Blog

What’s Happening with PUMC Youth? – April 19 at 10:00 am

Youth Worship — Sunday, Apr. 19
10am • Room 200
This Sunday: Cancel Debt, Not the Person

Let’s be honest—holding a grudge can feel kinda good sometimes. But what if there’s actually a better way? This week, we’re talking about forgiveness and why it’s way harder (and more important) than it sounds. We’ll dive into what it means to cancel the debt without canceling the person. And we’ll figure out how to move forward when someone hurts us—or when we mess up ourselves.

Read Ahead: 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Bowling April 19

Join us right after church on April 19 as we head to Pinheads for an afternoon of bowling and hanging out together! It’s a great chance to relax, have fun, and build community outside of our usual space. The cost is $5 per person and we’ll return by 2pm. RSVP to Brandon by 4/17 to save your spot!

Serve with the Homeless Ministry

We need two youth volunteers to serve on the first Monday of each month.
The next open date is May 4. Additional future dates are available—grab a friend and sign up in the youth room

Camp Adventure July 5-10

Middle School Summer Camp is approaching! We will be heading up to Camp Adventure on July 5th and return on the 10th. We will be rock climbing, blobbing (iykyk), paint-balling, and more while worshiping our God. You can sign up here impact2818.org/event/impact-camp-camp-adventure-11/ and let Brandon know if you need assistance.

May 22 – 23, Lock in

Get ready for an overnight adventure at the church on May 22–23! We’ll have games, movies, late-night fun, and plenty of time to just hang out together. Make sure to RSVP with Brandon so you don’t miss out!

Questions? Contact Brandon at brdenman@pumc.org.

Your Generosity

What began as a goal of 400 has become over 1,000 Personal Dignity Kits—1,000 opportunities to place the love of Jesus Christ directly into the hands of people who need to be seen, cared for and reminded they matter.

Last Sunday over 80 people stayed after church to assemble the kits. More than 8,000 items were collected!

This is not just another activity. It is compassion in motion. It is love made visible. It is worship lived out beyond the walls of the church. Thank you to all who donated and participated in putting the
kits together.

Card Writing & Care Package Packing Party

Join us immediately after worship concludes at 11:15am this Sunday April 19 for a meaningful time of encouragement and care for the young people of PUMC. We’ll gather in the Worship Annex to write cards of encouragement and pack approximately 25 care packages for our college students preparing for finals, as well as young adults who have graduated high school and are no longer in school. This is a powerful way to remind our young people that they are loved, remembered, and supported by their church family.

All supplies will be provided. No preparation needed—just come and stay after worship.

If you’re unable to stay for the packing, a card-writing table will also be available in the main lobby so you can participate briefly before heading out.

Come be part of showing our young people they are not alone.  We are with them, and we are for them.

What’s Happening with PUMC Youth? – Apr. 12 at 10:00 am

Youth Worship — Sunday, Apr. 12
10 a.m. • Room 200
This Sunday: Why Bitterness Isn’t Worth It

Bitterness can start small—feeling left out or hurt—but it can grow and weigh us down over time. This week, we’ll explore how grudges quietly shape our thoughts, emotions, and relationships. Through the life and words of Paul, we’ll see a better way: choosing forgiveness over revenge. It isn’t easy or fair, but letting go is what frees us most. Join us as we take a step toward healing and learn to live lighter.

Read Ahead: 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Serve with the Homeless Ministry

We need two youth volunteers to serve on the first Monday of each month.
The next open date is May 4. Additional future dates are available—grab a friend and sign up in the youth room

Camp Adventure July 5-10

Middle School Summer Camp is approaching! We will be heading up to Camp Adventure on July 5th and return on the 10th. We will be rock climbing, blobbing (iykyk), paint-balling, and more while worshiping our God. You can sign up here impact2818.org/event/impact-camp-camp-adventure-11/ and let Brandon know if you need assistance.

May 22 – 23, Lock in

Get ready for an overnight adventure at the church on May 22–23! We’ll have games, movies, late-night fun, and plenty of time to just hang out together. Make sure to RSVP with Brandon so you don’t miss out!

Questions? Contact Brandon at brdenman@pumc.org.

