Princeton UMC Worship 1/30/2022

4th Sunday after the Epiphany January 30, 2022

Prophet Jeremiah

by Marc Chagall

The Church Gathers Pre-Service Music

“Psalm Prelude nº I”

Howells

Words of Welcome The Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.

Call to Worship Before we got up this morning and decided to worship, God was waiting for us, to welcome us with grace.

When we are unsure of what to do; when we falter before the next step, we come to listen to God's voice, to learn from the one who calls us, to be strengthened by the one who equips us.

When we are surrounded by cruelty and injustice; when our fears cripple our souls God's presence and deliverance are steadfast, giving us words to speak; setting us free to be God's beloved children. {adapted from Thom Shuman}

Hymn

“Gather Us In”

UMH #158

Here in this place the new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away; See in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us in, the blind and the lame; Call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young, our lives are a mystery, we are the old who yearn for your face, We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty gather us in, the proud and the strong; Give us a heart so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we will take the wine and the water, here we will take the bread of new birth, Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you; Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away Here in this place the new light is shining, now is the kingdom, and now is the day.

Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own; Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Prayer of Confession Word of God, we confess that we need your wholeness. We have often looked to outward gifts and measures when what we need is your love in our hearts. We have often aimed toward what we can achieve or where we stand in relation to others, when what we desire is the integrity your love bestows.

We confess our need for your illumination. Be our light, O Christ. {Silence for prayer}

Words of Assurance Let us imagine that within us is an extremely rich place, built entirely of gold and precious stones.

Within us lies something incomparably more precious than what we see outside ourselves.

Let’s not imagine that we are hollow inside.

God forgives all our sins. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Amen! {adapted from Psalm 108; Daily Prayer for All Seasons, p.35, “Confession and Assurance” (Confession) and Theresa of Avila (Assurance)}

To Hear the Word and Reflect Special Music Children’s Time

Scripture

Sermon

“Rêverie“ This, this is where children belong Welcomed as part of the worshiping throng Water, God's Word, bread and cup, prayer and song.

This is where children belong.

Debussy TFWS #2233

“Genesis 2:2-3; Jeremiah 1:4-10; Luke 10:38-42” This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God. “Life as Ministry”

Rev. Jae Hong

To Respond in Faith Hymn

“We will Follow (Somlandela)”

W&S #3160

Come and follow, come and follow Jesus. Come and follow follow faithfully.

Come and follow, come and follow Jesus. Come and follow Jesus, who leads us.

Somlandela, somlandel' u Jehsu. Somlandela, yonke in dawo.

Somlandela, somlandel' u Jehsu. Lapho e yakhona somlandela.

Prayers of the People The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Sign-in and Connect! Card Let us know you are here, and connect with ways to Feed and Be Fed through PUMC: • Use the Connect! card, text “PUMC” to 609-542-2192, or scan the QR code.

Invitation to Offering We provide lots of options to give electronically: Give on our church website, scan the QR code, text 844-908-2593, or give via PayPal.

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Offertory

“Preludio ‘Sine Nomine’”

Howells

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

And Scatter To Be in the World Hymn

“Go to the World”

W&S 3158

Go to the world! Go into all the earth. Go preach the cross where Christ renews life's worth, Baptizing as the sign of our rebirth. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Go to the world! Go into every place. Go live the Word of God's redeeming grace.

Go seek God's presence in each time and space. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Go to the world! Go struggle, bless and pray. The nights of tears give way to joyous day.

As servant Church you follow Christ's own way. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Go to the world! Go as the ones I send, for I am with you till the age shall end, When all the hosts of glory cry "Amen!" Alleluia! Alleluia!

