Jesus and Paul, Sex and Power seminar

A Jesus Seminar on the Road event:

Jesus and Paul, Sex and Power

September 27-28, 2019 @ First UMC - Boulder

Did Jesus practice gender equality? Is Paul the source of our sexual hang-ups? This seminar asks how the early church handled the issues of gender and sexuality with reference to the social hierarchy of the first-century Roman Empire. It will also discuss how Paul understood social relations, including same-sex relationships.
Addressing such issues stemming from the early church may change attitudes toward sexuality.

Register at this link.

STEMrev volunteers needed

Do you enjoy working with your hands AND working with children? Volunteer with STEMrev and make a positive impact on a young person's life! Help fourth graders at Columbine Elementary do hands-on projects (planned and led by Rebecca Glancy) every Wednesday afternoon (3:00 pm to 4:30ish) from September 25 - November 13.

A current Boulder Valley School District background check is required. Contact the church office to leave a message for Rebecca if you're interested in taking part.

Choir resumes next week

Our fabulous choir resumes weekly practices on September 4th. The weekly sessions take place on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. All skill levels are welcome!!

Wednesday with the Wesleys

Theater Group Outing

We have a group going to see Mamma Mia at Boulder Dinner Theater this fall - Judy has reserved 20 tables for Sunday night, October 27. We get a deal for booking early ($51 per ticket), as well as better table and the usual group amenities. Payment is not due 'till early September.

If you are interested in joining us, please let the office know at 303-494-0615.

Understanding Mountain Sky Conference Mission Shares for 2020

Jesus spoke a lot about money. It was a topic he returned to repeatedly. Sometimes Jesus spoke about money helping with illustration: Luke 15: 8-10, the Parable of the Lost Coin is such an example. This parable is less about money than it is about what was once lost now being found, and the joy associated with that. Other times money carries a central focus to Jesus’ message. In Luke 19: 11-27, money, and how it is invested by various servants, plays a vital component in the parable. The familiar quote for many of us on rendering unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar (Luke 20: 20-26) uses money as the illustrative and, arguably, key point in the establishment of priorities and values. My take on that passage is the Reign of God and the Reign of Caesar are not equals: the Reign of God is the more important.

One of the means we use as the people called United Methodists to support the Reign of God beyond the local church is the apportionment. In the Mountain Sky Conference we give the apportionment a symbolic name: Mission Shares. This Legacy Yellowstone term communicates quite well: we are asking local churches to use money to help share in the mission of the connectional church. That connectional church is the conference as well as the general boards and agencies that support the transformational mission of The United Methodist Church nationally and internationally.

Read more at this link.

This week @ St. Paul's

Monday:

9:00 am, Yoga
7:00 pm, SPPRC meeting

Tuesday:

7:00 pm, Insight Meditation

Sunday:
8:45 am, Church school
9:45 am, Fellowship time
10:15 am, Worship
12:30 pm, Beautiful Boulder Korean Church             

Scripture lessons for September 1

This week's scripture lessons come from Hebrews13:1-3, 6-8, 15-16 and Luke 14:1, 7-14.                                                      

Three questions for this week:
1) What does it mean to willing take a lesser role?
2) How do you respond to be asked to assume a greater role?
3) When have we altered our expectations of others?

Sunday morning blessings

Christopher Wahl offers his gift

Ice cream floats for everyone!

Button room tours

Enjoying the parsonage porch

The post-yard sale euphoria was in evidence this morning as we gathered for worship! It was reported that yesterday's income amounted to $1,827.

Our worship was blessed this morning with the musical offerings of  Christopher Wahl. Pastor Charles' sermon was based on Jeremiah 1:1-10. 

Following worship, we gathered at the parsonage for the first annual parsonage open house!

Thanks today to: Sabrina Bishop & Jessica Bishop (Counters), Tim Cook (Church school), Austin Cooper & Jerry Beaber (Ushers), Christopher Wahl (Accompanist), Michele Matthews (Fellowship), and Dennis Hult (Liturgist).

It's Yard Sale Saturday

The annual yard sale (just how long we've been doing this is up for debate) took place today on the church lawn. Early birds, repeat shoppers, and passerby enjoyed the plethora of items on offer!

Thanks to all the church members who supported this effort though donations, pricing of items this week, and volunteering during the sale.

It's yard sale eve

The annual church yard sale is mere hours from it's 8 am start time!

As Hong Kong protests continue, so do prayers

As protests in Hong Kong have stretched through the summer, Christians are reacting in two different ways, says a Methodist theological student.

Ben Ho, a doctoral student in Christianity and theological studies at Chinese University of Hong Kong, said churches have continued “to play an assisting role for the protesters,” such as providing spaces where protesters can rest or offering spiritual counseling to both young people and their parents.

Christians also are using “soft” power to encourage the Hong Kong government to respond positively to the appeals of the people, he added. “For example, they organize various prayer assemblies and gatherings outside the government house at which Christians sang hymns and lamented for the current situation,” Ho told UM News in an email.  
 
