Passing of Gary Smith

It is with sadness that we learned of the death of Gary Smith at home this morning. Our prayers are with Bren and their family during this time of loss.

Gary's funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 6 at 11:00 AM.

View the obituary at this link.

Easter Sunday @ St. Paul's UMC: Prayers

Joys:

+    Rebecca Glancy gives thanks that Mawce had a great time in New York and is safely home.

+    We are thankful for those who have provided today's fellowship treats after worship today.

+ We give thanks this morning for the music offered by the children of the Beautiful Korean Church.

+    Belinda Alkula is thankful for the outpouring of prayers and support offered to Pastor Charles and her over the past two weeks.

+   We celebrate this week's birthdays: Rebecca Glancy and Judy Waller

+ We give thanks for those participating in today's service: Belinda Alkula (videographer), Angela Baker (flowers), Rev. Dawoon Jung (liturgist), Crystal Soojung Lee (piano), Luciana Lee-Cheng (violin), Terri Himes (greeter), Etta Levitt (Zoom usher), Kathy Lloyd (Zoom host), Eric Miranda (saxophone), Hyeji Miranda (piano), Ron Revier (choir), Jim Vander Vorste (greeter).

Concerns:

+    Joan Cooper would like our prayers for her neighbor, Mike, who is in the hospital.

+    Prayers for all those connected with Birmingham-Southern College (attended by Angela Baker and Pastor Charles), whose closure after 168 years was announced last week.

+    Molly Nunnery  asks for prayers for Bradyn who leaves for his deployment next week.

+    Belinda lifts up those facing housing insecurity.

+     Prayers are sought for those in North Korea who are suffering for their faith.

+   We continue to pray for the innocents suffering in Gaza.

Easter Sunday @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements

+Do you like weeds? Want to help keep our church grounds looking its best? Then come out each Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM and join the fun of the Wednesday Weeders. See Suzanne Polacek for details.

+During this season of preparation, please pray for our delegates to The UMC General Conference and/or lift up your thoughts of hope and prosperity for our connection. Visit this link and light a candle and sharing your personal sentiments.

+Bishop Karen Oliveto will be our preacher on April 7. Our bishop will be retiring this summer and this will be the last opportunity for many of us to hear this extraordinary preacher and our episcopal leader since 2016. 

Easter Sunday @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Flowers from Angela Baker

Children from the Beautiful Korean Church

Pastor Charles and the choir are ready

Fellowship time!

A fun time after worship

 The Festive Service of Easter

(link to today's worship video)

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Therefore if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side.” —Colossians 3:1 (CEB)

Welcome...Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula

Prelude...Hyeji Miranda / “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” arranged by K.L. Phillips

*Call to Worship (inspired by Revelation 7:12...Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula

Leader: We praise Creation’s God.

People: Blessing and honor, glory and power!

Leader: Let each single voice praise God.

People: Blessing and honor, glory and power!

Leader: Let all voices together praise God.

People: Blessing and honor, glory and power!

Leader: Let the great multitude of nations praise God.

People: Blessing and honor, glory and power!

Leader: With all Creation we praise God

People: Blessing and honor, glory and power!

—Rev. Susan A. Blain http://www.ucc.org/worship_worship-ways

*Hymn...“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” (UMH #302)

*교독문 Responsive Reading...Rev. Dawoon Jung

목사: 하나님께서 사망의 고통을 풀어 살리셨으니

회중: 이는 그가 사망에게 매여 있을 수 없었음이라. (행 2:24)

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (Acts 2:24)

목사: 우리 주 예수 그리스도로 말미암아

회중: 우리에게 이김을 주시는 하나님께 감사하노라 (고전 15:57)

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

목사: 예수께서 친히 그 가운데 서서 가라사대 너희에게 평강이 있

을 지어다 하시니

회중: 저희가 놀라고 무서워하여 그 보는 것을 영으로 생각하는지라.

Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.

목사: 예수께서 가라사대 어찌하여 두려워하며 마음에 의심을 하느냐?

회중: 내 손과 발을 보고 나인 줄 알라 또 나를 만져 보라.

He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see;

목사: 영은 살과 뼈가 없으나 너희가 보는 바와 같이 나는 있느니라.

