Jim Hughes to speak at Camp Meeting (7/27/14)
Rev. Jim Hughes will be the “speaker” at next week’s Camp Meeting service. The service is held in the Pitman Grove Tabernacle, starting at 7:30. Jim has a unique style of preaching the Word. Using music, costumes, and drama, Jim draws the congregation into the story of the Bible. We learn how Nicodemus may have felt after his night time encounter with Jesus. We get a look into the motives of Judas. We see the love and invitation of Jesus in a fresh way. Jim has...
Read MoreChoir Completes ’13-’14 Season (7/6/14)
The Voices in Praise Choir completed its 2013 – 2014 choir season this Sunday with a rendition of “O Glorious Day.” Rehearsals started back in September, and we were in the loft and singing anthems during most of the 42 Sundays between September and this past Sunday (July 6). The Year in Review… During this year, we sang three cantatas. Our usual Christmas cantata was on December 22, and it was entitled “A Festival of Carols.” We sang...
Read MoreBret Walker to Speak at Pitman Camp Meeting (7/6/14)
The Pitman Camp Meeting began its 145th season last week (Sunday June 29). The speaker was the Rev. Bill Wilson, of the Chews Landing United Methodist Church. This week, the speaker will be Bret Walker. Bret is a member of PUMC who went into the ministry. He is now serving a two point charge as a local pastor in Pedricktown (Hudson UMC)and Auburn (Ebeneezer UMC). During our recent Vacation Bible School, Bret taught faith skills while portraying Moses. The camp meeting services are held in...
Read MoreChoirs to Lead Services on June 22 (6/22/14)
The choirs and praise team will lead both services on June 22. Using music, narration, and the Word, the choirs will lead us through a journey celebrating our church’s heritage and history. But more than a look into the past, we will celebrate how God has always been faithful to us. As written in the letter to the Hebrews, we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses.” As we enter this transition period between pastors, we will look to the past so we can...
Read MoreConfirmation Class of ’14 Joins PUMC (6/8/14)
For months, a group of nine youth have been meeting with Pastor Larry on Sunday evenings to prepare for the decision to confirm the profession of faith that was made by their parents at their baptism. This past Sunday (June 8), Pastor Larry, Pastor Kee, and the congregation witnessed their commitment to “participate in [our church’s] ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness.” With them, the entire congregation renews our vows and...
Read MoreIt is Well with My Soul!
It Is Belle With My Soul! During the worship services on Sunday May 18, the Alleluia Bell choir played an arrangement of the hymn “It is Well with My Soul.” The musical arrangement was was difficult to play but it was also very engaging. It incorporated many moving parts on top of the melody, and obviously took the Bell Choir many nights of rehearsal in order to play this piece. “Saved Alone… What Shall I Do?” This hymn was written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. ...
Read MorePUMC Celebrates the Life of Dr. Ed Blackman (5/7/14)
Our church lost one of it’s “pillars” when Ed Blackman went home to be with his Lord on Friday May 2 (obituary). He is survived by his wife Marge. Ed and his wife Marge were long time members of our church and led in many capacities over the years. They have led not only in official office capacities and in organized ministries, but both of them have and continue to touch the lives of so many of our members. Most of us carry memories of Ed’s witness and...
Read MoreMaundy Thursday Sermon (4/17/14)
Following Jesus… During the Maundy Thursday service on April 17, Pastor Kee preached on John 13:1-17, 31-35. His sermon was followed by a communion service in which participants had their hands washed before sitting at a table behind the pulpit. 12 people at a time filled the tables, giving the sense that we were actually participating in the Last Supper after Jesus had washed our feet. Read Scripture John 13:1-17, 31 35 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time...
Read MorePalm Sunday 2014- Grace Present, Past, and Future (3/13/14)
Abounding Grace… The choirs presented an entire musical service for Palm Sunday (April 20, 2014). The service opened with the traditional singing of “The Palms”, as children weaved between the pews to welcome the Savior into our midst. As we’ve seen in our recent Lenten devotional series, we are surrounded by God’s grace; unmerited favor. Grace that draws us near to God, grace that leads us to accept God, grace that makes us more like Him. The musical...
Read MorePalm Sunday Cantata: “Grace- Past, Present, and Future” (4/13/14)
Grace… On Palm Sunday morning (April 13),the members of the music program will present a Sunday worship service filled with grace! This Lenten Season, our church family has been reading through the devotional, “Forty Days of Fruitful Living: Practicing a Life of Grace.” On Palm Sunday, as we gather together to worship, we will celebrate the grace that is ours in Jesus Christ. By His death and resurrection, we are free to live a life of grace. Grace- God becomes human and...
