Know God  
Worship Info Worship services are offered on Sundays at 8:15 am, 9:30 am and 11:00 am. At 8:15 and 11:00 am the style is Traditional-Blended and 9:30 am is Modern/Contemporary.  
  Discover Jesus Jesus invites us to know who He is and what He has done, and is doing. United Methodist basic beliefs are about Jesus, and you can read more here.
Worship Team We celebrate God's presence as we worship. The worship team is multi-faceted and creative. They meet both in smaller groups and in larger entities to lift Christ up, coordinate, dream, and plan together. The team is made up of many people: pastors, musicians, ushers, worship support, sanctuary care, actors/actresses, set design team, communion servants, acolyte trainers, and audio-visual personnel.
  Audio-Visual Team We work together for sound, lights, recording, computer graphics, and motion video. 
  Blended Praise Band We commend, applaud, and magnify God in worship every Sunday by leading two praise songs in the traditional worship services. This small ensemble consists of rotating musicians. This acoustic blend engages singers with piano, guitar and acoustic styled instruments.
Common Ground Band The band plays on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am for common ground. This group is growing.
  Choirs Wonderful people sing their hearts out to God on Sunday mornings. All ages are enthusiastically involved. Theresa Carpenter, our Choir Director, will be happy to show you around and find a place for every child, youth or adult to sing or play an instrument! 
Handbell Choirs We are gifted with many handbell choirs for just about all ages, 4 years old and up. We'd love to have you join us. Talk to Theresa Carpenter soon!
  Orchestra Our orchestra plays once each month and invites both adults and youth to play.
Music Lessons Private music lessons are offered by several of our talented musicians for varying ages and groupings.
  Music Archives Common Ground and Traditional-Blended music is occasionally recorded and posted in our archives. These files are not for download but for listening pleasure.
  Children & Youth Music Children & Youth have a great time singing, and playing bells and instruments together. "Music Camp" (July) is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn and perform a musical rendition for one special evening. Accompanists, guest conductors, and "second adult" support are welcome and wonderful additions for our budding artists. Our Youth Choir, Bell Choir and Orchestra is open to anyone between 7th and 12th grades.
Membership or Baptism Baptism is our first step of obedience to Jesus Christ and marks our entrance into and partnership with God's family. Adults, infants and children are baptized at Pender UMC, recognizing the mystery of God's calling us to respond to Him at all ages and stages of life. To become a member at Pender we ask that you take sacred vows. The four vows are: 1) to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; (2) to believe in the Christian faith as contained in the Old and New Testaments; (3) to promise to live a Christian life; and (4) to uphold The United Methodist Church with one's prayers, presence, gifts and service. Speak with a pastor if you desire to join.

As a part of the family at Pender through baptism or membership we encourage you to enjoy getting to know some other people and the pastors through a variety of offerings. Periodically "Pender Connections Classes" are offered so you can get to know the church. 
  Holy Communion Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month in the Main Sanctuary and every Sunday in the Common Ground hall.

Holy Communion is open to all who would claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Grow in God  
  Library Looking for Christian reading or other materials? Welcome to our new resource center! The library is open for lending during normal business hours or on Sundays. There's something for everyone - videos to tapes to books.
Education Classes are offered on Sunday mornings for all ages at 9:30 am. New classes begin about every 6 months. Occasional educational opportunities are offered in short-term classes.
  Preschool Our Pender Hill Preschool is a non-profit, cooperative school where parents help as an aide in their child’s classroom.  Teachers provide a caring, structured format for pre-kindergarten children, ages 3 through 5. Volunteers of this ministry help support the school and its operations by serving as liaisons with the School's Director and the congregation.
Small Groups Small Groups include all types of interest. We encourage every member to be involved in a small group where they are known well.
  Men's Ministry Men love ribs at our place! Several great avenues are available for men to support one another, plunge deeper into becoming the men of God we're called to be, and to help our our neighbors in trouble. Join us for a Saturday morning Bible study, adventurous retreat, or eating together. 
Women's Ministry Women are wonderful! Every age jumps in for fun,  learning, and serving events. The United Methodist Women offer "circles" as a gathering for fellowship, service and support. Find a place to thrive as a woman of faith.
  Teens "Turning Point" is a vibrant outreach and ministry with teenagers in grades 7 through 12. Teens walk together in faith and life, helping each other along. Our Youth Director is Tim Lyberger on full-time staff. Tim will be glad to talk to you about all of the ways youth are fully  engaged in connection at Pender, including music (youth band, choirs, orchestra, bells), small groups, Sunday nights together, retreats, worship, and mission work throughout the community and world. We are proud of our youth and the way they help lead this "youth group" through their GPS team.
Bible Studies Bible studies happen throughout the week. Ongoing studies occur on Tuesdays at 9:30 am (a women's study); at 2 pm and 7 pm (Pastor Kenny's study); College-aged Bible study and a Youth Bible Study.
  Children Children's laughter - there is no sweeter sound to us or to God. What fun we have together! Vacation Bible School takes place both at Christmas time and in the summer. Here are some of the many Jesus-style activities which take place here: JLU (Jesus Loves You for 4th - 6th graders); several Children's choirs and handbell choirs; Sunday School classes; Harvest Party; Children's musicals; American Heritage Girls; Host of several Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; Month of Love in February, Easter celebration, Church Picnic, Harvest Party, special Sunday School crafts throughout the year,  Sunday School rallies, and the Christmas pageant. 
Mother's Day Out Mother's Day Out is an extension of the Pender Hill School sponsored by Pender. 2 and 3 year olds meet once or twice a week for a fun-filled and socially engaging time together. Parents take turns to facilitate the paid staff in providing a loving and caring environment.   
  Young Adult Group Our young adult groups meet on an ongoing basis for support, hanging out, Bible study and fun.
Walk to Emmaus The "Walk to Emmaus" is one 72-hour ecumenical growing in Christ experience. The weekend begins on Thursday evening and ends Sunday evening. You will live and study together in singing, prayer, worship, and discussion. 
Share God  
 
