Helping the Homeless in Ewing

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Our sister church in Ewing, Trinity, is collecting clothing and blankets (new, with tags, or gift cards) for those made homeless by the devastating explosion and fire in Ewing Township. About 55 homes were damaged in the explosion and resulting fire, and about 20 others are uninhabitable. Our district superintendant, Rev. Varlyna D. Wright, suggests that items may be brought to the church or to the district office at 1985 Pennington Road, Trenton NJ 08618. Checks are also welcome. Or contact Brian Joyce at bdjoyce@comcast.net or by phone at 856-952-9066.
Click here for the Trinity Church web page.

Windows Feeding Light into the World

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Six stained glass windows from Canterbury Cathedral are on view at the Cloisters in NYC. They were crafted in the 12th century, 800 years before the beautiful windows at Princeton United Methodist Church were made. Yet despite the difference in age, the windows on Nassau Street share the same inspiring properties.

In the Middle Ages, said critic Holland Cotter in his review of the exhibition for the New York Times,  “Churches were conceived of as truth-holding boxes of light, but also as power stations, feeding light into the world.”

What an exciting concept! When we pass through the Sanford Davis Room, we see the awesome, huge “Let the Children Come to Me” window.

sd window

Now that window can remind us that the church holds the light of truth and that we can help “feed that light into the world.”

Noticing the “Let the Children Come to Me” window is particularly fitting for Sunday, March 3, when the Sunday School lesson focuses on that very story in Luke 18: 15-17.

One big difference between PUMC’s windows and those in medieval churches where the windows could be 60 feet above the floor: Ours are mostly at eye level.

As in medieval times, the light shining into our windows changes according to the weather and the time of day. Little Sam noticed that during the coffee hour last week. “Look Mom,” he said, “Just now, the light shone through Jesus’s face!”

Photograph of the Cloisters by Byron Smith. Photograph of the PUMC window by Patricia Hatton. The Cloisters exhibit remains through May 18, 212-923-3700.

God’s Kingdom Belongs to Them

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You never know what you’ll find when you poke your head into a Sunday School class. On this day a hall monitor with a camera found the 2nd and 3rd graders doing a service project, using sand and balloons to make “stress balls,” part of a cheery “get well kit” to give to shut-ins.

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Meanwhile Yvonne Macdonald was teaching a song to 3 and 4 year olds; they performed it last week.

ss k-1The kindergarteners and first-graders were busily at work.

And the 4th and 5th graders were painting about Psalm 23 and working on their sewing projects.

ss 4-5 sageserss 4-5 paint

Who gets the most out of the children’s Sunday School classes? Could it be the teachers? After all, as the saying goes “We teach what we need to learn.” And — the lesson for this Sunday, March 2, is on Jesus and the Children, the story in Luke 18: 16-17 about how children are the best ‘welcomers’ of God’s kingdom. Said Jesus: “God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children.”

African Women Extraordinaire: March 1 and 6

Elsie speakselsie and cake

Princeton Theological Seminary stages a one-day symposium on March 6:  African Women Extraordinaire: church, health, and women’s development. The full-day workshop is $50 and is being planned by Dr. Elsie A. McKee, who spoke at the UMM Men’s breakfast last month amd told of growing up in the Congo and of her connections with the Shungu family.

Elsie is Princeton Seminary’s professor of Reformation Studies and History of Worship. She is also the International Liaison and President of Women, Cradle of Abudance, a North America-based organization that promotes the work and ministry of Femme Berceau de l’Abondance.

If you go to the African Soiree this Saturday, March 1, you will see her there as well. Elsie is on the board of United Front Against Riverblindness and co-chair of the African Soiree.

So much good work!

 

 

Pride: Marathon Sermon Series on 7 Deadly Sins

Not all pride is sin, and humility is not self-abasement, said Rev. Don Brash, who preached on “pride vs humility” in the Marathon sermon series on January 26.

If sin is the act of disobeying God, he said, don’t fail to notice what comes before and what happens afterward.  Consider the state of the heart.

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve wanted to be like God. Equality with God was something to be grasped.  What began in imagination and desire was the disruption of relationships.

Prideful desire plus disobedience led to self alienation in form of guilt and shame — blaming each other and the serpent.

Sin is an act that leads to disruption of true community. With its alienation, pride is the worst of the deadly sins. Insecurity results from alienation to the detriment of others.

Four kinds of sinful pride:

  • Intellectual:  the wry satisfaction from being the one who knows.
  • Moral: not committing the sin another is doing, not removing the plank in our own eye
  • Collective: justifying sinful behavior, as did the Nazis, for the sake of the nation
  • Spiritual:  leading to self righteousness, as when a preacher thinks he can speak for God

Healthy pride, in contrast, values self enough to care for oneself, according to C.S. Lewis. We can celebrate our victories but value the other team. Healthy pride builds community,  but sinful pride alienates community.

