Category: Community

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Be Prepared! Scout Sunday April 10

We’re looking forward to Sunday, April 10 –At both services, we observe “Scout Sunday.” Adults — wear your pin, or sash, hat, or scarf. Boys and girls — now’s your chance to wear your uniform! We will celdougebrate Scouting Ministries, and present a special award to our own Doug Fullman. He will be awarded the God and Service Award.Silver Beaver  silver antelopeDoug has also received two other prestigious awards, the Silver Beaver awarP1070652 fullman and kidsd and the Silver Antelope award. 
Rev. Jana will preach on How does God transform our lives? How has God transformed your life? – The Youth Choir  sings at the 9:30 service. “Be Prepared!”
On April 10, Boy Scout Sunday, Doug Fullman was honored
On April 10, Boy Scout Sunday, Doug Fullman was honored
with the help of Girl Scouts in the congregation
with the help of  Scouts in the congregation
with the God and Servicel award
with the God and Service award
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Debby Irving: book discussions

irving book cover“Waking Up White,” a book by Debby Irving, will be the focus for a series of free events arranged by Not in Our Town (NIOT) Princeton starting on March 22.

Irving will share her adventure of going from “well meaning” to “well doing” on Monday, April 18, at 4 p.m. at the Princeton Public Library and at 7 p.m. at the Hun School, 176 Edgerstoune Road.

Facilitators from NIOT will hold conversations about the book on consecutive Tuesdays (March 22, 29, and April 5) at 7 p.m. at the Princeton Municipal Building, 400 Witherspoon Street. Two copies of the book are available in the library (they have not yet been officially added, just leave a note if you take one) and are also available from the Princeton Public Library and Labyrinth Bookstore. www.NIOTPrinceton.org.

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Represent Christ in the Marketplace

2016 feb karen at chamber best
Karen Longo-Baldwin, left, with Dr. Patty Fagin at a recent chamber breakfast

Because PUMC belongs to the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, church members get discounts on events like those held by the Young Professionals Group, Women in Business Alliance, Technology Business Alliance, and Independent Business Alliance.

This month Debra Vizzi speaks about the Community Foodbank of New Jersey at a breakfast at the Nassau Club on Wednesday, February 17, at 8 am (come earlier for networking). She is CEO of the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization, which employs some 200 people. Register as a member of PUMC for $25 at www.princetonchamber.org. You can bring your own business cards as well as brochures from the church and Cornerstone Community Kitchen 

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Ashes to Go: February 10

2016 feb ashes to go“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
This year our pastoral staff will again be offering Ashes to Go to busy Princeton community members. From 9:30 to 11:30 am we will gather outside our church on Nassau Street and offer ashes to those who are unable to visit church on Ash Wednesday, February 10, reminding them of the start of this holy Lenten season.  For our traditional Ash Wednesday services, Scott Sherrill will preach at noon and Jana Purkis-Brash at 7:30 p.m.

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Feb. 6: Conversation re August Wilson’s ‘Piano Lesson’

2016f f3b pianoMcCarter Theater’s  acclaimed August Wilson play, “The Piano Lesson,” continues to February 7, and we have an unusual opportunity to talk about it after the matinee on Saturday, February 6. McCarter partners with Not in Our Town to facilitate a 90-minute Community Conversation. For tickets and reservations for the free discussion call 609-258-2787 or go to www.McCarter.org. To hear a little bit of the wonderful “railroad song” click here. 
The Community Conversation will focus on the story of The Piano Lesson “as an articulation of black American experience through which issues and themes pertaining to race, racism, and racial oppression and injustice can be shared and explored for meaning and understanding.”
NiOT (to which PUMC belongs) is the interracial, interfaith social action group united to advance the cause of racial justice in Princeton.

NiOT holds a monthly Continuing Conversations on Race, held on first Mondays at 7 p.m. in partnership with the Princeton Public Library. These forums offer a safe and friendly atmosphere to talk about issues of relevance to our community and nation. Or, “continue the conversation” by perusing Not in Our Town Princeton’s blog, which offers commentary from various points of view https://niotprinceton.org.

