Women’s Ministry – Page 2 – Princeton UMC Blog

September 21, 2016October 6, 2020

For Women in the Congo: October 1 and 9

In this disturbing time of unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, woman leaders who empower women in the Congo are visiting Princeton. Princeton United Methodist Church traditionally supports two charities based in the Congo, the United Front Against Riverblindness, founded by our own Daniel Shungu, and Woman, Cradle of Abundance. a non-profit organization that empowers women in the Congo, founded by Professor Elsie McKee of Witherspoon Presbyterian Church and Princeton Theological Seminary.

2016-umm-photo — MISENGA MONIQUE Ngoie MUKUNA

So we are especially glad to welcome two leaders of Woman, Cradle of Abundance on their visit to the United States this fall. Their visit begins with “Pour Femme,” an all-French concert performed by local singers and pianists on Saturday, October 1, 2 p.m. in Miller Chapel at Princeton Theological Seminary. Tickets at the door or online are $35 for adults and $15 for students. Free offstreet parking is available across Mercer Street (in the library lot) and an anonymous donor will match each donation up to $2,500.

At Princeton United Methodist Church, we have a special welcome for Maman Monique, who will speak at a PUMC breakfast on Sunday, October 9, at 8 a.m. She will be accompanied by Maman Antoinette.

2016-october-maman-antoinette — MULEKA ANTOINETTE Mukanya TSHISUAKA

The United Methodist Men serve up a hearty meal, and everyone is welcome. A $5 donation is requested.

Other speaking dates: Sunday, October 2, at 10 a.m. at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, followed by conversation with church members after worship. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. at Haddonfield Friends’ Meeting, Haddonfield, NJFriday, October 7, noon, Princeton Theological Seminary, Main Lounge of Mackay Campus Center, sponsored by the Center for Theology, Women and Gender.Sunday, Oct. 16, noon, Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton

Vive les femmes!

September 15, 2016August 26, 2021

PUMC Circle of Friends Meeting September 13, 2016

The Circle of Friends held their monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m on Tuesday September 13 at the PUMC Fellowship Hall with twelve members present. Beth opened the meeting with a devotion and introduced the guest speaker.

Susan Gange of PUMC gave a talk on “Successfully Growing Orchids in the Home.” Her presentation covered different types of orchids such as Phalaenopsis, Oncidiums, Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, and Paphiopedilums as well as her secrets to successful home orchid growing.

Susan was awarded a trophy for the Best Professionally Grown Phalaenopsis Orchid at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society International Show in Oaks, PA in April of this year. She also owns Stony Brook Orchids, a large orchid greenhouse in Pennington, New Jersey. Stony Brook Orchids offers orchids and supplies at farmers markets in and around Princeton.

Topics covered by Susan included light, temperatures, water, humidity, fertilizer and potting. The Phalaenopsis orchid is one of the best orchids for growing at home. It grows well in bright windows. Water is critical for this plant which must never dry out but at the same time one must keep in mind that over-watering kills. She recommended watering only on a sunny day before noon so that the leaves are dry by nightfall. Water should be kept off the leaves to prevent diseases attacking them. In warm weather 1/4 teaspoon of fertilizer per gallon of water should be used with every watering. In winter fertilizer may be applied once a month. Humidity levels must be between 50% and 80%. Potting is best done in the Spring after blooming, with plants potted in a well-draining mix. For best results repotting is usually done annually. Plastic or clay pots are the perfect choice for repotting.

The Circle of Friends were thrilled with Susan’s presentation and purchased unusual and rare orchids from the lovely array of plants on display, assuring her that they would carefully follow her instructions. Others promised to visit her greenhouse or call for advice. The presentation was followed by lunch and the group’s monthly business discussions. For dessert, Catherine provided a delicious apple honey cake. Karin closed the meeting with the reading of a poem and leading the group in prayer.

