Author: Isabella Dougan

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

During her sermon on the 8th Sunday After Pentecost, Rev. Jenny Smith Walz explained the real meaning of Justice. My take-away from her sermon is this beautiful quote, and I think we can all live by it. 

She stated that we resort to Charity because Charity is a lot easier for most of us than Justice work is. “Justice work makes us uncomfortable,” she added. She preached on the topic of the “Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge” based on Scripture from Luke 18: 1-8.  In this story, we see a poor widow constantly asking a corrupt judge to help her get justice. Pastor Jenny concluded by saying, “If we want justice for others, we must love and respect them.”

Click here to watch Rev. Jenny Smith Walz preach about “Justice.”

Written by Isabella Dougan

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

It is an inspiring quote on forgiveness by Rev. Jenny Smith Walz. During her sermon on the 6th Sunday of Pentecost, also Communion Sunday, Pastor Jenny admonished us about the merit of continued forgiveness. The Scripture was from Matthew 18: 21-35.

“Jesus freed people from their sins over and over again, and it got him crucified,” reminded Pastor Jenny. “Yet Jesus went from that Cross, into death and resurrection,” she said, “showing us that Freedom from all of those sins is released through God’s long action of love and forgiveness.” “Forgiveness frees us from captivity,” she added. Failure to forgive holds us captive to our bitterness and keeps us in a cycle of revenge. Forgiveness requires us to name the pain and the hurt while we see those in need of forgiveness as also God’s beloved children.

What now?

“What if we were to have a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that allows people to tell their stories of pain and victim hurt, that allows the pain and hurt to be felt, and Freedom to be found?” Pastor Jenny mused. “Then, we can love each other and together transform the world!” Ask yourself: Where is it that you need to be set free? Where is it that you need to be redeemed?

Click here to listen to Rev. Jenny Smith Walz preach about “Forgiveness.”

Written by Isabella Dougan

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

 

On the Firth Sunday of Pentecost, Pastor Rebekah Anderson preached on “Baptism” while “Exploring the Depths” and left us with this quote. The Scripture was from Mark 1: 1-14. 

Pastor Rebekah reminded us that we are all incredibly vulnerable, and our vulnerability connects us. She stated, “Baptism calls us to open our hearts to the vulnerability of ourselves and others so that we can recognize that we are all inextricably linked through God’s love. At Baptism, God’s redeeming grace washes the old away and creates in us a new life.” 

Even though we are baptized once, we must return what our Baptism means, over and over again. This way, we open our hearts to be made new each day. There is a new life for us in Baptism, again and again when this happens. This new life offers us the forgiveness that we can give to ourselves for hurting others and, to people who have caused us harm. 

What to focus on now:

    1. Return to what Baptism means for us.
    2. Dive in again and again deeply into the depths of these waters.
    3. Take a hard look at ourselves and the world’s brokenness and recognize our culpability in its pain.

It will wash away hurt and resentment in incredible ways that will make more room in our hearts for love and joy. “May we find that path to the water and dive in again and again, together,” said pastor Rebekah. Click here to listen to Pastor Rebekah preaching about “Baptism.” 

Written by Isabella Dougan

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

On the Fourth Sunday of Pentecost, Rev. Eric Skitch Matson preached on “Celebration,” referring to God’s Jubilee, and left us with this critical quote that is good to remember always.

The Scripture was from Leviticus 25: 8-13. God had promised Jubilee living would flourish throughout all the land for all its inhabitants. Jubilee living should also be “the time to pause, reflect, ask for forgiveness, and discern what God calls us into next.” For Rev. Matson, “Jubilee resets the affirmation of what the future should look like, and allows for freedom to dream dreams of a better future for all.” He reminded us that “the Jubilee Scripture was a crucial part of the call for freedom, even when it meant going against the norm of the day.” It was also a call to end slavery, and we should be happy that Juneteenth is now a Federal holiday. Therefore, we must not forget to reconnect with God and allow God’s Holy Spirit inside us to guide us forward into the work we need to do.