Love God. Love People. Stay and Serve

Jesus said the greatest commandment is this: love God with all your heart, all your soul—and love others as you love yourself. Not in theory. Not in words alone. In real, visible, tangible ways.

This Sunday, we are given that chance.

Because of your generosity, what began as a goal of 400 has become 1,000 Personal Dignity Kits—1,000 opportunities to place the love of Jesus Christ directly into the hands of people who need to be seen, cared for and reminded they matter.

Now comes the part that requires us.

It is easy to worship and leave. It is easy to believe the work is already done. It is easy to assume someone else will stay behind and finish it. But this is our moment. This is where faith becomes action.

This Sunday, April 12, immediately after the 10 a.m. worship service, stay and help assemble the bags.

Every kit represents a person. Someone facing hardship. Someone who may feel forgotten. And through something as simple as what we build together, they will experience dignity, care and the unmistakable love of Christ.

This is not just another activity. It is compassion in motion. It is love made visible. It is worship lived out beyond the walls of the sanctuary.

So stay.

Stay when it would be easier to go.

Stay because love requires something of us.

Stay because this is what it means to follow Jesus.

Love God. Love people. Show up.

1,000 bags. One church. One calling.

Let’s finish this—together.

Easter Lily Dedications

Given in loving memory of:

  • husband Bill and our parents, by Barbara Baker
  • Keith Barding and loved ones, by Betty Barding
  • Jack Blevins, husband and father, by Kay Blevins
  • Alton & Bernice Bowman, and Gaylord & Maxine Conrad, by Chuck & Gloria Bowman
  • Maryann Hamilton, Kenneth & Leona Hamilton, and Bill & Marian Barnett, by Marianne Hamilton
  • our parents, Melvin & Gaynell Brown and Eugene & Jeannette Tague, by Phil & Judy Heffelman
  • our special friend, Lynn Blosser, by Jane Iles and Kelly Rodarmel
  • our mothers and brother, Carol and Jeff Edmondson, and Valerie Clark, by Daniel and Debi Kinnamon
  • our fathers, Robert Coffer and Jack Miller, by Brent & Jenny Miller
  • beloved family members, by Debbie Proctor
  • our parents, by Martha & Jim Roath
  • son Philip, and loved ones, by Lou Sullenger
  • Ruth Anne Bowen, by the Tuesday Morning Prayer Group
  • Ed Vermillion, by Eleanor Vermillion & family
  • Robert R, Charlotte, Robert C. Watts, and Ann Cooper, by Judy Watts
  • Dick Wilson, Tyler Wilson, Terri Lynn Wilson-Raynes, and Ed Raynes by Dotty Wilson

Given in celebration of:

  • my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, by Barbara Baker
  • my family and friends, by Kay Blevins
  • my family and friends, by Abby Lietz
  • our mothers, Evelyn Coffer and Valerie Miller, by Brent & Jenny Miller
  • grandsons Ellis and Henry, by Debbie Proctor
  • Katsue Gladback, by Shana Schreiner
  • our children, Matthew, Kayla, Kristin and Jared, by Joel Wesley

What’s Happening with PUMC Youth? – Apr. 5 at 10:00 am

Youth Worship — Sunday, Apr. 5
10 a.m. • Room 200
This Sunday: Peace Worth Rising For

This week in youth, we’ll celebrate the resurrection by focusing on when Jesus appeared to his disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” Students will explore how this peace isn’t based on circumstances, but on Jesus’ presence in the midst of fear and uncertainty. We’ll talk about the cost of that peace—and why it was worth it. Together, we’ll reflect on where we need peace and what it means to receive it. A powerful reminder: the resurrection isn’t just about what Jesus did—it’s about what he offers us today.

Read Ahead: John 20:19-23

Serve with the Homeless Ministry

We need two youth volunteers to serve on the first Monday of each month.
The next open date is April 6. Additional future dates are available—grab a friend and sign up in the youth room

Camp Adventure July 5-10

Middle School Summer Camp is approaching! We will be heading up to Camp Adventure on July 5th and return on the 10th. We will be rock climbing, blobbing (iykyk), paint-balling, and more while worshiping our God. You can sign up here impact2818.org/event/impact-camp-camp-adventure-11/ and let Brandon know if you need assistance.

