On November 10 1885, the “Pitman Grove Methodist Episcopal Church” was “organized”, and what we now know as the “Pitman United Methodist Church“- was born. Our church is now 130 years old!
On November 1 2015 we celebrated! Our usual 9:30 and 11:00 services merged into a single 10:15 service of worship, and we all got together in the Fellowship Hall afterwards for a covered dish luncheon.
It was a homecoming of sorts, and Pastor Jim’s sermon was entitled, “There’s No Place Like Home” (it was on Nehemiah 8:1-12).
To learn more about our church’s history, click this button: 129th Anniversary
To see other posts about our church’s history, click this button: More Posts
The Church is the People…
Hazel Stiles, Golden Year Member receiving congratulations from Ed Blackman. October 26, 1980.
We may have been looking back on this special Sunday, but those of us who call themselves “Pitman United Methodists” TODAY are PUMC! As we so vividly saw after our Broadway & Holly Ave. building burned down in 2003, the People are the church… not the building. And so, we’re we’re not only celebrating buildings and statistics, we’re celebrating the people whose shoulders we’re standing on. And beyond that, we’re celebrating the Lord who gave us this church and heritage!
The Church is the People of Today!
As if to drive home the point that today’s church is of the people who are here today, we also celebrated the new members who joined PUMC during the worship service. Through various paths, God bent the lives of 5 people towards Pitman, and we now welcome them as family members and recognize them as people who also call PUMC their home.
The Church is the People of Commitment…
During the service people who have been members of PUMC for at least 50 years were recognized. Names were read and red carnations were given to the 50 year members who were in the congregation. Many of these members have since moved into nursing homes and were unable to attend. But it is a strong testimony to God’s faithfulness that so many of our 50 year members are still actively seeking and serving our Lord in this church.
50 Year members during 130th Anniversary
The Church is the People of Family and Fellowship…
… and food! What Methodist can turn down the chance for a covered dish dinner? After the worship service we gathered in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy each other’s company around lunch.
Here are a few pictures…
After the lunch, our 50 year members were given the honor of cutting the birthday cake…
Memories for the Future…
An “Anniversary Card” was placed in the narthex. The front of the card was a picture of our Resurrection Stained glass window, and members of the congregation signed the back of it. One day, as future members celebrate future anniversaries, they will have a record that God was faithful to a people in their past. They, like us, will have an assurance that God will be continue to be faithful in the future.
More Combined Services are on the Way
Having two services each Sunday is a great way of providing options, and we’re not making any permanent changes to that schedule. BUT, getting everyone together once in a while to celebrate our “church family” is a good thing too. So we’ll be doing this more often; maybe not the full-blown lunch, but we will schedule some combined worship services in the coming months. Stay tuned to the website…
