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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