~ John Wesley (Notes Upon the New Testament — Matthew 3:2)
— St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
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“Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God.”
— George F. McDougall
Read more at this link.
silently and gently
falling and failing
changing and resting
seeking you, Lord…
we watch...
we wait...
we dream...
we pray…
for the earth to renew
for our hearts to soften
for your grace to cover us
for your justice to pour out
for time and space to listen
for courage to act
on the edge of Advent,
we sit with you…
we pause…
we hurt…
we repent…
we rage…
when will it be?
will it ever be?
come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
— Rev. Deborah Vaughn, posted on RevGalBlogPals.
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“Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.”
— C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963)
— Author Unknown
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“If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: "God with us." We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!”
— Rev. John MacArthur
I am excited to share with you that Bishop Kristin Stoneking, in consultation with the Mountain Sky Cabinet and the St. Paul's UMC Staff-Pastor Relations Committee, is announcing her intention to appoint the Rev. Elizabeth Burg as your pastor beginning January 1, 2025.
Rev. Burg's most recent local church appointment was as the associate pastor at Belong Church in Denver. She also served as the pastor at Edgewater and Louisville UMCs, and as the associate pastor at Smoky Hill UMC. She is also a marketing and communications consultant, working primarily with companies owned by women and LGBTQ individuals.
Elizabeth and her wife, the Rev. Megan Burg, have three children and currently live in Westminster, where Megan serves as pastor of Westminster UMC. She is excited to be joining the St. Paul's UMC community and looks forward to spending time listening and learning about the church and its members.
You will be in my prayers as you walk through this transition time with Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula and welcome Rev. Elizabeth Burg. I am grateful for your commitment and openness about what is next for the St. Paul's UMC community.
Grace and blessing,
Rev. Jessica Rooks
Colorado Front Range District Superintendent
+The Fairview Marching Knights & Color Guard wrapped up a successful marching band season, achieving a sixth-place finish at the Colorado State Marching Band Championship.
+Ron R. is happy that son Joe & family are doing well.
+We are thankful for everyone who helped transform our church building ahead of the Advent/Christmas seasons.
+Bob & Melanie are happy to share that Alex & is settled into a new apartment in Seattle.
+Molly is thankful that Bradyn will be coming home next month.
+Sandy gives thanks for Travis M.'s caregivers.
+We celebrate this week's birthdays: Mary Feree and Don Fritschel
+We give thanks for those serving today: Sandy Bainbridge (fellowship), Steve Bainbridge (greeter), Lylah Bishop (acolyte), Tim Cook (class), Kyle Dacon (piano), Etta Levitt (Zoom usher), Kathy Lloyd (Zoom host), Bob Muckle (liturgist/Advent wreath), Melanie Muckle (Advent wreath), Suzanne Polacek (bells), and Ron Revier (choir).
Concerns:
+We lift up in our prayers Johanna Lang, whose sudden death was reported by her sister last Sunday evening.
+Steve M. asks for prayers for Michele as she deals with health concerns.
+Joey shared that the Greens are in need of prayer during this current hospitalization.
+We continue to pray for those in the midst of conflict in Ukraine & Russia, Gaza & Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Haiti, and wherever else God's people might be in distress.
+Our 2024 Church Conference will take place on December 15 following worship. The Rev. Jessica Rooks, Colorado Front Range District superintendent, will be our preacher that morning and will conduct the Church Conference gathering.
+The choir will offer its musical gift to God and to the congregation on December 22 with its annual seasonal 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.
+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 at this link, a monetary gift to EFAA, or a donation to EFAA on Colorado Gives Day (December 10). See more information in the December Epistle.
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| Ready for the season |
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| Bringing the Chrismons forward |
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| Going to great heights |
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| Let's get the season started! |
Today’s Meditation Verse: “Make Your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths.” —Psalm 25:4 (CEB)
Welcome...Pastor Charles
Prelude...Kyle Dacon
Lighting the Advent Candle...Bob and Melanie Muckle
First Reader: Mary hears from God—we are waiting. We are frustrated and tired. So much of our world seems caught in turmoil. Many are caught in turmoil not of their own making. The darkness closes in on us. Where is the hope?Second Reader: In the darkness, God lights the first candle of Advent. The divine word is sent to a young teen in a little land in the Mideast. “I’m going to being a new life into the world, to bring about change, to offer love and salvation.” What will be her answer? We wait with bated breath.
First Reader: “Let is happen as you say, O God. May the fruit of my womb bring good news to us all.” Light the first candle on the Advent wreath.
Prayer: As You brought the word of hope to Mary and through her to our world, rekindle anew in us this season a sense of hope as we prepare to celebrate Your nativity. Amen.
—Before the Amen, Maren Tirabassi & Maria Tirabassi, 2007
*Hymn...“Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (UMH #203)
Canticle of Light and Darkness (#205)...Bob Muckle
Gospel Lesson: Luke 21:25-36...Bob Muckle
Choral Anthem...“God Be In My Head” by Andrea Ramsey
Prayer concerns/ celebrations / Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles
Mission Moment...Claudia Mills / Mitten Tree
Epistle Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-1...Pastor Charles
Sermon...Pastor Charles / “The purpose of Advent”
Communion / The Lord’s Prayer
Announcement of our new pastor...Larry Esposito
*Hymn...“People Look East” (UMH #202)
*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles
Postlude... Kyle Dacon
Holy and loving God,
we have dwelt in darkness
and preferred it to the light;
we have been proud of our accomplishments
and despaired over our shortcomings.
Smooth down the mountains of our pride,
and lift up the valleys of our doubts.
Open a path in the wilderness of our lives
that we might find our way to you again.
Refine us and prepare us once again
for life in your kingdom.
Hear our prayer, O Lord. Amen.
— from First Sunday of Advent Prayers and Litanies, posted on www.ministrymatters.com
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“May we not 'spend' Christmas or 'observe' Christmas, but rather 'keep' it.”
— Rev. Peter Marshall (1902-1949)
