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It’s OK — whatever you need and how long it takes — it’s OK

a timeFor the sermon series “Gospel of the Nobodies,” based on the parable of the Prodigal Son, Rev. Kaleigh Corbett compared the desperation of the Prodigal Son, reduced to slopping pigs, to the desperation felt by those suffering from addiction, depression, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. Our Associate Pastor for Children and Youth quoted a much-read blog post by Jamie Tworkowski, “There Is Still Some Time” illustrated in a poster above.

If you feel too much, there’s still a place for you here.

If you feel too much, don’t go.

If this world is too painful, stop and rest.

It’s okay to stop and rest.

If you need a break, it’s okay to say you need a break.

This life — it’s not a contest, not a race, not a performance, not a thing that you win.

It’s okay to slow down.

F0r the complete post by the founder of “To Write Love on Her Arms,”  click here.  It closes with these lines:

Other people feel how you feel.

You are more than just your pain.

You are more than wounds, more than drugs, more than death and silence.

There is still some time to be surprised.

There is still some time to ask for help.

There is still some time to start again.

There is still some time for love to find you.

It’s not too late.

You’re not alone.

It’s okay — whatever you need and however long it takes — it’s okay.

It’s okay.

If you feel too much, there’s still a place for you here.

If you feel too much, don’t go.

The unusual line, as Kaleigh pointed out, is the part about surprise. The good news “is that there is always time for us to be surprised, and there is always time for us to find the love of God no matter how far we stray.”

Here is more from her inspiring sermon 

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Back to VBS — and back to school!

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Bring school supplies — and friends — to Vacation Bible School! Register now, and it starts with a family meal on Tuesday, August 11, at 5:30 p.m. Questions? Kaleigh@princetonumc.org,

The school supplies will be used for the VBS mission project. There are children in our community who will struggle to come to school with everything they need to be part of the fun! Try to bring the supplies to the office — or in the bin by the nursery — before Wednesday morning, but they will be welcome any time.

 Crayons  Markers  Pencils  Pens  Colored Pencils  Erasers  Glue/Glue Sticks  Rulers  Stencils  Highlighters  Post-it Notes  Notebooks All Sizes  Folders  Book Bags  Water Bottles  Dictionaries

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The Window Riddle

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Take a look at the stained glass window on the right. Better yet, go into the chapel and scrutinize it. Where is the door knob? If you are showing the windows to someone, adult or child, ask that question… and ask it to yourself!

In this episode of the popular video series, Chuck Knows Church, “Chuck” explains why churches have stained glass windows. PUMC is so lucky to have such beautiful ones.

The answer to the doorknob question can be found in a Warner Sallman painting. The door has no handle “because we must open our hearts for Jesus to come in.”  The chapel is a wonderful place to let that happen.

 

 

 

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Keeping watch over their flock by night

IMG_0623 shepherds 2014

Instantly, when we see the phrase “keeping watch over their flock by night,” we recognize it as part of the Christmas story. Scott Sherrill, PUMC’s pastoral assistant, will use the familiar text (Luke 2:8-15) for his sermon on August 9 at 10 a.m. In the Gospel of the Nobodies series, he will talk about “The Night Workers.”

The 21st century night shift is more likely to be stocking shelves than herding sheep — but we’ll see what parallels he draws. Bring your friends, and there is the “Caring Kids” program for nursery through 6th grade!

In this month’s newsletter, Scott affirms: “So many good, vibrant, creative, and engaging things are happening in and through our church. It is a privilege to be a part of a church family that knows how important service is to others in the community, in the area, and in the world. It is a true blessing to be apart of a church that surrounds its members, visitors and community with the love of Christ.”

As you have guessed, the picture shown is of the shepherds in PUMC’s telling of  the story of Christ’s birth, December 2014. 

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Finding Community at VBS

VBS 2014 Eby, Gillette, Roth, Blomgren, BarnesIf we look through the Vacation Bible School albums from years past, we see pictures of children who were in VBS just a short time ago — it seems like seconds — and now they are working in mission on the Appalachia Service Project. The fun and learning that happened  in church, at Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, has helped kids grow up to be Christian adults.

