Saturday, November 30, 2024
Brunch time!
Introduction to this year's Advent/Christmas devotional
This year's devotional has been prepared especially for your use during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Starting December 1, the First Sunday of Advent, and continuing to January 6, the Day of Epiphany, a prayer and a quote concerning the season will be offered. These devotional entries will be available daily online on this blog.
Worship tomorrow
Friday, November 29, 2024
Preparing for Advent
“I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn’t have picked this little tree,” said Charlie Brown. “Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I don’t really know what Christmas is all about. Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
“Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” said Linus.
[Linus walks on stage.]
“Lights, please.”
‘And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’
[Linus picks up his blanket and shuffles off-stage.]
“That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”
— A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Thanksgiving thoughts from John Wesley
Wesley Chapel - London
Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer; it is almost essentially connected with it. One who always prays is ever giving praise, whether in ease or pain, both for prosperity and for the greatest adversity. He blesses God for all things, looks on them as coming from Him, and receives them for His sake - not choosing nor refusing, liking or disliking, anything, but only as it is agreeable or disagreeable to His perfect will.
~ John Wesley (Notes on the NT, 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-17)
A Psalm of Thanksgiving
Serve
the Lord with gladness;
Come
before His presence with singing.
Know
that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has
made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His
people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter
into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into
His courts with praise.
Be
thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For
the Lord is good;
His
mercy is everlasting,
And His
truth endures to all generations.
- Psalm 100 (New King James Version)
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Ready for the seasons to come
Thanks to everyone who came out to transform our church building ahead of the Advent/Christmas season (which starts on Sunday).Amy Abshire, Pastor Charles & Belinda Alkula, Sandy Bainbridge, Martha Batch, Steve Batch, Jackie Bishop, Jessica Bishop, Sabrina Bishop, Louise Cook, Larry Esposito, Elaine Haskin, Dominique Horness, Jim & Sandra Jordan, Aden McKean, Quinn McKean, Trish Bainbridge McKean, Claudia Mills, Bob Muckle, Sally Owen, Suzanne Polacek, Bren Smith & Willow, Jim & Joey Vander Vorste, Greg, Kat, & Maddie Wahl, & Judy Waller.
Repentance and Repair: The Mountain Sky Conference Embraces Ongoing Work Surrounding the Sand Creek Massacre
The fabric of the United Methodist Church (UMC) is woven with threads of triumph and tragedy. One of the deepest stains on this tapestry is the Sand Creek Massacre, which occurred on November 29, 1864, in Colorado Territory. This week we pause to recognize it has been 160 years since that day, the day when Colonel John Milton Chivington, a Methodist pastor leading a regiment of Colorado volunteers, launched a surprise attack on a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho people. The ensuing slaughter claimed the lives of nearly 300 men, women, and children, leaving a legacy of pain and generational trauma.For far too long, the UMC and its antecedents were unaware of or did not acknowledge the massacre. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement within the Church to raise awareness, acknowledge the past, seek forgiveness, and work toward healing. Bishop Elaine Stanovsky, the former leader of the Mountain Sky Conference (MSC) encompassing Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and the Native American Committee from First UMC in Sheridan, Wyoming, played a pivotal role in this movement.
Bishop Stanovsky's dedication to raising this awareness, in tandem with actionable responsiveness became a trait of her legacy. She actively advocated for truth and reconciliation, organizing educational initiatives to inform the UMC about the massacre's impact on Native American communities. She stood alongside those most affected, participating in pilgrimages to the Sand Creek Massacre site, where acts of reflection and repentance spawned deeper understanding and empathy within the UMC. Alongside the Bishop was a growing collection of Mountain Sky members, championing collaboration with Native American leaders, fostering dialogue about the Church's historical role and pledging a commitment to a more just future.
Wednesday with the Wesleys
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Passing of Johanna Lang
We are saddened to learn that former St. Paul's UMC member, Johanna Lang died Sunday night. She lived with her sister, Kris, who reports that Johanna had been sick, but that her death was unexpected.
MHM - Energy Efficiency Improvement Trust
Methodists Helping Methodists established the Energy Efficiency Improvement Trust Fund as one of several resources to support churches who are awarded funding through the Renew America's Nonproftis Grant (RAN RM Grant) and need additional financial support. Please consider donating to the Energy Efficiency Improvement Trust as a congregation, Green Team committee or through an individual contribution. MHM is seeking donations of $50 or more to help build the Trust. If you would like to help your church community reduce pollution, protect our life-sustaining ecosystems and conserve resources for future generations.
Monday, November 25, 2024
This week @ St. Paul's UMC
Scripture lessons for the First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, November 24, 2024
November 24 @ St. Paul's UMC: Prayers
Joys:
+Sandy is thankful for the congregation's contributions she took to Fairview HS last week.
