Dear Church Family:
Historians will probably call our era “the age of anxiety.” Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us. —Billy Graham

When Billy Graham wrote those words in 1965, no one knew how true they would be 55 years later.

At its best, anxiety distracts us from our relationship with God and the truth that He is “Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25).

At its worst, anxiety is a crippling disease, taking over our minds and plunging our thoughts into darkness.

But God wants so much more for us than to walk through life full of fear, worry and anxiety.

The Bible tells us in the book of Philippians, chapter 4:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Our instructions don’t stop there. The chapter goes on to tell believers exactly what we should focus on. Our focus should not be fear, terrorism, illness, death, evil or even a “world health crisis”.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --- if there is any excellence, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me --- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV)

May God’s blessings and grace be with you and your loved ones during these difficult times.

Pastor Dick

Dear Church Family:
40 years, 40 years in the wilderness. We’ve been stuck at home roughly 40 days...but 40 YEARS!!
As I was reading this story again the other day in Exodus 16:1 the Israelites are coming to the wilderness to a place called Sin.  It was the 15th day of the second month... It hit me, that’s just about where we are in our days of quarantine.
This is where the Israelites started to grumble.
Are you there? Oh goodness I am!  It may not be out loud but there are times. I mean if I have to break up one more toddler wrestle mania fight over something there are two of (why are we even fighting over this), or watch one more news report, or clean up one more disaster during a zoom meeting just to turn around and find out my son is at the zoom meeting showing everyone what he just ate or making faces or worse, or if I have to try to figure out what I’m going to make the family to eat from the hodgepodge we have left in the cupboard....or...or...grrr.
In verse 3, the Israelites said “if only we had died at the Lords hand...” ok, I’m not there yet, but I’ve definitely grumbled a few times. About silly, everyday things, that have to be done anyway.
The Israelites are hungry, weary from travel, they’ve just broken free from slavery for pity sake, they have no idea what’s ahead...the list goes on. Just like it does for us and when the big picture is so confusing; when will this end, who will it affect next, will there be someone I love that on the flip side of this I’m never going to see again, was that thing I just touched infected, did that person breathe too close to me, will I have a job after all of this, how long will my current job even keep me on, how will I pay the bills, what about my kids education, what does college look like for next year, our wedding, what if we run out of food or toilet paper, which “truth” about this stuff that’s out there is the actual truth...
Here’s what’s standing out to me from this story (there’s so much more to it, but for today...this). God listened to their grumbles, and He provided for them, no fussing back, no judgement, no scolding. His actions said “I know you’re hungry, I know you’re weary, I know you don’t really hate me and everyone else in the world, you’re really not going to die out here in the wilderness, just hang on, have a snickers (or some manna, whatever) we’re gonna get through this together.
The Israelites needed water, God provides it from a rock! Then there’s a huge battle, God helps them win it! This part here I love, then Moses tells of what the Lord has done. He shares with his father in law, and they take some time to worship and praise God for His goodness and His mercy on the Israelites!
He knows, He knows where your heart and thoughts are in all of this. He’s in this with us. He’s fighting this battle for us. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the bills that are paid, the food that is on the table, that the kids haven’t killed one another yet, or better yet, we haven’t killed them.  That the honey-do list can now be a honey-did list.  Let’s celebrate that we have time with our families in a way we’ve never experienced, time for those devos we always said we’d do, etc.
The end of this is almost in sight, and if you can’t find anything else to celebrate, celebrate the fact that it’s not going to be 40 years worth!!!! And when we come back out of this let’s celebrate what the Lord has done.  Let’s high five and hallelujah and hoop and holler for the Lord is GOOD. And remember these words “Do everything without grumbling or arguing...” Philippians 2:14
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Pastor Delinda

Dear Church Family:​

When we want to show someone we’re really listening, we give them our undivided attention.  When we want to show others how much we love a team or brand, we wear the team colors and give our undivided loyalty.  We seem to have no problem giving our attention to some things.  But what about God?  This Psalm of David, speaks a little truth we need to hear.  

Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. (Psalm 86:11)

I love this prayer.  It’s one that is asking for help to give God our undivided attention.  David’s prayer is that he might have an undivided heart—one that is fully devoted and dedicated to God.  It's a genuine connection that allows God to speak and teach.  Imagine what would happen in your life if you gave God your undivided attention.  What would God want to say?  What would God want to do in your life?

Today, I challenge you to spend a moment asking God for this same undivided heart to help you grow in your relationship with Him.  Then, ask yourself this question:  What’s one thing I can do to when distractions come the next time I try to pray and connect with God?
​
 -Pastor Michael

Dear Church Family:​
Shalom
 
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
 
I like this quote from Charles Spurgeon:
“Understand that you must not look upon the possession of joy and peace as being the absolutely necessary consequence of your being saved.  A man may be in the lifeboat, but the lifeboat may be so tossed about that he may still feel himself exceedingly ill and think himself to be still in peril.  It is not his sense of safety that makes him safe, he is safe because he is in the lifeboat, whether he is sensible of this or not.  Understand then that joy and peace are not infallible or indispensable evidences of safety, and that they are certainly not unchangeable evidences.”

There may be times when we doubt whether we have the joy and peace we should have as Christians.  Certainly, joy and peace may be our usual element, but circumstances may challenge how we feel. This may happen more often for new Christians, but even mature Christians may have struggles in these areas.

I believe the promises found in Isaiah 26:3 and II Thessalonians 3:36, that I can claim the Shalom of Christ at all times, keeping my focus on Christ Jesus, trusting in the Father’s will and plan.  As we practice the reality of the Holy Spirit with us and in us, we can find that peace that passes understanding, regardless how things may feel.

Shalom in Christ,                              
John 14:25-27
Pastor Bill

Dear Church Family:
Behold the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them. Isaiah 42:9
It seems like it has been a while since this craziness has all began. I am sure most are wondering when is this gonna be over so I can go back to the way of life as we knew it? As I sit in the mornings reading scripture looking out the east door of my home, I sometimes get the chance to watch the sun come up and in my heart God is speaking to me saying it’s a new day and I love you still. 
This I recall in my mind, Therefore I have hope.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness. 
The Lord is my portion says my soul
Therefore I hope in him! Lamentations 3:21-24
This will pass away and we should want to seek God with a new passion, to love our families with a new love and go into our communities with a new desire to spread the word of God to those we meet. We must remember that God still sits on his throne and his unfailing Love for us is new every morning loving us right where we are. So in the midst of all that has happened with this, let our hearts be renewed by this Love that God has for us and may we be new when this has passed.
I hope that you have an amazing day. 

Pastor Marty
1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Dear Church Family:​
Each week we are trying to improve and make it easier to access our services online.  We pray that you have found the services uplifting and encouraging, allowing you to grow in your relationship with Jesus.

This week we are able to open all three streaming platforms—YouTube, Facebook, and The Woods Online—for both 9:00 and 11:00 services.  You can now watch on your favorite platform at either 9:00 or 11:00 by simply clicking one of the links below at the beginning of the hour to watch our services.

Additionally we will continue to broadcast the sermon at 10:30 on WIBW - MeTV. (Channel 13.2, Cox - 11, U-verse - 12)

(One quick tip: if you log on a little before the stream starts, occasionally you may need to refresh your browser for the stream to begin.)

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Blessings!  

Dear Church Family:
​
How are you developing spiritually? Many of us tend to view spiritual development as the self-driven portion of our walk with God. As we learn more about God and His character and desires for our lives, we become aware of areas of our life which do not line-up with this divine direction and correct those behaviors. This is a good thing, to be sure, but can be a heavy burden to carry at times. This was my view of how spiritual development occurs until I read the following.

