OCTOBER 4, 2026 NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
Fishermen - Let Down Your Nets by John August Swanson
7 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ, 08542 609 924 2613 www.princetonumc.org
THE CHURCH GATHERS Pre-Service Music Introit
Air from Suite
Gottlieb Muffat
Halle, Halle, Halle
Caribbean Traditional
*Congregation is invited to sing on the repeat Andrew Aryeetey, soloist
Call to Worship Look around. God is already at work - in places we expect, and places we do not. God, help us notice what you are creating. Listen again for the voice of Jesus: “Put out into the deep.” “Do not be afraid.” “Come, follow me.” Christ calls us beyond what we already know. We do not follow alone. Across nations and languages, across generations and differences, God gathers a people to walk together. We are part of something larger than ourselves. Come with wonder. Come with courage. Come ready to join what God is creating.
Hymn
We Are Marching
TFWS #2235b
Prayer of Confession The Lord be with you. And also with you. We join together to name our need for God and God's grace. Let us pray in one voice. God of grace, you meet us where we are and invite us to follow. Yet we confess that sometimes we would rather stay with what we know. We hesitate when you lead us into deeper waters. We imagine possibilities but leave them safely in our imaginations. We forget that your call is not ours to answer alone. Forgive us, God. Meet us again in our uncertainty. Free us from fear. Give us courage to take the next faithful step, and teach us to walk together in the way of Jesus. silence for prayer
Words of Assurance
Jesus meets us in our exhaustion and disappointment, our hesitation and our fear. Jesus meets us right where we are. By grace, we are called. By grace, we are given one another for the journey ahead. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Amen.
SHARING IN WORSHIP TODAY
Acolytes - Andrew Aryeetey, Raphael Aryeetey Jr. Liturgists - Lindsay Donaldson, David Dreibelbis, Pearl Assan Musicians - Children’s Choir, Intergenerational Choir, Julia Hanna Ushers - Lou Davelman, Reggie Cann, Momo Wolapaye, Paul Manulik, Phil Doren
TODAY’S FLOWERS ARE GIVEN ON THE OCCASION OF OUR SON JOSH'S MARRIAGE TO JULIENNE, WITH THANKFULNESS TO GOD
BY VASANTH AND SUSAN VICTOR
TO HEAR THE WORD AND REFLECT
Music Ministry
O Sifuni Mungu
Swahili Translation: All the creatures of our God and our King Praise God Raise your voices so you may sing with us All people, everybody, sing!
arr. Roger Emerson
Children's Time
Where Children Belong
Scripture Reading
Matthew 18:15-20 (p. 19) This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
Sermon
TFWS #2233
Rev. Jenny Smith Walz
Prayers of the People
TO RESPOND IN FAITH
Offertory
#10 from Canción y Danza
Federico Mompou
Holy Communion
UMH #13
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Prayer After Receiving
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
AND SCATTERS TO BE IN THE WORLD The Summons
TFWS #2130
Benediction Postlude
Siyahamba/Thuma Mina
arr. Mark Sedio
PRAYER CONCERNS
Prayers for all giving and receiving hospice care. May strength, calm, compassion, and rest be available to them. For those who recently lost Temporary Protected Status and are facing fear and uncertainty. May we strive to support our siblings and neighbors from other lands and overcome the base tendencies of nativism and racism. HAVE PRAYER CONCERNS?
For our Prayer Chain, call Yvonne Macdonald at 609-577-8369 or email her at yvonnee.mac@verizon.net. Email Tyler at tyler@princetonumc.org when you or a family member is in the hospital or in need of a pastoral call.
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.
SCAN TO CONNECT WITH US!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SPECIAL COMMUNION OFFERING
World Communion Sunday celebrates the unity and diversity of the universal Christian community. Contributions to today’s communion offering fund scholarships for U.S. and international students, as well as grants for global inclusion, diversity, equity, and access training.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
We are looking for someone to fulfill our part-time nursery care attendant position. This position will be approximately 2 hours each Sunday, with an occasional extra hour after worship for special events. To find out more, follow this link.
NEWCOMERS GROUP
If you are a visitor or interested in learning more about PUMC or joining the church, we invite you to come to our Newcomer’s group! Continuing today, Oct. 4, we will hold our Newcomer’s Group on Sundays after worship from 11:30am-12:30pm in the Library and on zoom. We hope to see you there!
STAFF
Pastor - Rev. Jenny Smith Walz Administrative Director - Tyler Mathiasen Director of Youth Ministry - Brooke Foster Director of Children’s Ministry - Blessing Gwatana Music Director - Tom Shelton Director of Communications - Abby Gillette Church Sexton - Gilmar Enamorado Custodial Staff - Santos Gonzales, Mario Villatoro
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