News You Can Use - May 31, 2022

Ladies Lunch Bunch will meet Thursday, June 2, at 11:45 a.m., at Parma Trattoria & Mozzarella Bar in the Village Shops At Colony Square, 1132 W Dillon Road, Louisville. Please R.S.V.P. to Pat Cleaveland by Wednesday (patcleaveland@msn.com or 720-897-6541).

The Trustees are hosting an outdoor workday on Saturday morning, June 4, from 8 a.m. to noon. We will be putting down new mulch, doing some pruning, and tackling various other tasks. Bring work gloves, hats, wheelbarrows, shovels, pruners, your best smile, and as much energy as you can muster!

The memorial service for Jerry Ferguson will take place on Saturday, June 4, at St. Paul's United, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served after. Jerry, a 40-year member of St. Paul's, died on November 11, 2021. This Celebration of Life was delayed due to the COVID pandemic.

June 5 is Pentecost Sunday. We can all join in by wearing something red that Sunday so Pastor Charles looks out on a “sea of red.” Also, wear your mask. As COVID transmission in Boulder County increases, we want to keep our community safe.

We will dedicate the Nelson Serenity Garden Sunday during worship.

The Women's Summer Book Group's first organizational meeting will be June 9 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. The group will meet weekly on Thursdays thereafter. Let Judy or Belinda if you aren't on the email list and want to join us.

Wednesday morning virtual fellowship meets here every week at 10:00 a.m.

View last Sunday's worship service here.

Watch last week's "Saturday Night Light with the Bishop" here.

Memorial Day Prayer

Gracious God, on this Memorial Day weekend, we remember and give thanks for those who have given their lives in the service of our country. When the need was greatest, they stepped forward and did their duty to defend the freedoms that we enjoy, and to win the same for others.

O God, you yourself have taught us that no love is greater than that which gives itself for another. These honored dead gave the most precious gift they had, life itself, for loved ones and neighbors, for comrades and country - and for us.

Help us to honor their memory by caring for the family members they have left behind, by ensuring that their wounded comrades are properly cared for, by being watchful caretakers of the freedoms for which they gave their lives, and by demanding that no other young men and women follow them to a soldier's grave
unless the reason is worthy and the cause is just.

Holy One, help us to remember that freedom is not free. There are times when its cost is, indeed, dear. Never let us forget those who paid so terrible a price to ensure that freedom would be our legacy.

Though their names may fade with the passing of generations, may we never forget what they have done. Help us to be worthy of their sacrifice,

O God, help us to be worthy.

- J. Veltri, S.J.

This week @ St. Paul's UMC

Monday: Memorial Day / Bolder Boulder Race

Tuesday:
9:00 AM, Office hours

Wednesday:
9:00 AM, Office hours

9:30 AM, Wednesday Weeders

10:00 AM, Wednesday Zoom fellowship

Thursday:
9:00 AM, Office hours

11:45 AM, Ladies Lunch Bunch

5:30 PM, Dinner Group #3 @ the Hults

Friday:
5:30 PM, Dinner Group #__ @ the Vander Vortses

Saturday:
8:00 AM, Trustees Work Day

2:00 PM, Jerry Ferguson Memorial 

5:00 PM, Bishop Oliveto on Facebook Live

Sunday: PENTECOST
8:45 AM, Adult study 

9:45 AM, Fellowship time (note: summer time slot)

10:15 AM, Worship

12:30 PM, BBKC

Scripture lessons for Pentecost

Descent of the Holy Spirit - Basilica di San Marco, Venice

We will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost next Sunday with scripture lessons from Acts 2:1-4, 14-21 and John 14:8-17, 25-27.  

Ascension Sunday @ St. Paul's UMC: Prayers

Joys:

+Belinda Alkula gives thanks for this week's Ladies Lunch Bunch and for the return of the Dinner Circles to the calendar.

+Myrle Myers is thankful for her sister, Pat, visiting for Jerry's birthday from Iowa.

+Pastor Charles is thankful for all the work that has been done on the Nelson Memorial Garden.

+We are thankful to have a guest with us in worship, Ernest Campbell.

+We give thanks this week for these birthdays: Jessica Bishop and Diana Meade 

+We give thanks for those offering their ministry: Amy Abshire (liturgist), Belinda Alkula (Video), Etta Levitt (Zoom usher), Kathy Lloyd (Zoom host), Hyeji Park (piano), and Suzanne Polacek (flowers/fellowship).

Concerns:

+We mourn with many of our countrymen for the twenty-two killed and seventeen injured at Robb Elementary School last Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas. We also mourn the other 249 killed and 556 injured in gun violence in our nation in the past seven days.

