Dress 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 More3rd and 4th Graders Learn to Be Jesus’ Hands and Feet (1/17/16)
The Third and Fourth graders in our Sunday School are practicing to be the “Hands” and “Feet” of Jesus by making a chain recording their good deeds. We’re hoping that by the end of the year, our chain will reach around the room! Standing in the Gap As we saw in a recent sermon, Ezekiel 22:30-31 uses the image of someone “Standing in the Gap” between God’s love and humanity’s sinfulness. God is calling us to be “priests”;...
Read MoreThe Surprise Gift (1/17/16)
This message is the third in a three part series called “Three Men and a Baby.” The first part focused on the gift of Gold; of how the Wise Men challenged us to give our best. This second part focused on the gift of Frankincense; of how Jesus is our great High Priest who bridges the wide gap between humanity and God. Before listening to this week’s sermon, you might want to take a look at the first two parts of this series… GOLD FRANKINCENSE Gold reminds us of the...
Read MoreA Future With Hope: Jeanne’s Story
This post is another in a series of updates about our efforts to help people whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012… When Jeanne and her husband moved into their home, they made it a special creative project. Her husband poured his talents into the home. But by the time Sandy had struck, Jeanne’s husband had passed away. The storm took away her touch and special memories with her late husband. As she awaits for her house to be repaired, she continues to pay...
Read MoreLiving Water Connections to Kick Off ’16 with Italian Dinner (1/15/16)
Living Water Connections Dinner Theater Presents… Italian Dinner Jan 15th, 2015 at 6:30 Featuring Performers: Jana Zollner, The Golden Voices of South Jersey, Peter Mace and Bruce Tyler, Noah Avis, Jerome Sheldon, Joachima Kim Speer, Jacqui Zollner, and Steve Legge Dinner cost is $3.00 at the door Please call Linda Headley at 609-254-7254 for more information. Dinner at 6:30 followed by performances until 9:30. Volleyball will be at 9:30 For more info about Living...
Read MoreOperation Shoebox Blesses 11 Million!
In 2015 more than 11 million shoebox gifts were delivered to children in 108 countries around the world. For some of these children this was the first Christmas gift they have ever received. Bible materials printed in 69 languages are included with each shoebox gift; so that every single box represents an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the children and their families. 89 of these boxes came from PUMC. Thanks to everyone who packed a box or donated materials. To God be...
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Christmas Wishes
Pastor Jim emailed the following devotional on January 5. We’re a bit slow in posting this message, but it’s relevant all year… Greetings Friends: Happy New Year to all! Since we are still in the holy season of Christmas (Epiphany begins January 6), I was trying to think of some way to express greetings to all of you. Below is a poem I actually came across many years ago. I recently found it again and feel led to share it with you. It really sums up what this...
Read MorePUMC to Host Blood Drive (1/29/16)
The Red Cross will visit our Fellowship Hall on Friday January 29 to give us a chance to help replenish their blood banks. Local hospitals are always in need of blood; transfusions and re-supply to save lives every day. Consider doing your part. If you are able to donate, please stop by our church any time between 2:00 – 7:00 PM. You should expect to spend 60 minutes for a whole blood donation (or 90 minutes for a double red donation). Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are...
Read MoreGod’s Bridge Over Troubled Water (1/10/16)
This message is the second in a three part series called “Three Men and a Baby.” The first part focused on the gift of Gold; of how the Wise Men challenged us to give our best. This second part focuses on the gift of Frankincense; of how Jesus is our great High Priest who bridges the wide gap between humanity and God. Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the recording is from the 9:30 service)… Note: Pastor Jim opens by inviting...
Read MorePray Daily for Our Missionaries
Pray for Our Missionaries! How often have you greeted a missionary who spoke at our church on a Sunday and promised to “keep them in our prayers” when they return to the mission field? For those of us who have never been a “Missionary” in the traditional sense, it’s difficult to imagine their needs. It’s hard to know what to pray for. Our missions offerings are sent directly to the missionaries that PUMC helps to support. And a portion of UMC Shared...
Read MoreMen’s Fellowship Gathers with Pastor Chris Heckert (1/8/16)
The Men’s Fellowship group held their monthly gathering on Saturday January 8. The gathering took place in a brand new year, but our speaker was a familiar face. Joining us was Rev. Chris Heckert, who is now serving as the senior pastor in the Haddonfield United Methodist Church. Pastor Chris was our associate pastor between 2004 and 2006 (during our “tabernacling days” after the fire while we met in the downtown storefront). During his time here he blessed us with...
Read MoreWhat Gift Shall I Bring? (1/3/16)
This message is the first in a three part series called “Three Men and a Baby.” As we look at the arrival of the “Wisemen” and the Epiphany, let’s also look for way Jesus was manifested as the Christ, the Son of God, and Savior of all. AND… look for ways that Christ can be seen or manifested in our lives so that the world can see Christ in us and in the Church. Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the recording is from...
Read MoreJust Believe (12/24/15)
What do you believe? It’s Christmas Eve… God wants to give you a big gift! Not just a package under tomorrow’s tree, but a big lifelong gift. One that lasts. One that makes a difference. Are you ready for it? How do you receive this awesome gift? Pastor Jim’s Christmas Eve sermon helped us revisit the manger in a fresh light. Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along… Our scripture reading was Luke 2:1-20 and Isaiah...
Read MoreBLAST Serves Breakfast to the Homeless in Camden! (12/28/15)
Our Youth Group, BLAST, took part of their Christmas holiday to visit a homeless shelter! We spent the morning of December 28 at the New Visions Homeless Day Shelter (in Camden NJ) to serve breakfast to the people visiting the shelter. We were also able to take a break from the work in the kitchen to sit down and chat with some that we served. About 15 “BLAST’ers” took part in this experience. After preparing a meal consisting of pancakes, turkey sausage, bananas, coffee,...
Read MoreA Missionary’s Heart
The following appeared in an article by Tricia Goyer in “Mornings With Jesus 2015″… “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it.” Matthew 24:14 (NLT) In a small city in the Czech Republic there is an apartment not far from the town square where three young women room together. One is a Czech native who teaches high school and leads a local youth group. The second is from the Netherlands,...
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 MoreThe Polar Express Comes to Pitman! (12/20/15)
Each Christmas is a reminder that God beacons us- woos us- to “Get on Board!” He constantly offers us a free ticket; to trust fully in Him and to go along on the “ride” that He has intended for us to take. But like the kids in the movie Polar Express, we have to choose to leave the comfort of our home and Get Aboard to parts unknown. Pastor Jim’s sermon on December 20 reminded us of the wonder and joy of this challenge. Click the below “Play” button...
Read MoreIt’s All About Jesus!
On December 26 the signboard said: IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS! ‘Twas the Day after Christmas, And all through the house. All the creatures were stirring, scampering like a mouse… There’s stuff under the tree, wrapping paper laying around, cookie crumbs on the dining room table. All sorts of new “Things” to play with, new clothes to wear, fresh things to look at. And there are a lot of new items added to the “To Do List”… gifts to be...
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...
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