pastor JC

Church News

Winter Weather Advisory

Due to the continuing concerns related to the snow/ice around the entire area; Dinner Church which was scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, is canceled. Further, all evening (after 5PM) activities scheduled at the church for January, 27, 28, and 29 are canceled.

At this time, we are planning to hold both the 9:30AM and 11AM worship services this Sunday, February 1.

Please watch your email, the Woods Church website, and Facebook page for updates on church operations.

Pastor Nancy’s Retirement

Our dearly loved Pastor Nancy Lincoln Reynolds will retire from both Woods Church and pastoral ministry this February. In countless ways through her pastoral care, preaching, and leadership, she has helped guide, nurture, and support our congregation and the larger community. We are planning events in Nancy’s honor on the weekend of February 7 and 8.

One of the ways we will celebrate Nancy’s ministry among us is through what the church often calls a “Love Offering,” meaning a financial gift that expresses our love and gratitude for her and her ministry among us. If you would like to contribute to this gift, you may do so in several ways. With cash or check, please put it in an envelope with Nancy’s name on the memo line for the envelope and check itself. You can either mail them in or leave the envelopes in the drop safe attached to the end of mailboxes in the Church Office.

Alternatively, you may give online at woodschurch.org. The last option is to text “WOODS NLR” to 73256 from your mobile device.

We encourage you to be as generous in your giving as Nancy has been in her spirit and service to God through our church.

New Members Class

We would love for your to join our family! Our next new members class, which was scheduled for Sunday, February 1, will now be held on Sunday, February 15, 10:45AM, in Founders Room.

If you have questions or would like to RSVP, contact Kathie Hamlett at khamlett@woodschurch.org.

The Prince of Egypt Tickets Are Now Available

On March 13–15 & 19–21, 7:30PM, & Saturdays, March 14 & 21, 2PM, Woods Church will present The Prince of Egypt, a sweeping, epic musical featuring music and lyrics by Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, with a book by Philip LaZebnik. This powerful story follows two brothers—one destined to rule as Pharaoh, the other called to rise up and free his true people. Both must confront a destiny that will change history forever.

The cost is $20 per ticket.

Important Notes:

• Due to the inability to fully blackout all windows in the performance area, matinee performances will have ambient sunlight entering the space.
• This production includes strobe lighting effects, loud noises, and scenes depicting fighting and stage combat.
• This show depicts intense situation and thematic elements adapted from the book of Exodus. While children are welcome to attend, parental guidance is suggested.

Prince of Egypt Family Movie Night

We are excited to announce our Prince of Egypt Movie Night on Friday, February 13, 7PM. We will be having a potluck dinner and viewing of the DreamWorks version of Prince of Egypt. Dinner begins at 5:30PM in the Fellowship Hall, followed by the movie in the Sanctuary at 7PM. Feel free to come for all or just part of this fun gathering. This event is free to all, but we ask that you consider contributing a dish/snack/dessert to share. The church will provide pizza.

Click here to RSVP. We are looking forward to seeing you there, if you have any questions please email Alyssa Barlis at performingarts@woodschurch.org.

Save the Date: Adult Mission Trip

Woods adults are welcome to join us on a Mission Trip, Monday–Saturday, April 20–25. We will travel to Richmond, Virginia, and work with the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity affiliate. We are looking for 10+ volunteers.

Click the button below to download an informational flyer. Contact Tom Lerario at txlerario@gmail.com or Scott Rundle at srundle69@gmail.com with questions and/or to sign up.

Youth News

Save the Date for WoodsWork 2026

WoodsWork 2026 will be held June 22–30. We are still finalizing our location, but we are hoping to open registration by the end of the year! Download the flyer for more details.

Children's News

Won't You Be My Valentine?

Yes, we are once again gathering valentine’s day cards for our home bound friends. You can hand paint them ( L.R. last year), fold them (L.L.), or get down-right crafty! Drop your valentines into the basket near the Welcome Desk, or come to a Crafting and Cupcakes Valentines Making birthday party on Tuesday, February 10, 3–5PM, in Room 155.

Everyone is Welcome in Worship at Woods

Sometimes little ears are sensory sensitive. Therefore, the Children’s Ministry has noise dampening headphones available on Sunday mornings. See Kat or Lindsey to sign out a set of headphones. Return them after the service. The headphones are cleaned after each use and ear guards will be changed.

This is one way that Woods Church works to be inclusive of all from the tall to the small!

Education & Small Groups

More Than Time: Measuring Days in Wisdom

“Teach us O’ Lord to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12

NOT a class about time management, NOT a class about New Year’s Resolutions...

• What is a “heart of wisdom?”
• What is the role and purpose of time in God’s creation?
• The difference between a busier life & a better life
• How does a person measure their life?

Led by David Lohff, whose eclectic journey as a pastor, hospice chaplain, business owner, and fitness instructor may be helpful to point out scenery as we observe life together.

Join us on Sundays through February 19, 11AM, in Room 208 and on Zoom.

Weekly Bible Study

Lead Pastor JC Austin and Associate Pastor Nancy Lincoln Reynolds offer a weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays, 11AM, to examine the upcoming Sunday’s scripture readings before they are presented in worship.

Join us on Zoom and gain a new understanding of scripture and enhance your worship experience.

Mission News

Urgent November Food Drive for SPAN

Did you know 1 in 9 Marylanders may no longer receive SNAP benefits due to impending stoppage of federal food aid? This will have an immediate effect on food requests above and beyond our typical needs.

Please donate canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, beans, pasta, rice, instant potatoes, broth, bouillon, canned fruit, laundry detergent, dish soap, deodorant, and toothpaste. Place donations in SPAN bins behind the Welcome Desk in the Church lobby.