In his book Invitation to a Journey: A Roadmap for Spiritual Formation, Robert Mulholland talks about spiritual development as a reversal of cultural norms. We give ourselves up to Christ and allow Him to form us as he sees fit. “Spiritual formation is the great reversal: from acting to bring about the desired results in our lives to being acted upon by God and responding in ways that allow God to bring about God’s purposes. So to lose one’s self in this context is to give up the deep inner informational-functional orientation that governs the lifestyle of our culture.”

Allowing God to develop us as he sees fit, rather than how we would want Him to develop us can be a very painful experience. I can’t speak for anyone else but going through this pandemic has forced me to confront some things in myself that I had allowed myself to overlook when I was attempting to drive my own development. But know this: as painful as that experience may be, Jesus experienced it too. My prayer for each of us is that we can look at our lives through clear lenses and mimic Jesus’ prayer in the Luke 22:42, “not my will, but yours be done."
​
-Pastor Jared

Dear Church Family:

REPETITIVE
​
I love me a good old Hymn. “My Wonderful Lord” is one of my favorites. I love me a brand new worship song too. “Smile” by Sidewalk prophets is in my top ten presently. Some say the new songs get a bit repetitive. That may be true, but then you bump into Psalm 136. Every verse ends with His love endures forever. Every single one, 26 of them. Talk about repetitive! Yikes!

Makes me think God is trying to teach me something about His love. The psalmist rehearses creation, the exodus from Egypt, and other moments of Israel’s history, each event followed by His love endures forever. Why does the writer do this?  Well, because it is TRUE! And because we are forgetful. Take time to read through it this morning and then use it as a personal prayer for this time right now. It may sound like this:

Give thanks to the Lord for HE IS GOOD,
His love endures forever
to him who placed us in our homes
His love endures forever.
and brought food to our tables and toilet paper to our bathrooms
His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and brave delivery men and women;
His love endures forever.
to him who provided soap and running water
when hand-sanitizer could not be found
His love endures forever.
and brought us through day after day of isolation,
His love endures forever.
or taught us to teach when schools were closed;
His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through covid 19;
His love endures forever.
to him who gave us courage and discipline through this great pandemic,
His love endures forever.
and brought us through grief with His comfort--
His love endures forever.
who instructed researchers and scientists,
His love endures forever.
who will bring an end to this pandemic
His love endures forever.
who gave us a land of freedom and resolve,
His love endures forever.
He who gave us opportunity to love our neighbor.
His love endures forever.
He remembered we needed our church family
His love endures forever.
so he taught us to use technology for worship.
His love endures forever.
He gives blessing in even the darkest day.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven who is with us always.
His love endures forever.
 
Holly Woodbridge 

Dear Church Family:

Do you recall the words from an old TV show The Sportsman’s Friend with Harold Ensley: "Gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin"? As a young boy, going fishing with my best friend was always fun with challenging opportunities to change and learn. Although we spent more time playing in the creeks and rivers than actually fishing, we learned it was easier to catch fish by feeding them first before you try to fish for them.

Peter and Andrew were also out fishing when Christ said to them “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  They left behind the comfort of everything they knew and were familiar with to follow him. Although after Jesus death, Peter found himself alone, separated from the one he had followed only to find himself face to face with the reality of the moment. Peter boldly declares “I’m going back to fishing.”  Going back to what he knew, was good at, back to the old way, back to fishing.

In view of our current world health situation, have you and I been tempted to say “I’m going back to the old way?”
 
From the moment we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we begin a lifelong process of transformation, being changed into the very likeness of Christ. However, being changed into His likeness also means that, like Christ, there will be times of trial, temptation and testing throughout our day to day lives.
 
Peter went back to fishing for it was easier to fish & return to the old ways, than to pursue righteousness. Christ called Peter, and is calling you and me; out of fishing just as Peter was called out of fishing for fish to become a fisher of men. Though Peter did not know how, Christ gave Peter a new method; feed my sheep.  
 
So today, even in light of the Coronavirus situation, Christ is calling you and me to stay the course, above all pursue righteousness, and do whatever possible to tend His sheep; your neighbors, the one down the street. Not just a-wishin, but going fishin; for men.

