Pastor’s Ponderings: Using the Talents You Do Have (2/1/23)
Sometimes we keep trying to do things we can’t do and get frustrated because we loose focus on the things we CAN do. Pastor Jim submitted thoughts on this for the Feb. 2023 edition of Steeple Notes (our church’s newsletter).
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Time to Sharpen Your Blade?
Is your Christian life a burden? Shouldn’t it be a Joy to follow and serve Christ?!? If life is a burden, maybe you need to “sharpen your blades” and re-connect with God.
Read MorePUMC Hosting an Emmaus Encounter (5/11/17)
For the past 20+ years, PUMC members have been blessed by attending a weekend retreat known as the Walk to Emmaus. Unfortunately, because of the rigors of the “rustic” accommodations, many seniors have been unable to even consider going on a weekend.
But now there’s an opportunity to experience Emmaus at our church! This Face to Face models the Walk to Emmaus, but it is presented in our church over four seperate days (no overnight stays!).
Learn how to Reach Out this Summer (7/6/16 – 8/17/16)
In Hebrews, Paul (or whoever “the writer” is), commanded us to: “…run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ” To be able to “run with perseverance” we need to train. A runner trains his body through appropriate physical activity. But for Christians to run the race we need Spiritual Training. That comes mainly from the Bible, but it also comes from our fellowship with other Christians. We learn from each other and from each others...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Keeping Your Spiritual Blades Sharp
The following devotion was submitted by Pastor Jim on November 28, 2014… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Ecclesiastes 10:10 “If the ax is not sharp and he does not make it sharp, then he must use more strength. Wisdom helps one to do well” (NLV). The past couple of days I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic and for some reason I recalled cutting the grass when I was a boy. Back then we did not have a motorized lawn mower. Dad used to have one of those manual...
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 MoreTime to Dust Off the Bible (7/20/14)
Time to Dust off the Bible. Do you have any Bibles laying around that you haven’t read in a long time? Is it time to put them to use? Check out Pastor Jim’s sermon from Sunday July 20. The recording at the end of the post is from the 11:00 service. You can scroll down, start the recording, and follow along while listening… The sermon covered 2 Kings 22:1-13. Here’s the text (using the New International Version… note that Pastor Jim read from the Life...
Read MorePUMC Members Raise Awareness of Autism (4/27/14)
PUMC members John and Heidi Hoenge were both athletic growing up, and so when their son was born they expected that he would in some way excel in sports. But, their thinking was too small. God had plans that were bigger than football or basketball; their son was born with autism. April is National Autism Awareness month, and the Hoenges shared their story during the service on April 27. They reminded the congregation that we are all part of the big jigsaw puzzle of God’s creation. ...
Read MoreWe Have a Library!
Shhhhhh… Did you know that we have a library? It’s located on the upper floor of the education wing (across from the Senior High room, all the way at the end of the hall on the left). Books have been set aside that correspond with our Lenten study (“Forty Days of Fruitful Living”). Check it out! It’s a great place to sit and meander through the books! You can also check them out. and take them home. Go and sit and read with children or grandchildren, find...
Read MoreSimulcast for Women at Ocean Grove (4/5/14)
Two special video simulcasts for women will be hosted at the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting, and our United Methodist Women would like to invite you to attend. The broadcasts originate elsewhere, but you can join with others in Ocean Grove to view the message on their large screens and to participate in worship. April 5 (Priscilla Shirer)… Are you “Running on Fumes?” “Too Busy” to spend quality time in God’s Word? Priscilla Shirer will broadcast her “The...
Read MoreFruitful Living (3 of 5): “Intentional Faith Development” (3/23/14)
The sermon on Sunday March 23 introduced practice #3 of our five part series on the “Five Practices of Fruitful Living” During this season of Lent, we are following the companion devotional guide by Robert Schanase entitled in “Forty Days of Fruitful Living.” The sermons introduce the week’s topic, and we discuss and study these topics during our small group meetings that week. Intentional Faith Development This week’s “practice of fruitful living” is entitled...
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