Global Missions Pender aims to be helping ministries across the world because we care for people everywhere. Short-term missions teams from Pender can be found in Peru, Paraguay, Guatemala, and Poland. Also, we financially support over 100 missionaries, 10 mission organizations, and 7 projects in 30 countries around the world, including the United States with Pender contributions of $350,000.

This budget is entirely separate from the general church budget.  "Faith Promise" giving is our missions budget underwritten by our Pender members through separate pledges received during our annual "missions conference" in the Spring.  
  Local & Community Help Pender has several local outreach programs, and works closely with Western Fairfax Christian Ministries to assist others.  We have a food pantry we keep stocked for those in need. Pender is an advocate for Sanctity of Life Ministries. A big summer mission trip takes many of our youth and adults to West Virginia in August. We also help through:
cell phone donations to the Fairfax County Police Department for domestic violence emergencies,
eyeglass donations for the Lions Club,
a collection of clothes, blankets, toiletries, food and water to distribute to the homeless.

Here now! The ReGift Thrift Store and Warehouse.
Servant Evangelism The primary way we are involved in evangelism is through giving love to others, or "servant evangelism."
  Mission Trips Our church sends Pender members all over the world and in the United States for short-term (week or two week) mission trips: Poland (sports camp), Guatemala, Peru (building a school), Paraguay, and Slovakia. Each Spring Pender hosts a Missions Conference where many of our missionaries join us to share their stories, faith, and hopes for the work ahead.
Communications The Communications Team is responsible for helping our church tell its story and get our news out!
  Web Team The Pender Web Team is made up of many members who work collaboratively for a ministry that we hope will meet thousands wherever they are. We have one very part-time paid staff person who heads this up.
Outreach Center Our Outreach Center collects clothing and furniture for the needy. It is open the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 10:00  a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

Here now! The ReGift Thrift Store and Warehouse.
  Social Ministries Primary support is offered to Sanctity of Life Ministries and to Africa University.
Food Pantry A small bag of groceries can mean the world to someone who has nothing. We bring donated items and place them in the shopping cart outside the welcome lobby as a gift for those who need that bag of groceries. We also work with Western Fairfax Christian Ministries in providing support for those who need help.
Love God & Others  
Congregational Care Congregational Care's purpose is to bring the love and comfort of Jesus to people with special needs and circumstances in their lives. The unit within congregational care used frequently is called "Martha's Table" consisting of monthly volunteers to provide food or care calls during sickness or the loss of a loved one.
  Family Ministries Our family ministry loves to get together for all sorts of activities. Pender is one big family made up of many smaller families, from singles to multiple generation families. We sponsor ways to be connected together as one big family and there's a place for you. Join us for dinners, picnics, summertime water games, pancake races, dinner and movie nights and other activities.
  Prayer Ministry The staff prays for all prayer requests twice a month, and prayer requests are prayed for via our prayer chain.
Welcoming Others Have you noticed a friendly "greeter" at our church doors? Our hope is that it feels like coming into a home when you come here and this ministry strives to help us feel at home with one another. They also "man" the Welcome Table.
  Seniors Group This group is called the Fair Oaks Christian Singles and if you're over 45 years old, you are invited to share weekly in different activities - outings, game playing, pot luck dinners.  
Visiting Guests Pender offers a Smiles on Wheels Visitation Team that visits those who are unable to come to church.
  Access for All As part of our health ministry, Pender strives to create building spaces where all are able to enter and thrive -- including automatically opening doors, room for wheelchairs, wide doorways, hearing assistance devices, large print hymnals, and much more.
Health Ministries We provide blood pressure screening clinics.
Pender Connections Class
 This class is offered several times a year for attendees considering membership with Pender. The group focuses upon building relationships and getting some basic information about Pender UMC.
Serve God  
Leadership at Pender We believe we have some of the best leaders in the world! Pender strives to help each member be in ministry in some form or fashion -- and according to their God-given passions, abilities and spiritual gifts.
  Discover Your Spiritual Gifts We believe you have a kingdom purpose and that it is our church's job to help you discover and live out that purpose.
Church Council
    We dream a lot around here and this group is our main dream gatherer and business manager. We have wonderful servants who help manage all of the ministries within our church including Trustees (building maintenance and legal oversight), Finance, Staff-Parish Relations Committee (staff and congregation relationships), and all of our Ministry Cluster Leaders. This organization is the executive body of our church.