회중: 그리스도께서 죽은 자 가운데서 다시 살아 잠자는 자들의 첫 열

매가 되셨도다. (고전 15:20)

A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

(1 Corinthians 15:20)

다함께: 예수께서 가라사대 나는 부활이요 생명이니 나를 믿는 자는 죽

어도 살겠고 살아서 믿는 자는 영원히 죽지 아니하리라. (요 11:25-26)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

—Bilingual Easter Sunday Service, Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church, 2015

St. Paul’s Chancel Choir...“The Risen Lamb,” words by Susan Naus Dengler, music by Lee Dengler

Community prayers, concerns, and celebrations...Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula

Pastoral Prayer...Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula

The Lord’s Prayer...Rev. Dawoon Jung 

Beautiful Children’s Ensemble...“Hosanna in the Highest” and “There is Power in the Blood”

Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11...Rev. Dawoon Jung

Special Music...Crystal Soojung Lee (piano) and Luciana Lee-Cheng (violin) / “Ave Maria” by Gounod/Bach

Gospel Lesson: John 20:1-18...Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula

Sermon...Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula / “Is this enough for you?”

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

*Words for the Journey...Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula

Postlude...Hyeji Miranda (piano) and Erick Miranda (saxophone) / “Blessed Assurance,” arranged by Duane Funderburk

Devotional for Easter

 Thank and praise Jehovah’s Name,

For his mercies firm and sure;

From eternity the same,

To eternity endure.

 

Let the ransom’d thus rejoice,

Gathered out of every land;

As the people of his choice,

Pluck’d from the destroyer’s hand.

 

Let the elders praise the Lord,

Him let all the people praise,

When they meet with one accord,

In his courts on holy days.

 

Praise him, ye who know his love;

Praise him from the depths of love beneath;

Praise him in the heights above;

Praise your Maker, all that breathe.

 

For his truth and mercy stand,

Past, and present, and to be,

Like the years of his right hand,

Like his own eternity.

Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church: With Tunes for Congregational Worship (1857, Carlton and Porter, New York). 

Worship with us tomorrow

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

Preview Sunday's bulletin here. 

We will celebrate Easter with the Boulder Beautiful Korean Church. Pastor Charles and Pastor Dawoon Jung will jointly lead us in worship. Fellowship after the service will be jointly hosted by BBKC and St. Paul's.

Devotional for Holy Saturday

O Thou whose off’ring on the tree

The legal off’rings all foreshow’d,

Borrow’d their whole effect from thee,

And drew their virtue from thy blood:

 

The blood of goats and bullocks slain,

Could never for one sin atone;

To purge the guilty off’rer’s stain,

Thine was the work, and thine alone.

 

Those feeble types and shadows old,

Are all in thee, the Truth fulfill’d:

We in thy sacrifice behold

The substance of those rites reveal’d.

 

Thy meritorious suff’rings past,

We see by faith to us brought back;

And, on thy grand oblation cast,

It saving benefits partake.

Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church: With Tunes for Congregational Worship (1857, Carlton and Porter, New York).

Today in Methodist history

Today is the 236th anniversary of the death of Charles Wesley.

From the Charles Wesley Society—

During his adult life, Charles traveled, preached, wrote poetry and hymns, saw to the work of the Methodist societies, bands, and classes, and remained loyal to the Anglican Church until his death. He argued against John’s path of increasing separation from the Church of England that included ordaining ministers, sanctioning their offering the sacraments, and scheduling of worship services at the same hour as local Anglican churches.

He wrote more than 6,500 texts, including the poems and hymns. His range of poetic meters demanded the composition of new tunes and rhythms. His use of Scripture in his texts is unprecedented, with only the books of Obadiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Third John not used. The brothers published sixty-four collections of hymns between 1738 and 1785, many of which consisted of only Charles’ texts.

Wesley died on March 29, 1788 in Marylebone, London, England; his final hymn was dictated to his wife on his deathbed:

In age and feebleness extreme,

Who shall a helpless worm redeem?

Jesus, my only hope Thou art,

Strength of my failing flesh and heart,

O, could I catch a smile from Thee

And drop into eternity!

He was buried in the Marylebone Parish Church, London, an Anglican church. He did not wish to be buried in unconsecrated, Methodist ground; his gravestone reads:

HERE LIE

THE REMAINS OF

THE REV.

CHARLES WESLEY, M.A.

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE

THE 29TH MARCH 1788

AGED 80 YEARS.

