The Junior Chor kicks in some vocals
It was a record setting Sunday… or at least different in many ways. In the morning, PUMC’ers dressed down in their favorite team jersey garb. Some of us even wore our new PUMC sweatshirts. Pastor Jim wore his favorite Jerry Rice 49’ers jersey.
In his sermon (and throughout the service), Pastor Jim turned the popularity of the super bowl into a series of object lessons about how we can be part of God’s Team… of how we can join up with God for a certain victory. The items in the bulletin all had a football theme:
We even “called an audible” and sang a hymn not listed in the bulletin (- “Souvenir Program”): “V is for Victory”
We didn’t just take the offering as usual. During the second service Pastor Jim and two of the ushers taught us an object lesson about giving our gifts so that God can put them to use for His victory. No- this morning wasn’t just the normal collection of the offering. Take a look at the “Coin Toss” part of Sunday’s service…
OK. Humorous. But, the next time we see the opening coin toss of a football game (or the next time we see anyone flip a coin in any circumstance) we’ll be reminded that God is always ready to “Receive” our gifts. Even as He constantly blesses us with His gifts, He is always ready to bless others with “our” gifts.
Challenge that Penalty!!!
Each month, hundreds of families in our town struggle to pay the electric and heating bills while putting food on the table. Last Sunday, Pastor Jim “threw down the flag” and challenged this “penalty.”
Instead of simply going home from church and enjoying our super bowl parties on our own Sidelines, we were challenged to help feed these families of our community. Get out into the stands! Churches that stick inside their buildings and don’t cross the Line of Scrimmage into the outside world should be flagged with an Offsides penalty! Last Sunday (unannounced ahead of time) Pastor Jim set the bar high and challenged us to bring 1000 cans of soup for the Pitman Food Pantry.
In response to this Sunday challenge, PUMC’ers spent the week shopping. Any sale or coupon for soup was scoffed up. Every empty box was set aside. When we came to church on Super Sunday, we were armed with cans and cans of soup. And the Youth Group answered the plea for help and boxes. Before the service and during the offering (sorry… “Coin Toss”), we lined the altar rail and floor with nearly 600 cans of soup. Not quite the full 1000, but we did something to help overturn the penalty of empty tables.
After the service, the Youth Group (and others) swarmed down and quickly took to the job of boxing up the cans and delivering them to the Pitman Food Pantry. Because of a quick challenge, the Pantry will be better prepared to feed the 60 families who visit them each week. The soup donated on Sunday should last a month or two.
For more about the Pitman Food Pantry, open the below dropdown to see the “Missions Moment” article about the Pantry which was included in this month’s Steeple Notes (our church newsletter)…
Pitman Food Pantry
THE PITMAN PANTRY
“For as much as you do for the least of these, you do for Me”
Since 2000, the Pitman Pantry, an ecumenical ministry of five local churches, has been assisting food insecure families in Pitman. Located at the First Baptist Church, the Pitman Pantry supplies groceries to an average of 550 people, (200 families) each month. The majority of these folks live in Pitman, but no one is ever turned away.
Food is delivered to the elderly or handicapped as needed. Volunteer workers and donations of food and money from all five churches, keep the pantry well stocked with food.
The Pitman Pantry continues to receive food from the Food Bank of South Jersey, which keeps our costs down. However, food available from SJFB varies greatly and we must frequently purchase some basic food items such as cereal, jelly, canned fruit and juice. We also plan to give special food and treats on holidays. Everyone received a complete turkey dinner for Thanksgiving; and could choose either a turkey or ham for Christmas dinner.
Many volunteer hours are required each week to inventory, shop, stock shelves, pack and distribute bags of groceries; and of course complete the paperwork required by government agencies. SJFB has just initiated a computer program which should soon reduce the amount of paperwork we presently must complete.
PUMC volunteers work at the pantry on odd dated Tuesdays, from 5:30 to 7PM. We are grateful to our dedicated volunteers, especially to our youth, who are reliable, responsible workers. We are also grateful to our Boy Scouts, schools; and many other community organizations, and individuals who work hard collecting food for the pantry. The Pitman Pantry is truly blessed.
 Soup Shelf at Pitman Food Pantry is Full! |
 Choir leaves for loft- without robes |
Women on a Souper Mission!
Not to be outdone by the “Can Do” attitude of the Pantry Collection, the Mary Circle of our Women’s Group was selling some of their homemade soup to raise funds for their mission fund. Pre-ordered soup was dispensed in “Tupperware” quart containers. About 90 quarts of soup were sold and over $800 was raised.
The soup was home made; the ingredients were donated. All of the proceeds from the sale went directly the the UMW missions that we are supporting.
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To hear Pastor Jim’s sermons, try clicking this button: Sermons
For more about our Worship Services, click this button: Worship
For info about our Women’s Fellowship, this button’s your ticket: UMW