What to focus on now:  Start Jubilee living now by celebrating and having a reset. Come worship with us at Princeton United Methodist Church and be a part of our beloved community. If you missed all or part of the service,  Click here to listen to Pastor Skitch preaching about “Celebration.” 

Written by Isabella Dougan

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

 

On the third Sunday of Pentecost,  Rev. Michael Reed, Executive Director of Maker’s Place,   gave us at PUMC this great quote on abundance! So, if you are thinking of having an abundant life, you must try to remember this quote. Rev. Michael Reed preached together with PUMC lead pastor Rev. Jenny Smith Walz about ‘divine abundance,” as worship this week is about “God’s Time To Shine.”

On honoring Lori Pantaleo, for receiving an award for her work at The Maker’s Place, Rev. Reed explained how Lori was always the one to go first. Then, she gave her time, gifts, and experience to others. Maker’s Place distributes diapers to over 500 struggling families at five locations in the Trenton area.“You must be the one that goes first.” advised Rev. Reed. “When you go first, when you offer what you have to others, that will kick up abundance for others.”

What to focus on now: “We must take what we have and give it to God and allow God to multiply it for God’s purposes.” Rev. Jenny Smith Walz reminded us,  “Abundance is where all people can flourish, where there is enough for all of us to flourish as a community.” She has always told us that we are enough because God is enough!  We can all experience divine abundance. So come worship with us at Princeton United Methodist Church and be a part of this beloved community.  CLICK HERE to watch the PUMC worship service and listen to the sermon. 

Written by Isabella Dougan

 

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WORSHIP HYMNS | VIRTUAL CHANCEL CHOIR

On this Third Sunday after Pentecost, PUMC Virtual Chancel Choir will treat us to a lovely performance of “E’en So Lord Jesus, Come Quickly,” a 1953 sacred choral music piece composed by Paul Manz and is his most performed work. Manz wrote this piece, adapted from text based on Revelations 22 when his three-year-old son was critically ill. Many ensembles and choral groups such as the King’s College Choir frequently performed this piece and popularized it. During the service, our PUMC Accompanist to Children’s and Youth Choirs Julia Hanna will play beautiful pieces of classical music and accompany us on the piano as we sing our Pentecost hymns.

The hymn”Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing” is a fine choice for Pentecost.  It was written by pastor and hymn writer Robert Robinson in 1758 when he was 22 years old. The tunes generally used for singing this hymn are ‘NETTLETON,’ and an arrangement by Mack Wilberg. There are various revised versions  of the song in over 2,000 hymnals. I learned this hymn as a child and loved especially verse 4, “Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood,” because it tells how God’s redeeming love saved me.

Click here to watch a Youtube video of “Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing.”

Visiting UMC pastor  Rev. Michael Reed, Executive Director of Maker’s Place,  together with our PUMC lead pastor Rev. Jenny Smith Walz, will preach on the sermon series “God’s Time To Shine,” looking at  “Jubilee,” while focusing on “Abundance.” The Scripture is from Acts 2:1-24.   Also, during worship, we will honor our graduates with a special video and celebrate Lori Pantaleo’s recent Laity Award from our Annual Conference. 

Let us lift our hearts to the Lord as we come before his presence with joyful songs and music. To join us in this worship service at 10:00 AM., click here. 

Written by Isabella Dougan

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

 

In her sermon on the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Rev. Jenny Smith Walz preached about “Sabbath Rest.” The Scripture was from Luke 6:1-11. “Sabbath,” said Pastor Jenny, “is a way set apart for rest, for holiness, bearing witness to the glorious love and providence of God.”

“When we are supposed to rest, how much do we rebel against that?” mused Rev. Walz.  “How much do we struggle against being still, being quiet, allowing things to happen around us without being caught up in them?”

On the Sabbath, God rested. We, too, are meant for Sabbath rest.  We should not be worried about not having enough. God owns everything, and God will provide for us. What then is Sabbath rest? “How can we create times of rest without being idle or lazy?” Pastor Jenny asked us. Let’s share our answer on the PUMC Facebook page.  If you can, specify the effect her message had on you.