May God Bless and keep you in his care and Grace as you pursue righteousness, heeding His call to tend His sheep.

Pastor Jerry

Dear Church Family:

PSALM 46  (NLT)
1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude


The following devotion "Pause and Breathe" was written by Tracie Miles.  This was my personal devotion this morning.  I thought it was so applicable for where we are today that I wanted to share with all of you! 
(click on the link below)
​
Pastor Fran

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2020/04/17/pause-and-breathe

Dear Church Family:​
"Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations?"
 
Romans 8:29 --- “As in all things, God’s ultimate purpose for us is to grow more and more into the image of His Son”

This is the goal of the Christian, and everything in life, including the trials and tribulations, is designed to enable us to reach that goal.

It is part of the process of sanctification, being set apart for God’s purposes and fitted to live for His glory.

The way trials accomplish this is explained in --- 1 Peter 1:6-7: "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
 
The true believer’s faith will be made sure by the trials we experience so that we can rest in the knowledge that it is real and will last forever.

Trials develop godly character, and that enables us to --- "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” Romans 5:3-5.
Jesus Christ set the perfect example.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).  

These verses reveal aspects of His divine purpose for both Jesus Christ’s trials and tribulations and ours. Persevering proves our faith. --- "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 
Pastor Dick   
 

Dear Church Family:
Matthew 3:8-12 In an uncomfortable message for the listeners, John the Baptist maps out a new way of living to his listeners, just before they are Baptized and just before Jesus is baptized Himself.  It’s of repentance.  I have always explained repentance to the kids as turning away from...a turning away from the things of this world, the things that take us away from Christ, from sin. Could we too be in need of repentance?  Could this be a time God has given us, for us to analyze what has become important to us, to take a look at what was taking up so much of our thoughts, time and energy?  I know for me I was getting so busy before Covid 19, that it was hard to find time to have personal devotions and prayer time even.   John talks about how one is coming after him whose “winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Webster’s dictionary defines chaff as “the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain or something comparatively worthless.”  I like to call it the extra surrounding a seed.  What “extra” do you have surrounding your lives that was keeping you from Christ?   When things get back to “normal” what will you keep in your life and what can you do without?  What things are helpful to your relationship with Christ, what things are keeping you from Him or worthless.    Might I challenge you to take this opportunity to “burn away the chaff” in your life and to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” before it’s too late and we not only have chaff in our lives, but we in turn become the chaff?

May this be a time of renewal, repentance and a time of growth in Christ for you and yours?

In His service,Pastor Delinda 



Update:
There will be a memorial service via YouTube today at 2:00 PM for Arliss Hartmann.  

Here is the link:
 https://youtu.be/4t9PsGlSDZc

Dear Church Family:​

1 Corinthians 13:4 — Love is patient.

Have you ever wondered why Paul places patience at the top of the list when describing love?  Maybe you don’t even notice it.  But it comes prior to being kind or forgiving.  Why is patience the first word Paul uses to describe love?

What’s very interesting is the Greek word Paul uses here for patience is a descriptive one.  It figuratively means “taking a long time to boil.”  Think about a pot of boiling water.  What factors determine the speed at which it boils?  The size of the stove?  No.  The pot?  The pot may have an influence, but the primary factor is the intensity of the flame.  Water boils quickly when the flame is high.  It boils slowly when the flame is low.  Patience, then, “keeps the burner down.”

That’s a helpful clarification, don’t you think?  Patience isn’t naive.  It doesn’t ignore misbehavior.  It just keeps the flame low.  It waits.  It listens.  It’s slow to boil.  This is how God treats us.  And, according to Jesus, this is how we should treat others.

-Pastor Michael

Update:
There will be a memorial service via YouTube on Thursday at 2:00 PM for Arliss Hartmann.  

Here is the link:
 https://youtu.be/4t9PsGlSDZc

Update From WWCN For April 13th:​
A special THANK YOU to the Woodbridge family for the awesome job of leading us in worship for our Easter Service.  It was a very different way to celebrate Easter but the message never changed! He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!  What a wonderful message by Pastor Holmes! 