Vacation Bible School this year is three evenings, August 11 to 13, 5;30 to 8 p.m. Children will learn about God’s people (like Sarah and Abraham) and the parables of Jesus (the Good Samaritan). They will learn why it’s important to love your neighbor, and  do hands-on mission projects to help others.

Making Christian education happen is so important. Invite your neighbor’s children!

VBS is also a chance to be in community.  All adults, not just parents, are invited to join VBS for the family meal at 5:30 or for the closing worship at 7:45.

Please pray for the VBS team to effectively tell of God’s love. Call Kaleigh at 609-924-2613 or email kaleigh@princetonumc.org

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Caring Kids for August 2

Helping our children to have a “sense of mission,” to learn how to help others, is our focus this summer. After Children’s Time, preschoolers through rising 6th grade can choose whether to stay in worship or go to Caring Kids. Each week has a different focus — a Bible story and an activity. Last week in the Caring Kids program, the children made paper hand “hugs” for teens going away to college, based on I Corinthians 16:20:

All the friends here say hello! Pass the greetings around with holy embraces!

hugThis week, August 2,  children will make “Get Well Soon” gift bags for people Pastor Catherine visits while they are sick. In weeks to come, they will make “Welcome” signs for children whose families have just moved to Princeton so their parents can attend seminary and, on another Sunday, placemats for Cornerstone Community Kitchen.

 

 

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Communion Offering: Mercer Street Friends Food Bank

 

20121107-202343.jpgThis Sunday, August 2, our Communion Offering will support the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank.   It has been a leader in our community ‘s response to hunger in Mercer County since 1987.

The Food Bank originated with a simple aim: to link donated food to people in need. Today they are the largest source of government and privately donated food in Mercer County. 2.5 million pounds of food and groceries are distributed to 60 charitable food providers, such as food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters each year.

Your support enables Mercer Street Friends to provide efficient and effective food collection and distribution so that people in need can access free groceries and wholesome meals from a charitable food provider in their neighborhood.
Thank you for your generosity.

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Back to school?

ss 4-5 sageser

Love children and youth? Want to make a difference in a child’s life? Want to help our children and youth explore the love of God? Then teaching Sunday School might just be for you! The Education Committee is looking for a few more Sunday School teachers for the 2015-16 year. No teaching experience necessary – we will provide you with the curriculum and help you with resources. Can’t commit to every week? That’s ok too! Many of our teachers rotate and work together to create a calendar that works for them. We have openings for all ages (elementary, middle, and high school). Interested? Call or Email Kaleigh (kaleigh@princetonumc.org).

 

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Caring Kids for Summer Sundays

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Emily Gordonier reports on the Caring Kids program on July 19. “Carline Kimble and I led 7 delightful children in a crayon recycling program,” says Emily. “They enjoyed working together to sort broken crayons, gathered from throughout the church by by color, putting them into separate plastic bags. We wound up with a total of two gallons of crayons to be sent to a recycling company in Minnesota, Crazy Crayons, where they will be melted and used to make ‘new’ crayons for children in schools, hospital and churches.”

Children in preschool through rising sixth grade are invited to go to “Caring Kids” in Room 202 after the Children’s Time. Each Sunday they get to work on a different mission task. On July 12, the children wrote “encouragement” letters to soldiers.  Each week they take on a different mission task!

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Midsummer Opportunity on July 21

jie midsummer

Often PUMC participates in the Princeton Regional Chamber’s annual Midsummer Marketing Showcase (shown above, from 2013, Jie Hayes and Iona Harding spinning the wheel made by Tim Ewer). This year it’s Tuesday, July 21, from 4 to 7 p.m., Though we don’t have a table, we can all just go and mingle, talk to old and new friends, sample food and freebies, and enjoy the festivities. And it’s free!

Four years ago at this event, I encountered a sign designer, Raul Gutierrez and his wife Claire. Raul volunteered his services, pro bono, to create a much needed plan for wayfinding (direction) signs for PUMC. His plan was the basis for the first set of paper signs that we had. Now he’s helping us with the designs for permanent ones.

So if you can go to this event, identify yourself as a chamber member from PUMC!  You may meet someone who needs to explore their faith. You may meet someone you can do do business with. You never know what can happen from a chance encounter!

signed — Barbara Fox