Princeton UMC Worship - February 13, 2022

6th Sunday after the Epiphany February 13, 2022

Photo by Roman Odintsov From Pexels

The Church Gathers Pre-Service Music Words of Welcome The Peace

“Novelette”

Poulenc

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

Call to Worship We’ve come to worship God, who loved us before we were yet born, who knows us even better than we know ourselves, whose presence never leaves us, and whose love for us never ceases.

This is our God. Let’s worship together!

Hymn

{by Christine Longhurst}

“The God of Abraham Praise”

UMH #116

The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of Everlasting Days, and God of love; Jehovah, great I AM! by earth and heaven confessed; I bow and bless the sacred name forever blest.

The great I AM has sworn; I on this oath depend. I shall, on eagle wings up borne, to heaven ascend.

I shall behold God's face; I shall God's power adore, and sing the wonders of God's grace forever more.

The heavenly land I see, with peace and plenty blest; a land of sacred liberty, and endless rest.

There milk and honey flow, and oil and wine abound, and trees of life forever grow with mercy crowned.

The God who reigns on high the great arch angels sing, and "Holy, holy, holy!" cry, "Almighty King!

Who was, and is, the same, and evermore shall be: Jehovah, Lord, the great I AM, we worship thee!"

Prayer of Confession Gracious and Holy God, For those times we have chosen death over life for ourselves, Forgive us. [Silence] For those times we have chosen death over life for others, Forgive us. [Silence] For those times we have chosen not to receive your blessings, Forgive us. [Silence] For those times we have prevented others from receiving your blessings, Forgive us. [Silence] For each time we have made the easy choice over the hard choice of love, Forgive us. [Silence] O God of mercy, Hear our prayers. [Silence] Words of Assurance This is the good news, dear friends: the One who knows our worst fills us with the best grace and wonder, forgiveness and purpose.

Our ears tingle with this news, our hearts overflow with hope.

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 Thom Shuman and Joanna Harader}

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

Scripture

Sermon

Julia Potts, Soloist 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.

TFWS #2233

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God. Coming to Life

Rev. Jenny Smith Walz

To Respond in Faith Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn

“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”

I'm gonna live so God can use me anytime and anywhere.

I'm gonna live so God can use me anytime and anywhere.

I'm gonna work so God can use me anytime and anywhere.

I'm gonna work so God can use me anytime and anywhere.

I'm gonna pray so God can use me anytime and anywhere.

I'm gonna pray so God can use me anytime and anywhere.

I'm gonna sing so God can use me anytime and anywhere.

I'm gonna sing so God can use me anytime and anywhere.

Prayers of the People

TFWS #2153

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. Offertory

“Petite Gavotte from Album Pour Mes Petits Amis”

Pierné

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

“Humoresque”

Poulenc

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, names the importance of engaging in spiritual practices, or what he called means of grace, in orderly ways. By devoting ourselves to such practices, we “order our lives to catch the wind of grace,” (M. Thompson). Wesley talked about these means of grace flowing in two directions: inward practices he called acts of piety; outward practices he called acts of mercy. As we contemplate our Rule of Life, the ways God is calling us to grow in our practices that undergird our purpose, we will be more comfortable with some means of grace practices than others. One of the questions we need to consider is where we are being invited to deepen practices we already resonate with, and where we are being invited to broaden our experience, in order to bring greater balance.

The Fifth Step: Deepen and Broaden Take another look at our Discipleship Booklet. If you would like a printed version of this booklet, please contact the office.

Read through pages 28-33, Section 3: Where Could I Go from Here? Deepen and Broaden Your Journey.

Listen for stirrings in your spirit about how you are being invited to deepen and broaden during this season of life, given all that you’ve already noted so far in previous steps.

Share your reflections with someone else, asking them to help you hear more clearly what you are sensing. Put your reflections down in a journal or some other creative means as you continue to explore.

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, February 13 8:45 am Contemporary Issues in the Fellowship Hall 10:00 am Worship Service 10:00 am Confirmation Class in Room 203 10:15 am Children's Ministries in the Formation Wing 11:30 am Newcomers Group in the Fellowship Hall and via Zoom 11:30 am Compassion Camp Online 11:30 am Outreach Ministry Team 11:45 am Handbell Choir in the Music Room 3:00 pm 'February in France' Music Concert in the Sanctuary & Sanford Davis Room 6:00 pm Ministerio Internacional in the Fellowship Hall Monday, February 14 10:00 am Monday Morning Group 12:15 pm AA in Room 203 7:00 pm NJGMC Weekly Rehearsal in the Fellowship Hall 7:15 pm Membership & Growth Tuesday, February 15 12:15 pm AA in Room 203 6:00 pm Communications Ministry Team 7:45 pm Wesley Foundation College Ministry in the Sanford Davis Room 8:00 pm Godfulness Meditation Small Group Wednesday, February 16 9:00 am Love Lives On via Zoom 4:30 pm Children's Choir in the Sanctuary 5:00 pm Cornerstone Community Meal 6:30 pm Chancel Choir Thursday, February 17 12:15 pm AA in Room 203 7:00 pm Nominations & Lay Leadership Ministry Team Sunday, February 20 8:45 am Contemporary Issues in the Fellowship Hall 10:00 am Worship Service 10:00 am Confirmation Class in Room 203 10:15 am Children's Ministries in the Formation Wing 11:30 am Newcomers Group in the Fellowship Hall and via Zoom 11:30 am Compassion Camp Online 11:45 am Handbell Choir in the Music Room 3:00 pm Love Lives On via Zoom 3:00 pm High School Youth Group in the Sanctuary & Sanford Davis Room 4:00 pm Youth Choir in the Sanctuary 4:45 pm Middle School Youth Group in the Sanctuary & Sanford Davis Room 6:00 pm Ministerio Internacional in the Fellowship Hall

France in February Concert

TODAY | 3:00 pm

The St. John Chamber Players present a French-themed concert this afternoon at 3:00 pm, 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 (1892-1974). Suggested donation: $20 for adults, free for those 16 years and younger, to benefit ministries of the PUMC Outreach Team. The concert will be live streamed, but there will not be a recording available after the event.

Lenten Prayer Beads Workshop

February 27 | 12:00 pm

To prepare us for Lent, Kristen E. Vincent, author of the award-winning book A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner’s Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads is leading a workshop where she will share the history, symbolism, and use of beads in prayer, and guide participants through the process of making and using their own sets of prayer beads. The workshop is simultaneously available in the Sanford Davis room at Princeton UMC, at Kingston UMC, as well as by Zoom. Register today at princetonumc.org/events.

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, email Pam Nugent (poodluvs@aol.com) or call 609-771-0189 to reserve that date.

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.

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

Rev. Jenny Smith Walz Yannick Ibrahim Helen Curtis, Tayler Necoechea Andrew Aryeetey

Designated Singers: Lindsay Diehl, Lori Pantaleo, Tom Shelton Musicians: Julia Hanna, Julia Potts Sound & Video: Stephen Offer, Ian Macdonald Ushers: Bhanu Prakash, Ida Cahill

Have Prayer Concerns?

Today’s flowers are given in honor of

Our Loved Ones

by Laverna Albury

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 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 The Cutler-Kreutz family Griffon Ashley Joyce Carr