Pastor’s Ponderings: How’s Your Reflection?
PLEASE READ: Ephesians 4:17-5:2 “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not...
Read MoreGod is Good (8/24/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on August 24 continued our look at the Attributes of God. So far we’ve seen that God is Awesome, Holy, and Faithful. This morning we looked at God’s Goodness.Click on the “Play” button below, then scroll down to follow along… The text for the sermon came from Psalm 86:1-13 and Nahum 1:7. Click on the arrow to open up the scripture… Scripture Readings Ps 86:1-13 Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. ...
Read MoreFall Activities Getting Ready to Resume
See You in September… Ah yes… remember June? The Spring flowers were in bloom, the days were getting longer, and school and most church activities took a “summer break.” But now that Vacation Bible School, Softball, and Camp Meeting are all but over, it’s time to start looking towards September and the resumption of our “regular” activities. Here’s a quick rundown of some of these activities and of when they will resume their regular meetings. ...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Holy? Us? Really???
Greetings Friends;I want to offer a word of thanks to all who participated in some way with worship yesterday (Sunday August 10, 2014). You all were wonderful and the presence of the Holy Spirit was obvious. In a follow up to yesterday’s focus, I offer this humble reflection below. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PLEASE READ: Leviticus 11:44 “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 But just as He who called...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: God is Faithful- Even in Hard Times
As a follow-up to yesterday’s services (August 17, 2014), I offer the following for our reflection. God Bless. Pastor Jim ********************************************************************* PLEASE READ: Lamentations 3:22-26 “Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassion’s never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those...
Read MoreGod is Faithful (8/17/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on August 17 continued the series on the Attributes of God. In recent weeks we have looked at God’s Awesomeness and God’s Holiness. This week we look at God’s Faithfulness. Click on the “Play” button below to start listening to the sermon (from the 11:00 service). Scroll down to follow along. The scripture was from Lamentations 3:21-25. Click the arrow to open up the passage: Lamentations 3:16-27 16 He has broken...
Read MoreMorning by Morning New Mercies I See
Pastor Jim’s sermon on August 15 was about God’s faithfulness as shown in Lamentations 3. Morning by Morning New Mercies I See… One of the hymns that most of us know is based on today’s scripture: “Great is thy Faithfulness.” The refrain includes the line “Morning by morning new mercies I see…. All I have needed Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.” There is a lily-type plant which produces flowers that...
Read MoreUMW to Pack Sewing Kits for UMCOR (10/8/14)
Hands-On Mission! Pitman UMW will be hosting a Hands-On Mission Event for all women on Wednesday evening, October 8th. We will be packing Sewing Kits for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Sewing kits foster independence rather than dependence. Women can make clothing in their own size and in the style of their culture. Cottage industries often grow out of the sewing classes where women use these kits to practice valuable income-generating skills. Beginning in September, we will...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: A Nice Face Embrace
Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Ezekiel 34:12 & 16a “As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness…… I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak” +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”...
Read MoreWhat are You Following?
Today (August 14, 2014), the following message was posted on our church signboard: FOLLOW US @PITMANUMC FOLLOW GOD @PRAYER OK. Admittedly, this might be a shameless attempt to bring in more followers to our church Twitter account. People follow Twitter accounts to read Tweets- short comments about whatever’s on the tweeter’s mind. Even if you’re not into Twitter, aren’t we all “Following” something throughout the day? When somebody cuts you off, an...
Read MoreOur Father’s House Gearing Up for ’14-’15 Season (9/8/14)
Back to School… The Our Father’s House Preschool is getting ready to begin our 6th year! The staff have been working over the summer and are anxious to meet their new classes. Here’s the schedule as we get closer to that first day of school: Thursday 9/4 and Friday 9/5: Student and Parent Orientation days. Monday September 8: First Day of School You can be part of the excitement at Our Father’s House; the kids are truly a treasure! The teachers are...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Compassion for the Broken
The following devotional was written by our pastor, Rev. Jim Bolton… PLEASE READ: Mark 6:32-44 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to...
Read MoreNeighborhood Center to Visit PUMC (9/14/14)
Michael Landis, the executive director of Camden’s Neighborhood Center will visit PUMC on Sunday, September 14. The Neighborhood Center is one of the missions supported by our church. “Truly I tell you, just as you did it for one of the least of these, who are members of my family, you did it for me” Matthew 25 Neighborhood Center Helps… and They Need Help… For more than 100 years, The Neighborhood Center has offered comprehensive childcare, after school...
Read MoreOrdinary People Set Apart to be Holy (8/10/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on August 10 continued our look at the attributes of God. Last week we looked at His Awesomeness and power. This week we look at His holiness. Click the below “Play” button to listen to a recording of the sermon (from the 11:00 service). While you’re listening, scroll down and use the summary to follow along (and don’t forget to try the quiz!). The text for the message was from Isaiah 6:1-8. Click the arrow below to open up...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: God’s Amazing Goodness
Friends: As part of my ministry over the years, I have written and prepared many devotionals. I am continuing to write them as the Holy Spirit leads and time allows. The Pitman UMC, where I am proud to be serving as Senior Pastor, will begin posting them on our website. If you would like to be added to the growing email list, please write me and let me you would like to receive these as an email from me. You may email me at: revbolton@pitmanumc.org Grace and Peace, Pastor Jim...
Read MoreWomen’s Conference to be held in Ocean Grove (9/13/14)
Living Proof Live… On Saturday September 13 (beginning at 9:00 AM), renown author and speaker Beth Moore will lead a Living Proof Live event which will be held in the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Ft. Wayne Indiana. Living Proof Live, sponsored by Nashville-based publishing company LifeWay Christian Resources, will feature Moore’s dynamic storytelling and passionate Bible teaching. Dove-award winning musical artist Travis Cottrell, who also serves as worship pastor of Englewood...
Read MoreDon’t Give Up! (Camp Meeting, 8/3/14)
Don’t Give Up! On Sunday August 3, PUMC was the host church for the Pitman Camp Meeting service in the Pitman Grove Auditorium. Our Men’s praise Team provided the music and our pastor, Rev. Jim Bolton delivered the sermon. Click below to listen to a recording of the sermon and follow along by reading this post… Pastor Jim’s message was on Matthew 11:28-30. Matt 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke...
Read MoreDS Rev. Jisun Kwak Visits PUMC (8/3/14)
Our new District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Jisun Kwak, is busy trying to meet the people and churches of the Delaware Bay district. Our district is made up of 68 churches covering parts of Salem, Cumberland, and Gloucester counties (the district office is in Woodstown). So it’s quite an undertaking for a new District Superintendent to become acquainted with all of the churches in our district. On Sunday August 3, we were honored to worship with Rev. Kwak during our 11:00 service. After...
Read MoreVoices in Praise Choir to Resume Rehearsals on Sept. 18
We’re still in the thick of summer, but if you’re an adult who likes to sing, keep in mind that the first choir rehearsals of the season are just over the horizon. The first rehearsal of the 2014-2015 season will be on Thursday September 18, at 7:00 PM. We rehearse on Thursday nights throughout the season (September through June). The Voices in Praise choir is open to ages High School and above. We sing during the 11:00 service. Our first Sunday of the season will be on Sunday...
Read MoreWhat an Awesome God! (8/3/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on Sunday August 3 posed the question, “what is awesome?” We throw around that word so much that we allow it to describe almost anything. Could it be that our trivial regard of God’s True AWESOMENESS has led us to regard God in our own limited terms? Could it be that the God who created the universe is actually awesome enough to care about us? Here’s the audio recording (from the 11:00 service). You can listen to the sermon while following...
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