Learn more at this link.
Recent media reports, a public education campaign, and the announcement of an investigation by the U.S. Department of the Interior have cast renewed light on one of the most shameful practices in the deplorable treatment of the Indigenous people of North America by European colonists across 500 years. This was the forcing of thousands of Native American boys and girls into “Indian boarding schools” in a deliberate attempt to separate them from their families and cultures.
Disturbing new reports from both Canada and the U.S. indicate that, in some cases, large numbers of the young people died in school custody without notice to families and were buried in mass schoolyard graves. Some of these burials have been documented internally in boarding school records, but others have not.
While authorized and primarily funded by government, some of these schools were also sponsored or operated by religious organizations, including several with Methodist affiliations. Some Methodists and their institutions shared and promoted the sentiment that Indigenous people must be “Christianized” and then “civilized” to be regarded as human beings, or as stated by prominent proponents, “Kill the Indian and save the man.”
Read more at this link.
 |
| Job - Lincoln Cathedral (UK) |
+It is time to begin thinking about Advent and Christmas... Pastor Charles is inviting the congregation to participate in the creation of the third annual Advent and Christmas devotional. The theme for this year’s devotional is “Chrismons.” See this blog post for more details.
+Moving Climate Vigil, tomorrow @4:00 PM, at the Peace Park (just west of the Boulder Public Library along the creek). The vigil will begin with a beautiful water offering, walk past the Municipal Building, through Central Park, passing banks and other institutions of power, and then conclude at the County Courthouse. There will be stops along the way, where each faith community who wishes will have the opportunity to make an offering or prayer. Together, we weave our strong and diverse voices calling to ourselves, each other, and our leaders for collective action for a liveable world.
+Justice Talks with GBCS (webinar). Wednesday @1:00 PM. Join Rev. Dr. Susan Henry Crowe and Church and Society staff for “Justice Talks: Our Witness on Capitol Hill." Tune in to hear how our location supports our mission to live out our faith, seek justice, and pursue peace. This is a free, virtual event and registration will be live in the coming weeks. REGISTER HERE.
+Next Sunday is World Communion Sunday, one of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church. World Communion Sunday calls the church to reach out to all people and model diversity among God’s children. The special offering provides World Communion Scholarships, the Ethnic Scholarship Program and the Ethnic In-Service Training Program. Learn more at this link.
 |
| A shawl for Dotty L. and flowers from Judy W. |
 |
| Hyeji Park shares her musical talents |
By walking, riding, rolling, hiking, swimming or whatever your favorite avenue for getting exercise is, you’ll be getting in better shape while shaping mission in the Mountain Sky Conference.
Set your mileage and fundraising goals, then find sponsors to help you to achieve these goals. There is no fee to join, but all participants are invited to reach out to their friends and family for support by donating in their honor.
Pledge the amount of miles you (or your team members) plan to accumulate for Miles-o-Love. The important part is inviting sponsors to support YOUR Miles-o-Love! Prior to the Annual Conference you’ll report total miles accumulated and the amount of money raised from supporters.
Registration at the link here for Miles-O-Love 2021 to start making a plan on how you want to participate. This year, you may participate as a team or an individual. Get your Bible study crew together, or your Sunday school class, or simply a group of neighbors.
 |
| 16th Street and Columbia Road, N.W. - Washington, DC |
Listen to the podcast at this link. Find more information about Francis Asbury at this link.
Recent media images have shown U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on horseback deterring entrance into the United States through whip-like use of ropes or reigns. In addition to those who are being turned back across the Rio Grande River to Mexico, thousands of would-be asylum seekers from Haiti are being deported back to Haiti, a country struggling with recovery from an earthquake, a tropical storm and a presidential assassination.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, which works to alleviate suffering globally and engages in global migration programming, believes that the approaches taken by U.S. officials in Del Rio, Texas, are morally reprehensible. The U.S. government cannot welcome Afghan refugees and provide for them physically and legally and then physically push back or deport people fleeing various forms of chaos in Haiti. We urge all those involved to welcome asylum seekers in a way that preserves their dignity, cares for their health, safety and basic needs, and allows them to pursue legal claims to asylum as provided for by U.S. law.