April 3, 2026 @ 7:00 PM
Good Friday Vigil:

Join us for a Good Friday Vigil, a quiet time to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Through scripture, prayer and silence, we will reflect on Christ’s suffering and love, and prepare our hearts for the hope of Easter. Come and go as you are able, and share this sacred time of reflection with our church community.

May 22 – 23, Lock in

Get ready for an overnight adventure at the church on May 22–23! We’ll have games, movies, late-night fun, and plenty of time to just hang out together. Make sure to RSVP with Brandon so you don’t miss out!

Camp Adventure July 5-10

Middle School Summer Camp is approaching! We will be heading up to Camp Adventure on July 5th and return on the 10th. We will be rock climbing, blobbing (iykyk), paint-balling, and more while worshiping our God. You can sign up here impact2818.org/event/impact-camp-camp-adventure-11/ and let Brandon know if you need assistance.

Questions? Contact Brandon at brdenman@pumc.org.

What’s Happening with PUMC Youth? – Mar. 29 at 10:00 am

Youth Worship — Sunday, Mar. 29
10 a.m. • Room 200
This Sunday: On The Side of Forgiveness

This week in youth we’ll look at one of the most powerful moments in the life of Jesus—when, even on the cross, he chose forgiveness. Students will explore what it means to stand “on the side of forgiveness” instead of holding onto anger or seeking revenge. Through real-life examples, we’ll talk about how forgiveness can feel difficult but ultimately brings freedom. Together we’ll wrestle with what it looks like to let go of hurt and trust God with our pain. It’s a meaningful conversation about grace, healing, and choosing a better way forward.

Read Ahead: Mark 15:1-15

Serve with the Homeless Ministry

We need two youth volunteers to serve on the first Monday of each month.
The next open date is April 6. Additional future dates are available—grab a friend and sign up in the youth room

Camp Adventure July 5-10

Middle School Summer Camp is approaching! We will be heading up to Camp Adventure on July 5th and return on the 10th. We will be rock climbing, blobbing (iykyk), paint-balling, and more while worshiping our God. You can sign up here impact2818.org/event/impact-camp-camp-adventure-11/ and let Brandon know if you need assistance.

Looking Ahead

  • April 3, 2026 @ 7:00 PM — Good Friday Vigil: Join us for a Good Friday Vigil, a quiet time to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Through scripture, prayer and silence, we will reflect on Christ’s suffering and love, and prepare our hearts for the hope of Easter. Come and go as you are able, and share this sacred time of reflection with our church community.

Questions? Contact Brandon at brdenman@pumc.org.

Serve Our Community at Plainfield’s Spring Cleanup Day

Spring is here. It is time to get outside and make a difference.

Join PUMC’s Eco-Action team for the Town of Plainfield’s Spring Trash Cleanup Day on Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to noon. Together, we will help clean and care for a designated area in our community. The town will provide all supplies. You just bring yourself, your family, and a willingness to serve.

This is a simple, hands-on way to live out our call to care for God’s creation. A few hours of your time can make a visible impact—cleaner streets, greener spaces, and a stronger sense of community.

Bring a friend. Bring your kids. Make it a morning that matters.

Sign up at the Eco-Action table on April 19 or April 26 and be part of something good

Recognize Earth Day by Caring for God’s Creation

Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22, gives us an opportunity to rethink how we care for God’s creation in our everyday lives.

Over the past year, PUMC’s Eco-Action team has focused on one mission: increasing environmentally friendly actions by reducing, reusing and recycling. That commitment has already led to meaningful changes at PUMC, and we believe there is still more we can do. Earth Day invites all of us to look again at what we have always done and ask where we can make better choices.

This month, we challenge you to rethink your own habits. How can you reduce energy use and material consumption? What items can you reuse instead of replacing? And when something can no longer be used, how can it be recycled rather than thrown away?

To help, Eco-Action will offer special recycling collections on April 19 and April 26 for printer ink cartridges, chargers, flash drives, iPads, and both rechargeable and single-use batteries. After April 26, the collection bin will be moved to the Donation Depot. We will also provide resources to help you find places to recycle items that are harder to dispose of responsibly.

Genesis 2:15 reminds us, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” God has entrusted us with the care of creation. That calling is ongoing, and it calls us to keep learning, adapting and acting faithfully.