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March 17, 2015October 6, 2020

Masks from the Congo: March 21 Auction

3 Luba Shankadi mask

This mask from the Congo is a traditional Luba craft, not created for the tourist trade. Bidding starts at $200.

This amazing Luba Shankadi mask will be on sale, in a live auction, at the African Soiree on Saturday, March 21. Anyone may buy other items at the African marketplace, from 4:30 on, but you need a ticket to the dinner to participate in the Kuba art auction. Go to the United Front Against Riverblindness website for tickets.

Also, a cowry-shell and bead purse. How unusual! Cowry shells were a form of money, so this purse is a double-entendre — cowry shells on a handbag that holds money. Bidding starts at $100.

And — just for fun — here is Jack wearing a title holder’s hat of office, similar to one in the auction. Our own Michele Tuck-Ponder will call the auction, all to benefit United Front Against Riverblindness, giving hope to thousnds of Congolese.

March 11, 2015October 6, 2020

Ruth Woodward, Pat Hatton: Quilt for ASP

A quilt designed by the late Ruth Woodward will be featured at the dinner auction, to benefit the Appalachia Service project, on Saturday, March 14 at 6 p.m. Ruth — a PUMC member who was committed to missions — did not finish it before she died, so Patricia H. completed and donated the quilt.

Her pasttime was quilting, but in her professional life she was an historian, author, and editor. She wrote the history of PUMC. She co-edited at least two volumes of a biographical dictionary and was a supporter of, and the historian for, the Women’s College Club of Princeton.

The dinner and auction, in Princeton United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall, will be hosted by youth in grades 9 to 12. The evening also includes many bargains at a silent auction. All proceeds go to the annual service trip to Appalachia, where the teens work to make homes warmer, safer, and drier. Tickets are $5.

To complete the circle, Michele TuckPonder will “call” the auction for this quilt, and she lives in the Woodward’s former house.
2014 11 slider for asp

March 10, 2015October 6, 2020

Strong and courageous, strong and courageous, strong and courageous”

2015 3 10 Scott Sherill Tuesday

Scott Sherrill, the divinity student who just happens to be married to Deb Sherrill, PUMC’s office administrator, led the Midweek Lenten Gathering. To illustrate the topic “Change of Circumstances,” he chose the story of Joshua, who had to succeed Moses and lead the Israelites into the promised land.

Scott — who just happens to have experienced many surprising changes of circumstances in the last year — reminds us that God strenthens Joshua’s resolve by promising “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5b)

Three times the Lord uses the same two words, strong and courageous, ending with “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Next in the “Change” series for Lenten Tuesdays:

Anna Gillette March 17: Change of Perspective

Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan asked us to shift our thinking, our judging, our ideas about what is right. Jesus challenges us to move beyond parameters and into a whole new way of living.

Bianca Baird March 24: Change of Heart
Jesus’ words to the Pharisees give us pause: “You honor me with your lips, but your hearts are far from me.” Jesus invites us to experience a change of heart that will in fact change every part of our lives.

Shivonne McKay: Change of Plans
God’s ways are not our own. We expect a conquering king and hero, but Jesus instead leads us down the road to Jerusalem and humbles himself on the cross. God changes our plans and replaces them with a love broader and deeper than anything we could imagine.

Scott interned at Hightstown Methodist Church last summer and is at Trinity Episcopal Church this academic year. We are blessed to have him participate in the life of this church!

PS: Joshua found out that God kept the covenant. The first city they came to crossing over the Jordan was Jericho, and we all know what happened there!

March 7, 2015October 6, 2020

The Feed Truck Folks in Mission

Volunteers organized by the Feed Truck from Kingston United Methodist Church held a Volunteer Meetup workday today (Saturday, March 7) at PUMC. Click here for the Facebook album and share!

We heard about the Feed Truck from its executive director, Jessica Winderweedle, when she preached at PUMC in January. Each month, The Feed Truck partners with a different local non-profit that works to alleviate food insecurity and economic injustice in our area (thefeedtruck@gmail.com).

Today the more than 2 dozen volunteers — seminary and university students, KUMC church members and staff, and PUMC volunteers — accomplished lots. In Fellowship Hall’s newly-renovated catering kitchen, they made chili for Cornerstone Community Kitchen under the direction of Darrell Baum, Feed Truck chef, and they also made raspberry jam. They helped sort mounds of clothing for the Clothes Closet at CDK and for Threads of Hope closet at Chambers United Methodist Church. They decorated breakfast bags for Cornerstone Community Kitchen and did other useful tasks.

