Category: Corona Virus

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Outreach Initiatives—an opportunity to make a difference

 

Since March, our nation has been impacted by a series of stunning events and traumas. In less than four months our world has been turned upside down. Who would have expected that over 110,000 Americans would have died from the coronavirus, a pandemic which has swept the world, with New Jersey and New York the worst-hit areas? Who would have expected 40,000,000 Americans would be out of work? On top of this, the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police proved to be the fuel to ignite an explosion of protests, demonstrations and calls for the end of racial discrimination sweeping our nation. 

So many lives have been shattered, broken almost beyond recognition. The need for healing and reconciliation is everywhere. 

The Outreach Committee welcomes ideas on a program you could begin! 

As we hope to move toward recovery in the months ahead, Princeton UMC has funds earmarked as seed money to start new programs to serve the community. From seeds, a mighty forest grows. We – you actually – are invited to help shape events, find a new normal, and build toward a better future. John Wesley’s rule rings truer than ever: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as you can.” 

Countless issues face us on the way to healing and recovery. For instance, how do we: 

  • help our church, community, and nation heal the brokenness revealed by racial inequalities?
  • assist people whose jobs are no longer there?
  • assist students with new remote learning challenges?
  • strengthen our outreach to a shell-shocked community forced to hide and shelter?
  • address and cure deep-seated prejudices and racial and other inequalities?
  • help the healing process for a community that has gone through these savage crises?

Do you have ideas for sustainable solutions that will help?

We welcome your specific proposals in writing on how you might use funds to begin new initiatives for recovery. Please submit your ideas or refer any questions to:

Karen Longo-Baldwin (klongobaldwin@gmail.com)

or

Jeff Sayre (Jeffcsayre@verizon.net).

We invite your ideas and your personal involvement!
Your Outreach Committee

Posted by Isabella Dougan

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Tribute to Bill and Donna Suits

On May 24, 2020, when the world celebrated Memorial Day weekend, the Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir presented the Babylon Canon in tribute to Bill and Donna Suits, church members pictured here, who died of Covid-19 in April.  Bill  had been an loyal  member of the choir. Thanks to Hyosang Park, music director, and Stephen Offer, who produced the sound and video. Listen to it here. 

A celebration of life will be held here at Princeton United Methodist Church once travel restrictions are lifted and it is safe for family and friends to gather. It will be a joint celebration to honor both Donna and Bill for their love, lives and faith. Here is a place to register, to be notified when a memorial service can be held.

 

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl in 5 minutes | Animated

Barbara Fox and Isabella Dougan recommend this video: “Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl in 5 minutes | Animated.” The presentation is inspirational with human stories and life lessons. 

Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl explains in his memoir, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” that it is neither the pursuit of happiness nor the attainment of success that makes life worth living. Instead, we should “find meaning in whatever we do and always have something left to accomplish.” He uses his experience in Nazi death camps to teach us how to cope with suffering and pursue what we find meaningful.

We hope everyone would find time to also read the book, especially in these uncertain times of the COVID crisis.

Written by Isabella Dougan

 

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Pastor Jenny’s Video Update April 25, 2020

Watch Pastor Jenny’s Video Update

Thank You!

Thank you to our Health Care Professionals, particularly those who are in direct patient care, working in hospitals, in the midst of very challenging and anguishing situations, putting yourself at risk to be part of God’s healing work in the world.

Two people from our congregation who I want to lift up, give thanks for and to, and pray for are are Pam B.  and Deena P.

  • No doubt there are others of you in the PUMC Beloved Community who are also in direct patient care. Please help me to know who they are!! We want to thank and surround them as well!

​​Coffee with the Pastor
Sunday, April 26 (tomorrow) at 11:30am-12:30pm
Via Zoom.

Open to all!  While this is always open to all, I tend to gear this even to those who are newer among us to give them a chance to get to know us better and us, them.  Newcomers and long-timers are invited, and after some general fellowship time, I’ll invite us to talk about ways our faith has been challenged during this COVID crisis and time of physical distancing. What has been called into question for you about God, faith, church, what God is revealing to you, for example. (The link will be available at the worship service on Facebook).

Tuesday Chapel Prayer Service & Zoom Lunch
Starting this Tuesday, April 28, at noon.

Join us on our PUMC Facebook page for a live (or archived) prayer service. It won’t look exactly like the Lenten Series. It will likely be simpler, with no homily, and more of a time of prayer. I’ll offer leadership this week, but it won’t always be me. We’ll follow this with a fellowship lunch via Zoom.

​​Virtual Coffee Hour
1st Sunday of Each Month – after worship – via Zoom

Miss your PUMC friends?  Want to see their faces? Share a smile?  We’ll gather in a few different virtual Zoom spaces on the first Sunday of each month for just this. The next one will be Sunday, May 3.

Tell Me a Story! 
Continuing to Talk the Walk in Worship and Beyond

We’re continuing our “Talk the Walk” worship series about telling our stories. Heather H.  is sharing a story tomorrow in worship, which I know you’ll want to hear. And I would still love to hear your stories of your beginnings and how God was part of that beginning! Even if you don’t tell me, tell someone! Be part of worship tomorrow for another Tell Me a Story prompt.

Be sure to look for your worship materials on our website. Send Pastor Skitch a prayer request to be named in worship or put it up on the Facebook post asking for your requests. Gather a candle, your bible, and make some sacred space for worship tomorrow.

Thank you!
for your gifts, your tithes, your offerings, and going Above and Beyond!

Your joyful and generous responses to God’s love in the form of your financial gifts are continuing to make ministry happen. We thank you for the ways you’ve shifted your giving to mail and online giving. And we direct you to our PUMC giving page to set up automatic payments or to send in a gift. You’ll also find there information about our yearly Above and Beyond campaign, which allows you to sponsor a particular ministry of our church and help us close the gap between our budget and our annual pledges received last fall. This week’s focus is on Children and Youth Formation and Music Ministries.

I miss and love you,
Pastor Jenny

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Blood Needed During COVID-19

Princeton Area Blood Drive

The U.S. blood supply is facing a shortage during the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak is affecting the supply for the entire country. Donations from healthy people in the Greater Princeton Area are needed to avoid an additional health care crisis.

There is a natural fear over donating blood during this pandemic. However, according to America’s Blood Centers, whose facilities, in addition to those operated by the Red Cross, it is safe to give. They are executing greater social distancing measures and infection control protocols.

Here are local facilities where you can schedule an appointment to give blood: