Princeton United Methodist

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1 Princeton United Methodist November 2018 Newsletter Around Princeton United Methodist This Month In the month of November, our November communion offering will benefit United Methodist Student Day, details found on page 5. Our UMM sponsored monthly breakfast on November 11th will feature Dana E. Dreibelbis. This issue also highlights the Circle of Friends meeting to be held November 13th with speaker, Professor Katharine Doob Sakenfeld. Finally, please make note of the Special Announcements on page 10 which features the annual church conference and and information about staff parking. In This Issue 1. Around PUMC This Month 2. Preparing for Worship & Upcoming Events 3. Notes from the Pastor 4. Miracles Everywhere 5. Student Day Communion Sunday 6. UMM Men s Breakfast 7. Circle of Friends 8. Seminary Doors Open 9. Christian Education - Advent 10. Special Announcements 11. November Birthdays 1

2 PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Date Sermon Scripture Preacher November 4 Love Lives Here Mark 12:28-34 & Rev. 21:1-6a Jenny Smith Walz November 11 Sacrifice Lives Here Mark 12:38-44 & Hebrews 9:24-28 Jenny Smith Walz November 18 Strength Live Here 1 Sam. 2:1-10 & Mark 13:1-8 Jenny Smith Walz November 25 Freedom Lives Here Psalm 132:1-12 & John 18:33-37 Jenny Smith Walz UPCOMING November EVENTS Thursday 1st at 7:30 pm: Monday 5th at 7pm: Monday 12th at 7:30 pm: Sunday 14th at 8:00am Monday 15th: Tuesday 15th at 7pm: Monday 19th at 7 pm: Monday 26th at 7:15 pm: Monday 26th at 7:30 pm: Stephen Ministers Church Council Outreach Committee Education Committee UMM Men s Breakfast December s Newsletter Deadline Worship Committee Stewardship and Finance Committee Staff Parish Committee Membership Committee Save the Dates November Communion Offering - United Methodist Student day November 4th UMM Breakfast November 11th Circle of Friends Tuesday, November 13th Annual Church Conference Saturday, November 17th Do you have something you d like to see included in the newsletter? Committee news, or an upcoming event? both office@princetonumc.org and commasst@princetonumc.org. The deadline for December s Newsletter is November15th. 2

3 Notes from the Pastor Dear Friends, Buenos Dias! Bienvenido a Puerto Rico! As the PUMC missioners arrived in Puerto Rico we heard these words over and over again. We heard them at the Methodist Camp when we arrived. We heard them at the two homes we worked on when we met the homeowners. We heard them when we went to church Sunday morning and were warmly welcomed by the Rev. Isabelino Rivera Silva, pastor of the Iglesia Metodista, Puerto del Cielo, Patillas. And we heard them when Bishop Hector Ortiz arrived to have dinner with us on Wednesday evening. The spirit of hospitality was apparent everywhere we went. Despite the trials the people of Puerto Rico have endured since hurricane Maria hit the island over a year ago, their faith in God is strong and sure and has been their sustenance and hope. I was deeply moved by the witness of the people we met. The homeowner of the house my team worked on started every day of work by having us make a circle, join hands and pray. When the workday ended, we again made the circle and prayed as we left each other. At the end of the week, we had an especially long time of prayer. It was hard for me to leave. There were tears in many eyes, long hugs, and an obvious lingering together. What was it that drew us so closely together over such a short time? We went to Puerto Rico to share the love of God through helping to restore people s lives by partially restoring their homes. We believe we did that and worked hard each day to that end. But I don t think that was the sole reason for the strong bond that developed. I think, rather, it was the common faith we share. When we worship God week in and week out and across the years, we are changed by it. We are enabled to move beyond any and all things that would separate us from others, or lead us to not care about them The most important thing we brought to Puerto Rico with us was our capacity to love in the name of Jesus Christ. Our new friends in PR had grown like we have. It was that maturing in Christ that swiftly became our bond though we spoke different languages and came from different parts of the world and different cultures. None of those differences mattered. At all. The only thing that mattered was the love we shared in Christ. By the time you are reading this it will be November, the season of Thanksgiving. I invite you to stop after you read this and begin to think about the things you are thankful for. Make a list and put it on your refrigerator or somewhere else you will see it regularly. Add to it each day. Let s see who can bring the longest list to church on the Sunday before Thanksgiving! When I think about my life and what I am most thankful for as I write this, I see clearly that I am most thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ, in whom I live and move and have my being. I have always been thankful for this primary relationship in my life. But having been to Puerto Rico and seen so clearly how Christ s love removes all obstacles between us, I am thankful now beyond measure. God s richest blessings to you in this Thanksgiving season and always. Ginny Cetuk Administrative Pastor 3

