Snow Forces Cancellations! (1/26/15)
Because of the impending snow storm, most of the activities scheduled to be held on Monday 1/26 (evening) and Tuesday 1/27 (day and evening) have been cancelled. See below for details… Our Father’s House Cancellations or late openings will be announced separately via email. Our Father’s House was closed on Tuesday January 27… PUMC and Outside Activities Monday Jan. 26 Cancelled: Newpoint Meeting, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts Postponed: Administrative...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Love is Victorious
The following thoughts were submitted by Pastor Jim on 1/20/15… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:11a “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,” PLEASE READ: Ephesians 4:29 “Watch your talk! No bad words should be coming from your mouth. Say what is good. Your words should help others grow as Christians” (NLV) Although snow is in the forecast for South Jersey for tomorrow [Wednesday 1/21/15], I am excited that Spring Training...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Part Time Christians?
The following thoughts were submitted by Pastor Jim on January 16, 2015… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Mark 12:28-31 One of the teachers of the Law of Moses came up while Jesus and the Sadducees were arguing. When he heard Jesus give a good answer, he asked him, “What is the most important commandment?” Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ The second most...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: The Scriptures
The following thoughts were submitted by Pastor Jim on January 15, 2015… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds” (CEV) PLEASE READ: Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may...
Read MoreFully Alive (1/18/15)
The sermon on January 18 was given by Marcus Bell, who is the director of the Spirit Camp after school program at Urban Promise. (Camden, NJ). Marcus shared his experience and challenged us to gain a fuller life by giving and serving. His scripture was on James 1:26-27. Click the “Play” button to begin listening to the sermon, then scroll down to follow along… (Note: The scripture was read by Pastor Jim) James 1:26-27 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious,...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: What Makes One Weak?
The following thoughts were submitted by Pastor Jim on 1/15/15… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Luke 18:1 “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (NIV). PLEASE READ: Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (NIV). PLEASE READ: Acts 1:14 “They all joined together...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Who is John Wesley?
Pastor Jim submitted the following thoughts about John Wesley and the persecutions Wesley endured in order to spread the Gospel. PLEASE READ: Matthew 5:11-12 (Jesus said) “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (see other cross references below which may have been an...
Read MoreMissions Bulletin Board: Update from the Vanderhoffs (1/13/15)
You may have noticed that one of the Christmas Trees recently displayed in our Narthex was filled with ornaments reminding us of the missionaries across the globe that we support. Here’s an update on Jim & Alice Vanderhoof… Mission’s Bulletin Board… Did you know that we have a year round constant way to remind ourselves of our missionaries and to catch up on what they’re doing? In the Fellowship Hallway, there is a bulletin board dedicated to our...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Who is Francis Asbury?
Pastor Jim submitted the following thoughts about Francis Asbury on 1/11/15… Our Methodist tradition is filled with many wonderful men and women who served God faithfully. They leave a legacy of faith and we certainly owe our ancestors a great deal of thanks for what they have preserved and passed along to us. One such great saint of the Methodist Church is Frances Asbury. Asbury traveled thousands of miles by horseback and was a true circuit riding Methodist preacher. Asbury spent a...
Read MoreAll in All (1/11/15)
The sermon on January 11, 2015 was given by Lay Speaker Larry Bakely. His message included a personal testimony and a look at Hosea 11:1-11. Click the below “play” button to hear the recording, then scroll down to follow along. Hosea 11:1-11 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,I...
Read MoreMens Fellowship Strives to Treasure Jesus in 2015 (1/10/15)
The United Methodist Men’s Fellowship held our monthly gathering on Saturday January 10. Yep- it was a cold and early morning at 7:30 AM, but the warm coffee and fellowship is always a great thing. Our guest speaker was Chris Johnson, a missionary who has a heart for the people in Mexico who don’t know Christ. Chris and His wife Michele have been planting churches in Mexico, but are currently “home” in New Jersey. Chris’ theme was “Treasuring Jesus in...
Read MoreYouth Set to Take a Mid-Winter “Advance” (1/16/15)
How many of us have been on a retreat? Retreats- it’s great to get away from the normal routines and the distractions they cause, and then to focus your thoughts on God. But RETREAT?!? We want move forward- to grow. So instead of having a “Retreat,” our youth are attending an “Advance!” This year’s “Mid-Winter Advance” will be held at America’s Keswick in Whiting, NJ, on the weekend of January 16-18. The weekend will be hosted by a group of...
Read MoreNew Members Class to Begin (1/20/15)
Are you interested in “officially” joining our church? This year’s “New Members” class will start on Tuesday January 20. It will meet with Pastor Jim at 7:00 PM after the Tuesday Night dinner. Five sessions are planned: Jan. 20, Jan 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, and Feb 17. If you’re interested, contact Pastor Jim or the church office.
Read MoreCaptain’s Log: Stardate Bethlehem (1/4/15)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on January 4 looked forward to the day of Epiphany, which technically occurs on January 6. How do the star and the search for the Messiah speak to us today? Our scripture reading was Matthew 2:1-12. Click the “Play” button to listen to the recording of the sermon and then scroll down and follow along… Matthew 2:1-12 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. At about that time some astrologers...
Read MoreUrban Promise to Visit PUMC During Worship Services (1/18/15)
Marcus Bell from Urban Promise, will visit PUMC on Sunday January 18 to share about their ministry in Camden and to lead our worship services. Marcus is the Director of Camp Spirit. Marcus will preach on James 1:26-27. Here’s a testimony from an 11 grader that was recently posted on the Urban Promise website… A Year of Opportunity by Yormeliz, Urban Promise Academy 11th grader… I started coming to Urban Promise just 1 year ago, and in that year… I’ve...
Read MoreCarols from Around the World (12/28/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on the Sunday after Christmas (December 28, 2014) took a look at some of the carols that inspire us during the Christmas season. God calls us to sing and even dance. We’re supposed to be happy! And so these carols aren’t simply traditional songs that bring back memories. They are expressions of our faith. Click the below “play” button to listen to the recording, then scroll down and follow along… The scripture for this...
Read MoreOur Father’s House to Practice “Good Medicine” in January (1/1/15)
In each month of this school year, Our Father’s House (our pre-school) features a verse from the Bible and then puts that verse in action through mission. Here’s what’s happening in Our Father’s House during the month of January…This month’s verse is Proverbs 17:22… “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. ” NIV This Month’s Mission Project… This month we’ll share...
Read MoreJust what is Epiphany, Anyway??? (1/6/15)
Advent. Christmastide. Epiphany. Different banners, different colors, different “Names of Sundays” in our church bulletins. What’s it all mean? This post might shed a bit of light on this… Advent… The season of Advent is the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. This year, Advent included November 30, December 7, December 14, and December 21 (click each date to see Pastor Jim’s sermon for that Sunday). During these four Sundays we light each candle in...
Read MoreMen’s Fellowship to Gather with Chris Johnson (1/10/15)
Our first fellowship gathering of the new year will be on the morning of Saturday, January 10 at 7:30 AM. We’ll meet in the Potter’s Hand room (which is on the balcony level behind the sanctuary). Our guest speaker will be Chris Johnson, and his topic will be “Treasuring Jesus in 2015.” Chris is a missionary to Mexico through an organization called To Every Tribe. http://www.toeverytribe.org. He will also be our 2015 retreat speaker. Here is a brief bio: Chris Johnson is a...
Read MoreA Wonder-Filled Night (12/24/14)
Our Christmas Eve Service in 2014 opened our eyes to the “Wow!” of Christmas, and challenged us to keep the wonder and awesomeness of The Birth throughout the year.
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