The Methodist International Church, Hong Kong, has posted “A Prayer for Hong Kong” on its website, addressing both those “who carry the burden and responsibility of leadership at this time of tension and unrest” and “all who are disillusioned with the present and fearful for the future…”

Read more at this link.

Bishop Richard Wilke: A plea to The United Methodist Church

Retired UMC Bishop Richard Wilke has posted a moving plea to The United Methodist Church on YouTube. Please take a few minutes to listen to his words offered in the spirit of love to the heart of Methodism today.

Annual Yard Sale is on Saturday!

The corner of Grinnell Avenue and Gillaspie Drive will be the place to be on Saturday as St. Paul's UMC hosts its annual yard sale from 8 am - 2 pm!

Tonight, Tim & Sandi Cook and Belinda Alkula were hard at work pricing the amazing assortment of items that have been arriving daily in Franz Hall!

Wednesday with the Wesleys

Parsonage Open house is on Sunday

Who: Friends and family of St. Paul's UMC

What: 1st Annual Parsonage Open House

When: August 25 following worship

Where: 1265 Gillaspie Drive
Why: There is a LOT to see!

This week @ St. Paul's

Yard Sale week preparation in Franz Hall

Monday:

2:00 pm Family systems seminar @ Colo. Spgs. (Pastor)

9:00 am, Yoga

Tuesday:

9:00 am, Family systems seminar @ Colo. Spgs. (Pastor)

7:00 pm, Insight Meditation

Wednesday:
9:00 am, Family systems seminar @ Colo. Spgs. (Pastor)

Saturday:
7:00 am, Take items to lawn

8:00 am-2:00 pm, Annual Yard Sale
1:30 pm, Begin clean-up

Sunday:

8:45 am, Church school
10:15 am, Worship
12:30 pm, Beautiful Boulder Korean Church                 
11:30 am, First annual parsonage open house

Scripture lessons for August 25

The scripture lessons for the final Sunday of August come from Luke 13:10-17 and Jeremiah 1:4-10.          

Questions for this week:
1) When have you heard God speak to you?
2) How did you know it was God speaking?
3) Do you listen when God speaks to others? 

An active Sunday morning!

Adult class underway

Summer flowers

Hand bell quartet

Lorie adds her gift

It is a joy to come to worship God each week at St. Paul's UMC!

Our worship was blessed this morning with the musical offering by the Hand Bell quartet (Wally Cleveland, Myrtle Myers, Suzanne Polacek, & Christopher Wahl). Pastor Charles' sermon was based on Luke 12:49-56.

Thanks today to: Tim Cook (Church school), Lorie Courier (Accompanist/Flowers), Hand Bell quartet (Summer music), Melanie Muckle & Suzanne Polacek (Fellowship), and Bob Muckle (Liturgist).

It's Yard Sale Week @ St. Paul's!

Sorting the treasures

"Fire brigade" at work

Yard sale Week at St. Paul's began yesterday with some preliminary work being done to bring up some large items from the basement and setting up of tables in Franz Hall.

Today saw the "fire brigade" in action following worship as the items stored in the Scout Room were brought up by an energetic group!

Starting on Monday the pricing of items begins and continues through Friday.

What to expect at General Conference 2020

With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, organizers hope to improve proceedings at General Conference 2020.
 
Among the adjustments that delegates can expect are stricter requirements for their credentials after an investigation found four ineligible people cast votes during the 2019 special General Conference using credentials of absent delegates.

Changes at The United Methodist Church’s top policy-making assembly also include more time for legislative action during plenary sessions as well as some proposed revisions to the rules of order.
 
Ultimately, it will be up to delegates to approve any rule changes and keep to the schedule when they meet May 5-15, 2020, in Minneapolis. The theme for the gathering will be “…and know that I am God” from Psalm 46.

Read more at this link.

An invitation to the Wired Word

You are invited to take part in a unique study that looks at current events through the lenses of scripture.

Each lesson includes biblical commentary and discussion questions related to a topic in that week’s news. The Wired Word comes each Thursday and features:

• A way to relate current events to Scripture passages — 
• Encourage dialogue on how to apply God’s word to everyday life.
• Engagement with thought-provoking, stimulating discussions on messages contained in the Bible.
• 
  

Let Pastor Charles know if you'd like to be included in the weekly email of the week's lessons.

Connectional Table launches Emerging, an online anthology on our church

The Connectional Table is proud to announce the launch of Emerging, a digital collection of essays, articles and other content discussing what may be taking shape in the life of our connection as a result of the outcome of the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference.   

The purpose of the website, www.emergingmethodism.com, is to be a venue of conversation including voices from a multiplicity of viewpoints. The hope is that it will help lead us to forge a compelling consensus toward what to teach, how we teach, who we are, and how we will continue to live together in ministry. It is not a forum for debate or for proposals about structure, but a space to invite critical thinking and reflection on what is emerging in Methodism.

The project draws inspiration from Isaiah 43:18-19: “Don’t remember the prior things; don’t ponder ancient history. Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness.”

Read more at this link.