Thanks to Christina Ong, a Malaysian student in her final year at seminary, Aron and Sara Tillema (both seminary students from California), Katie O’Hearn (on the staff at KUMC), KUMC volunteer Alan MacIlroy, Arby Barrett of Manahawken, Theresa Henry, a mole bio graduate student at Princeton, Aida Haddad (seminary student in program ministry at KUMC), Skitch Mattson and Adam Tobey (seminary students who are Feed Truck Chaplains), Meghan Kane (an RVCC student), Melissa McKamie (ask her about musical theatre!), Michele Bylsma (who works at Riverside School), Amanda Nicol (KUMC member), Jessica Rigel (seminary student from Pennington), and Meredith Cox (seminary student from Atlanta Georgia). Also to PUMC members Judy Miller, Annette Ransom, seminary intern Brady Beard, and Jeanette Timmons, volunteer extraordinaire from the Jewish Center of Princeton. There was even a father-son team. Richard Adams is a seminary student and his father Gregg was visiting this week from Virginia. Praise the Lord for the use of talents and time!

March 5, 2015October 6, 2020

Sunday School Mission Project: March 2015

In the spirit of service, the 2^nd-3^rd and 4^th-5^th grade Sunday School Classes will be sponsoring a mission project through Church World Service. The children in the 2^nd-3^rd grade class reviewed options last week and selected to prepare Hygiene Kits. According to Church World Service, “In the face of natural disasters, violence, or grinding poverty, Hygiene Kits can mean the difference between sickness and health for struggling families.”

(The photo shows a child displaced by the 2011 Mt. Merapi volcano eruption in Indonesia receiving CWS School and Hygiene Kits. Photo: Matt Hackworth/CWS)

Children can bring supplies from the list below to Sunday School from now through March 29. That day, the children will assemble the kits. Then we will bless the kits in a church service and send them to Church World Service.

Supply List:

One hand towel measuring approximately 16″ x 28″ (no fingertip or bath towels)
One washcloth
One wide-tooth comb
One nail clipper
One bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)
One toothbrush (in original packaging)

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[a] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:12-17.

For stories about how the kits are used, click here.

by Tracey and the other Sunday School teachers

February 27, 2015October 6, 2020

Kuba Art at UFAR’s African Soiree

two men Fascinating masks and textiles, intriguing pottery, carved figurines, and exquisite beading with cowrie shells — Kuba artwork from the Democratic Republic of Congo will be for sale at the African Soiree on Saturday, March 21, 5 to 9 p.m. in the main lounge of the Mackay Center at the Princeton Theological Seminary.

Many of these beautiful items will be for sale at the African Marketplace, which starts at 4:30 p.m., and a dozen of the choicest artworks will be up for auction. The Marketplace is open to the public. For $70 African Soiree tickets ($35 for children) go to the UFAR website, Riverblindness.org.

The Soiree is always exciting and fun. Youth from PUMC will help serve the sumptuous buffet of African and international foods and this year we will enjoy gospel music by Selah, a seminary ensemble directed by La Thelma Armstrong.

Traditional Congolese “Kuba” art was affected by influences from abroad that arrived during the era of colonization, but the individuality and variety of tribal customs has been preserved. Proceeds from the sale will benefit UFAR (United Front Against Riverblindness), founded by PUMC’s Daniel Shungu, and FEBA (Woman, Cradle of Abundance), founded in the DRC by an ecumenical group of women.

February 14, 2015October 6, 2020

Lenten Sacrifice? What to do?

On February 18 (Ash Wednesday), Lent begins. How to observe the 40 days before Easter? In this video, United Methodists talk about their choices — whether to give something up as a sacrifice, or add something to their devotional life. See what they say.

February 6, 2015October 6, 2020

Youth Sunday: Three choirs

On Youth Sunday, February 8 at 9:30, choirs from three churches will praise the Lord. Our PUMC youth choir rehearsed with singers from Trinity Episcopal and Nassau Presbyterian, and these combined choirs visited the other two churches on January 25. Now we get to hear them! They will sing Cherubini’s “Like as a Father,” a traditional Zambian song, “Bonse Aba,” and “One Voice.”

Below are some snaps taken at rehearsal and on the 25th. Praising the Lord on Sunday!

rehearsal trinity 2015 1 25 boys at trinity 2015 1 25 lining up trinity

2015 1 25 youth choir balcony nassau Thanks to PUMC’s Tom Shelton, Nassau’s Sue Ellen Page (shown here) , and Trinity’s Tom Whittemore for their leadership.

January 30, 2015October 6, 2020

Adult education — drop-ins welcome

“Why I am an atheist who believes in God” is the book now being studied by the Contemporary Issues class, which meets in the library at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The author, Frank Schaeffer, is the son of noted conservative evangelists who founded L’Abri, a chain of worldwide retreat centers. All are welcome, and new participants or drop-ins are encouraged. Click here for listings of other adult education opportunities — including the new study that starts this Tuesday evening.