Circle of Friends Christmas Luncheon at Rocky Hill Inn

The PUMC Circle of Friends had an enjoyable time at their annual Christmas Luncheon on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, with 13 women around the table at the Rocky Hill Inn, Central Jersey’s premier gastropub.

Rocky Hill Inn, with its awesome decor, is located in a building constructed in 1750 that was frequented by George Washington. It is owned by PUMC members Evan and Maria Blomgren, Evan being the chef/proprietor. Maria explained the history of the restaurant to the ladies and gave them a tour of the upstairs rooms, where they enjoyed viewing antique paintings on the walls, art pieces, family heirlooms – items collected and treasured over the years. The ancient wine bottles were magnificent.

The menu was not only enticing but the food was delicious and the presentation eye-catching, with a little gift put at each place. After prayers and a short speech, the friends tucked into their hamburgers, veggie burgers, lamb burgers, calamari, tuna sashimi, fries and salads. For starters, everyone got ‘devils on horseback” free of charge. Dessert was great, what with their signature bread pudding, and crème brûlée. Every meal was delicious!

IMG_1101The friends had a lot to talk about and there was much buzz around the tables creating a very lively atmosphere. This photograph is a testimony to the enjoyable time shared by the Circle of Friends, which welcomes all women of the church.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ladies!

All church women are invited to join the Circle of Friends at their next meeting on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, in the Fellowship Hall at PUMC. For more information, please contact the church office at 609-924-2613 or visit www.princetonumc.org.

Written by Isabella Dougan

Carol Singing: Breakfast December 13

Celebrate the season with song at the breakfast sponsored by the United Methodist Men on December 13 in Fellowship Hall. A hot breakfast is served at 8 am, and the program starts at 8:30. Everyone is invited; a $5 donation is requested. It is such a pleasure to again welcome Dr. Karen Zumbrunn to share fascinating stories behind some of our favorite carols. The week before, on Advent Night, she is scheduled to lead the singing – a PUMC tradition for more than 20 years.

For the UMM breakfast Karen will share the fascinating stories behind such favorites as Joy to the World, The First Noel, and On Christmas Night (known as the Sussex Carol). The program will feature medieval carols as well as folk carols from Canada and Czechoslovakia (the latter was written for bagpipes!) Typically, carols are written in a language that can be shared by all. They invite communal singing. The season for singing carols is all too brief — so come and enjoy the music!

Light the Night for Womanspace December 7

luminariesFor more than 30 years, Womanspace has been working with victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. To raise awareness of the on-going presence of domestic violence in our midst — and to raise money to support this valuable non-profit organization — help to sponsor Womanspace Communities of Light on Monday, December 7.

Hundreds of luminaries will be lit around homes and in various community spaces as a symbol of our stand. Luminary kits will be on sale for $10 after both services through December 6. Use the kit to light up the outside of your home, or donate it back to the church to help light up our church home.

Domestic violence and sexual assault are not just women’s issues, and they are not just individual or family problems. Violence against women is a human issue, and a social problem. By illuminating the night we send the message that peace begins where we are

Circle of Friends meets November 10

Hymns and Christian songs enrich our lives and faith — here’s a chance to learn more about them, when Dr. Karen Fanta Zumbrunn shares stories and tunes at the Circle of Friends2015 11 circle of friends meeting on Tuesday, November 10, at 10:30 a.m. at PUMC’s Fellowship Hall.

All PUMC women are invited to attend — and bring your friends! Please note that the meeting is NOT at the usual venue.  Bring your own lunch. Dessert will be provided.

Known for her swinging foot-tapping style, Karen’s nickname is “Dr. Jazz.”  With degrees from Ohio State, Harvard, and a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, Karen has always been a working jazz musician. She performed at the Blue Note in Paris with well-known European and American musicians and has recorded two CDs.

As a Christian and a  longtime member of PUMC, she has been a Sunday School teacher and is a regular volunteer reading tutor in Trenton at TASK. She shares her enthusiastic music with our church, at Vacation Bible School and for Advent family celebrations, and she for two years she was director of music at Kingston UMC.

So — join us in song!  Requests will be taken. There will be no wrong notes in this program!

Knitting for faith and prayer

The prayer shawl group meets Tuesday, September 29. Everyone is invited, no matter your skill level. Here’s how Catherine Williams describes her experience:

I joined the prayer shawl group originally to keep my daughter company. She loved knitting and crocheting but was anxious about being in the company of women so much older than she was. She soon discovered her fears were needless, even as I soon discovered the time spent was therapeutic. The evenings were low-keyed, relaxing, uplifting, and a wonderful opportunity for connecting to God through “prayer-work.” I learned stitches I had not known before and my teachers were all so gracious. I encourage anyone – especially if you’re not yet connected to a group – to give the Prayer Shawl group a try. My daughter is away at college now, but has carried with her treasured memories of those calming Tuesday evenings spent with her crocheting buddies!