+Pastor Charles & Belinda give thanks for the lovely flowers from the congregation in honor of their anniversary.
+We celebrate today the anniversary of Pastor Charles & Belinda.
+We give thanks for those serving today: Belinda Alkula (video), Sandy Bainbridge (greeter), Lylah Bishop (acolyte), Louise Cook (fellowship), Tim Cook (class), Lorie Courier (piano), Ben Glancy (liturgist), Etta Levitt (Zoom usher), Kathy Lloyd (Zoom host), Suzanne Polacek (bells), and Ron Revier (choir).
Concerns:
+We lift up in our prayers Austin who is dealing with serious health concerns.
+Prayers are sought for Michele as she continues to seek treatment for a health issue.
+Joey asked for prayers for Marsha & Dennis, during Dennis' health crisis.
+We continue to pray for those in the midst of conflict in Ukraine & Russia, Gaza & Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and wherever else God's people might be in distress.
November 24 @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements
+Join us for a send-off potluck luncheon after worship on Sunday, December 8. December 8 is Pastor Charles and Belinda’s last Sunday with us before they move to Minnesota for new ministry opportunities. If you would like, bring a favorite hors d’oeuvre to share.
+EFAA will not have their Holiday Gift Room this year. Therefore, St. Paul’s will not collect gifts as we have in the past. However, you can support EFAA in these ways: food donations (the Holiday Table wish list is posted, a monetary gift to EFAA, or a donation to EFAA on Colorado Gives Day (December 10). See more information in the December Epistle.
+December's Breakfast Fellowship will meet on Saturday, December 14 (the second Saturday of the month as usual), at 8:00 a.m. at Home Cookin’ CafĂ© (328 S. McCaslin Blvd., Louisville). A change of date was announced previously to accommodate Pastor Charles and Belinda, but the regular second Saturday has been restored.
+The choir will offer its musical gift to God and to the congregation on December 22 with its annual Christmas cantata. Please be sure to invite your friends, family, and neighbors to this wonderful celebration of the season.
+St. Paul's will not be offering a Christmas Eve service this year. A list of area United Methodist churches that are holding Christmas Eve service(s) will be on the blog on December 23.
+Claudia Mills will lead our worship service on December 29 as we bring 2024 to a joyful conclusion.
November 24 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship
"Chi Rho" |
Louise is today's hostess |
We like fellowship time! |
Today’s Meditation Verse: “’I am Alpha and Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘the One who is and was and is coming, the Almighty.’” —Revelation 1:8 (NRSV)
Welcome...Pastor Charles
Prelude...Lorie Courier / “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship,” arranged by Joel Raney
*Call to Worship (based on Psalm 100)...Ben Glancy (they/them)
L: Around the world this day, the universal church celebrates the The Reign of Christ. Christ Jesus, friend of the poor, the meek, and the merciful, has been enthroned above all authority and power in this world and in the world that is to come. P: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, serve the Lord with gladness, come into God’s presence with singing.
L: God has placed everything under Christ’s wounded feet, appointed the One who wore a crown of thorns as the supreme head of the church, His body. P: Enter these gates with thanksgiving, come into the Lord’s courts with praise. Give thanks and praise God’s loving name!
—Bruce Prewer
*Hymn...“Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” (UMH #694)
Litany of Thanksgiving...Ben Glancy (they/them)
L: O God, we thank You this day for Christians who seek to live out their faith in their everyday lives. We know that we cannot earn Your love, but we can respond to Your love. You call us to live holy lives out of gratitude for all that You have done for us.
We thank You for people who find joy in the midst of trials and difficulties: P: for the hospital patient who gives hope and inspiration to the visitor, for the homeless person who teaches the social worker the meaning of faith, for the family that prays together in the face of death.
L: We thank You for those who endure temptation: P: for the young person who says “no” to a friend who wants to shoplift, for the office worker who refuses to join in negative conversation, for the company executive who puts justice before profits.
L: We thank You for those who are ever generous in giving to others: P: for the child who puts her allowance in the church’s mission offering, for the young adult at a first job who dares to tithe his new income, for the neighbor who gets up at four in the morning to shovel his elderly neighbor’s sidewalk.
L: We thank You for those who are quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger: P: for couples who listen to each other in love, for people who count to ten before speaking their minds and then speak gently, for people who remain calm and loving when others’ tempers flare.
L: We thank You for people who live out their faith by caring for orphans, widows, and others in need: P: for foster parents and adoptive parents, for those who seek to work for peace and justice so that fewer people will be orphaned and widowed, for those who share a cup of coffee with a lonely neighbor, for those who visit nursing homes.
L: We thank You for people who are doers of the word and not hearers only. O God, may we be counted among them. Help us to hear Your word and to find joy in doing what you call us to do. P: May we live our lives in thankful obedience. Amen.
