Pastors Ponderings: Be Strong!
During the coronavirus pandemic (in April of 2020), Pastor Jim wrote these encouraging reminders from scripture. God is with us and continually watching over us; even when things seem like they’re falling over the edge of a cliff.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Help on a Rough Road
Psalm 121 reminds us that “our help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and earth”, even while traveling on a road that might seem to be blocked by insurmountable obstacles. In this devotion, Pastor Jim offers encouragement with the powerful truths that are proclaimed in this short Psalm.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Pray Anywhere, Anytime, Any place
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, we must maintain “social distancing,” and many in our church have begun to participate in a prayer group using email. Pastor Jim wrote the following devotional on 3/27/20 to encourage our prayer lives during this difficult time… Greetings Friends: I pray that all of you and your families are well. As we continue to journey through this unusual time in human history, I would invite all of us to be spending time in prayer. Prayer...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: God’s Faithfulness
The lightning might be crashing, the wind might be howling, and the rain may be pouring in torrents, but a rainbow will come (even if figuratively). Our Prince of Peace is faithful to His promise. Pastor Jim sent out these words of hope in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis…. “After every storm comes a rainbow.”
Read MorePastors Ponderings: A Word of Encouragement (3/17/20)
In the midst of the Coronavirus crisis in March 2020, Pastor Jim sent out some words of hope. All of our worries and fears are defeated by our hope in Jesus. Instead of “Don’t worry be happy,” we need to be thinking “Don’t worry, trust Jesus.”
Read MoreCeiling Tile Art- An Overdue Look
Back in 2010, our Sunday School took on the project of painting the ceiling tiles in our 2nd floor hallway. Have you ever noticed these tiles as you walk down the hallway? Take a closer look; you just might see yourself in the story that they are telling.
Read MoreLenten Devotional for 2020
Several local churches have pooled together to create a booklet of daily devotions for the 2020 Lenten season. All of the articles were written specifically for this booklet. Open this post to view the articles and to take part in the day by day readings.
Read MoreLove in Deed is Love Indeed!
What is Love? This question has been addressed in countless sermons, but it’s something that we constantly need to struggle to grasp. “Love in Deed is Love Indeed.” True love is an action (a “deed”). This post uses this simple play on words to think about this critical topic.
Read MoreChrist is Born… For YOU!
The angels told the shepherds, “For unto you is born a Savior.” Who is “You”? Does it refer to Israel? To the Shepherds? Or, could it even refer to Us???
Read MoreFor Unto YOU (Christmas Eve, 2019)
Our 2019 Christmas Eve service was marked by tradition, familiar music, and familiar Bible readings. But the key verse from the sermon challenged us to awaken from the familiar and consider how deeply our Creator-God loves each one of us. “For unto ME is born a Savior…”
Read MorePress Report from Bethlehem! (12/22/19)
In what is becoming a Sunday before Christmas tradition, Rev. Jim Hughes visited PUMC and gave us a first hand account of what happened on that First Christmas. This year, he appeared as Amos, a newspaper reporter who happened to be covering the beat in Bethlehem on that wondrous night. Amos challenged us to go beyond being a casual and impartial observer of Jesus. Become part of the story.
Read MoreThank God!
Thanks God! When we say that, are we just expressing relief about a bullet we just dodged? Or, is there place where we can actually express gratitude to God? This Thanksgiving signboard message challenges us to consider the difference between “Thank God!” and “Thanks, God.”
Read More2019 Advent Devotional Looks Forward
An Advent Devotional booklet has been produced by several area churches, and hard copies are available in our Narthex. An electronic version of the booklet is rendered in this post. Follow these daily articles throughout Advent and look forward to the Christ.
Read MoreCross-Eyed People Have the Best Vision!
“Cross-Eyed People Have the Best Vision.” Our signboard message challenges you to consider your Vision for life.
Read MoreThe Roman Centurion (Camp Meeting, 9/1/19)
Sherry and Al Zappola led the final Camp Meeting service of the summer of 2019. Al came as a Roman Centurion and told his story of what happened when he crucified Jesus.
Read MoreWhy Are We Talkin’ Baseball instead of Jesus? (Camp Meeting, 8/25/19)
Former PUMC’er Pastor Bret Walker was the speaker at the 8/25/19 Camp Meeting service. Pastor Bret and his ukulele led us in music, and he challenged us with his message: Why do we talk more about trivial stuff than we do about Jesus?
Read MoreSingers Needed!
“Singers Needed, In Choir Within!” Singers are needed everywhere; not just in the choir loft. How are you using your talents to glorify God?
Read MoreAmazing Story, Beautiful Savior (Camp Meeting, 8/19/19)
Rev. Jeff Crispin spoke at the Camp Meeting on 8/18/19. He told an amazing story of a beautiful savior who came to solve a problem that only He could solve: Sin. Through His grace that overcomes our sin, we can live a joyful life of love in a restored relationship with our Creator.
Read MoreNo Ram Caught in the Thicket (Camp Meeting, 8/11/19)
Rev. Jim Hughes preached at the Camp Meeting on 8/11/19. On this evening, he didn’t present his customary first person dramatization. Instead he painted a vivid picture of two sacrifices on two hills linked by eternity. God provided a Substitute for Abraham, and for us. But there is no substitute for Jesus.
Read MoreAh Ha! Moments (Camp Meeting, 8/4/19)
During the Camp Meeting service on 8/4/19, Rev. Bill Wilson asked us to consider what happens when we fall into a “pig pen”; when we’re trapped in a difficult situation. We may feel hopeless, but if we listen we’ll hear God calling us to “come home.” If we pay attention, God will wake us with an “Ah Ha!” moment.
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