Christ is our model for healthy pride, as in Philippians 3:2-11

Walk with Christ.

Don’t look for equality with God.
Make a choice to make a sacrifice for the other.
Learn to love the other voice and the result will be harmony.

Amen.

Anger: Marathon Sermon Series on the 7 Deadly Sins

Anger can’t be ignored, said Rev. Catherine Williams in her sermon on February 2, part of the seven deadly sins marathon series. Anger  raises more questions than can be answered. Then she proceeded to answer some of these questions.


As Martin Luther said, anger can be useful in giving us energy to accomplish something. As John Wesley said, all anger is not evil. But anger also alienates and it disrupts community.

So what do we do about an anger producing situation?

We can use the Biblical lament to channel anger. As examples, Rev. Williams quoted Psalm 137:7-9, written by the exiled Hebrews, and Psalm 22. When we are enraged by what life hands us — the anger expressed in Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” — validates our emotions. Somebody was praying what we are thinking.

We can also use anger to fuel robust activism, like Jesus when he attacked the money changers in the temple (John 2:13-17). We can fight any of a hundred unjust evils.

We can also take our anger and forgive. Forgiveness is a choice the forgiver makes without regard to the offender. When anger is sinful, forgiveness is its visible antidote. The forgiver — not the situation — is the primary beneficiary of this antidote.

Alternative Gifts: Part 3

 This is the third in a series of posts on Alternative Gifts. Here is Part One, and Here is Part Two.

These ideas came from LaVerna A.

Pick an activity your family/children enjoy and show your gratitude by:

contributing to a scholarship fund at the Y for swimming lessons or team membership or summer camp 

contributing to a fund at Westminster for scholarships for children’s music study 

contributing to the public library, with either money or a family favorite book (or two). 

From Barbara F:

Art books, coffee table books — they are great to sit around for awhile, but then they gather dust. One year I checked out from the public library one beautiful book for each person, adult and child, wrapped them up and put them under the tree as an “extra’ gift to open. Everybody enjoyed their books during the holidays, then they were returned. They don’t have to be “artsy,” they could be about a new hobby that you are tactfully offering to a child. Or a travel book about a trip for the future. Something to dream on!

More ideas, these from Iona H.

Three years ago, my immediate family and close friends and I decided to stop giving each other gifts. Instead, throughout the year, we buy personal products when they are on sale. Then in early December, I collect them from my mom, brother, sister-in-law, friends (and myself, of course), and take several boxes of shampoos, dental supplies, creams, soaps, deodorants, etc. to the Crisis Ministry. This is something that we really get excited about doing every year.

Also each year my husband and I tell his local son and daughter-in-laws which charity we want them to donate to in our name. We keep insisting that we want nothing, but they insist on doing something. So they do something for us (no more stuff) while doing something for others. Last year their donation went to the Cornerstone Community Kitchen here at PUMC.

For more ideas check out

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/gifts/alternative-gift-ideas/,

www.buynothingchristmas.org/alternatives/

www.alternativegiving.org.

Also check out charity ratings at www.charitynavigator.org and www.guidestar.org.

If you have family-favorite alternative gift-giving ideas, or have tried some of the above and want to give feedback, please send them to outreach@princetonumc.org. We can post them on this blog and add them to the list for 2014.

Have a joyous Christmas celebration with the emphasis on Christ’s coming to be among us.

 

Alternative Gifts: Part 2

Karen Z oberea mugsffers ideas on alternative gifts, a follow-up to Alternative Gifts Part I:

I began using alternative shopping ideas years ago after reading a mid 80s book by Jo Robinson & Jean C. Staeheli called Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season. 

Koinonia  Christian based, sells pecans in many forms, cakes, etc. 

Christian Appalachian Home sells greens and wreaths and other crafts. I have ordered their wreaths for our church doors for years; it gives employment to people there. 

Misericordia cards, amaryllis kits, coffee bakery. Catholic organization supports people with learning disabilities. 

Crossnore (crossnoreweavers.org: crossnoreschool.org) Weaving, other gifts. In the heart of Blue Ridge. It’s a DAR supported school built in 5 rural type areas for kids whose families are in trouble. 

Hindman Stettlement  Baskets, etc. This part of Kentucky is really poor. DAR supported, the Settlement school mission is to provide educational and service opportunities for people of the mountains while keeping them mindful of their heritage. Hindman Settlement School is focusing on dyslexic kids for a large area. 

