AUGUST 2, 2026 TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Jacob vs. God #2 | by Chris Cookz
7 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ, 08542 609 924 2613 www.princetonumc.org
THE CHURCH GATHERS
Pre-Service Music Slow Dance from Suite of 6 Short Pieces Vaughan Williams Introit
Vacation Bible School Singers
Call to Worship God of love, you meet us in mystery. Help us to bear your grace. God of abundance, you meet us in our need. Help us to bear your grace. God of power, you pour your blessing into us. Help us to bear your grace. Help us to worship. Amen.
Hymn
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
UMH #400
Prayer of Confession The Lord be with you. And also with you. We come, as people who wrestle with God, with life, and with one another, as we sin, as we seek grace and blessing. Let us confess our need to God, with one another. Like Jacob, we don't easily face our sin and the hurt we've caused. We don't easily accept grace and forgiveness. We often only do so through wrestling. We wrestle with fear instead of trusting. We wrestle to protect ourselves instead of opening ourselves to others. We cling to old identities, old wounds, and old ways of seeing, even when you are inviting us into something new. Forgive us. Meet us in our striving. Stay with us through the long night. And where we cannot yet let go, hold fast to us until your grace remakes us. silence for prayer
Words of Assurance
God does not abandon us because we struggle. God enters our struggle, renames us beloved. 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
Children's Time
Vacation Bible School Singers
Where Children Belong
SHARING IN WORSHIP TODAY
Acolytes - Ajube Hagan, Amissah Hagan Liturgists - Yannick Ibrahim, Isabella Dougan, Christina Lelache Musicians - Summer Pick-Up Choir, Julia Hanna Ushers - Lou Davelman, Reggie Cann, Momo Wolapaye, Paul Manulik, Phil Doren
TFWS #2233
TODAY’S FLOWERS ARE GIVEN IN THANKSGIVING FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS OF THE SUMMER SEASON, WITH NATURE IN ITS GLORY
Scripture Reading
Genesis 32:22-31 (p. 29) This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Rev. Jenny Smith Walz
TO RESPOND IN FAITH Prayers of the People Offertory
Be Thou My Vision
arr. Alice Parker
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.
AND SCATTERS TO BE IN THE WORLD Hymn
Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing
UMH #671
A Jubilee From the Southland
Burleigh
Benediction Postlude
PRAYER CONCERNS
Prayers for all giving and receiving hospice care. May strength, calm, compassion, and rest be available to them. Prayers for all those participating in ongoing diplomatic negotiations around peace. May all sides come together, transcend their differences, and seek to elevate human flourishing as the most crucial priority. Prayers for those left in the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan this week. May those affected find peace. 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 OR TEXT 'PUMC' TO 609-542-2192
SCAN TO GIVE OR TEXT YOUR GIFT AMOUNT TO 609-554-1128
ANNOUNCEMENTS
POTLUCK FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON TODAY
We're keeping it cool, so please bring a salad, cold vegetable dish, fruit or a dessert as we celebrate the conclusion of Vacation Bible School. Details in this week's Happenings.
AUGUST COMMUNION OFFERING
When a community is impacted by a natural or civil disaster, The United Methodist Church is there to alleviate suffering and offer critical support through UMCOR. As we enter the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, our offering will go directly to prepare, rebuild, and carry communities through disasters and their aftermath.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE 2026
Please bring school supplies to church today and continuing August 9, & 16 to provide a healthy and happy start to the school year for families in our community struggling with economic insecurity. Bins are located in the Sanford Davis Room.
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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