All church women are invited to join the Circle of Friends at their next meeting in November 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

June 8, 2016October 6, 2020

Breakfast June 12: Joanna’s story

Joanna, a client of Womanspace, will tell her story on Sunday, June 12, at 8 a.m. at the UMM breakfast. All are invited to hear her speak on ‘How Faith Commnities Can Help Heal — or Hurt — Victims of Domestic Violence.” Until September, this is the last breakfast provided by the United Methodist Men, so make every effort to enjoy their delicious cooking and hear about this important subject. Photo at right shows the actual yummy breakfast!

May 6, 2016September 10, 2021

PUMC Circle of Friends Meeting April 12, 2016

On Tuesday, April 12, the Circle of Friends held their monthly meeting at the church. The meeting started at 11:00 in the Fellow P1070479 robbie ship Hall with some 19 members honoring the memory of Robbie Vaccaro, a beloved member of the circle, who died on Saturday, March 26, 2016. Each lady said something special about Robbie as they look back on some happy moments they shared with her. Some of Robbie’s most memorable qualities were the work she did on her and John’s farm, raising butterflies, caring for others, being the ultimate friend or absolute role model, dutifully reminding members to attend meetings, making delicious cakes and desserts, graciously hosting hospitality diners and, of course, aging gracefully.

scott sherrill headshot Pastor Scott Sherrill gave an interesting and informative talk on “Prayer”, an issue that struck a chord with everyone. He took participants through the spectrum of types of prayer, showing why, when, where, what and how to pray. He spoke on the history of Christian prayer including the Wesley Covenant Prayer adapted by John Wesley, which is used in Methodist services for renewing our covenant with God. He examined what happens to us when we pray, and what it means to have prayers answered or unanswered.

Seven things every Christian should know about prayer:

Types of prayer? Not necessarily a long or elaborate prayer. There are prayers of praise, thanksgiving, supplication, lamentation, intercession, etc. God just wants to hear from us. However, we should not beat ourselves up if we do not know how to pray.
Why pray? Prayer makes us aware of how we need to connect with God and relate with others. Prayer also makes us aware of things God wants us to do.
When to pray? There is no wrong time to pray. We can pray first thing in the morning, in the shower, at the gym, in traffic, when we sit down to eat, driving so as to be safe, during a presentation or at the moment of celebration.
Where to pray? Pray in a place that is best for us, that connects us to God. It can be in the bedroom, in the car, in the office, outdoors, on vacation, at home where if we wish, we can create a sacred place to meet with God and help us draw closer to Him.
How to pray? There are many ways to pray and there is no strict rule. Pray like a child saying what’s on their mind. Pray as an individual or as a group. Pray with so much joy using the whole body or with hands up in the air. We can also connect with God through meditative prayer, breathe in and breathe out prayer, or by meditation when outdoors in nature. Putting our prayer in writing and talking in tongues are other forms of prayer as recorded inActs 2:17.
What to pray? The words we use reflect the categories of things to pray for such as the objects and events in our life that we are thankful for. Also, the recognition that God is a good God who loves His children as well as praise and adoration of a majestic and powerful God. Supplication prayer is bringing our needs to God. This helps us to understand what is important in our life but does not necessarily mean that we will get what we ask for. It is also good to pray for someone else, as with the prayer of intercession in the church. Being sorry is giving us an opportunity to change our ways while prayers of lament give voice to our pain and misery as we pour out our heart to God. The Book of Psalms is full of prayers of lament if only we take the time to read them.
Who are we praying to? It is more about listening to God than about our own services. It’s about God talking back to us through the things we pray about. God also speaks to us when we read the Scriptures.The Psalms can be a huge resource of prayers. Some people hear God’s message for them through dreams and visions. Lectio Divina is a way of praying the scriptures to communicate with God, a practice common in the game of football. We read the scripture slowly, letting the words wash over us, meditate and then pray.

