Messenger | July 9, 2025
Messenger | July 9, 2025
This week's release at a glance:
- Pastor’s Message
- Make a Difference for SPAN
- Mission Team Lands in Malawi
- We’re Looking for a Part-Time Custodian
- Medical Professional Volunteers Needed
- Trip to Visit Our Cuban Partners
- It’s Almost VBS Week at Woods
- Pastors’ Bible Study
- Softball Game vs. St. John’s
Pastor's Message
As we continue to pursue the focus of this year’s Stewardship theme, Perceiving God’s New Things, we may be thankful for the many new things emerging around us at Woods. Our Mission Ministry has just commissioned a new team to ministry in Malawi, WoodsWork built three new houses for families in Ohio, Vacation Bible School will welcome some children new to the program this year, and we recently made new clearings for trees on the campus. A new generation of birds are out there likely watching new Pickleball activities.
One of the things we do best here at Woods is to cultivate and birth new things, and we enjoy perceiving and participating in God’s new things. This Sunday, Sarah Wilson will be preaching and proclaiming God’s Word among us. Sarah is an Inquirer with the Baltimore Presbytery sponsored by Woods Church in the process toward ordination. There is much to perceive that God is doing here.
As we consider that and how these new things are perceived, we are grateful to be a part of this family of faith (whether you are newly born or newly 98 or 107 like Ginny Jensen and Charlie Phelps respectively). Join us in worshiping this Sunday and perceive some of these new things for yourself!
Grace and peace,
—Pastor Nancy
Church News
Make a Difference for SPAN
Please help our children “Build a House” during Vacation Bible School next week with donated items for SPAN (Serving People Across Neighborhoods)!
Food insecurity does not take the summer off and our children will be learning about service. Please consider donating canned meats, rice, instant and canned potatoes, pasta and sauce, canned vegetables, syrup, jelly, cereals, pancake mix, coffee, tea, brownie and cake mixes, with frostings, laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, deodorant, soap, and toothpaste.
Donations can be dropped off Sunday–Thursday, July 13–17. Look for the “House” the children build in the Church lobby at the end of the week. Thank you!
Mission Team Lands in Malawi
The Woods Mission Team arrived in Lilongwe, capital of Malawi, on Tuesday afternoon, July 8, tired and excited to serve. They filled your donated suitcases with over $3,000 worth of donated medications, more than 200 pairs of shoes donated mostly by Woods CDC families, and lovingly made prayer shawls for the staff of Ministry of Hope. The suitcases will be given to students who have received MOH scholarships to universities and technical schools. Thank you each for your generous contribution(s).
Additional suitcase donations will be used for future Cuba trip donations. Again, thanks for your generosity.
Please continue to keep our Mission Team in your prayers: Kathy Lohff, Cathy Hess, Scott Rundle, Andy Hilder, and Allison Hilder. They’ll be in Malawi through July 22.
Woods Seeks Custodian
Woods is seeking a part-time custodian to work Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The position description includes hours and required tasks. Interested candidates should contact Jason Jackson at jjackson@woodschurch.org.
Medical Professional Volunteers Needed
Woods is looking for members who are either physicians, physician's assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, anyone in the medical field, who would be willing to note their presence in a particular worship service or church event (musical production, etc.)—in the event there is a medical emergency—and would be able to help assist until the EMTs arrive.
Email Jason Jackson at
jjackson@woodschurch.org for more information.
Mission News
Trip to Visit Our Cuban Partners
A trip is being planned by Baltimore Presbytery to central Cuba for November 4–10. This will be an opportunity to meet our Presbyterian brothers and sisters from several churches in El Centro Presbytery, as well as spend time with our friends at Sancti Spíritus.
Our plans are time-sensitive, as visa information will be needed by July 15. Please contact Marty Clayton at mclayton@breezeline.net for more details.
Children's News
Get Ready for VBS
Sign up for Vacation Bible Study! Learn along with your Woods Church friends and family. We will play and pray with music, games/activities, service, art, and worship as we learn about building up our community and ourselves with Micah 6:8.
VBS Supper Club is open to all friends and family. Stop by after work and leave the dishes to us! Register on the Woods Church webpage.
Monday–Thursday, July 14–17, VBS and VBS Supper Club is where all the children of God are gathering!
Education & Small Groups
Pastors’ Bible Study
Lead Pastor J.C. Austin and Associate Pastor Nancy Lincoln Reynolds offer a weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays, 12PM, 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.
In Our Community
Game Day vs. St. John’s
Game On! This Sunday, July 6, 2PM, we’re taking the field against St. John the Evangelist Church at Elvaton #1.
No experience required and you already made the team! Qualifications include: you must bring a smile, and be at least 16 years of age by December 31. No full-time commitment is necessary.
If you are interested, contact Andrew Wiley at 443.867.8803 or wileyas1@gmail.com.
A Moment of Prayer
God our shepherd,
you are our safe place, our shelter,
our ground, our breath.
We turn to you in hope and trust,
knowing we have come this far by faith,
and you will guide us all the way
Mold our daily patterns for your purposes
so that we may live as one heart and mind
with you and our neighbors,
rejoicing together and praising your holy name,
through Jesus the Christ.
Amen.
From Call to Worship Volume 59.1