+We remember tomorrow our countrymen who died in service to the nation.

Ascension Sunday @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements

+Trustee Work Day will be on Saturday, starting at 8:00 AM. Come for as long as you are able, tasks for all abilities will be available.

+Jerry Ferguson memorial service will take place next Saturday at 2:00 PM here at St. Paul's UMC.

+Fellowship time will move to its summer time slot, 9:45 AM (before worship) starting next Sunday. Volunteers are needed to keep fellowship going each week. Sign up page on the usher's table in the back of the sanctuary or contact the church office.

+Boulder Dinner Theater Stage is now offering bookings for groups! Upcoming shows include musical tributes to Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Billy Joel, and Elton John. The summer show is The Sponge Bob Musical, May 27 - September 3. Let Judy Waller know if you have any interest. For more information, visit www.bdtstage.com.

+The Women's Summer Book Group’s first organizational meeting will be June 9 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. The group will meet weekly on Thursdays via Zoom thereafter. Let Judy or Belinda if you aren't on the email list and want to join us.

+Next Sunday is PENTECOST and everyone is invited to wear something red as we celebrate the birthday of the church.

+We will dedicate the Nelson Serenity Garden next Sunday following worship.

Ascension Sunday @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Today’s Meditation Verse: “He led them out as far as Bethany, where He lifted His hands and blessed them.” —Luke 24:50

Welcome... Pastor Charles

Prelude... Hyeji Park / “Take my life and let it be” arranged by Greg Howlett

*Call to Worship (Ministry Matters)... Amy Abshire

Leader: Today is Ascension Sunday when we celebrate Christ’s return to God.

People: We look up in wonder as He is lifted from us into heaven!

Leader: But this is not a time to gaze upward. There is work to be done.

People: Jesus has entrusted the ministry of God’s love to us.

Leader: Let’s get to work!

People: Let’s make our hearts ready for the task ahead with prayer and praise!

Leader: Amen.

People: Amen!

*Hymn... “Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know” (UMH #163)

Prayer of Confession for Ascension Day (Ministry Matters)... Amy Abshire

Lord, we are impatient! We want everything right now, instantly! We don’t want to wait for anything. We rush our holidays, our celebrations, our very lives and then wonder why our spirits are exhausted and depressed. Slow us down, Lord. Help us to enjoy the process of waiting for the wondrous things You offer us. Let us feel the power and beauty of praising You and singing Your praises. Clear away our "high gear" mentality and place us on paths of peace and hope. Forgive our arrogance and impatience. Help us to overcome those traits which pull us away from You and from appreciating all that You have done for us. As we listen to the scriptures this day in which the disciples witnessed Jesus’ ascension to You, let our hearts be at peace knowing that You have taught us what we need to know to serve God joyfully in this world. Inspire us and give us delight for what is to come. Amen. 

Words of Assurance

Forgiveness and love have been poured out upon you, to offer hope to all nations. You are called and blessed to be messengers of God’s good news to all people. Amen.

*Offering/Doxology (UMH #94)

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer... Pastor Charles

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23... Amy Abshire

Special Music... Hyeji Park / “Abide with me” arranged by Summer Nelson

Second Lesson: Acts 1:1-11... Pastor Charles

Pastor: This is the Word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon... Pastor Charles / “Why bother?”

*Hymn... “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” (UMH #312)

*Words for the Journey... Pastor Charles

*Postlude... Hyeji Park / “Tell me the story of Jesus” arranged by Greg Howlett

Boulder County Moves to High Community Level for COVID-19

Boulder County, CO – Boulder County has moved into high COVID-19 community levels based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) metrics.

The move from the medium to high COVID-19 community level indicates that COVID cases are high in our community, and the strain on hospitals and healthcare facilities in Boulder County is rising.

Weekly metrics released by the CDC on Thursday show the case rate in Boulder County is 318.5 per 100,000 population, new COVID-19 hospital admissions are at 10.6 per 100,000 population and staffed inpatient beds in use by COVID-positive individuals are at 1.9%.

As a result, everyone should practice enhanced prevention measures and be aware of their own risk factors for contracting the disease. People at high risk for severe disease or who have close contact with someone who is should take additional precautions.

Vaccines and previous infections continue to provide high levels of community immunity. Increasing availability and access to therapeutics to treat COVID will prevent hospitalization and may help our community have a different outcome this time around.

To ensure the best protection against the most severe outcomes of the disease, everyone should take these steps to stay safe:

Get yourself and your family fully vaccinated and stay up to date by getting boosted when eligible. Immunity from vaccines wanes over time so staying up to date is an important layer of protection.

