PUMC Bulletin 9.25.22

WELCOME TO

Princeton United Methodist Church We are a diverse faith community, engaged in enlivening spiritually thirsty people to joyfully respond to God’s love and grow as disciples of Christ, so that together we may experience the fullness of life.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SCAN TO GIVE OR TEXT YOUR GIFT AMOUNT TO 609-554-1128

SCAN TO CONNECT WITH US OR TEXT 'PUMC' TO 609-542-2192

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INSPIRED BOOK STUDY STARTING THIS WED., SEPT. 28 Join us on an eight-week journey reading Inspired by Rachel Held Evans.

This book study will be on Wednesdays at 7 pm via Zoom. Email Pastor Tayler or see Happenings to sign up.

GROW: MIDDLE SCHOOL GROUP 1ST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, OCT. 2 Every first Sunday, from October–May, middle schoolers (5th–8th grade) will be gathering in the Colonial Room at 9 am for breakfast and Bible study! Email Pastor Tayler (tayler@princetonumc.org) for more details.

NEWCOMERS' GROUP TODAY! Newcomers' Group starts today at 11:30 am in the Fellowship Hall.

EMBODIED FAITH STARTING TOMORROW, SEPT. 26 Beginning September 26th at 7:30 pm, in the SDR and on Zoom, every other Monday we will have "Embodied Faith" by Spiritual Director Annalise Hume, who will lead us in movement and prayer practices.

There will be four sessions. Email Pastor Tayler for registration details.

FOLLOW US ON

SOCIAL MEDIA

CHURCH CALENDAR www.princetonumc.org/calendar

www.facebook.com/princetonumc www.instagram.com/princetonumc

ADAPTED FROM ART FOUND AT WWW.CRUZBLANCA.ORG/HERMANOLEON

THE CHURCH GATHERS Pre-Service Music

Gavotte from Doce piezas características

Albéniz

Call to Worship adapted from Steve Garnaas-Holmes We are God's people, the Body of Christ.

We are one in the Spirit.

We gather together—all different, all beloved.

We are all connected; we all are gifted, and we all need each other.

In the unity of God's love we worship together with those who are different from us.

With one voice we praise God; we thank God; we worship God. Hymn

Gather Us In

Prayer of Confession

TFWS #2236

adapted from Thom Shuman, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, and Rev. Gord

We are baptized as individuals yet are called to live and serve together.

We know, and need to confess, how we have sought to live for ourselves, not reaching out to others or seeing them as parts of Christ's body.

Let's join together as we pray, saying, Eternal God, Holy One, Holy Oneness, we give thanks for those moments when we are in harmony with the unity of the Body of Christ, and with all Creation.

And we confess those times when we are out of harmony, when we act as separate individuals who do not need each other, who do not need all Creation. We give thanks for your Spirit, alive in us, who empowers us to seek justice and shalom; and we confess those times when we betray that calling.

Forgive our selfishness, heal our fear and anxiety, and draw us back into unity, by the grace of Christ. silence for prayer SHARING IN WORSHIP TODAY Acolyte - Anna Griffiths Liturgists - Rachel Hoskins, Abu Ibrahim Reader - Elli Collins Musicians - Julia Hanna, Chancel Choir Ushers - Jose Alcantara, Iona Harding, Ed Sproles, Douglas Fullman

TODAY'S FLOWERS ARE GIVEN

BY PHIL AND CINDY DOREN In memory of Frances Doren

Words of Assurance God is the giver of MANY gifts.

God is the Creator of the ONE body.

God is slow to anger and quick to forgive.

God helps us to heal the wounds and reunite the body.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Amen.

TO HEAR THE WORD AND REFLECT

Music Ministry Children's Time

The Church's One Foundation Where Children Belong

arr. John Ferguson TFWS #2233

Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 12:12–27 This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God. Sermon Rev. Jenny Smith-Walz

TO RESPOND IN FAITH

Hymn We Are One In Christ Jesus TFWS #2229 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.

Offertory

Sinfonia in G major, BWV 796

Hymn

Doxology

Bach UMH #94

Prayer of Thanksgiving

AND SCATTERS TO BE IN THE WORLD

Hymn

We Are the Church

UMH #558

Benediction Postlude Scherzo - 24 Pièces Caractéristiques pour la Jeunesse Glière

PRAYER CONCERNS

Donald Jones, Ian Griffiths, Larry and Helen Curtis, Vicky Lepore, Lori Butterfield, Donna, Jim Harris, Nora Jules, Akim, Taylor and Kevin, Jason, Mernel and Mary Jane

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

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

Samaila is one of our current pastoral interns. This is his story about becoming United Methodist last year and the ensuing challenges to his perspective: My name is Samaila Wada Ayuba. I am a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) student at Princeton Theological Seminary. I am the oldest of my siblings—one brother and three sisters— and I was brought up in an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Nigeria. At the age of 13, I accepted Christ Jesus to be my personal Lord and Savior through my Sunday school teacher.

Three years later, I was baptized and became a full-communicant member of the church.

Thus, I started teaching in Sunday school and leading youth fellowship and Bible studies. Unlike the Methodist Church, which is more liturgical, the mode of worship in my church is more like a Pentecostal church, where a musical instrument is played and people dance. Also, there is a wide difference between my home church and PUMC in terms of doctrine. These differences changed my perspective on God, church, and ministry when I set foot in this church on the first Sunday morning.

For instance, in my home church, women cannot be ordained as pastors or elders. Coming here marks a difference. I can see God working powerfully in the lives of our pastors and deacons. While my home church is open for people to come in, members of the LGBTQ community do not have a place inside, which is quite different from PUMC. I have learned more in PUMC about the embracing nature of God. God is the God of embrace, and God’s hands are always wide open for everyone. I learned that the church is a home where everyone is welcome, irrespective of skin color, gender, or sexual orientation.

Looking at my background and the new developments in my theological understanding from seminary and PUMC, God is currently at work in me, teaching me how to embrace everyone. I look forward to knowing more about God, deepening my relationship with God, and receiving grace to preach the undiluted message in my home country so that all people will have the freedom and right to worship.

ACTION

This week, do something to be compassionately present with a neighbor in their pain.

Just as God hears the cries of the suffering and embraces people's pain, God sends us to be God's incarnate love to others. How is God nudging you toward neighbor, toward pain, struggle, despair, grief? This can be as simple or as involved as you choose. Perhaps your compassionate presence involves an act of service or care.

Perhaps it is the act of being present, listening well. Perhaps it is the act of tending a wound or praying together. After you've discerned your course of action and followed through, reflect on the experience below.

REFLECTION

1. DID ANYTHING YOU EXPERIENCED CHALLENGE OR STRETCH YOU? DESCRIBE IT. IN WHAT WAYS WERE YOU STRETCHED OR CHALLENGED?

2. DID YOU EXPERIENCE GOD'S PRESENCE, GRACE, AND ABUNDANCE IN YOUR EXPERIENCE? HOW DID GOD SHOW UP IN YOUR EXPERIENCE?

3. WHAT IMPACT, IF ANY, DID THIS EXPERIENCE HAVE ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE NEIGHBOR WHOSE PAIN YOU WERE PRESENT WITH? ABOUT YOURSELF? ABOUT GOD? ABOUT GOD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMAN PAIN?