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Snowed in by Jonas? Worship virtually!

jennifer gromada
Jennifer Gromada: ‘How great thou art…’

Churches all over Princeton are closed under a blanket of snow. But — this is the Lord’s Day! Let’s use the treasure of social media to worship together. Post your favorite picture (of snow or anything else) and your favorite Scripture verse, and share it! Tell if it’s OK to share on the Facebook page of Princeton United Methodist Church! Or email me (bfiggefox@gmail.com) and I’ll put it on the Facebook page.

Pastor Jana started us off with this verse from Isaiah 25:4-5 “For You have been a strong-place for those who could not help themselves and for those in need because of much trouble. You have been a safe place from the storm…” And Jennifer Gromada contributes this photo and the line of a favorite hymn.

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Eat Right, Feel Better: Breakfast on January 10

Dorothy Mullen
Dorothy Mullen

Changing your diet can turn your life around says Dorothy Mullen, founder of The Suppers Program. She will speak at the January 10 breakfast sponsored by the United Methodist Men on Sunday, January 10 on “How You Feel is Data! An experiential workshop on brain health and food.”

Dorothy founded the Suppers network of nearly free-to-users programs — where people cook, eat, and develop a palate for the kind of food that can often turn around chronic health problems. Suppers hosts 30 – 40 events per month and serves people with diabetes, autoimmune diseases and addictions as well as those who simply want to learn to prepare delicious fresh food from scratch. The program has no bias of its own about which whole food eating style is healthiest, and members are taught to do their own experiments to discern which way of eating benefits them the most.

Dorothy has a master’s degree in addictions counseling from the College of New Jersey and uses addiction models to help people turn around entrenched eating behaviors that have placed them at risk for chronic disease. She is also a garden educator, having created garden based-education programs for the Princeton Public Schools for 13 years.

Enjoy a hot and tasty breakfast at 8 a.m., and the program starts at 8:30. A $5 donation is requested.

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Community Conversation at McCarter

TwitterMcCarterLogo_400x400McCarter Theatre’s next production, the acclaimed  “The Piano Lesson” by August Wilson, is set for January 8 to February 7. McCarter will partner with Not in Our Town  to facilitate a 90-minute Community Conversation after the matinee on Saturday, February 6. For tickets to the play and reservations for the free Community Conversation call 609-258-2787 or go to www.McCarter.org.

The Community Conversation will be an opportunity to engage in a conversation that focuses specifically on the story of The Piano Lesson “as an articulation of black American experience through which issues and themes pertaining to race, racism, and racial oppression and injustice can be shared and explored for meaning and understanding.”

NiOT (to which PUMC belongs) is the interracial, interfaith social action group united to advance the cause of racial justice in Princeton. NiOT holds a monthly Continuing Conversations on Race, held on first Mondays at 7 p.m. in partnership with the Princeton Public Library. These forums offer a safe and friendly atmosphere to talk about issues of relevance to our community and nation. Or, “continue the conversation” by perusing Not in Our Town Princeton’s blog, which offers commentary from various points of view.

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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

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2nd Sunday of Advent: Regifting

In her sermon, “Regifting”, on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 6, 2015, Pastor Kaleigh Corbett explores fundamental questions of Jesus’ love in a world filled with hatred.

While it may not be appropriate to re-gift our Christmas presents, it is OK to re-gift the greatest gift of all – the love of Jesus. Yes, we are called to share his love with others especially in light of recent acts of terrorism around the world.

In the second scripture lesson for that day, Luke 1: 68-79, God sends John the Baptist, (whose birth like Jesus’ was also foretold by the angel Gabriel), as the forerunner to go and prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord.

We see promises made by God to his people – a reminder of our hope in the birth to come, and that hope never leaves us. The story of Zachariah would not be complete without that hope, as is the story of Mary.

When we share stories of people in the Bible we are regifting. For example, the story of Jesus being refused a place in the inn mirrors that of refusing asylum in our country to Syrian refugees. And yet, we are called to regift the love that God has for us when he gives us his son.

In the first scripture lesson for that day, 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13, we are told that we gain nothing without love and that love conquers all.

Advent heralds the coming of Christ into this world. Yet, how much longer must we wait for the Messiah to come and to renew our faith? We must, therefore, ask ourselves what we can do to bring hope, joy, peace and love to this world.

During this Christmas season we must begin to act by regifting the Christmas story. We will let ourselves feel at least some of the pain of those we consider our enemies. We will do our best to show each other the courage to act in love and justice in our particular life.