Wear a well-fitting medical-grade mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings).

Keep your loved ones and community safe by following BCPH recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.

Have a plan for testing – If you plan to be near someone at high risk for severe disease, hospitalization, or death, consider getting tested prior to gathering.

Increase airflow and ventilation – While indoors, use HEPA filters or increase ventilation and airflow by opening windows or increasing air circulation. Consider moving activities outdoors for the best protection.

+Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease:

+Wear a high-quality mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection

+Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed.

+Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing).

+Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to take other precautions (e.g., testing).

+Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatment and establish a plan to access treatment if you become ill.

+If you have a household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease:

+Get tested to detect infection before contact

+Wear a mask when indoors with them

For more tips on how to consider your risk for contracting the disease, visit boco.org/COVIDrisk

.

Additional information about CDC Community Levels and the recommended precautions for individuals is available at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/communitylevels

.

In addition to safety recommendations for the general public, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's (CDPHE) public health order 20-38, which applies to Boulder County, requires that staff, visitors, and other individuals in prisons, jails, community corrections, substance abuse and drug treatment centers, adult day centers and day programs, and similar facilities wear a face covering if the CDC Community Tracker is in Medium or High. Staff are required to wear a medical grade face covering, and facilities may require visitors and patrons to wear medical-grade face coverings.

Businesses not subject to CDPHE order 20-38 may still choose to require masks for their employees and patrons. Individuals may also choose to mask while around others.

Worship tomorrow!

Join us Sunday for worship at 10:15 a.m. in person or via Zoom here.

Preview Sunday's bulletin here.

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.

Transforming the World

Your gift to UMCOR makes God’s love tangible to survivors of all kinds—be it from war or conflict, hurricane, famine, earthquake or flood.

Read more at this link.

Cleaning up from the snow

Last Friday’s snow damaged a couple of large branches at the church and the parsonage. Thanks to the church trustees for arranging for the trimming to be done this morning.

Prayer for Ascension Day

Salvador Dalí, The Ascension of Christ, 1958. Oil on canvas

O God, You have glorified our victorious Savior

with a triumphant resurrection from the dead,

and ascension into heaven,

where He sits at your right hand.

Grant, we ask You,

that His triumphs and glories may ever shine in our eyes

to make us see more clearly through His sufferings,

and more courageously endure our own;

being assured by His example,

that if we endeavor to live and die like Him,

for the cause of Your love in ourselves and others,

You will raise our dead bodies again,

and conforming them to His glorious body,

call us above the clouds,

and give us possession of Your everlasting kingdom.

Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

From The Daily Office: A Book of Hours for Daily Prayer (Volume Three: The Great Fifty Days).

© 2000 Order of Saint Luke Publications

United Methodist Church bishops call for action to stop mass shootings

Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton today urged clergy and laity to go on offense to stop mass shootings like the one that killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas.

“My “statement” today is quite simple:  Let’s go on the offense. If you are a pastor, weave our theology of a lived-out faith into sermons that challenge people to convert their fears, angers, racist tendencies, and complicit behaviors into a mobilized witness of the power of God to do far more than we could ever dream of or imagine,” Bishop Bickerton said.

He called on the laity too: “If you are a lay person, determine today how you will take the faith you nurture each week in a pew to the streets, the places where you work, and the homes where you live. If you are a church body, don’t settle for just active shooter training. Determine that you will actively work to transform lives from violence to peace, elect officials that will not settle for inaction, and inject communities with the grace and love of Christ that will alter the course of our current behaviors.”

Writing on behalf of the COB, Bishop Bickerton said he refuses to see this period of our lives as a permanent time of disarray. “Instead, I choose to see this an interim time, a time that will not remain as it is, a time that will not be the standard upon which we experience the life we have been blessed to live. As United Methodists we embrace a gospel and a mission that we state has the power to transform the world.”

The call today is for every United Methodist Christian to go on the offense, stating what we believe the power of God can do in our midst, opening ourselves to power of God at work within us, and doing whatever we can to alter the current course of behavior once and for all.

Click here to read the full statement from Bishop Bickerton.

The Serenity Garden is almost ready

Work on the new Nelson Serenity Garden took a major turn today with the planting of a wonderful variety of flowers and ivy.

The Garden will be dedicated following worship on June 5 (Pentecost).

Thanks to Robin Berlin, Don & Peg Fritschel, Suzanne Polacek, Jim & Joey Vander Vorste for their efforts today.

What happened the day AFTER Aldersgate?