National Wildlife Federation  supports conservation and protection for wildlife. They have three children’s magazines. Ranger Rick is the most known. 

Berea College Crafts  Berea College does terrific crafts—broom, wood furniture, etc. Catalogue is 38 pages . Non profit educating the head, heart and hands. The mugs shown above cost $15 and were made by Berea students. The

Other ideas from Karen:

Think before you buy from a book Simplify Your Christmas by Elaine St. James:

Do I need it? How much will I use it? How long will it last? Will it end up in a landfill? Are the resources that went into it renewable or non-renewable? What is the worst that will happen if I don’t buy it now?

Buy American by supporting home town folks: buy gift certificates from locally owned businesses, like hair salon, barber, restaurant, mechanic, cleaning service, hometown theater, local craft people, lawn service, local golf course, etc.

Some tips for a simpler, more meaningful Christmas: Give alternative gifts. Give 25% of what you spent last year to the truly needy—individuals or groups locally, nationally or internationally. Buy crafts and clothing from developing countries at alternative gift markets, not from commercial importers, so that the artisans receive a fair price for their work.

Give of yourself, not just “stuff”—a, coupon book for future services such as baby sitting for an “enchanted evening” or something baked.

Draw names rather than everyone giving something to everyone else. Set a ceiling for each person.

Take turns opening gifts, not all at once, so each gift can be appreciated and each giver thanked.

Celebrate Advent for four weeks before Christmas.

Whose birthday is it anyway? 

Here is a link to Part 3

Scott Langdon’s One-Man Show: A Christmas Carol

carol podiumScott Langdon presents his one-man show of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the Media Theater just outside of Philadelphia, now through December 22. He shared a similar program with our church five years ago — now it has sets and lights and all the trimmings!scottlangdon

It will be a blessing to see, and the town of Media makes a delightful visit. Call 610-891-0100 for shows on Saturdays at 11 or Sundays at 7. For a preview video, click here.

Meanwhile, you can also hear Scott teach “Speaking Christian” at PUMC, every Sunday at 9:30 in Room 205 in the Heart of Faith class.

Alternative Gifts: part one

feba displayChristmas is a wonderful time of the year for Christians around the world; a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But it can also bring stress, distractions and a blow to our finances, especially when it comes to giving gifts. Why not try a few of the alternative gift-giving ideas and spread some good cheer along with Christian values all at the same time.

These ideas come from Pat O., a member of the outreach committee.

Trying to explain to a young child that you just gave the money you would have spent on their gift to a worthy cause, can be a hard sell. We use the following organizations which send a token gift to give to the child. Older children appreciate them too.

World Wildlife Federation (www.wwf.org) Adopt an animal on the endangered species list. You will get a plush animal and adoption papers.

National Wildlife Federation (www.nwf.org) Adopt an animal program at the national level. Other gift ideas available.

Heifer International (www.heifer.org) Choose a meaningful gift to help families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant. Heifer does sell stuffed animals, but hard to find on their website. May have to buy matching animal elsewhere. Our children’s Sunday School offer goes to Heifer.

Other ideas for young and old:

Ten Thousand Villages sells fair trade handmade goods from around the world. Princeton Shopping Center.

UNICEF (www.unicef.org) catalog of gifts, cards.

Church World Service (cwsglobal.org) Donations in honor of recipients for School Kits, Baby Care Kits, literacy classes, animals, wells, and much more. Cards can be printed out to give to the person.

Womanspace (www.womanspace.org) See “December Holiday Wish List” 2012 on website.

United Front Against Riverblindness (www.riverblindness.org) UFAR helps eliminate riverblindness in the Democratic Republic of Congo. For $250 you can adopt a village of 500 people for a year. Will Receive a certificate with a village name (immediately) and a set of photos of the village chief (at a later time.) Gifts of any amount are gratefully accepted. Contact person: Susan Lidstone (coverrock@aol.com)

Woman, Cradle of Abundance (www.womancredleofabundance.org) Purchase items made by Women in the Democratic Republic (displayed in the photo above) of the Congo like clothing, table cloths and napkins, purses, jewelry. Donations also accepted for building a new facility to grow their business.

crane earringsInternational Crane Foundation (www.savingcranes.org) has various crane-themed gifts, like the $25 earrings at left.

IOU’s Give a Christmas coupon book that can be redeemed for breakfast in bed, or a backrub, or a trip to the park, etc. Be creative. You can find coupon books to print out online

This is part 1 of three posts distributed by the Outreach Committee. Here is a link to part 2, and you can pick up the complete sheet in the Sanford Davis Room!