WITH POVERTY OF SPIRIT BLESSED

REST HAPPY SAINT IN JESUS REST.

A SINNER SAVED THROUGH GRACE FORGIVEN

REDEEMED FROM EARTH TO REIGN IN HEAVEN.

AND LABOURS OF UNWEARIED LOVE

BY THEE FORGOT ARE CROWN’D ABOVE

CROWN’D THROUGH THE MERCY OF THY LORD

WITH A FREE FULL IMMENSE REWARD

Devotional for Good Friday

 
Behold the Saviour of mankind

Nail’d to the shameful tree;

How vast the love that him inclined

To bleed and die for thee!

 

Hark! how he groans, while nature shakes,

And earth’s strong pillars bend:

The temple’s veil in sunder breaks,

The solid marbles rend.

 

‘Tis done! The precious ransom’s paid!

Receive my soul! he cries:

See where he bows his sacred head;

He bows his head, and dies.

 

But soon he’ll break death’s envious chain,  

And in full glory shine:

O Lamb of God, was ever pain,

Was ever love like thine?

Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church: With Tunes for Congregational Worship (1857, Carlton and Porter, New York).

Devotional for Maundy Thursday

My Saviour, my almighty Friend, 

When I begin thy praise, 

Where will the growing numbers end, 

The numbers of thy grace? 

I trust in thy eternal word; 

Thy goodness I adore: 

Send down thy grace, O blessed Lord, 

That I may love thee more. 

My feet shall travel all the length 

Of the celestial road; 

And march, with courage in thy strength, 

To see the Lord my God.

 Awake! awake! my tuneful powers,

With this delightful song;

And entertain the darkest hours,

Nor think the season long.

Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church: With Tunes for Congregational Worship (1857, Carlton and Porter, New York).

Wednesday with the Wesleys

Let this especially, fortify us against the fear of death: It is now disarmed, and can do us no hurt. It divides us, indeed, from this body awhile; but it is only that we may receive it again more glorious. As God, therefore, said once to Jacob, “Fear not to go down into Egypt, for I will go down with thee, and will surely bring thee up again;” so may I say to all who are born of God, “Fear not to go down into the grave; lay down your heads in the dust; for God will certainly bring you up again, and that in a much more glorious manner.” Only “be ye steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord;” and then let death prevail over, and pull down, this house of clay; since God hath undertaken to rear it up again, infinitely more beautiful, strong, and useful.

~ John Wesley (sermon On the Resurrection of the Dead)

Devotional for Wednesday in Holy Week

 

I would be thine; O take my heart,

And fill it with thy love;

Thy sacred image, Lord, impart,

And seal it from above.

 

I would be thine; but while I strive

To give myself away,

I feel rebellion still alive,

And wander while I pray.

 

I would be thine; but Lord, I feel

Evil still lurks within:

Do thou thy majesty reveal,

And overcome my sin.

 

I would be thine; I would embrace

The Saviour, and adore;

Inspire with faith, infuse thy grace,

And now my soul restore.

Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church: With Tunes for Congregational Worship (1857, Carlton and Porter, New York).

Area UMC worship services in Holy Week

​The Paschal Triduum 
 Maundy Thursday, ​Good Friday, & Easter
(Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula, 2021)

Church	Maundy Thursday	Good Friday
Arvada UMC	Tenebrae @ 7 pm	Open sanctuary, 9 am - Noon
Berthoud UMC	Passover Sedar @ 6 pm	Good Friday service @     6:30 pm
Broomfield UMC	Living Last Supper portrayal @ 7 pm	Tenebrae worship service @ 7:30 pm in the chapel
Erie UMC	None	Good Friday service @ 7 pm
First UMC – Boulder	Taizé on the Labyrinth @ 7 pm	None
First UMC – Lafayette	Communion service @ 7 pm	Good Friday service @ 6 pm
Good Shepherd UMC - Thornton	None	Good Friday service @ 7 pm
Heart of Longmont UMC	Communion service @ 7 pm	None
Longs Peak UMC	None	Good Friday service @ 7 pm
Louisville UMC	None	Good Friday service @ FUMC - Lafayette
Mountain View UMC	Communion service @ 7 pm	Seven Last Words of Christ with choir @ 7 pm
Niwot UMC	None	Good Friday service @ 7 pm