All Are Welcome
Here are some videos of the very inspiring worship on Sunday, November 6, at 9:30 a.m. It was All Saints Sunday, and the Children’s Choir sang the introit.
For the opening hymn, the camera focuses on the Durrell window, picturing Saint George.
Cindy Gordon tells stories for the Children’s Sermon
More videos to come…
Once again the children of our Sunday School will decorate shopping bags for the church family to fill, with gratitude, for those who are insecure in providing food for themselves and their families.
On November 20 our sanctuary will be filled with Brown Bags to care for the families and individuals served through Arm in Arm (formerly Crisis Ministry).
Through its three Client Choice Food Pantries, and delivery to the elderly and homebound, Arm in Arm has served more than 4,000 households with high-quality food, nutrition education, and health screening during the last year. More than 40% of its clients are below the age of 17, and 25% are 55 and above. These house-holds have intermittent food insecurity and can “slip between the cracks” of government supports.
Princeton UMC has been walking alongside Arm in Arm since it was formed more than 30 years ago. In addi-tion to providing healthy food to our neighbors in Mercer County, Arm in Arm has stabilized the housing of nearly 700 struggling families by helping with back rent or mortgage, rapid rehousing, security deposit help, utilities back payment, and case management. It also provides job skills and employment readiness
So, be part of the hope and join with your congregation in walking “Arm in Arm” with your community. Pack up your bag, fill it with love, gratitude and non-perishable food (especially heart-healthy, low-fat and sugar free varieties). Bring your Brown Bags of Gratitude to the Sanctuary on November 20 and celebrate the grace of God and the generosity of our church family.
Would your committee or small group like to sponsor its own “Brown Bag” meeting? Great idea! For more information and encouragement, contact LaVerna Albury at 609-658-3830.
We are so glad to welcome Nancy J. Duff back to PUMC! Nancy will speak at the UMM breakfast in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, November 13, at 8 a.m. Nancy visited us regularly when her husband, David C. Mertz, served here as Associate Pastor. He is now the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Westfield.
Based on her class at the Princeton Theological Seminary on the doctrine of vocation, her topic will be Called by God, exploring four aspects of God’s call in our lives.
Nancy Duff grew up in Texas and attended Union Presbyterian Seminary in Virginia for her M.Div. and Union Theological Seminary in New York for her Ph.D. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) she has taught Christian Ethics at Princeton Theological Seminary since 1990. Her courses include “The Ethics of Resisting and Accepting Death,” “The Theology and Ethics of Dietrich Bonhoeffer,” and “The Ethics of the Ten Commandments.” One of her intriguing publications is “Praising God Online”
A hot breakfast is served at 8 am, and the program starts at 8:30. Everyone is invited; a $5 donation is requested.
Tom Shelton’s Lower Elementary choir tries on their robes. They wear them for the first time this Sunday, November 6, 9:30 a.m. at the All Saints Day service. Their smiles match their music!
“St. Augustine says that to sing once is to pray twice,” says Dr. Karen Fanta Zumbrunn. On Tuesday, November 8 at 10:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall she will share stories about familiar hymns — including special days and childhood favorites — and we will sing our way through the church liturgical year. All women are welcome; bring your own lunch and dessert and beverages will be provided.
Known for her swinging foot-tapping jazz piano style, “Dr. Z” has degrees from Ohio State and Harvard and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Be
rkeley. Combining college teaching with performance, she played at the Blue Note in Paris with well-known European and American musicians. A sought-after performer in the area, she has recorded two CDs — Twilight World and Snowfall with her trio.
As a Christian and a longtime member and Sunday School teacher at PUMC, Karen regularly tutors reading at TASK in Trenton. She shares her enthusiastic music at PUMC’s Advent family celebrations, and for two years directed the musical program at Kingston UMC. She and husband John have two grown children, Sterling & V, and three grandchildren.
Says Karen: “If technology disconnects us from basic human interaction – ALL generations can sing. We unite with those around us and share in faith with those who have gone before us.”
Laura Bratton.. formerly a seminary intern at PUMC, is coming back to Princeton to speak at Princeton Theological Seminary Library on Tuesday, November 15, 7 to 8 p.m. She will sign her new book, Harnessing Courage: overcoming adversity with grit and gratitude.
“Living into daily grit gives us the ability to remain grounded as we experience those times of adversity and trauma as well as moments of joy and laughter,” she says. “Expressing our gratefulness — both when life is easy and when life is difficult — brings healing and strength.”