Benediction Postlude

“Rhapsody in C-sharp minor” (Moderato, ma appassionata)

Howells

Sharing in Our Worship Today Preacher: Lay Reader: Liturgists: Acolyte:

Rev. Jae Hong TJ Mortensen Vinette Jones, Doug Fullman Elizabeth Wong

Designated Singers: Hyosang Park, Stephen Offer, Tom Shelton Musicians: Rich Spotts, Scott Collins Sound & Video: Bill Gardner, Ian Macdonald

The practice of having a Rule of Life is not new. While we don’t know explicitly what Jesus’s Rule of Life was, we have some clues. We know he took time apart to pray and that going to synagogue was his custom. We know he knew the scriptures extremely well. We know that fellowship, celebration, friendship, and shared meals were part of his routine, as was going to the margins of society. We know he lived by the commandments to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.” What else would you imagine is part of the Rule of Life Jesus lived by?

Perhaps you are familiar with the Rule of St. Benedict, dating from 516CE. It has organized the life of Benedictine communities since, shaping attitudes, values, and practices.

Rules of life vary greatly from person to person, from season of life to season. They reflect the needs and callings of those who write them. You’re invited to take another step toward creating a Rule of Life for this moment in your life.

The Second Step: How is God inviting you to grow?

We are all on a journey of discipleship. Part of the journey is listening for where God is inviting us to journey further. These invitations help to inform our Powerful Purpose as well as our Rule of Life.

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Take a look at our Discipleship Booklet. If you would like a printed version of this booklet, please contact the office.

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Work through Exercise 2: Activities Survey on pages 23-27.

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After completing the exercise, what are your reflections? Are there 3-4 particular areas where you sense God inviting you to grow? Take a moment to journal, draw, create around your sense of invitation, or talk about this with someone.

Much of this guide is informed by chapter 10 of Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie J. Thompson, 2014 edition.

Rules of Life help us focus on developing practices that help us grow in the ways God invites us to. They can also help us grow in the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). While Rules of Life vary greatly from person to person and season of life to season, they are always about helping us to live into our general and specific Powerful Purposes. In general we are all called to love and serve God and others (Mark 12:28-34), though our gifts and our struggles in doing so are fairly specific. And as we discern our more specific Powerful Purpose, it can help to get to know ourselves better, our personalities, our natural rhythms and tendencies, the way we go about tasks, our motivations, our spiritual types.

The Third Step: What do you know about yourself?

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Have you taken any personality or self-assessment inventories, such as Myers-Briggs (MBTI), the Enneagram, StrengthsFinder, Kolbe A, DISC, etc.? Note any results that have been meaningful to you and helped shape your self-understanding.

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Take another look at our Discipleship Booklet. If you would like a printed version of this booklet, please contact the office.

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Work through Exercise 1: Spiritual Type Inventory on pages 8-12. Continue reading in the booklet to learn more about the four spiritual types.

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As you consider again how you are wonderfully unique, reflect on the ways your uniqueness shapes the invitations to growth you named in Step 2. Take a moment to journal, draw, create about your reflections, or talk about this with someone.

Much of this guide is informed by chapter 10 of Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie J. Thompson, 2014 edition.

For a full listing of calendar events, visit our website: https://princetonumc.org/calendar/

Sunday, January 30 8:45 am Contemporary Issues via Zoom 10:00 am Worship Service 10:00 am Confirmation Class 11:30 am Compassion Camp & Grow 11:30 am Newcomers Group 12:15 pm Adult Formation Ministry Team 3:00 pm Middle & High School Youth Group 4:00 pm Youth Choir via Zoom 6:00 pm Ministerio Internacional in the Fellowship Hall Monday, January 31 10:00 am Monday Morning Group 12:15 pm AA in Room 203 7:00 pm NJGMC Weekly Rehearsal in the Fellowship Hall Tuesday, February 1 12:15 pm AA in Room 203 2:00 pm Cristina Altamura Music Lessons in Room 103 7:45 pm Wesley Foundation College Ministry via Zoom 8:00 pm Godfulness Meditation Small Group Wednesday, February 2 9:00 am Love Lives On via Zoom 2:00 pm Cristina Altamura Music Lessons in Room 103 4:30 pm Children's Choir via Zoom 5:00 pm Cornerstone Community Meal 6:30 pm Chancel Choir Thursday, February 3 12:15 pm AA in Room 203 7:30 pm Toastmasters in the Fellowship Hall Friday, February 4 6:30 pm Confirmation Class: Visit the Jewish Center Sunday, February 6 8:45 am Contemporary Issues 10:00 am Worship Service 10:00 am Confirmation Class attends Sunday Worship at PUMC 11:30 am Compassion Camp & Grow 11:30 am Newcomers Group 11:30 am Virtual Coffee Hour 3:00 pm Love Lives On 3:00 pm Divorce Support Group 3:00 pm High School Youth Group 4:00 pm Youth Choir 4:45 pm Middle School Youth Group

