A Note from Pastor Bruce - September 24, 2026

Dear Church Family:

We have had a wonderful response to my invitation for our Pender members and friends to consider participating in a Friends in Christ group.  For those who haven’t heard, these groups are designed to help their members in spiritual growth, personal support, and community formation in Christ.  As instruments of the Holy Spirit, similar groups (called “Class Meetings”) were essential to the growth of the Methodist renewal movement in 18th century England and its expansion to America and across the world.  They were prominent among American Methodists until the 20th century and now are being reintroduced again in some places as a powerful tool for transforming our lives and fellowship in this new day of God’s work through Christ’s church.  As I have shared with some of you, I have been in such a group for 16 years.  The Holy Spirit has used these weekly meetings with brothers and sisters in Christ to change my life in good and needed ways.

If you have not been able to attend our first two introductory sessions to find out more about the purpose and process of Friends in Christ, I will be meeting with all interested persons this Saturday, September 26, at 10:00 in the library.  If you did not sign up, but are interested or just curious, you are welcome to join us and have your questions answered.  If you cannot be there on Saturday, I would be happy to talk with you some time about this opportunity.  Finding out more does not obligate you to join a group. 

You have heard me say it before: I am convinced that God is doing a new work at Pender UMC for a new day of making Jesus’ disciples.  Could it be that developing deeper friendships in Christ will help you grow to become a more intentional and fruitful part of that great work?

Pastor Bruce

From the September 24, 2026 edition of This Week at Pender newsletter

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