UMCOR encourages United Methodist churches in the U.S. to consider exploring or expanding their ministries of welcome. One way to do this is to support the resettlement of refugees or asylum seekers through Church World Service, a longstanding refugee resettlement agency, which UMCOR helped establish in 1945. UMCOR currently has several grants with CWS that provide support to refugees and asylum seekers.
Additionally, UMCOR has provided numerous grants to short-term shelters along the U.S.-Mexico border over the years. UMCOR is currently exploring additional ways to support the local coalition that is aiding Haitian immigrants in Del Rio.
All of these efforts are funded through the Global Migration Advance, #3022144. To join UMCOR’s response, make a gift online to the Global Migration Advance at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/3022144 or send a check to Global Ministries/UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068, with Advance #3022144 noted on the memo line.
- Author Unknown
Autumn Prayers. (n.d.). Jesuit Resource; The Center for Mission and Identity; Xavier University. Retrieved September 19, 2021, from https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/autumn-prayers
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s UMC.
Our virtual blood drive ends this Saturday!
Sign up today at this link.
+Join us for Wednesday Zoom fellowship at 10:00 a.m. at this link.
+Donations for Incoming Refugees - The Islamic Center of Boulder is collecting items for individuals and families arriving in our area from the Afghanistan airlift. Please see this blog post for items that are being requested. We will deliver the items on September 22.
+It is time to begin thinking about Advent and Christmas... Pastor Charles is inviting the congregation to participate in the creation of the third annual Advent and Christmas devotional. The theme for this year’s devotional is “Chrismons.” See this blog post for more details.
+Virtual Blood Drive continues from September 12-25, 2021. Even though we can’t host our in-person blood drive, we can still support the community blood supply. Sign up at this link to support our virtual blood drive.
+The annual meeting of the Peaks Pikes Peak UMW is Saturday, September 25. Please direct questions to Belinda Alkula (Belinda.Alkula@gmail.com or 303-916-2349).
 |
| Flowers from Skippy Rollins |
 |
| Lorie Courier gets an assist from John |
 |
| Ron Revier leads the choir in practice |
Today’s Meditation Verse: “The truly happy person does not follow wicked advice, does not stand on the road with sinners, and does not sit with the disrespectful.” —Psalm 1:1
Welcome... Pastor Charles
Prelude... Louise Cook / “Blessed Assurance”
*Call to Worship (Psalm 98:1-4)... Ben Glancy
Sing a new song to God, who has worked wonders, whose right hand and holy arm have brought deliverance God has made salvation known to the nations, and has remembered in truth and love the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Most High, all the earth, break into joyous songs of praise!
*Hymn...“I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” (UMH #712)
Prayer of Confession (based on Genesis 17, 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31, 1 Corinthians 3: 18-20)... Ben Glancy
Awesome God, when we catch sight of the totality of your claim on our lives; our believing wavers. When we hear the absurdity of your unbreakable covenant with us; like Sarai and Abram, we laugh. When we face the foolish wisdom of the looming cross; like Peter, we suggest an alternative. Meet us in our disbelieving, loving God, move us gently into the deep waters of faith.
—by Katherine Hawker, Liturgies Outside website
*Offering/Doxology (UMH #95)
Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations
Moment of Silence and Reflection
Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer... Pastor Charles
Gospel Lesson: Mark 9:30-37... Ben Glancy
Special Music...Chancel Choir / “A Time for All Things” by Douglas E. Wagner
Epistle Lesson: James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a... Pastor Charles
This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Sermon...Pastor Charles / “Foolish is as foolish does”
*Hymn...“Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” (UMH #402)
*Words for the Journey... Pastor Charles
Postlude... Louise Cook / “Kum Ba Yah”
Sign up today at this link.
There are still reasons to celebrate. It is officially Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration that begins on September 15 and runs through October 15. This celebration began in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson and was originally Hispanic Heritage Week. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan extended the celebration to a full month with the approval of Public Law 100-402 on August 17, 1988. 2020 marks the 32nd Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S. This month is supposed to be a dedicated time for our country to celebrate the history and cultures of Hispanics of Mexican, Spanish, Central and South American and Caribbean descent in our nation. Read more at this link.
Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month at this link. Also, see A Liturgy for Hispanic History Month
1. Sign up for the virtual blood drive (throiugh the 25th).
2. Receive an emailed invitation to schedule an appointment at a convenient location.
3. Give blood, transform lives!
Sign up today at this link.