Newcomers Class

Today | 11:30 am

This 5-week class offers an opportunity to learn more about Princeton UMC and consider how you might get more plugged into the many ministries happening in the life of our church. At the end of the five weeks, participants will be invited to join into membership at PUMC. Email Pastor Jenny if you want to participate.

Have someone in mind who you think should join? Extend them a special invitation! This class will begin with online-only sessions for at least the first two weeks. There will be an asynchronous version of this class offered, as well.

France in February Concert

February 13 | 3:00 pm

The St. John Chamber Players present a French-themed concert on Sunday, February 13 at 3:00 p.m., in the PUMC Sanctuary. The musicians include Barbara Jaffe and Andreia Torain (violin), Louise Jaffe (viola), Linda Meltzer (cello), Rahel Inneger (piano), and Scott Collins (clarinet). The program includes, "Premier Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano," by Claude Debussy (1862-1918), "String Quartet in F Major," by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), and "Suite for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano, Opus 157b," by Darius Milhaud (18921974). Suggested donation, $20 for adults, 16 years and younger free, to benefit ministries of the PUMC Outreach Team. Click here to pre-order tickets, call 609-924-2613, or contribute at the event. The concert will be live streamed, but there will not be a recording available after the event.

Seeking Small Group Leaders If you are interested in leading a small group, or simply have a great idea for a small group you would like offered please reach out to Pastora Ashley. If you have never led a small group before, the adult formation team will provide you with resources to equip you in your leadership! We hope to hear from you soon.

Flower Donations It’s that time of year when we ask for your help with altar flower donations. If you had a “special” Sunday that you had last year, please email Pam Nugent (poodluvs@aol.com) or call her at 609-771-0189 to reserve that date.

Wesley Foundation at Princeton Are you looking for a progressive Christian college ministry? We'd love to have you! Email Pastor Skitch (skitch@princetonumc.org) or Grecia Hernandez (ghperez@princeton.edu) for more details about our Tuesday night Bible study!

Terracycle Program As more of us are coming to in-person worship, we want to invite you to contribute to our Terracycle donation bins, now located downstairs, just outside of the Fellowship Hall. Click here to get the current information about which items can be donated (or find the website at princetonumc.org under ’Community.’

Proceeds go to support the Appalachian Service Project.

Have Prayer Concerns?

Today’s flowers are given in honor of

Our Clergy and Staff

by Iona Harding

For our Prayer Chain, call Mary Lib Stewart at 609-632-1973 or contact Yvonne Macdonald at yvonnee.mac@verizon.net, 609-497-0337.

Please notify Pastor Jae Hong at jae@princetonumc.org when you or a family member is in the hospital or in need of a pastoral call.

Prayer Concerns The Apperson Family, upon the loss of their daughter and sister Angela Michele’s sister, Jacqueline & her family Iona Harding & Family

Stanley Nadbielny upon the passing of his mother Emily Marrow Family All Those Suffering from COVID Jeanette Karen’s nephew, Joe

Vicki Santos Gonzales, upon the passing of his wife Susan’s brother-in-law, Steve Marrow Family