It was a very special day for Scott. Not only was he an inspirational speaker at the Circle of Friends meeting but his lovely wife Deb celebrated her birthday that same day and together they had lunch with the ladies. A dessert of carrot cake was provided by Karen, who unfortunately could not make it to the meeting.

All church women are invited to join the Circle of Friends at their next meeting on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, at Louise Apperson’s house for their annual picnic. For more information, please contact the church office at 609-924-2613 or visit www.princetonumc.org

Written by Isabella Dougan

April 25, 2016October 6, 2020

Sustaining — Renewing — God’s World

IMGP0897engel with eagle — Rick Engel (left) and Michael Catania (executive director of Duke Farms) pose with an eagle replica in front of the live eaglecam showing the adorable nestlings at Duke Farm. Now that New Jersey’s chemically polluted sites are being cleaned up, the bald eagle population has grown exponentially. *Photo and blog post by Barbara Fox.*

Today more than a dozen PUMC members explored Duke Farms, the 2,000 acre property with 18 miles of trails that are open to the public. Michael Catania — an environmental lawyer who has had a long association with PUMC member Rick Engel, also an environmental lawyer — described how the property transitioned from the private estate of the late Doris Duke into a thriving, free-to-the- public environmental center that focuses on sustainability.

Here is a link to some of the photos from the excursion that was organized by the Membership Committee. (More are welcome!)

Visible traces of Doris Duke are gone. Many of her possessions were auctioned off (link to some photos) But the brilliance of her father’s hydroelectric and landscaping plan endures. James Buchanan Duke, a tobacco mogul, had hired hundreds of men to excavate nine lakes, construct 45 buildings, and build more than two miles of stone walls. Here is the timeline,

Now, with a $10 million annual budget from the foundation, Duke Farms supports numerous research projects and serves as an education center for visitors to learn about sustainability practices on both a large and small scale.

One of the most endearing research projects is an extensive study of bald eagles. Here is the link to an eaglecam; you can see the nestlings 4 x 7 and watching is addictive!

That eagles flourish makes us appreciate this passage in Isaiah all the more. If “sustainable land-use practices” help us to be good stewards of God’s world, a “sustainable prayer life” nurtures our spirits.

they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

— by Barbara Fox

April 25, 2016October 6, 2020

UMW Spring Flea Market May 7

umw flea market

United Methodist Women Spring Flea Market May 7th

Bargain hunters galore will flock to our corner on Saturday, May 7, 9 to 3 p.m. when the United Methodist Women stage their semi-annual flea market. They will sell delicious food, flowering plants for Mother’s Day, homemade baked goods, household items, jewelry, gently used clothing, decorative items, and more. An array of outside vendors will be there to sell crafts, hand-crafted jewelry, books (some rare) and more. All the proceeds will support local and global charities.

The UMW needs lots of help for this event! Please bring non-perishable donations to the Colonial Room off the Sanford Davis Room the week of the flea market starting on Wednesday after 5 p.m, No electronics please!

Homemade baked goods are also appreciated and can be delivered Friday or early Saturday. Please wrap in saleable units, e.g., four cookies per bag.

To volunteer for sorting/pricing, set up, staffing tables, clean up, contact Lori Pantaleo or try the link below — or call the office. Even if you don’t regularly come to UMW meetings, consider lending a hand. It’s a wonderful opportunity get to know the women in the church and to meet people in the community.

LORI HAS BROKEN DOWN VOLUNTEERS TASKS AS FOLLOWS:

Baked Goods (wrapped for sale) Please note if they contain nuts.

Thurs. afternoon sorting/pricing

Thurs. evening sorting/pricing

Friday afternoon sorting/pricing

Friday evening sorting/pricing

Sat. help 8-10

Sat. help 10-12

Sat. help 12-2

Sat. help 2-4

Feel Free to sign up for multiple slots. Contact Lori at the above email address or try signing up at

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EZxK9jdl5GfYGIefZZGzUuMcHflzOZjswIhTN3wISrk/edit?usp=sharing

April 20, 2016October 6, 2020

Trip to Duke Farms?

