PUMC Bulletin 9.11.22

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 11, 2022 FOURTEENTH 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

LAY LEADERSHIP NOMINATIONS BEFORE THURSDAY, SEPT. 15 The Nominations and Lay Leadership team is seeking your nominations for people to serve on the Leadership Board, the Discipleship Board, and the Nominations and Lay Leadership team. See Happenings or contact Lindsey Donaldson at ldonaldson27@gmail.com for more information.

NAMETAGS THIS MONTH Nametags have arrived for those who ordered them and are ready for pick-up in the church office. Email tyler@princetonumc.org to set up a time to come get your nametag!

FALL KICKOFF TODAY! See you after worship today for Fall Kickoff!

CONTRIBUTE TO OUR STRATEGIC VISION As we develop a framework for our strategic vision, we need your help!

In order to live into our stated vision, what will change? Who will the change reach? What will we need to invest to make that change? What services will we create? How will we measure the change? Please reach out with submissions or questions to office@princetonumc.org or emeliatimpo@hotmail.com.

FOLLOW US ON

SOCIAL MEDIA

CHURCH CALENDAR www.princetonumc.org/calendar

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

MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH

BY DEANA HARVEY

THE CHURCH GATHERS

Pre-Service Music

Allegro from Vingt Cinq Prélude

Glière

Call to Worship adapted from Joanna Harader We come to worship this morning from different places and different spaces.

The God of our ancestors gathers us.

We come to worship this morning for different reasons.

The God who is with us calls us.

We experience the presence of the Spirit in different ways.

The Great I AM is with us always.

We hear Jesus’ words with different ears.

The Word of God speaks to us.

With all our differences, we are all God's people.

And we will worship God in this holy moment.

Hymn

Lead On, O Cloud of Presence

TFWS #2234

Prayer of Confession adapted from Thom Shuman No matter where we are in body or spirit, God is there, filling every moment with the sacred.

We confess our sins, trusting that we can turn aside, noticing God welcoming us with forgiveness and hope.

God of our ancestors, we live in our own little bubbles, sure that our bubbles are the only ones, or at least the only correct ones.

Forgive us for clinging to our ways of thinking and being as if ours were the only way.

Forgive us for our reluctance to share with and listen to our neighbors.

Forgive us for the ways we presume different is our enemy.

Help us to hear your call to something more.

Call us once more to be your people, collectively and individually, your beloved. silence for prayer SHARING IN WORSHIP TODAY Acolyte - Anna Griffiths Liturgists - Iona Harding, Samaila Ayuba Reader - Liam Cheng Musician - Julia Hanna, Chancel Choir Ushers - Ida Cahill, Ed Febinger, Bhanu Prakash, Bright Rajaratnam

TODAY'S FLOWERS ARE GIVEN

BY BRENDA FALLON AND SON CHRIS In loving memory of William Fallon

Words of Assurance In our love for others, we discover God's love for us.

In our forgiving of others, we learn once more how deeply God has forgiven us.

We are God's children, called to be different, called to act differently, called to live as new people.

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 The Yearning Craig Courtney Children's Time Where Children Belong TFWS #2233 Scripture Reading Exodus 3:7–14 This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God. Sermon Rev. Jenny Smith-Walz

TO RESPOND IN FAITH

Hymn Walk With Me TFWS #2242 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 Down a Country Lane Copland Hymn

Doxology

UMH #94

Prayer of Thanksgiving

AND SCATTERS TO BE IN THE WORLD

Hymn Benediction Postlude

Forth in Thy Name

UMH #438

Sonata K96

D. Scarlatti

PRAYER CONCERNS

Donald Jones, Ian Griffiths, Larry and Helen Curtis, Shelton/Lawrence family, Bill and Gary Gerold, Anatalia Francisco and Vicki Lepore, People of Ukraine, Victims of Gun Violence, Teachers, staff, and students returning to their studies, Butterfield family, Those who died 9/11/01

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.

I Am Enough Because God Is Enough

Perspective is all about the stories we tell ourselves and others. We are wired for stories, for making meaning out of the experiences, circumstances, feelings, and relationships of our lives. The stories we tell shape our behavior. And our behavior shapes our lives.

Taking time to listen to the stories we tell about our experiences can be a powerful thing. It can help us connect more with others' stories. It can empower us to make changes or keep going. It can help us see where we are in sync with God's calling on our lives and our own sense of who we are and who we want to be.

Write down (or otherwise record or share) a story from your life about moving from "me" to "we". Maybe it's a story about realizing you weren't alone or the only one. Maybe it's a story about realizing you were part of a community. Or perhaps it's a story about shifting your focus from yourself to something bigger than yourself. What happened? What changed?

What difference did it make?

ACTION This week, do something to serve a neighbor with generosity.

Use this space to plan or imagine what that might be, to write down how you are sensing God nudge you toward neighbor, toward generosity. This can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose. After you do something to serve a neighbor with generosity, reflect on that experience below.

REFLECTION

1.

Did you experience any anxiety, fear, worry, or doubt in your experience? Describe it. What was the source of any anxiety, fear, worry, or doubt you experienced?

2. Did you experience God's presence, grace, and abundance in your experience? Describe it. How did it affect any anxiety, fear, worry, or doubt you had?

3. What impact, if any, did this experience have on your perspective about the neighbor you served? about yourself? about generosity? about what's possible?