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

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

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 ObeLena HamiltonThomas 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

SUNDAY WORSHIP HYMNS | VIRTUAL HANDBELL CHOIR

This Fifth Sunday of Easter is also Communion Sunday. Our theme for this Sunday is love. We will start our service with Julia Hanna playing a classical piano music “Pastorale from Album Pour Mes Petits Amis” by Pierné. Our first hymn, “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” is a famous hymn usually played at weddings. PUMC Virtual Handbell choir will treat us to a beautiful rendition of “Jesus Loves Me.” Our final song will be “I Come With Joy, A Child Of God, Forgiven, Loved, And Free.” We will end our service,  as we started, with another beautiful classical piece, “Rigaudon from 10 Piano Pieces” by Prokofiev. 

VIDEO “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Joy Of Heaven, To Earth Come Down” was written in 1774 by Charles Wesley and sung most often to Beecher by John Zundel. This poetic hymn covers themes of God’s love and ours, sanctification or Christian perfection, and is also considered a prayer. Its text is based in part on 1 John 4:16 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. It is a classic Anglican wedding hymn.

Rev. Jenny Smith Walz will preach on the subject “Perfected in Love.” Sunday’s Scripture “1 John 4:7-21” and John 15:1-8 will be read by Hyelim Yoon.  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

SUNDAY’S WORSHIP HYMNS | VIRTUAL CHANCEL CHOIR

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we will start our worship service with the hymn “Come, Christians, Join To Sing, Alleluia, Amen!” We will also sing the hymns “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” Julia Hanna will play classical music on the piano during the service.

The PUMC Virtual Chancel Choir will treat us to a special performance of E. Rentz’s arrangement of “In the Garden,” reflection of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ. This music has an upbeat rhythm that will make everyone want to get up and dance. So, let’s get up and dance and sing praises to our risen Lord!

            Video “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”

The hymn “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” written by Isaac Watts, refers to Psalm 23 and Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Watts, in this hymn, evokes the living water that Jesus offered the woman at the well (John 4:7–15.) He assures us that those who find themselves in the wilderness will be led back by truth and grace because our God is a God of mercy. You who believe in his name are God’s children and you will dwell in his house forever, not as guests, but as his beloved children.

We welcome Rev. Dr. Deborah Blanks, an itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, currently appointed to Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church in Princeton,  as our guest preacher on Sunday. She will preach on the topic “The Good Shepherd” based on John 10:11-18our Scripture reading for this service.

Click here to join us in this worship service as we lift up our hearts to the Lord with joyful songs and music.

[Video credit: YouTube] [Image Source: Google]

Written by Isabella Dougan

WORSHIP HYMNS | YOUTH SUNDAY

To celebrate Youth Sunday on April 18, we will have special musical performances of hymns we love featuring the Youth Choir. Other performing musicians will include Leanne Griffiths (piano), Gillian and Reanna Bartels Quansah (vocals), Delaney McCarty (flute), and Andre Penn (piano). There will also be classical music from Bach, Faure, and Mendelssohn.

Our hymns include “When The Poor Ones” and “No Hands But Yours,” written by Tom Shelton, PUMC Director of Children’s and Youth Choirs. Shelton has written many hymns and served as guest conductor at many music festivals for children and youth. We will start the service with one of my favorite hymns, “In Christ, There is No East or West.”

William A. Dunkerley wrote the hymn “In Christ, There Is No East Or West” in 1908 under the pseudonym John Oxenham, and is sung to the tune  ST. PETER (Reinagle). While it is appropriate for the Easter Season, some people criticized it for emphasizing masculine qualities.

 VIDEO   “In Christ, There Is No East Or West”

PUMC youth will lead our worship service, including prayers, music, and liturgy, with Ana Francisco-Cabus and Delaney McCarty sharing their youth testimonies. The Scripture is from “Matthew 25:34-40.”

Click here to join us in this worship service as we come before the Lord with joyful songs.

[Videos credit: YouTube] [Photo credit: PUMC Library]

Written by Isabella Dougan

WORSHIP MUSIC | SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

On this Second Sunday of Easter, April 11, Music Director Hyosang Park performs a handbell solo, and Pianist Julia Hanna treats us to beautiful classical music pieces.   Our hymns include “Spirit Of God” and “Open My Eyes, That I May See,” popular hymns for this season. “Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us, a favorite hymn of mine,” fittingly brings this service to its close. 

 The hymn, “Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us,” was first published by its composer Dorothy Ann Thrupp in a collection of songs titled “Hymns For The Young,” and sung to the music “Bradbury” by William B. Bradbury. It is a prayer  based on Psalm 23, with pleas for tender care from lost, needy children. The Shepherd responds with love. We are his lambs, and He, our Shepherd continues to lead us.