You’re invited for a day at Duke Farms in Hillsborough on Saturday, April 23 starting at 11:30 am. The day will include a visit to the Orientation Center, talk with Michael Catania, Executive Director of Duke Farms, and afternoon walk around the beautiful historic site with its nature trails and variety of habitats. There is a café to buy food, but feel free to bring a snack so we can stop for a picnic on the grounds. A tram will also be running at this time for those who prefer not to walk. Please contact Susan Davelman at susandavelman@gmail.com or 908-448-6137, if you plan to attend. The address is Admission is free!

February 9, 2016October 6, 2020

Thursdays: Journaling through Lent

image by Marc Romanelli via Getty Images, from Huffington Post — Photo by Marc Romanelli via Getty Images, from Huffington Post

Betsy Arnold will lead a “Journaling through Lent” group on Thursdays, 11:30 to 12:30, in the conference room of the church. “Journaling is a very personal process and we will be exploring different ways to enjoy this spiritual practice,” she says. “Please bring any thoughts, ideas, books, and techniques to share with the group. You will also need some type of journal or tablet of paper and your favorite pen. We will be doing some writing during our hour together.”

Intrigued? Check out this Huffington Post article about journaling as a tool for changing one’s life.

Betsy and her husband Bill moved to West Windsor last year; they have three children, one still in high school. Betsy graduated from Emory University and, earlier in her career, was a social worker. Now a published author, she is hard at work on Book III in the Tapestry series, a series of young adult historical fantasy novels set in medieval times.

To join the journaling group, or for more information, call 609-924-2613 or email office@PrincetonUMC.org.

February 9, 2016October 6, 2020

A heart-y breakfast on 2/14

Polio was a dreaded disease for those who grew up in the ’40s and ’50s, and even in the 1980s the world saw about 1,000 cases a day. Join us for breakfast on Sunday, February 14, at 8 am, when Dr. Julie Ann Juliano speaks how Rotary clubs around the world are fighting to eradicate polio. Sponsored by the United Methodist Men but open to all, the tasty hot breakfast, with all the trimmings, will be in Fellowship Hall. A $5 donation is requested.
A native of Queens, Dr. Juliano graduated from New York University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine and did her internship at the RWJ University Hospital (Somerset). Since 1992 she has been active in the Rotary Club of Branchburg and she served as district governor. She and her husband have three daughters, and she was active in Girl Scouts for 13 years . Board certified in family medicine, she has a private practice in Branchburg, New Jersey.
The Rotary Club of Princeton meets on Tuesdays at 12:15 at the Nassau Club; it is part of an interfaith and international organization that has helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. In 1988 Rotary joined three organizations (WHO, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Now, every dollar is being matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A member of Princeton Rotary, architect and Rotarian Ahmed Azmy went with his wife Nadia to work as part of a vaccination team in Pakistan. The disease is still alive in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

February 3, 2016October 6, 2020

Sunday Learning

Two adult classes are offered on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Both welcome ‘drop ins’ at any time.

The Heart of our Faith class is studying the book of James. says Don Brash, Theologian in Residence at PUMC. New this year — Don will be joined by Bill Arnold as co-leader of the class, known for its lively discussions from divergent points of view.

Meeting 2016 feb essays in the library, the Contemporary Issues class is reading a book of essays, The Givenness of Things, by Marilynne Robinson, who won the Pulitzer for her novel Gilead. According to the publisher, the book “investigates how the work of the great thinkers of the past, Calvin, Locke, Bonhoeffer–and Shakespeare–can infuse our lives, and calls attention to the rise of the self-declared elite in American religious and political life.” For the New York Times review, click here.

Other study groups that welcome drop ins: The United Methodist Men on Tuesday nights, the Monday Morning Group on Monday mornings.