PUMC Marks its 129th Anniversary! (11/10/14)
Our church has a long history, beginning with a Sunday School class that started in November of 1877. This class grew out of the summer Camp Meetings which were held in the Pitman Grove. But the “official start” of the “Pitman Grove Methodist Episcopal Church” came 15 years after this initial class was formed. Here’s an excerpt from the booklet “Our Heritage” which was written 1n 1985 in commemoration of our centennial… On November 10, 1885,...
Read MoreOur Father’s House to “Give Thanks to the Lord” during November (11/1/14)
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 November… This month’s verse is Psalm 105:1… “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” NIV This Month’s Mission Project… In November we will...
Read MoreChoirs Prepare 2014 Christmas Cantata (12/21/14)
Wasn’t it just the Fourth of July?Well, it’s not summer anymore and we’re nearing the wonderful time of the Christmas season. For the past few Thursdays, the Voices in Praise choir has begun to rehearse some of the pieces that will make up our 2014 Christmas cantata. Cantata rehearsals continue to ramp up throughout the month. If you’re interested in joining with the choir to sing in this year’s cantata, drop by on Thursday night. Rehearsals start at 7:00 PM...
Read MoreDistrict to hold Christmas Parties (12/13/14)
The United Methodist churches in our are are planning some Christmas Parties! No- these won’t be your typical “Office Christmas Party” gatherings where co-workers get drunk and try to be friendly. These “parties” are intended to show the love and wonder of the birth of our Lord and Savior; to show Christmas to kids who otherwise may not even experience December 25 as anything special. Open this post to learn more….
Read MoreThe Power of Forgiveness (10/26/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on 10/26/14 was on the story about the women caught in adultery who was brought to Jesus by the religious leaders who wanted to stone her. How does grace and forgiveness fit into holiness and The Law?Click the “Play” button to listen to the recording and then scroll down to follow along… The message was from John 8:1-11. Pastor Jim read from the New King James Version. Click the box to open the passage… John 8:1-11 1 But Jesus...
Read MoreCount Your Blessings: Meaningless Cliche or Powerful Truth?
The signboard message posted on October 25, 2014 said the following: WANT TO FEEL RICH? COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! Probably most grown ups (and maybe even many kids), grown when they hear the phrase “Count Your Blessings!” The Sunday School song “Count your blessings name them one by one…” probably pops into mind. We’ve heard it all before. And probably when someone tries to cheer us up by suggesting blessings they start rattling off things like family,...
Read MoreUpdates from Joy Phillips
Joy Phillips, a missionary in South Sudan, recently email the following update on her ministry. PUMC has supported Joy for years and she has visited our church on many occasions. Greetings! I’m back in Nairobi after a productive Homeland Ministry Assignment. We are pressing on with ministry in South Sudan. I’ve jumped into the deep end of the swimming pool with logistics and organizing our activities for November and December. I’ve recently posted 2 Blog...
Read MoreFrom Breakfast Buffet to Trunk or Treat- Busy Day at PUMC! (10/25/14)
PUMC was the place to be on Saturday 10/25/14; both in the morning and in the afternoon! God blessed us with perfect weather and we were able to open our doors to the community and to help install doors on a sanctuary in Mexico… Breakfast Buffet / Yard Sale… In the morning, our mission was to help our sister church in La Palmilla Mexico build their sanctuary. Our United Methodist Men’s fellowship group did this by throwing a breakfast buffet. And, while that was going...
Read MorePUMC Plans for Christmas Parade Float (10/29/14)
Parades are fun! We are looking for people to help create a PUMC float and walk in the 2014 Pitman Santa Parade on November 29, 2014. Can you help brainstorm ideas, decorate the float, sing on the float, or march in the parade (while passing out goodies)? This is a wonderful way to show our community what our church is all about. It will also help people to make a connection with PUMC during the Christmas season and hopefully beyond. If you’re creative and interested, attend the planning...
Read MoreBLAST Plans for Mid-Winter Advance (1/16/15 & 2/6/15)
Calling all junior and senior high youth, 6th-12th grades.!!! We are planning our trip to Keswick for the annual Mid-Winter Advance weekends. If you are interested, please see Mrs. Hubbard for registration forms. The senior high is scheduled for January 16-18, 2015 and the junior high will attend on February 6-8, 2015. If we do not have enough participation, both will attend in January. Don’t miss an awesome spiritual weekend with activity sessions, recreation time and a volleyball tournament....
