PUMC Celebrates Ministries with Luncheon (1/31/16)
Just a quick glance through our church newsletter (Steeple Notes), or through the “Coming Events” section of our bulletin, or at the Monthly Calendar (see the link on the website sidebar), reveals that this church is “busy.” But being “busy” and “doing things” doesn’t necessarily mean we’re “doing things” that glorify God. But when the Holy Spirit leads us into these activities, we are then participating in the...
Read MoreDress Down Sunday!!! (2/7/16)
Wear your favorite team jersey to church this Sunday!!! No, this isn’t an “April Fools” joke- it’s February… not April! Did you know that worship is supposed to be FUN, UPLIFTING, and REAL??? Formalities can lead us to a reverent attitude, but sometimes they can also seal us off into something that’s not genuine. And so on Sunday Feb. 7, we’re not going to be irreverent, but we are going to suspend the “dress code” and do things a bit...
Read MoreSnowed out! Missing Church This Morning??? (1/23/16)
Snowed out!!! After getting pounded for the past 36 hours, our roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are covered with snow. Moving about and navigating our sidewalks would be unsafe, so we took the unprecedented (?) step of cancelling our Sunday Morning Activities. So today is a day to dig out and clean up. But aren’t you missing going to church? For those who wouldn’t think of excluding Morning Worship from their Sunday routine, this morning feels kinda weird! Maybe even a bit...
Read MorePUMC Welcomes the Savior! (12/24/15)
On Christmas Eve, we held two services. The first was at 4:00 PM and was geared for families with small children. The 7:00 PM service included the choir, praise team, brass ensemble, and the traditional lighting of candles to the singing of Silent Night. Pastor Jim gave a sermon on Luke 2:1-20 and Isaiah 9:6-7 entitled “Believe.” Here are some pictures from the 7:00 service… most of which are taken from the choir loft. The view of the candles from the loft on Christmas Eve...
Read MoreChristmas Eve Services (12/24/15)
Christmas is finally upon us! We will celebrate the eve before Christ’s birth with two Christmas Eve services. Family Service, 4:00 PM The fist service will be a casual family service and will be held at 4:00 PM. The service will feature carols and Bible readings. Traditional Candlelight Service, 7:30 PM The second service will begin with our annual “Christmas Band” and the singing of many favorite Christmas Carols and Praise Choruses. The choir will sing and...
Read MoreMiddle School Singers Take a Field Trip to PUMC! (12/16/15)
The Pitman Middle School Chorus, under the direction of our own Sue Crispin, presented their annual Christmas concert in our sanctuary on Wednesday December 16. The chorus was about 25 strong, and they presented a selection of familiar secular and spiritual songs. After the concert we all joined together in the Fellowship Hall for a lunch of ham, macaroni / cheese, and of course- cupcakes! During the weekdays, “Sue Crispin” (PUMC Music Director), takes on the role of...
Read MoreChoirs Shine the Light of Christ during Cantata (12/13/15)
Our choirs and praise team presented our annual candelight Christmas Cantata on the afternoon of Sunday December 13. The title of the cantata was “A Light Still Shines.” Here are portions of the forward which is provided in the book: Christmas is a modern day miracle of ancient origin. Two thousand years of human history have not diminished the importance nor the implications of the Incarnation and the joy of that event will resound for millennia to come. As we celebrate the...
Read MoreSpecial Combined Service (12/27/15)
“Greeting cards have all been sent… the Christmas rush is through…” The Christmas preparations and celebrations will be over… and we’ll be resting up from all of the activity. The last Sunday of the year will have a different feel at PUMC. Instead of our usual two-service schedule at 9:30 and 11:00, we’ll hold a single service at 10:15 AM. ~ Sunday, December 27 ~ 9:30 AM: Continental Breakfast goodies in Fellowship Hall 10:15...
Read MoreCommunity to Observe Thanksgiving (11/24/15)
The Pitman Council of Churches will host a Community Thanksgiving worship service on Tuesday, November 24 at 7:00 PM. The service this year will be held at the Mary, Mother of Mercy Church on Pitman Ave. Notice the schedule change: The service is held on TUESDAY instead of the usual Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Pastor Jim’s 7:00 PM Bible Study will NOT be held. The other Tuesday night activities will continue as usual. ...