John Wesley's journal entry for May 25, 1738

The moment I awakened, “Jesus, Master,” was in my heart and in my mouth; and I found all my strength lay in keeping my eye fixed upon Him and my soul waiting on Him continually. Being again at St. Paul’s [Cathedral] in the afternoon, I could taste the good word of God in the anthem which began, “My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord: with my mouth will I ever be showing forth thy truth from one generation to another.” Yet the enemy injected a fear, “If thou dost believe, why is there not a more sensible change? I answered (yet not I), “That I know not. But, this I know, I have ‘now peace with God.’ And I sin not today, and Jesus my Master has forbidden me to take thought for the morrow.”

A message from Bishop Oliveto

To the People of the Mountain Sky Conference,

One more mass shooting…more families broken by violence…young lives lost while at school…

This unholy litany is one we can recite from memory, because it is happening with gut-wrenching regularity in the United States.

Children should not be afraid to go to school. People should not be concerned about being shot while grocery shopping. Theater goers should be able to enjoy a movie without noting where the emergency exits are.

The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35: “Jesus wept”. Jesus had just learned that his friend had died, and his grief was evident to all around him. But Jesus channeled that grief into action that brought about a healing. He came to the tomb and ordered it open, even though the stench of death would be strong. But neither his grief nor death itself could stop him from doing something: “Lazarus, come out!” A dead man started to walk, but that wasn’t enough. Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “Unbind him and let him go.”

Jesus models faithful action for us. Like Jesus, we are moved to tears by the loss of life. There is a heaviness in our chest that weighs us down. But Jesus calls us to channel that grief into right action, to call out so that communities can engage together in actions that free us from fear and violence.

The United Methodist Church urges “congregations to advocate at the local and national level for laws that prevent or reduce gun violence.”

If you are looking to find ways to address gun violence and create a climate of safety and compassion, there are resources in our church that I commend to you. See https://www.umcjustice.org/.../gun-violence-prevention for concrete steps you and your congregation can engage in.

We are followers of Jesus, the one who said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” May God bless our efforts so that our children can attend school unafraid.

Love,

Bishop Karen Oliveto

Aldersgate Day

Aldersgate Day is celebrated on May 24 (or the Sunday closest) to commemorate the day in 1738 when John Wesley experienced assurance of his salvation.  Wesley reluctantly attended a group meeting that evening on Aldersgate Street in London. As he heard a reading from Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans, he felt his "heart strangely warmed."   

Wesley wrote in his journal that at about 8:45 p.m. "while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Charles Wesley only a few days before had also had a conversion experience in a building that still stands on an adjacent block (John Bray's house on Little Britain). We do not know whether the building where John Wesley's experience took place still exists, nor exactly in which building on Aldersgate Street it may have been if it still stands. A monument at the London Museum on Aldersgate Street marks where some believe the building may have been. 

Over time, Aldersgate Street has been shortened by common usage to simply Aldersgate. The word has come to represent both the place and John Wesley's experience. 

This content was produced by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications.

This week @ St. Paul's UMC

Monday:

9:00 AM, Office Hours

Tuesday: Aldersgate Day

9:00 AM, Office Hours

5:30 PM, "A Heart Strangely Warmed" by Getting Rid of Debt webinar

Wednesday:

7:30 AM, Anti-racisim webinar

9:00 AM, Office Hours

9:30 AM, Wednesday Weeders

10:00 AM, Weekly Zoom Fellowship

Thursday: Ascension Day

Wired Word email

Saturday:

5:00 PM, Bishop Oliveto on Facebook Live

Sunday:

8:45 AM, Adult Class

10:15 AM, Worship

11:15 AM, Fellowship Time

12:30 PM, BBKC

Scripture lesson for May 29

Church of the Transfiguration - Mount Tabor, Israel

We bring May to a close this year with Ascension Sunday. Our lessons will come from Ephesians 1:15-23 and Acts 1:1-11.

May 22 @ St. Paul's UMC: Prayers

Joys:

+Suzanne Polacek gives thanks for the work being done to complete the Nelson Memorial Garden (Jim Vander Vorste is working on the fencing).
+Michele Matthews is thankful for the moisture we got this weekend.
+Belinda Alkula gives thanks for the 2,800+ women attended the United Women in Faith Assembly in Orlando, Florida (in-person/online).
+Family and friends @ Boulder High School graduation.
+We celebrate birthdays this week: Jerry Cantril, Lorie Courier, Suzanne Polacek, Doris Steiner, and Donna Wasson. 

+We give thanks for the ministries of Amy Abshire (liturgist), Belinda Alkula (video), Austin Cooper (usher), Lorie Courier (piano/flute), Etta Levitt (Zoom usher), Kathy Lloyd (Zoom host), Suzanne Polacek (piano), and Jim & Joey Vander Vorste (flowers/fellowship).

