Author: Isabella Dougan

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

In her sermon on the last Sunday of Easter, PUMC Intern Tayler Necoechea preached on the Scripture as recorded in Psalm 93. “We know that the sea is mighty and great and beautiful, but God is more majestic than the sea,” she said.  Tayler encouraged us to try to understand the glory of the Lord and to sing and yell to exclaim God’s majesty.  Scripture tells us that “Majesty and terribly loud noise go hand in hand.”  We make a loud noise when we seek reconciliation and strive for justice and truth and love in our world. It shows that God is near. She reminded us that God is a force for justice and love, and our hope is in the truth that this servant king is good yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  “Will you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to advocate and care for your neighbor?” Tayler asked.

You, too, can experience God’s love, justice, and truth. Remember, Jesus’ love for you is mightier than the waves of the sea. 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 Tayler’s sermon.

Written by Isabella Dougan

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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

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

We were blessed to have Rev. Dr. Deborah Blanks, pastor of Mt. Pisgah African Methodist Episcopal Church, as our guest preacher on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 25. In her sermon, Rev. Blanks preached on the subject “The Good Shepherd,” as recorded in the Scripture John 10:11-18.” We hope you enjoyed your time here with us, Rev. Blanks, as much as we enjoyed having you and listening to your powerful message. 

She assured us that Jesus the Good Shepherd knows us better than we know ourselves and cares for us beyond our knowing.” God knows each of us as though we were the only sheep in the world,” she told us. “It is a blessing to know the one who is the ground of our being and the mover of this very universe,” added Rev. Blanks. 

She made some interesting points throughout her sermon. Still, this one kept me thinking a lot, especially about how we do business: “In our way of thinking, a 99% return on our investment would be most desirable, but not this shepherd. He left the 99 to go in search of the one lost sheep,” stated Rev. Blanks. Yes, Jesus is the Good Shepherd to all of us. If only we can love Him as much as He loves us and love our neighbors as ourselves, what a wonderful world we would be living in!

You, too, can experience God’s love and love for others in return. 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 Rev. Blanks’ sermon.

[Image Source: Google]

Written by Isabella Dougan

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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,” a 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 10:11-18, our 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

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QUOTES OF THE DAY

PUMC youth led our worship service, including prayers, music, hymns, and liturgy, on Youth Sunday, April 18, 2021.  Ana Francisco-Cabus and Delaney McCarty shared their youth testimonies. The Scripture was from “Matthew 25:34-40.”

You, too, can experience God’s love and transformation. 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 their testimonies.

Written by Isabella Dougan

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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

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

In her sermon on the Second Sunday of Easter, Interim Pastor Rebekah Anderson preached on the story of “The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith,” as recorded in the Scripture Mark 7:24-30.  She stated that when people are brought into direct contact with the truth, they are transformed. Whatever is obstructing their view is removed and allows them to see clearly something they couldn’t see before. In the case of Jesus, it’s as if, for one moment, he lost sight of his mission. He seemingly forgot that he had just taught the crowd of Scribes and Pharisees that “what comes out of our hearts supersedes the law.” 

The Syrophoenician woman of great faith asked Jesus to heal her daughter. She, who was a Gentile, not Jewish, taught Jesus to be more tolerant. This woman brought Jesus into a direct encounter with the truth and reminds him of his mission’s entire point, thus empowering him to transform others. Pastor Rebekah reminds us “that as Christians, we are called to listen deeply to ourselves, to others, and to God.” We are often afraid to listen, she said, “because when we do, we are often confronted with things that are really uncomfortable.” She invites us to honor God with our hearts and actions by listening to those who are different from us, who can remind us of what we are called to be. God’s unconditional love for us will help us listen deeply. 

You, too, can experience God’s love and transformation. 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 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

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

In her sermon on Easter Sunday, Rev. Jenny Smith Walz proposed that we make Christ’s death and resurrection story our story and let it sink down deep within us. When that happens, we can do things we never could have dreamed of. We can show peace to one another. We can celebrate with joy. How profoundly transforming this story is! 

“We live falling short of the goals of loving God with our whole selves and with loving one another the way Christ loves us,” stated Pastor Jenny.  May Christ’s saving grace transform us and help us to love God and our fellow men more. She advised us not to cover up the horrible parts of our story, adding, “If we admit our brokenness, God will go to any length to bring us back and repair our brokenness.” 

What is your death and resurrection story? How do you tell your story? You, too, can experience God’s love and transformation. 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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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