PUMC 1.28.24

JANUARY 28, 2024

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

THE CHURCH GATHERS Pre-Service Music

Le printemps from Les saisons

Albeniz

adapted from Steve Garnaas-Holmes Call to Worship God, you are the Mystery of Love.

We offer wonder! We give you praise!

Christ, you are the Light of Love.

We give you our thanks! We offer you our adoration!

Spirit, you are the energy of love.

Fill us, that we may fall in love with you, O God.

Hymn

All Who Hunger

FWS #2126

adapted from Shermel Morgan Prayer of Confession Confident in the one whose love is everlasting, we come to God and before one another confessing our sin and seeking forgiveness.

Forgiving God, we confess that we are conformed to this world. We are conformed to the frantic pace of this world, too hectic to notice all the blessings you provide. We conform to this world‘s reckless waste, exploiting what you entrust to our care. We conform to this world’s shallow values, oblivious to the giftedness of people different from us.

We conform to this world’s impatient attitudes, preferring the latest instead of the lasting. Forgive our conformity and transform us, O God. silence for prayer

Words of Assurance

God is with us now and forever more.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

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

One Faith, One Hope, One Lord

Children's Time

Where Children Belong

SHARING IN WORSHIP TODAY

Acolytes - Carlin Markey, Juli Collins Liturgists - Shermel Morgan, Brooke Foster Reader - Andrew Aryeetey Musicians - Chancel choir, Bill Gardner, Julia Hanna Ushers - Jill Hendershot, Pam Ewer, Tim Ewer

Craig Courtney TFWS #2233

TODAY'S FLOWERS ARE GIVEN

IN MEMORY OF BARBARA AND JOHN JOHNSON

BY THE CHILDREN: LOWELL, LESLEY, AND JENNIFER

Scripture Readings Romans 12:1-2, 9 This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God. Sermon

Rev. Jenny Smith Walz

TO RESPOND IN FAITH Hymn

Change My Heart, O God

FWS #2152

Prayers of the People The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come; your 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 yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen Offertory

Andante sostentuto from Prelude

Kabalevsky

Hymn

Doxology

UMH #94

Prayer of Thanksgiving

AND SCATTERS TO BE IN THE WORLD Hymn

For the Healing of the Nations

UMH #428

Rondo from Hult pièces faciles

Glière

Benediction Postlude

PRAYER CONCERNS Prayers for Betsey Carstensen, Sarah Stewart, Pat Clark, Tracy, LaRis, Hali, Maggie and Marie, and others who are sick or having surgery this week.

Prayers for the lonely and depressed and all giving them aid and for those suffering from prejudice and hate.

Prayers for the people of Israel. Palestine, Ukraine, Russia and other countries experiencing the horrors of war. Prayers for their leaders to find peaceful solutions.

HAVE PRAYER CONCERNS? For our Prayer Chain, call Yvonne Macdonald at 609-577-8369 or email her at yvonnee.mac@verizon.net. Email Pastor Tayler Necoechea at tayler@princetonumc.org when you or a family member is in the hospital or in need of a pastoral call.

During our season of Epiphany, our sermon series is called “Rooted.” During this time, we will be studying how life-giving and revitalizing going back to our roots can be, even when life around us and community seem to be withering or dying.

This week we focus on learning to let go of unfulfilled past expectations, and accepting the opportunity to change. We can give thanks for and bless our past selves.

We may have left unmet expectations, but we are who we are today because of those past selves. We can understand the gaps in our past that are filled with or left vacant from love, connection, and faithfulness. We can accept that we can change and still honor ourselves and God While studying our roots, we easily can understand the metaphor of a tree. This tree in particular is a hearty tree from the desert called a Mesquite. The roots of a mesquite tree run deep beneath the surface to reach the water table far below. Even if a tree has withered and died, it is nearly impossible to kill off. The roots will send new shoots, and life will begin to blossom once again.

As we remember the hardships of the last few years, we can envision our roots, like a mesquite’s. Despite having what feels like a spiritual drought, we are reaching for the living waters of the Holy Spirit and revitalizing our communities through finding our roots again.

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

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS CCK VOLUNTEERING

Interested in volunteering at Cornerstone community kitchen? Every Wednesday, Cornerstone serves a nutritious meal to over 80 persons, as well as providing a free grocery store and gently used clothing store. There are many volunteer opportunities available including servers, grocery store set up, clothing store attendant, greeter/door monitor. If you think you think this might interest you, please email Susan at Susandavelman@gmail.com and she will arrange for you to receive a list of volunteer opportunities monthly via Sign up genius.

EASTER FOCUS GROUP

Pastor Jenny is holding a focus group to explore and enhance the worship experience for the Easter season on Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, at 7 pm. The Easter worship series is called "Go Tell it on the Mountain." Please contact Tyler at tyler@princetonumc.org to lend your voice to the worship series.

WORSHIP LEADERS

If you are looking for ways to contribute to service, please consider becoming a Worship Leader! Worship Leaders play a vital role in Sunday Worship services, presenting liturgy and/or scripture on Sunday mornings and add their unique voices to the themes and ideas in each worship series, allowing each service to be a collaborative effort between clergy and laity. Contact Tyler at tyler@princetonumc.org

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