When Laura served as an intern at our church, many of us wondered how she mustered the courage and determination to succeed as a pastor. She had lost her vision, starting in middle school, and by the time we knew her she was blind due to macular degeneration.
We marveled at her portfolio of coping assets, which included knowledge of Braille, owning a guide dog, and a passionate faith in God. We rejoiced in her successes, learned from her insights, an
d were reluctant to say goodbye. After graduating as the first blind student to get an MDiv at Princeton Theological Seminary, she was a chaplain at the Cleveland Clinic and then senior pastor at Laurens Road United Methodist Church in Greenville, South Carolina.
Aiming to spread her message outside church walls, she has established herself as an inspirational speaker and coach. Her new book can speak to anyone struggling with a problem — whether they have a strong faith or don’t believe in God. Welcome back, Laura!
Undaunted by the spectre of the trick or treaters on Halloween Night, the Monday Morning Group invites everyone to wear costumes to its regular Bible study from 10 to 11:30 on Halloween morning in the library at PUMC.
Afterwards they will troupe down Nassau Street, stopping at Panera for lunch. Who knows, maybe they will even score some candy, suggests Nancy Beatty, Chief Instigator of this caper. Whatever happens they’ll be having fun.
Anyone is welcome to join this group. It’s mostly women, but men are welcome.
Doing Good For Others
On Laity Sunday, George Fox describes in his testimony about doing good for others, how we are called to serve one another and walk humbly with God.
His words came out strong and urgent as he spoke about the work our Stephen Ministers do at PUMC. About 5 years ago, PUMC, under Jana’s leadership, began the process of qualifying a Stephen Ministry at our church to work as an extension of our church’s Pastoral Care.
The Stephen Ministers, who we refer to as Caregivers, in our congregation have undergone a formal Selection Process (first step is that they must volunteer) and 50 hours of training. The role of our Stephen Minister Caregivers is to provide a Christian Care Giving presence and to let God provide the cure.
Who have we helped?
WE PROVIDE THE PRESENCE AND GOD PROVIDES THE CURE.
Written by Isabella Dougan
Machaela Irving, director of Christian Education, offers this information about our Safe Sanctuary policy.
Safe Sanctuaries is an overt expression in making congregations safe places where children, youth, and elders may experience the abiding love of God and fellowship within the community of faith.
Sunday, October 23 is “Safety Sunday,” so everyone should bring their jacket or sweater to class. At 10:18 a.m. all classes will evacuate the building and gather along the western wall of CVS. A monitor will block traffic from entering that section of the parking lot during our drill. We will return to our classrooms for ‘pickup’ after the worship service.
Also on Sunday, October 23, teachers will have a Background Check Breakfast immediately following Sunday School in the church office. For those who can’t attend, here is the link https://www.smart-trak.com/
All of these things have divine purpose, so thanks to teahcers and staff for taking the time to be an obedient servant of the Lord!
Machaela Irving
When people hurt, United Methodists help.
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We know what it feels like – fear, disorientation, grief. Because of Sandy we know what those who were in the path of Hurricane Matthew in the United States are going through.
We can only imagine the pain and fear the people of Haiti are facing after experiencing the brunt of the storm. The immense loss and mass devastation needs the full commitment of all our efforts to reach the hurting, the hungry, the frightened and the hopeless.
We also know what the United Methodist family is like. We are family, there for one another during our greatest challenges. It is God’s love in action.
I have been in communication with our bishops in the affected areas and this past Sunday I worshiped with our Haitian congregation, First United Methodist Church of Asbury Park. All are grateful to know that the United Methodists of GNJ are praying for them and will be sharing gifts of volunteers and money to assist with recovery from Hurricane Matthew.
I call all of our congregations to pray and to receive offerings for Hurricane Matthew relief and recovery over the next two weeks. You may send your gifts marked Hurricane Matthew made out to the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey to the Mission and Resource Center 205 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, New Jersey 07753.
We will send the money to the impacted areas through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), and your church will be credited with the donation. Through UMCOR 100% of your gift will be sent to the impacted areas. None will be kept for administrative purposes.
United Methodists from across our connection have assisted us in our recovery from Sandy. In fact, they have sent more than 11,000 volunteers and millions of dollars that helped us to rebuild 247 homes and assist 450 families in their recovery. When people hurt, United Methodists help. I hope your congregation will be a part of helping our sisters and brothers in their relief and recovery so that all of us can have a future with hope.
Keep the faith!
John Schol, Bishop
The United Methodist Church
of Greater New Jersey