Arliss Hartmann went home to be with Jesus on Easter morning.  The church will be holding a memorial service on YouTube on Thursday at 2:00 PM. (Instructions will follow)

Josh Sinning is in the ER with severe pain in his right side.  We will post more when we hear from the family.

Neva Harris fell and is now recovering in Aldersgate Rehab. 

Ron and Traci Carson are proud new grandparents of Forest Wayne Owings born on April 10th.  Congratulations to Ron and Traci and to Dee Albright.   Blake and Maddie are enjoying their new roles as parents! 

Our church is helping supply meals to Stormont Vail hospital for the nurses and doctors on a couple of units as a thank you for their service to our community.  Contact Pastor Holmes for details if you are interested in helping in this way. 

Later this week we will be sending out new links for our upcoming service on Sunday.  Be sure to watch for your update in your e-mails. 

Continue to pray for our country, our leaders and all of our essential workers that put their lives on the line every day!  

We have NO Covid19 folks in our church diagnosed at this time. (Keep praying for God’s protection)

God Bless, Stay safe, stay home and stay in the Word!

Remember you are loved!
Your Pastoral Staff

Dear Church Family:​
Read: Job 38:1 – 9, 42:1 – 6
 
As Christians, we often like to talk about how “all things work together for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28), or how God says that He “Knows the plans he has for you” (Jeremiah 29:11). I have faith and confidence that every one of these things are true, however sometimes we have a hard time seeing the endgame when we’re in the middle of a crisis.

The message of Job is a little different. Yes, his story has a happy ending, and yes, this story does confirm the truths of the passages I mentioned above, but in the passages I asked you to read, God shows us through Job a difficult truth. At the end of all things, God is sovereign, and that sovereignty means that he does not owe any man or woman an answer.

I don’t believe that God caused the coronavirus as some local hate groups have started to say. However, I do believe that God is allowing it for His time and His purposes, and while I do not necessarily see where this is heading, I have faith in God’s sovereignty, and His promises of His love for us.
 
-Pastor Jared

Dear Church Family:
Update From WWCN For April 9th:
The “Covid19” virus may be keeping us away from each other, but it is NOT keeping us from wonderful times of worship!
With that in mind, as we have entered into this Holy Week, it just seems right for us to celebrate a Maundy Thursday service together. 
We have planned this service to live stream at 6:00 p/m, Thursday Evening, April 9th.
As you know, The Lord’s Supper plays a central role on Maundy Thursday. Towards the end of our time together we will partake of communion. Just follow the prompts in the service.
If you want to use the traditional elements, you may pick them up from the Church via a drive thru station located under the Church Canopy, Monday Thru Thursday from 10:00 a/m To 3:00 p/m.  You will find per-packaged elements in baskets for easy pickup. Just take as many as you need for your family. If you so desire, you can use elements from your home which you may already have on hand.(Bread and Juice)
This Thursday, we will stream our Maundy Thursday service to both Facebook and YouTube at 6:00 PM.
 
To access our live stream on Facebook:

• Login to Facebook and go to our Wanamaker Wood’s Page
• Scroll down until you see the post about our live video
• At 6:00 PM the live video will start automatically
• Alternatively, you can click here.

 
To access our live stream on YouTube:

• Click here
• You can also get to the YouTube streams from our website, wwnaz.org

Our Easter services will be live streamed this Sunday April 12th at 9:00 and 11:00 a/m. Go to our web site, Facebook, or YouTube to connect.
Cecil Wichert was taken to the hospital late Sunday evening with blood clots in both legs. He is out of surgery and in a room now.  Continue to pray for him and for Betty.  

We have NO Covid19 folks in our church diagnosed at this time. (Keep praying for God’s protection)

That is about everything I know that is happening in our midst. Stay in, stay safe and stay in the Word!

Remember you are loved!
Your Pastoral Staff