Video:  “Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us,”      

In this Easter season, we celebrate new life in Christ, who triumphed over death and is alive again. Come, let us worship in the light of his teachings and his healing mercies, and come before his presence with music and hymns.  Pastor Rebekah Anderson is preaching on “The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith,” as recorded in the Scripture Mark 7:24-30.  

Click here to join us in this worship service and share in songs and music.

[Videos credit: YouTube]  [Photo credit: PUMC Library]

Written by Isabella Dougan

EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP MUSIC

🎵🎸🎼“Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son; endless is the victory thou  o’er death hast won.” 🎼🎻🎵

On Easter Sunday, we experience the joy of Jesus’ resurrection and celebrate his victory over death. Christ has risen! Christ has risen indeed! Let us come before God’s presence with song and music and praise him for fulfilling the resurrection promise. Our talented musicians sharing in this service are Julia Hanna, the Chancel Choir, the Handbell Choir, William Gardner, Jenni Collins, Lori Pantaleo, Stephen Offer, and Tom Shelton. We are treated to a unique performance featuring a choral response with the “Hallelujah Chorus.” My favorite Easter hymn “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today” opens this Resurrection Sunday service.

Video:   “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”

Charles Wesley wrote most of the stanzas of “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” in 1739. This hymn is considered an anthem for Easter, and it remains a traditional processional hymn on Easter Sunday. It focused on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and became well known for the “Alleluia” sung after each line, added by an unknown author to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

On this Easter Day, God turned a shockingly painful situation into one full of celebration. If you’re suffering or struggling with a problem, talk to God and ask him with confidence to bring good out of your situation. We journeyed to the tomb with Mary Magdalene and discovered the stone rolled away. The empty grave remained to prove our Savior lives. Jesus died for our sins so we might be saved. God loves us, and because he lives, we will live too. 

 

[Video Source: YouTube] [Image Source: Google Images]

Written by Isabella Dougan

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP MUSIC

   🎵🎼🎺Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 🎼🎷🎵

On  Good Friday   we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at CalvaryThis Good Friday service features a special performance by our Virtual Handbell choir performing A. Sherman’s “What Wondrous Love Is This.” Because the Cross represents the way Jesus died, we also sing these three hymns, “Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross,” “Beneath The Cross Of Jesus,” and “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.” On this day, as we enter more deeply into the passion of Jesus, we allow Jesus’ passionate love for us to enter our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls more deeply as well. May our music inspire us to hold firm to our faith and rejoice that Jesus’ death paid the price for our sin. 

Video: “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”

Isaac Watts, a Christian minister, and hymn writer, wrote the hymn “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” in 1707 based on the Crucifixion. Watts is credited with some 750 hymns. Sung to the tune ‘Rockingham,’ it is used for many years by the BBC to introduce its 7am broadcast on Good Friday

Video: “Jesus Keeps Me Near The Cross”

 Fanny Crosby wrote the hymn “Jesus Keeps Me Near The Cross, published in 1869.  William Howard Doane composed the tune before Crosby wrote the lyrics. The hymn is based on Galatians 6:14. This is one of Crosby’s best-known hymns and has been translated into several languages, including Russian, German, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.


Click here to join us in this Tenebrae worship service based on the Seven Last Words from the Cross and share in songs and music.

[Videos credit: YouTube] [Image credit: Google Images]  [Photo credit: PUMC Library]

Written by Isabella Dougan

PALM SUNDAY | SING HOSANNA TO OUR KING!

  🎼🎻🎺 HOSANNA, LOUD HOSANNA! 🎸🎷🎵

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as he begins his journey to the Cross, riding on in majesty to die. Our Palm Sunday worship will feature special performances by all choirs and our pianist:

  • The Children’s and Youth choirs will sing the Introit “Antiphonal Hosanna” by G. Alan Smith.
  • The Virtual Chancel choir will sing “Hosanna to the Son of David” by B. Gesius.
  • The Virtual Handbell choir will perform “There is a Balm in Gilead” by Erik Whitehill during the Offertory.
  • Pianist Julia Hanna will play Blumenfeld’s “Prélude #9” and Joaquín Turina’s “Pequeña danza from Jardín de niños” favorite classical music of PUMC. We are grateful to all our musicians for lifting us up with such beautiful music.  

On this first day of Holy Week, as we sing “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna,” we join the crowds who went to meet Jesus, waving palm branches and spreading them along his way, as Jesus rode on a donkey into Jerusalem.

Video    “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” 

Video:  Hosanna in the Highest 

Click here to join us as we wave our palms and share in songs, music, prayer, listen to scripture, John 3:1-21, and to Pastor Jenny’s Sermon, “Repairing the Brokenness.”


If you’re looking for inspiration: Come worship with us at PUMC. If you suffer or grieve, you will find healing here. If you are burdened with sin, you will find forgiveness here. If you are exhausted, you will find rest here. There is a place for you here in our beloved PUMC community, where you will have the love and support of others.

[Video Source: YouTube] [Photo courtesy of PUMC]

Written by Isabella Dougan