What next? It’s time to practice Sabbath. Take a rest and experience God’s Holy Spirit in your life. Come worship with us at Princeton United Methodist Church, and be a part of this beloved community.  Click here to watch the PUMC worship service and listen to Pastor Jenny’s sermon.

Written by Isabella Dougan

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TRINITY SUNDAY HYMNS | JULIA HANNA ON PIANO

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. During worship, PUMC Accompanist to Children’s and Youth Choirs Julia Hanna will play these pieces of classical music:  “Bell-flower (From Tres Miniaturas)” by Lecuona, “A la Chopin from Vingt Pièce “by Godard, and “En Forme De Fox-trot” by Martinů. She will accompany us on piano as we sing these Trinity hymns: “Christ Is The World’s Light,” “Shine Jesus Shine,” and “O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice.” 

“O Happy Day” was written by Philip Doddridge, an English Non-Conformist minister, and the tune by Edward Francis Rimbault. This hymn celebrates the joy that Doddridge and the Non-Conformists in 18th-century England felt for their Savior and God . “O Happy Day” has become gospel music today and  was made famous by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. It  became an international hit in the US, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The song has appeared in many movies, including the Walt Disney Film “Secretariat.” Actor, songwriter, producer Maurice Ryan Toby born in Willingboro, New Jersey  sang “O Happy Day” in “Sister Act 2” when he was 17 years old. 

Click here to watch a Youtube video of “O Happy Day.”

On Trinity Sunday, we celebrate the Christian Doctrine of the Trinity – the Three Persons of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This means God is one in essence and three in person.  Click here to join us in this worship service as we lift up our hearts to the Lord with joyful songs and music.

Written by Isabella Dougan

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

 

In her sermon on Pentecost Sunday, Rev. Jenny Smith Walz encouraged each of us to ask the Holy Spirit to “tear our hearts apart for God’s people.” We should also ask the Holy Spirit to “anoint us to be God’s speakers, sending us forth into the world on the winds of his ‘Holy Trouble’ to continue Jesus’ work in the world around us.”

On the Day of Pentecost, the miracle of speaking in tongues and hearing many different languages was stirring up trouble among the people. “The Holy Spirit stirred up a lot of ‘HolyTrouble’ in Jesus Christ, and he went to the Cross for that,” said Pastor Jenny.  In the Scriptures, we also see other instances of God stirring up ‘Holy Trouble.‘ God not only did it with Jesus, but he also did it with Moses, Peter, and others.

Pastor Jenny asked us, “How is God stirring up ‘Holy Trouble’ in your heart?” Share your answer on the PUMC Facebook page. What next? Ask the Holy Spirit of God to inspire and instigate you to make a change in yourself and in the world.

You, too, can experience God’s Holy Spirit in your life. Come worship with us at Princeton United Methodist Church, and be a part of this beloved community.  Click here to watch the PUMC worship Pentecost service and listen to Pastor Jenny’s sermon.

Image source: UMC Images

Written by Isabella Dougan

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PENTECOST SUNDAY HYMNS | SOLO HANDBELL MUSIC

 

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday and is meant to be a special day of worship. The service will spotlight Hyosang Park, our solo handbell artist, performing “Every Time I Feel The Spirit,” by an unknown artist, with arrangement by C. Anderson. PUMC pianist Julia Hanna, as always, plays beautiful classical music throughout the service. The Pentecost hymns include: “There’s a Spirit in the Air,” “Spirit Song,” and “Spirit of God.”

The hymn “Spirit Of God,” was written by Steve Garnaas-Holmes and generally sung to the tune DOVE SONG. To watch a Youtube video of the song, Click here.

Our confirmands Jax Obe, Lena Hamilton, Thomas Germán, and William Ponder lead worship on this Pentecost Sunday, with Rev. Jenny Smith Walz delivering the sermon. The Scripture is from “Acts 2:1-24.”

 Pentecost is the beginning of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. As we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon all Christians, we must ask ourselves where the Holy Spirit is working in our lives. Then, together we should ask the Holy Spirit to bring peace, love, and justice to our world. Click here to join us in this worship service as we lift up our hearts to the Lord with joyful songs and music to celebrate the Holy Spirit moving within us and among us.

Written by Isabella Dougan