Interested?  E-mail: prayer-shawls@princetonumc.org or call 609-924-2613

Adult Ed Choices — which is for you?

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Adults have lots of education opportunities this fall. Two classes meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30. The Contemporary Issues class, in the Library, will study the Historical Figure of Jesus by EP Sanders. top right from those pictured above. This informal class focuses on issues that individuals, families, groups, and countries face in today’s world. Past topics have included changing attitudes towards religion, understanding major world religions, science and faith, and politics and religion.

The Heart of Our Faith class meets in Fellowship Hall at 9:30 on Sundays. Rev. Don Brash, PUMC’s resident theologian, will lead the study of the Epistle to the Hebrews.Hebrews is richly textured with beliefs and ideas,” says Don. “It contributed to Christian thinking about faith, worship, transcendence, ministry, the church, and more.” 

Phoebe Quaynor leads an in-depth 32-week Disciple Bible Study on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. This year’s book in the valuable series, Remember Who You Are,  focuses on such themes as the call to remember, the call to repentance, the need for renewed vision, and the place of community. It includes the major and minor Old Testament prophets (except for Daniel) plus the 13 years traditionally attributed to Paul. For a sample chapter click here.

Informal study groups meet Monday mornings, Tuesday evenings, and Thursday afternoons. To join the Disciple study, contact phoebe@princetonumc.org. All the other groups welcome drop-in visitors, so just drop by!

 

Learn to Love Telling Your Story!

Looney_000“I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.”
– English evangelist, Katherine Hankey

Narratives about our lives and faith journeys are powerful sources of inspiration.  “Too often these stories remain untold, yet they can be incredibly moving for building community,” says Anna Looney, who teaches about narrative medicine in her Humanism & Medicine course at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. With masters’ degrees in English literature and sociollogy, and a doctorate in sociology, she is an assistant professor in the Medical Student Education division of RWJMS Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

Anna is the breakfast progam speaker for this Sunday, September 20 at 8 a.m. All are welcome; a $5 donation for the delicious hot breakfast, cooked by the United Methodist Men, is suggested.

Anna will help us understand a bit more about the importance and power of personal stories for hope and inspiration. Our time together will begin with an explanation of the how narratives function as the framework for our self-awareness and personal history. Anna emphasizes emphasizing how personal narratives are central to our faith and daily walk. We’ll have an interactive opportunity to learn about ourselves and each other in a new way.

this most amazing day

“I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.” E. E. Cummings

On Sunday September 13 at 11 a.m. bring your lawn chair, we will be worshiping outside – in the church that God created. Gathering at Mercer Park East we will sing, and pray and revel in the natural beauty that will surround us. “The verdant green of the grass and trees will be our walls and floor,” says Scott Sherrill, pastoral assistant. “The clear blue of the sky will be our ceiling. The chorus of birds will accompany our hymns.”

2015 june picnic pic 9

Following the service at the park we will have our church community picnic. Everyone is welcome. Please bring your favorite outdoor game to enjoy. If your last name begins with A-Q bring a salad or side dish. If your last name begins with R-Z bring a dessert. This is an opportunity to enjoy the company of friends, to marvel in the beauty of God’s creation, and to celebrate the beginning of our new congregational cycle.

DIRECTIONS: From the church, take Washington Road to the Route 1 traffic circle and continue on Route 571 (Princeton Hightstown Road) for about 2.5 miles. After the high school, turn right on South Mill Road and continue for a little over 3 miles. (South Mill becomes New Edinburg Road and then Edinburg Dutch Neck Road.) Before you get to Old Trenton Road a sign will point you to Mercer County Park East. GPS address: 1346 Edinburgh Road, Princeton Junction NJ 08550.

 

The Gospel According to Calypso

2015 apr catherine preaching

Many value the Calypso – the indigenous music of Trinidad and Tobago –  exclusively as tourist or Carnival entertainment, says  Catherine Williams, pastoral care assistant.

“However there is much that is akin to preaching in this genre, and the calypsonians themselves would be the first to admit it,” says Catherine. She returned to her home country of Trinidad & Tobago to research her doctoral thesis. “It was my delight to discover anew this cultural gem from my country of origin, and to use it as a lens through which to focus on local preaching.”

Catherine will speak at the Circle of Friends meeting on Tuesday, April 14, at 10:30 a.m. at Rocky Hill’s Trinity Church. The Circle of Friends, part of United Methodist Women, meets bimonthly. RSVP to 609-924-2613 and big a bag lunch; beverage and dessert will be provided. All women are welcome.

Catherine&HomileticsStudents
A January class of Homiletics students at the West Indies School of Theology in Trinidad and Tobago.

UMW Bakes for Womanspace

7 P1010809Hundreds of cookies are on their way to Womanspace today, baked by United Methodist Women putting our new kitchen to great use! Here is the photo album.

Womanspace replies: Please know that your hard work and the time you put in will touch many…and often it is the little touches of comfort that carry us through difficult times.