Read MoreFruitful Living (5 of 5): Extravagant Generosity (4/6/14)
The sermon on Sunday April 6 introduced practice #5 of our five part series on the “Five Practices of Fruitful Living” During this season of Lent, we are following the companion devotional guide by Robert Schanase entitled in “Forty Days of Fruitful Living.” The sermons introduce the week’s topic, and we discuss and study these topics during our small group meetings that week. This week’s sermon is the final in the series. The Five Practices of Fruitful Living Radical...
Read MoreHoly Week Schedule & Meditations (4/13 – 4/20)
Holy Week Schedule (Palm Sunday thru Easter)
Read MoreForty Days of Fruitful Living Sermons & Studies (3/9/14)
On Sunday March 9, we began a new sermon series based on the devotional “Forty days of Fruitful Living- Practicing a Life of Grace,” written by Robert Schnanse. During the five Sundays in Lent we are looking at five disciplines, or practices that we can develop in order to grow into a life of grace. The five practices are: Radical Hospitality Passionate Worship Intentional Faith Development Risk-Taking Mission and Service Extravagant Generosity Like an...
Read MoreFruitful Living (4 of 5): “Risk Taking Mission” (3/30/14)
The sermon on Sunday March 30 introduced practice #4 of our five part series on the “Five Practices of Fruitful Living” During this season of Lent, we are following the companion devotional guide by Robert Schanase entitled in “Forty Days of Fruitful Living.” The sermons introduce the week’s topic, and we discuss and study these topics during our small group meetings that week. Risk Taking Mission and Service This week’s “practice of fruitful living” was presented by...
Read MoreNow Taking Orders for Easter Lilies (4/7/14)
Each Easter, it has been our tradition to adorn our Sanctuary with with white lilies to remind us of the freshness and rebirth offered by the resurrection of our Lord and Savior on that first Easter morning. The lilies may be purchased in memory or in honor of a loved one, and then picked up after the Easter service. Order forms are provided in the church bulletins, and you can also print out a copy here: Easter Lily Order Form. Please complete the form and drop it in the offering plate or...
Read MoreFruitful Living (3 of 5): “Intentional Faith Development” (3/23/14)
The sermon on Sunday March 23 introduced practice #3 of our five part series on the “Five Practices of Fruitful Living” During this season of Lent, we are following the companion devotional guide by Robert Schanase entitled in “Forty Days of Fruitful Living.” The sermons introduce the week’s topic, and we discuss and study these topics during our small group meetings that week. Intentional Faith Development This week’s “practice of fruitful living” is entitled...
Read MoreFruitful Living (2 of 5): “Passionate Worship (3/16/14)
The sermon on Sunday March 16 introduced the second practice of our five part series on the “Five Practices of Fruitful Living.” Pastor Kee preached the sermon. During this season of Lent, we are following the companion devotional guide by Robert Schanase entitled in “Forty Days of Fruitful Living.” The sermons introduce the week’s topic, and we discuss and study these topics during our small group meetings that week. Worship… A Sunday school teacher asked her children...
Read MoreFruitful Living (1 of 5): “Radical Hospitality” (3/9/14)
The sermon on Sunday March 9 opened our five part series in “Forty Days of Fruitful Living.” During this season of Lent, we are following this devotional guide by Robert Schanase. The sermons introduce the week’s topic, and we discuss and study these topics during our small group meetings that week. The initial “practice of fruitful living” is entitled “Radical Hospitality.” Pastor Larry’s scripture passage was Matthew 25:34-40. He related...
Read MoreWorld Day of Prayer (3/7/14)
Our church hosted the annual World Day of Prayer observance on Friday March 7. This is an ecumenical event that is supported by many of the churches in Pitman; about 50 people attended this afternoon service. The program theme was entitled “Streams in the Desert,” and it revolved around the encounter of Jesus and the Samaritan women at the well (as related in John 4:1-42). The World Day of Prayer website gives more information about this year’s theme (Click Here)....
Read MoreInvite Others on the Journey (3/2/14)
This morning’s sermon was part 7 of a series of messages based on the book “The Wesleyan Way: A Faith that Matters.” The scripture underlying Rev. Potts’ message was Mark 8:31-38 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned...
Read More