Read MorePUMC Celebrates 130th Anniversary with a Special Sunday (11/1/15)
On November 10 1885, the “Pitman Grove Methodist Episcopal Church” was “organized”, and what we now know as the “Pitman United Methodist Church”- was born. Our church is now 130 years old! On November 1 2015 we celebrated! Our usual 9:30 and 11:00 services merged into a single 10:15 service of worship, and we all got together in the Fellowship Hall afterwards for a covered dish luncheon. It was a homecoming of sorts, and Pastor Jim’s sermon was...
Read MorePitman Camp Meeting Ready to Begin 2015 Summer Season (6/28/15)
This post is for the 2015 season! For information on the 2016 season, click this button: 2016 Camp Meeting Schedule The 145th annual summer Pitman Camp Meeting will be held again this summer, and it will open on Sunday June 28. The final Sunday will be on August 30. The services feature pastors and musical groups from the area churches. It is a time of informal Praise and Worship which begins at 7:30 PM in the Pitman Grove Auditorium. Here’s the...
Read MoreBishop Calls for Prayer for Nepal and Baltimore (4/29/15)
In response to the earthquake in Nepal and recent events in Baltimore, Bishop Schol (bishop of our Greater NJ Annual Conference), sent the following message reminding us of the need for prayer and calling us to a weekend of prayer for these two specific needs. The message was sent on April 29, 2015… Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, I and United Methodists around the world grieve deeply about the impact of the earthquake in Nepal and the unrest in Baltimore. I call all of our...
Read MorePUMC Celebrates the Resurrection with the Hallelujah Chorus (4/5/15)
Starting with Ash Wednesday, we’ve been preparing to celebrate this special day that we call Easter. No, it’s not about bunnies, ham and eggs. It’s about our God who planned from eternity past to eternity future to restore and build a relationship with His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. During Lent, through Pastor Jim’s sermons we looked at the Seven Last Words of Christ from the cross. We learned that you can’t experience the resurrection without...
Read MoreChoirs Present “The Seven Last Words” in Palm Sunday Cantata (3/29/15)
Palm Sunday is usually viewed as a joyous time of celebration; the King is arriving into the Holy City. But we quickly discover that the Holy City rejected and crucified this King instead of celebrating and worshiping Him. And so it’s appropriate that Palm Sunday finds us looking at the Seven Last Words of Christ. The choir led our Palm Sunday service by continuing Pastor Jim’s theme of Christ’s Seven Last Words on the Cross. Along with narration and scripture readings, the...
Read MorePUMC Joins Community to Celebrate Holy Week (4/5/15)
This week (“Passion Week” or “Holy Week”) is perhaps the most important week on the Christian calendar. Our church will join with others in Pitman and with millions across the globe to celebrate the Passion of our Lord and of His Resurrection. Here’s the schedule… Thursday 4/2 Friday 4/3 Saturday 4/4 Sunday 4/5 7:00PM Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) communion service 8:30 AM The women will sponsor our annual Good Friday breakfast (no charge!), and...
Read MoreLocal Praise Teams Support Church in Mexico (3/22/15)
On the evening of Sunday 3/22/15, some of the best praise teams from area UMC churches came to PUMC to present a concert. It was not only a time of worship, but an opportunity to support a sister UMC church in La Palmilla Mexico… The Methodist church in La Palmilla may be economically impoverished (at least according to our standards), but they are rich in their love for the Lord and in their service for His Kingdom. But, they’re bursting at the seams and they really need a new...
Read MoreLenten Schedule (March-April 2015)
Starting with Ash Wednesday (on February 18), we left the season of Epiphany and entered the season of Lent. If you start with the Saturday before Easter and count backwards 40 days (not including Sundays), you’ll land on Ash Wednesday. Lent is the 40 day (less Sundays) period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. It’s a time for introspection and repentance. A time to look at our sin, God’s holiness, and to appreciate the value of Jesus’ death on the cross....
Read More2015 Lenten Devotional Books are Ready!
During the past few months, members of PUMC have written and collected a series of devotional readings to help us prepare for Easter during the season of Lent. The devotionals have been assembled into a booklet, and the booklets are now available. The Lenten Devotionals are now available in the Narthex. The book contains daily readings starting on Ash Wednesday (February 18) and continuing through Easter Sunday (April 5). Articles are written by members of PUMC as well as by members of Zion...
Read MoreAsh Wednesday Service (2/18/15)
We will recognize the beginning of Lent by offering ourselves in humble repentance during our annual Ash Wednesday service. The service will be held on Wednesday February 18, starting at 7:00 PM. The choir will hold their weekly rehearsal after the service instead of during the usual time on Thursday evening. What is Ash Wednesday? For more about Ash Wednesday, check out the following “Chuck Knows Church” video… ...
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