Read MoreOur Father’s House Fall Festival Rises to the Occassion! (10/17/14)
On October 17, the Fellowship Hall was busy with with tables filled with Tupperware, Arts, Crafts, Cosmetics, pies, and cakes. It was the Our Father’s House annual “Fall Festival”. The Fall Festival raises money for the OFH Scholarship Fund. We do all we can to help families afford this wonderful opportunity that we call Our Father’s House. Thanks to this year’s Fall Festival, our Scholarships are fully funded and families with tight budgets won’t have to...
Read MoreCounty Residents Get a Shot at PUMC (10/22/14)
During the planning and construction of our church building (which opened in 2007), we recognized that we have a responsibility to serve our community by sharing our facilities. PUMC frequently serves as a “community center” which is available for people outside of our church. Next month, our Fellowship Hall will be used as a voting location. Today, our Fellowship Hall was used by Gloucester County to administer flu shots. The Department of Health has scheduled 36 Flu...
Read MoreOur Father’s House Learns About Fire Prevention (10/7/14)
As part of Fire Prevention Week, a big red fire truck pulled up to our church. Yes, our church does have a sensitive spot for fire trucks, but no- this wasn’t an emergency. Instead, the volunteer firefighters from Pitman’s Highland Fire Company were on hand to teach the kids about fire prevention and to show them how they fight fires. The kids had a chance to check out the truck and even to try on a raincoat… ...
Read MoreBreakfast Buffet and Yard Sale (10/25/14)
Our Fellowship Hall will be a busy place on Saturday (October 25)! We’re throwing two events to benefit our mission efforts for a church in La Palmilla Mexico… Breakfast Buffet (8-11AM)… The United Methodist Men’s Fellowship group will hold one of our “Famous” Breakfast Buffets from 8:00 AM to 11:00AM. Come out and enjoy our usual menu of French Toast casserole, Eggs, Chipped Beef, Pancakes… and some fruit to balance off the “bad”...
Read MoreThe Fellowship of Believers (10/19/14)
October 19 was 2014’s Laity Sunday. The suggested theme for this year’s Laity Sunday was “Engaging Small Groups.” Testimonies were given by members of two small groups, and then the scripture and sermon followed. In the audio below, Bryce Hogan read the scripture and the sermon was given by Larry Bakely. The title of the message was “The Fellowship of Believers,” and it was based on Acts 2:37-47. Click the “Play” button to begin the...
Read MoreLiving Water Connections to Feature “Waiting for the Flood” (11/7/14)
Music and Games! Come out on Friday, November 7th to the Fellowship Hall and hear some wonderful Christian music. The Waiting for the Flood band is coming all the way down from North Jersey to sing for the Lord. Mike Vargas, from Philadelphia, will be playing guitar and harmonica. Eileen O’Brien is an extraordinary vocalist Jerome Sheldon will be singing and playing guitar. These musicians are offering their talents to the Lord. All ages are invited to Living Water Connections. Bring the...
Read MoreOur Father’s House to “Do Unto Others” during October (10/1/14)
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 this month…This month’s verse is Matthew 7:12… “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” NIV This Month’s Mission Project… At the beginning...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Help is Only a Prayer Away
The following devotional was submitted by Pastor Jim… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray….,” Some of you may have seen the Walt Disney movie “Snow Dogs.” It tells the story of a dentist whose name is Ted Brooks, who inherits a cabin and a dogsled team in Alaska. His efforts to master dog sledding are recorded in the film as...
Read MoreLaity Sunday to be Celebrated this Sunday (10/19/14)
In the United Methodist Church, we’re all “Ministers.” Those ministers among us who wear robes and stoles are called Clergy. Those ministers who wear choir robes and aprons are called Laity. Clergy guide and nurture the church. They provide for “Word, Order, and Sacrament.” But laity are the backbone of ministry. Laity take what is gained in the nurturing environment of the church and use it to make a difference in the lives of those who are outside of the...
Read MorePitman Manor to Hold Tag and Treasure Sale (10/16/14)
The Pitman Manor Auxiliary’s Tag & Treasure Sale will be Thursday, October 16th from 9AM to 3 PM. Proceeds benefit the Auxiliary and the UM Homes Fellowship Fund. Donations can be taken to the Manor on October 14th and 15th.
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