4 Stop and Experience the Miracles. During the search for and acknowledgement of the miracles that happen all around us, we have been asked during our November pledge emphasis to make a financial commitment to the Miracles that happen through the ministries of Princeton United Methodist Church, and the 4 fold initiative (Next Generational Ministries to youth and young adults; Hope Centers providing social services and basic help and housing to those in desperate need; Hurricane relief in NJ, and Puerto Rico; and missionary development and deployment) of the Greater New Jersey United Methodist Conference. In addition to the sermons, and stewardship moments in our services, we have shared the information, and pledge cards through the mail with November 28 designated as our pledge Sunday For those who made a commitment and have turned in their pledge card during the November 28 worship service, we are most grateful and will be making a report to the entire congregation on the miracle achieved through our commitment pledges. For those who have not yet returned their pledge card, we would encourage you to place it in the offering plate at the earliest Sunday opportunity or mail it in using the envelope provided in the mailing. If you need another pledge card they are available through the church office or entrances to the sanctuary. The conference is seeking to raise over $5,00,000 through the support of 589 churches over a 3-year period. We, Princeton United Methodist Church, are seeking income over $650,000 to provide the music, outreach, benevolences, worship, ministers, facilities, bible studies, education of our youth, children, & congregants, and community service throughout Your prayerful support of our church s mission and ministry is very important to the success of our programs. As a church body we should be thankful and grateful for the combined and individual gifts, talents, attendance, prayers, service and witness which together we contribute in fulfilling God s plan and commandments. Let us together be grateful for the miracles God has and is providing everywhere. 4

5 United Methodist Student Day Communion Offering Sunday, November 4, 2018 United Methodist Student Day calls the church to support students as they prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge. This special offering provides scholarships for qualified United Methodist applicants. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry receives the funds raised for United Methodist Student Day. Combined with other sources of income, an average of $5.5M in loans and scholarship is awarded each year. Current priorities for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry are: Gift of Hope help for United Methodist undergraduate leaders attending ANY accredited college or university; Special Seminary scholarship for students attending United Methodist seminaries; Women of Color scholarship and mentoring for women of color pursuing doctoral degree. Unfortunately, each year up to 1,000 qualified students do not receive a scholarship due to lack of funding. Please help close the gap by giving to the United Methodist Student Day communion offering. 5

6 UMM Breakfast November 11th at 8 am PUMC has partnered with Salvation Army Trenton (SAT) for over ten years via the Christmas Kettles fundraising program. The leadership team of SAT changed a year ago and is eager to reinforce and expand Mercer County partnerships where possible, while providing means for Disciples and neighbors in the county to become better acquainted. We will look at the overall SAT program as well as update the Kettles program. Dana E. Dreibelbis has over 30 years of global publishing, management and leadership experience, doing business with dozens of companies across all continents. This has included executive roles with business units of three Fortune 500 corporations and with the national Lutheran Church (ELCA) publishing house Augsburg Fortress. He was a team member of the Centre for Applied Leadership and has served on numerous not-for-profit Boards. Dana has lectured at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton and Wesleyan universities as well as for the American Association of University Presses. Favorite projects include leading the digitization of Martin Luther s 55 volume complete works (English edition), launching one of the first born-digital genomic publishing programs, and working with Madeleine L'Engle (of Wrinkle in Time fame) on a devotional book. Dana lives in Princeton with his wife of 40 years, Leslie. they have four children and with two granddaughters. 6

7 Circle of Friends Meets Tuesday November 13th at 10:30AM in Fellowship Hall Our speaker this month is Professor Katharine Doob Sakenfeld, Professor of Old Testament, Emerita, retired from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2013, having served on the Faculty for 43 years. Together with Professor Freda Gardner she established the first course in women's studies in the Princeton Seminary curriculum in The title of Dr. Sakenfeld's presentation is: The Story of Ruth in the Twenty-first Century. Do you love the story of Ruth? Can you imagine why some women in other cultures, and even some U.S. Christian women, might dislike her story? What are their criticisms, and how can the story be redeemed? Join in conversation about the book of Ruth as a story of immigration, a story about mothers-in-law, a story about famine, a story about how God works to create community, a story about tragic loss and great joy. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Professor Sakenfeld was moderator of the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 2001 and has served as representative of the PCUSA to national and international ecumenical organizations. In 2016 she received the Excellence in Theological Education Award from her denomination. Dr. Sakenfeld served as 2007 President of the Society of Biblical Literature, a professional association of over 8,000 biblical scholars. Her publications include Ruth (Interpretation Commentary); and Just Wives? Stories of Power and Survival in the Old Testament and Today, a book that reflects her special interest in biblical interpretation by women in diverse cultural contexts. In her retirement she served from as Co-Coordinator of Princeton Seminary's Women in Ministry Initiative, co-authoring a book about women at Princeton Seminary (Faith of Our Mothers, Living Still: Princeton Seminary Women Redefining Ministry). She is currently assisting a new Seminary archive collection of materials from women associated with the Seminary. We will enjoy a time of fellowship and lunch following the presentation. Please bring a lunch for yourself. Beverages and dessert will be provided. 7

