UMC bishops call for discipleship; urges end to white supremacy, xenophobia

August 6, 2019
For Immediate Release
 
In the aftermath of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, Council of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter is calling for United Methodists to help end white supremacy and xenophobia which he says is fueling the culture of violence.
 
In a statement released today, August 6, 2019, Bishop Carter commend the statements of Bishop Gregory Palmer and Bishop Earl Bledsoe to the people of their residential areas in West Ohio and New Mexico/Northwest Texas respectively, noting that the carnage following these acts of violence reminds us of Sandy Hook and Orlando, Sutherland Springs and Charlotte, Las Vegas and Parkland, Charleston and Pittsburgh.
 
“Underneath the violence is a culture of white supremacy and a fear of immigrants (xenophobia). These are expressions of our sinful nature, and deny the image of God (Genesis 1) that is in every person.  Christ died for all (2 Corinthians 5), and in this he loved us and gave himself up for us (Ephesians 5),” he said.
 
Click here to read Bishop Carter’s letter in full

Book of Resolutions: Our Call to End Gun Violence

Jesus’ call to his followers to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) is tied to intimate relationship with God, and echoes God’s dreams for peace for all of creation as expressed in Micah 4:1-4:

“In days to come, the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.'  For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken” (NRSV).

Read more at this link.

This week @ St. Paul's

Monday:

9:00 am, Yoga

Tuesday:
5:00 pm, Insight Meditation
6:30 pm, Climate Justice seminar @ Heart of Longmont UMC

Thursday:
3:00 pm, Women's summer book group

Friday:
9:00 am, From Screen to Door Workshop @ Johnstown UMC

Saturday:
8:00 am, Men's breakfast @ Le Peep
9:00 am, From Screen to Door Workshop @ Johnstown UMC

Sunday:
8:45 am, Church School 

9:45 am, Fellowship

10:15 am, Worship
12:30 am, Beautiful Boulder Korean Church

Scripture lessons for August 11th

The scripture lessons for next Sunday come to us from Luke 

12:32-40 and Hebrews11:1-3, 8-16.   

August underway at St. Paul's

While the "dog days of summer" may be on the minds of many, here at St. Paul's UMC our minds are on God!

Our worship was blessed this morning with the offering by the St. Paul's Women's Chorus, led by Wally Cleaveland, with "Dancin' at the Rock." Pastor Charles sermon was based on Luke 12:13-21.

Thanks today to: Angela Baker (Communion), the Bishop family (Fellowship & flowers), Wally Cleaveland (Women's chorus), Diane McKnight (Liturgist), Christopher Wahl (Accompanist), Women of St. Paul's (Summer music).

Project Drawdown Workshops

Heart of Longmont UMC, in collaboration with The Pachmama Alliance, invite you to their Project Drawdown Workshop.

When: August 6 & 13, 6:30-8:00 pm (both dates)
Where: Heart of Longmont UMC (350 11th Ave., Longmont)

These workshops offer you an opportunity to learn more about current climate action solutions and ways you can become involved.

Please register at office@heartoflongmont.org or call 303-776-3523.

Slavery anniversary leads to new discussions

In August 1619, about 50 people from Angola arrived in Jamestown, Virginia — the first African slaves in what is now the U.S. Four hundred years later, African Americans still struggle with the onerous remains of that legacy.

“In 2019, after centuries of structural change, protests and policy reforms most often led by Africans and people of African descent, why do these groups still experience such disproportionately high percentages of hunger and poverty today?” wrote the Rev. Angelique Walker-Smith in the introduction to “Lament and Hope: A Pan-African Devotional Guide.” The guide, by United Methodist partner Bread for the World, was produced to help people reflect on the quad-centennial.

“And why is there still such a wide wealth and income gap between these groups and individuals of European and Asian descent?” she asked.

The devotional guide is among resources and events endorsed by three United Methodist agencies to help Christians study and commemorate the beginning of slavery in the U.S.

They include a prayer book, a commemoration of the 1619 landing at Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center in Hampton, Virginia, and a United Nations initiative declaring the International Decade for People of African Descent.

Read more at this link.