Concerns:

+Myrle Myers lifts up Jerry C. who took a tumble last week.
+Belinda Alkula lifts up the Church of Scotland facing an uncertain future.
+Michele Matthews asks prayers for her niece, Laura and her husband, Josh, who are expecting and moving soon. 
+We continue to lift up in prayer the people of Ukraine and all who work for peace in the world.

May 22 @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements

+Celebrate Aldersgate Day by hearing from John Wesley's journal entry for May 24, 1738.

+“A Heart Strangely Warmed” By Getting Rid of Debt webinar (May 24 @ 5:30 PM). 19th century preacher Henry Ward Beecher said, “A church debt is the devil’s salary” which probably seems a little extreme today. Many of our churches would not be in the buildings we are without some debt. We do know that money that is spent to retire debt (or in some cases, to simply pay the interest on debt) is money that could be used to expand mission and ministry. Join Ken Sloane and his guest Joe Park of Horizons Stewardship as they discuss church debt and what to do about it. Register at this link.

+Trustee work day coming soon! Watch for details in News You Can Use.

+Two years after the death of George Floyd: Antiracism, #BLM, and the United Nations (May 25 @ 7:30 AM): As people continue to challenge the systemic racism that has devalued the lives of Black and Brown people globally, many are asking the question: why do some of these tragic events spark a stronger call for change than others? George Floyd’s murder also revived the concept of antiracism. The webinar will explore, in practice, what it means to be antiracist.   Participants will also be invited to reflect on the role played by Christian nationalism in reinforcing white supremacy and racial subjugation, thereby fueling racism, xenophobia, and racial discrimination. Register here.

+Volunteers are needed for fellowship time on Sundays. Sign up on the volunteer page at the back of the sanctuary or email the church office. Simplicity is  encouraged! Compostable plates, cups, and napkins are provided. Watch for detailed instructions in June’s Epistle. Contact Pat Cleaveland if you have questions. Thank you! On June 5, fellowship time will move to 9:45 a.m.

+Boulder Dinner Theater Stage is now offering bookings for groups!   Upcoming shows include musical tributes to Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Billy Joel, and Elton John. The summer show is The Sponge Bob Musical, May 27–September 3. Let Judy Waller know if you have any interest. For more information, visit www.bdtstage.com.

May 22 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Morning has broken!

Lorie (flute) and Suzanne (piano) practice before worship

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Jesus answered, ‘Whoever loves me will keep my word.’” —John 14:23a

Welcome... Pastor Charles

Prelude... Lorie Courier / “Abide with Me”

*Call to Worship (Psalm 67, The Message)...Amy Abshire

Leader: God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile! People: The whole country will see how You work; all the godless nations see how You save. Leader: God! Let people thank and enjoy You. Let all people thank and enjoy You. People: Let all far-flung people become happy and shout their happiness because You judge them fair and square, You tend the far-flung peoples. Leader: God! Let people thank and enjoy You. People: Let all people thank and enjoy You. Leader: Earth, display Your exuberance! You mark us with blessing, O God, our God. People: You mark us with blessing, O God. Earth’s four corners—honor God!

*Hymn... “On the Day of Resurrection” (UMH #309)

Prayer of Confession (Bread for the Journey, Ruth Duck, ed., p. 59)...             Amy Abshire

O God, we come into Your presence confessing our sin and our indifference to the sin and suffering of our world. Our lives are fragmented with mundane concerns: paying bills, washing clothes, shuffling papers, buying groceries, typing emails, attending meetings, reading, and sleeping. We are easily overwhelmed by consideration of pandemic responses, political prisoners in China, people struggling for a just society in Afghanistan, and for survival in the urban ghettos of our own land. We come into Your presence admitting our humanness yet emboldened by the knowledge that we stand before the Ruler of all peoples, who continues to call us to join in the struggle for justice,    peace, and liberation, personal and corporate, here and around the globe. Strengthen our resolve, and free us to be fully human with our siblings on the planet earth, in the name of Jesus Christ the Liberator.

*Offering/Doxology (UMH #94)

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations                                Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer... Pastor Charles

First Lesson: Acts 16:9-15... Amy Abshire

Special Music... Lorie Courier and Suzanne Polacek /                                                                                     Bach-Gounod’s “Ave Maria”

Second Lesson: Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5... Pastor Charles                                      

Pastor: This is the Word of God for the people of God.                                          People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon... Pastor Charles / “Bank on it”

*Hymn... “Up from the Grave He Arose” (UMH #322)

*Words for the Journey... Pastor Charles

*Postlude... Lorie Courier / “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”