8 Seminary Doors are Open Many of the courses and events at Princeton Theological Seminary are open to the community. Some are free, and most take place in either Miller Chapel or Mackay Dining Hall, or both. The daily chapel service from 11:30 a.m. to noon is an exciting spiritual experience. A very popular favorite is the Carols of Many Nations concert on Wednesday, December 12th. with three identical services at 3:30, 6:30, and 8:30 p.m. Tickets for that can be reserved on November 12. Dress w a r m l y - a t t h e c l o s e, t h e congregation will follow the choir outside.. Anyone may attend the CommUNITY Gatherings at Princeton Theological Seminary. On Thursday, December 6th, e n g a g e i n a t i m e l y t o p i c : N a v i g a t i n g D i ffi c u l t Conversations in These Challenging Times. Leading discussion will be the Rev. Jennie Salas, PTS Associate Director in the Field Education, and Parish Associate at Iglesia Presbiteriana Nuevas Fronteras. Worship in Miller Chapel is from 11:30 am-12:00 pm, followed by Lunch, Presentation, & Conversation from 12-1:30 pm. Select lunch ($10) in the Mackay Dining Hall, and then come to the Main Lounge. Future Gatherings: Thursday, February 7, 2019: Serving Those of Different Faiths: A Military Chaplain s Experience, with Chaplain Jeffrey Ross, ThM '19 Friday, March 1, 2019: In His Image: Art Ministry as an Essential Element of Worship, with Dave Teich, Art Minister, First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown Tuesday, April 30, 2019: Walking with Those with Mental Illness, with the Rev. Kerri Erbig, BCCC, the Rev. MaryJane Inman, BCC, and the Rev. Miriam Diephouse-McMillan, BCCC, Chaplains at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital-Pastoral Services Department To register for the CommUNITY Gatherings, click here or contact Rev. Joicy Becker-Richards, Director of Campus Relations Joicy.becker@ptsem.edu For concert tickets, try this link. 8

9 There Was One Who Gave a Lamb Advent Pageant Service On Sunday December 9th at 5PM Presented by Children of the Princeton United Methodist Church Based on play by Annette Mason Ham Pageant service by Lorene Hanley Duquin Adapted by Yvonne Macdonald with rehearsals on Nov.18; Nov.25; Dec.2; Dec.8; Dec.9 The service will be followed by our annual Advent Dinner 9

10 Special Announcements ANNUAL CHURCH CONFERENCE Saturday, November 17, 2018 Calvary Korean UMC 572 Ryders Ln East Brunswick, NJ :00 PM - 5:45 PM There will be a joint worship service with other churches in the Capital District ( last year s featured a fantastic speaker...definitely worth attending) and our own PUMC church conference. All PUMC members and friends are invited to attend. UPCOMING CIRCLE OF FRIENDS MEETING Circle of Friends annual Christmas Luncheon will be held Tuesday, December 11th at noon at the Rocky Hill Inn. Place the date on your calendar now. Details to follow. All Women are Welcome! COME TO SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS Our Annual Christmas concert is on 12/23 at 5pm. If you love to sing beloved Christmas carols, come to Wednesday rehearsals. The first rehearsal starts on 10/31 at 7:30pm for 30 to 40 minutes. Dress rehearsal is on 12/19 at 7:30pm. There is no rehearsal on 11/21. STAFFING PARKING SPACES The staff parking spaces are reserved for PUMC staff only. We currently have more staff members than actual reserved parking spaces, and our staff works at varying hours throughout the week. Please, if you are not a member of the PUMC staff, do not park in a reserved staff parking space. We know that parking can be a challenge, but effective November 1, we will be notifying the Princeton Parking Commission for any non-staff member vehicles parked in the reserved staff parking spaces. 10

11 Rev. Jenny Smith Walz, Lead Pastor Rev. Ginny Samuel Cetuk, Administrative Pastor Rev. Gerri Fowler, Spiritual Formation Pastor Rev. Skitch Matson, Discipleship Pastor FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES Deadline for the December Newsletter November 15 and 11