Preschool Shines in Christmas Pageant (12/10/15)
Our Preschool, Our Father’s House, presented their annual Christmas Pageant before an adoring crowd of parents, grandparents, and PUMC members. After a welcome and announcements by Pastor Jim and OFH director Eileen Salmon, the kids took over. They took us through the story of Christmas with short songs and lots of energy. The kids presented everything from the Christ Child, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, magi, angels… and even cows. ...
Read MoreBLAST Celebrates 2015 and Looks Forward to 2016! (12/20/15)
Our Youth Fellowship Group, BLAST, led the worship services on Sunday December 13. During that service they unveiled a video which takes a look back at some of our recent activities… Christmas Party! What better way to wrap up the year than to get together and celebrate Christmas with your friends? On Sunday Dec. 20 we will hold our Christmas Party- here’s the itinerary: GATHER LIGHTS! PIZZA! THE STORY GAMES Meet at the church at 5:30 PM We will kick off the Christmas...
Read MoreA Future with Hope: Anna and Charlie’s Story
This post is the first in a series of updates about our efforts to help people whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012… Here is the story of Anna and Charlie, a couple who had recently retired and put all of their life’s savings into their home in Union Beach, NJ. This couple has fostered over 100 children and adopted 9. By building a Future with Hope for them, we are allowing them to continue giving hope to the many children whom God has placed on their...
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 MoreMen’s Group Enters the Gates with Thanksgiving (12/12/15)
Our United Methodist Men’s Fellowship held our monthly gathering on the morning of December 12, and we considered Psalm 100. This familiar Psalm teaches us that “Theology (knowledge) leads to Doxology (worship).” Our guest speaker was Gino Curcuruto, a chiropractor/pastor/father and devoted Christian. Gino and his family recently moved from Pitman to Philadelphia, with the intent of planting churches in his South Philly neighborhood (or wherever God is leading them). The...
Read MoreHow Many Shopping Days Are Left? (12/6/15)
Advent is a time of busy preparation- shopping, writing cards, planning parties… you’re never really ready until it’s all over. On this Second Sunday in Advent, Pastor Jim spoke on Matthew 25:1-13, a parable Jesus spoke about getting ready for His return. As we prepare for Christmas, are we ready for Jesus? Our scripture was from Matthew 25:1-13. The reading is not included in the recording, so open this drop down box and read the scripture before playing 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 MoreHow Much Do You REALLY Know About Christmas?
The Greater New Jersey Conference recently sent an email providing several resources about the meaning of Christmas. (Click Here to view) How much do you know about the season we’re celebrating? Check out these articles and videos… then take our Christmas Quiz!!! The United Methodist Church re-designed their website after this post was first published, and the below buttons no longer work. However, you can still view the video and try the quiz. – Chuck ...
Read MoreWonderful, Wonderful! (11/29/15)
The wonder of this Advent season comes in the journey more than the destination. On this First Sunday in Advent, Pastor Jim spoke on John 1:1-14 and led us to consider how Wonderful the gifts of Jesus are, and to challenge us to anticipate and to be amazed by the Wonder of Christmas. Click the below “Play” button to listen to the recording, then scroll down and follow along… Our scripture was from John 1:1-14. Pastor Jim read from the Living Bible; the New...
Read MoreHooks ‘n Needles for God Opens a Mitten Tree (11/28/15)
The Hooks ‘n Needles for God group, which uses their talents to create blankets and prayer shawls is collecting gloves and mittens to help needy children keep warm this winter. Amidst all of the Christmas Decorations in our church, there is a very special Christmas Tree in the rear of the sanctuary: The Mitten Tree. Hooks ‘n Needles got things off to a good start by hanging their own items, but there is still plenty of space left on the tree! If you have any children’s...
Read MoreWomen to Make the Super Bowl Something to Look Forward To! (2/7/16)
February 7, 2016 will probably be a pretty normal day for Philadelphia Eagles fans. On that Sunday, the NFL’s two best teams will play for the championship Lombardi trophy. But, it’s extremely unlikely that the Eagles will be one of those teams! But that doesn’t mean that “Superbowl Sunday” can’t be a super day for us. The Mary circle (of our United Methodist Women’s fellowship) is inviting everyone to leave the Superbowl cooking to us: We will...
Read MoreMake Christ a Presence Among the Presents!
We’re currently in the Advent season of 2015. Much of the hustle and bustle of this season is driven by the need to give gifts. Many of us are consumed with two fundamental questions: “What does ___ want?” “What do I want?” To answer these questions and to prepare for Christmas morning, we run around searching the Internet, ads, and malls. We scratch our heads. We think, “what did I give so and so last year?” “Does she already have one of...
Read MoreStar Tree to Brighten up Christmas for Needy Families (12/13/15)
Last week, during our annual “hanging of the greens,” many lights, garlands, nativities and trees were brought out to remind us of this special season. One of those trees is very special; we call it our “Star Tree,” and it was placed in our Narthex. This Christmas tree is adorned with Yellow stars, and each star bears the name of a child from our town who is in need of our help. To participate in this ministry… Remove a star with the child’s name on it...
Read MorePreschool Kids Learn How to Brush Up! (12/1/15)
A Dental Hygienist from Washington Township Dental Associates visited our Preschool (Our Father’s House) to show the kids how to take care of their teeth. She presented a fantastic program for the children and gave them a “goodie bag” that they could take home. No, the “goodie bag” didn’t contain leftovers from Halloween! But the toothbrushes and the other contents in the bag will reinforce the need of proper dental hygiene. Here are a couple of...
Read MorePUMC Marches in Pitman Christmas Parade (11/28/15)
On the Fourth of July, crowds line Broadway and a parade of floats heads north towards our church. On Thanksgiving weekend, a smaller (colder) crowd lines Broadway as a parade of floats heads south from our church. And we joined the parade with a float of our own! It was a warm evening, even if a bit drizzly. But the moisture didn’t dampen our enthusiasm and joy of kicking off the Advent season. As we rolled through the center of town, we sang Christmas Carols and joined with the town...
Read MoreGet Ready for Jesus! 2015 Advent Events (12/2015)
The season of Advent is a gift from God. It’s a special time of the year when families, friends, and churches across dominations join together to celebrate the incarnation… the wonder that somehow God became human and walked this earth in the Person of Jesus. And yet, sometimes we get so bogged down in the parties, shopping and “things we have to do” that we miss the wonder. And so this year we offer an opportunity to Slow Down. Plug into the activities that will...
Read MoreFinding and Responding to God (11/22/15)
As we enter the holiday season, we get Busy. We celebrate the gifts and presence of God… but do we see Him? and when we see Him… what is our reaction? The sermon on Nov. 22, 2015 was given by Andy Johns, a PUMC Advanced Lay Servant. Click the below “Play” button to listen to the recording, then scroll down and follow along… The scripture was Psalm 19. Andy read from the New Living Testament (shown below). Click the drop Down box to read… ...
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 MoreThe World’s First GPS (11/15/15)
A GPS is your reference; it keeps you focused on your destination, it keeps you from wandering into “detours”, it teaches you new paths, it points out the most effective route to take. It even tells you when it’s time to “recalculate your route.” Kind of sounds like a Bible, doesn’t it? The 3rd Sunday in November is traditionally observed as “Bible Sunday,” and so Pastor Jim took a look at the significance of the Bible in our daily walk with...
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