—Bruce Gillette and Carolyn Winfrey Gillette for The Center for Christian Ethics
First Gospel Lesson: Luke 12:13-21...Ben Glancy (they/them)
Choral Anthem...“In the Spirit of Thanksgiving” by Joseph M. Martin, arranged by Brad Nix
Community prayer concerns and celebrations / Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer...Pastor Charles
Second Gospel Lesson: Luke 12:22-34...Pastor Charles
L: This is the Word of God for the people of God. P: Thanks be to God.
Sermon...Pastor Charles / “Give thanks like there’s no tomorrow!”
*Hymn...“Now Thank We All Our God” (UMH #102)
*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles
Postlude...Lorie Courier / “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come,” arranged by Joshua Evanovich
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Friday, November 22, 2024
New LGBTQ+ Heritage Center helps church remember
Raising both poignant memories of the past and needed funds for the future, the Oct. 23 inauguration of the new LGBTQ+ United Methodist Heritage Center marked a step forward for inclusivity in the church.
In her welcome, Ashley Boggan D., top executive of the sponsoring United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, described the historic event as “a call to us today and in the future to build a church where all people are seen, heard and valued. It is a call to live into the fullness of our United Methodist identity.”
The evening gathering of about 85 supporters enlivened the chapel of United Methodist-related Drew Theological School, a short campus stroll from the commission’s offices and the United Methodist Archives, where collected, archived and exhibited resources that make up the heritage center will be housed.
Read more at this link.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
UMCOR responds
To support U.S. disaster response and recovery efforts, donate here.
Call for Preparedness—Connecting Neighbors Ambassadors
In Mountain Sky Conference (MSC), fires and floods are becoming more common—as are severe winter weather events. Any of these can spell disaster for the people and property in its path, including church buildings and parsonages. The best way to handle ourselves in a disaster emergency is to be prepared in advance. Connecting Neighbors — “Be Prepared for Disasters” is a program sponsored by UMCOR—includes information on how to keep ourselves and our families safe, our church buildings and property safe, and how to set our churches up in advance to assist in a disaster situation. We’re looking for a local congregation in the Denver area that would be willing to host this training and encourage their church members to participate. Read more. Learn how the Mountain Sky Conference, Early Response Teams are responding to the Florida hurricanes and how you can volunteer and keep the Disaster Response Resource document as a reference on who to contact for support, and what clergy and laity can do to prepare, respond and support other communities. Mountain Sky Conference Disaster Response Resources Guide You can also visit the Global Ministries website pages for disaster response.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Wednesday with the Wesleys
What religion do I preach? The religion of love; the law of kindness brought to light by the gospel. What is it good for? To make all who receive it enjoy God and themselves: to make them like God; lovers of all; content in their lives; and crying out at their death, in calm assurance ‘O grave, where is thy victory! Thanks be unto God, who giveth me the victory, through my Lord Jesus Christ.
~ John Wesley (An Earnest Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion, 19.11.54)
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Monday, November 18, 2024
This week @ St. Paul's UMC
Scripture lessons for Christ the King Sunday
Sunday, November 17, 2024
November 17 @ St. Paul's UMC: Prayers
Joys:
+Sandy is thankful for her grandson's visit and effort in the kitchen!
+Jim celebrated that today, on the occasion of St. Paul's 60th anniversary, we have one of the charter members worshipping with us -- Valerie Hayne Scott.
+We celebrated with the family and friends of Jerry Cantril last Thursday at BJ's in Boulder.
+Pastor Charles & Belinda celebrate that they will close on their new home in Albert Lea, Minnesota this coming Wednesday.
+We shared in the celebration of life gathering yesterday at Kathy Lloyd's sister's home for her son, Wyatt.
+Bren Smith and Belinda Alkula went to Mountain View UMC last Tuesday to participate in the packaging of shoebox Christmas gifts for Native American elders in South Dakota.
+We give thanks for those serving today: Amy Abshire (liturgist), Belinda Alkula (video), Steve Bainbridge (greeter), Lylah Bishop (acolyte), Tim Cook (class), Kyle Dacon (piano), Etta Levitt (Zoom usher), Kathy Lloyd (Zoom host), and Suzanne Polacek (bells).
Concerns:
+Robin asks for prayers for Austin and Joan during Austin's medical treatments.
+Valerie lifted up Cathy who is having health issues.
+Rupali requested continued prayer for the students she works with at Fairview High School.
+Diane asks for prayer for her dad, Jim, as he adjusts to his new surroundings.
+Myrle asks for continued prayers for her arm.
+Sandi shares that her cousin's surgery went well but that he has a long road to recovery.
+We continue to pray for those in the midst of conflict in Ukraine & Russia, Gaza & Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and wherever else God's people might be in distress.