World Communion Sunday

 

According to the 1972 Book of Discipline paragraph 163.b there shall be a World Communion (formerly Fellowship of Suffering and Service) offering to support the division of chaplains and ministries, Crusade Scholarships and the scholarship fund for minority groups. 

Around the globe, countless gifted and qualified people face financial obstacles that hinder them from preparing for the vocation God has given them, especially youth and young adults. For ethnic students who will be the first generation in their families to attend college, or for those people of color who haven’t historically had access to resources that make higher education possible, the road toward education has often been unwieldy.

What would it look like if the church today imitated Jesus’ affirmation of the full dignity and God-given potential of all women and men—especially those who’ve historically been assigned to the world’s margins? On World Communion Sunday your giving helps to provide scholarships for national and international graduate students whom God has gifted to learn and to serve.

Equipping Disciples Like Mary Grace to Serve in Jesus’ Name As a small child Mary Grace Galapon labored as a housemaid in exchange for food and clothing. Yet, allowed to attend church, she found hope. As a member of The United Methodist Church, your giving on World Communion Sunday has allowed this deaconess, of the Mindanao Philippines Annual Conference, to pursue an education that is now changing her community as she works to eliminate poverty. Mary Grace’s work, and the impact of hundreds more like her, are possible because you give.

Will You Equip World-Changers? Will you give generously on World Communion Sunday to make education and vocational impact possible for more students, like Mary Grace? Will you equip gifted and qualified students from around the globe to become the world-changers God created them to be?

Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”  And because the people of The United Methodist Church believe that all of God’s children have been created and gifted to build the kingdom Jesus ushered in, we’re resourcing them to do just that. Because of your giving on World Communion Sunday, the most powerful tool to change the world is in more hands.

Read stories about the impact you are making with your gifts.

To give by mail: Send checks to: GCFA P.O. Box 340029 Nashville, TN 37203

October 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements

+In keeping with current City/County of Boulder, State of Colorado, and Mountain Sky Conference guidance, all in-person worship at St. Paul's UMC is cancelled until further notice. 

+ We reached the 200 page likes on our Facebook page!

+Christian Unity Conference webinar, Monday, October 12, 2020 @9:00 AM. Sponsored by the National Council of Churches, Breathing New Life Into Our Nation: Repentance, Re-Formation, Reparation is a free gathering to share and learn. Visit this link to learn more.

+You are invited to join us each Wednesday morning @ 10:00 am, for a virtual coffee/tea informal gathering via Zoom. Join our gathering at this link.

+Join the General Board of Church & Society on Wednesday at 10 AM for a national service of prayer for the U.S. elections. During this season of voting, we join with our friends in the interfaith community to find our spiritual center and bolster our moral grounding as pray for a free, fair, and safe election in the United States. Register here or watch live on the GBCS YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/umcjustice.org

+Sharing Ministry in Covid-19 Era zoominar, Wednesday, October 14 @11:30 AM, Register at this link.

+Be sure to view our calendar to see the latest activities being offered through various virtual platforms. More information is available on our blog.

+Please remember to send your gifts and offerings to support the ongoing ministries of St. Paul's UMC (Boulder) to Martha B.

October 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Prayers

Joys:

+Angela B. gives thanks for her daughter-in-law's positive pregnancy news.

+Skippy R. give thanks for her son-in-law's recovery from surgery.

+Louise C. gives thanks for her sister from Iowa's visit. 

+Belinda A. gives thanks for Claudia's new book launch next Saturday.

+We give thanks for the life-affirming work done through the World Communion Sunday offering.

+Our Facebook page has reached 200 Likes!

Concerns:

+Bob M. asks for prayers for his dad's declining health.

+Katherine says the harvest is underway in Iowa and the yields are lower than expected.       +Those who are dealing with the impact of the pandemic including those facing health concerns, economic anxiety, or other disruptions of life. We lift up President Trump and all those in government being treated for COVID-19.

+Lifting up in prayers those affected by the pervasive nature of racism in our society.

+Lifting up in prayer those impacted by the wildfires in our state and elsewhere.     

October 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

 

18th Sunday after Pentecost/World Communion Sunday 

Today’s Meditation Verse: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” —Philippians 3:10-11

Welcome—Pastor Charles

Prelude: “Nearer My God To Thee” by Christopher W.

Call to Worship (Psalm 19 and Exodus 20 by Nancy Townley)—Pastor Charles (Leader) and Angela B. (People) — Congregation is encouraged to read People’s response aloud on mute setting

 

Leader: All heaven and earth proclaim the majesty of God’s creative power!

People: Praise God for the amazing and awesome beauty.

Leader: God has given to us codes by which to live together in harmony and peace.

People: In these commandments, God has summed up the ways we must respect one another.

Leader: Rejoice in the goodness of God.

People: Praise God for God’s complete and steadfast love for us. Amen.

Hymn: “How Firm a Foundation”—Christopher W. and Rebecca G. —Congregation is encouraged to sing along on mute setting; words and music will be provided onscreen.

A Call to Reconciliation (the Rev. Thom Schuman)—Pastor Charles (Leader) and Angela B. (People) —Congregation is encouraged to read People’s response aloud on Mute setting

 

Leader (Call to Reconciliation): At the center of the law is God’s love--that divine nonsense shown in becoming human for our sake; that weakness for us which defeats the strongest powers. This love, this grace is of more value to us than all the stocks in our pension funds. Let us open ourselves to such love as we open our hearts to confess our sins to God.

People (Unison Prayer for Forgiveness): You give us Your commandments, Holy One, so we may have new life, but we continue to make the same old choices. Your love can anchor us when life threatens to overwhelm us, but we choose to cling to the slippery rocks of anger and bitterness.  Your Word can strengthen us for every moment, but we listen to the foolish promises of the world. Forgive us, Redeemer of our lives: may every word be shaped by Your Word; may every thought be refined by Your grace; may every deed be inspired by Your Spirit, so we may tell everyone we meet of Your work in us, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Leader (Assurance of Pardon): When brokenhearted prayers replace piety, when we seek wholeness through the One broken for us, then we remember we are saved by God’s powerful love.

People: We are healed, to bring healing to our world; we are strengthened in faith, to become spent for others; we are set free from our bondage to sin, so we may become servants of Christ. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations—Pastor Charles

Pastoral Prayer—Pastor Charles

First Lesson: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9—Angela B.

Musical Offering: “Fairest Lord Jesus” by Christopher W.                          

Second Lesson: Exodus 20:12-20—Pastor Charles

Sermon: “Only ten?”—Pastor Charles

Communion 

The Lord’s Prayer —Congregation is encouraged to pray The Lord’s Prayer aloud on mute setting

Words for the Journey—Pastor Charles

Postlude: Alpha & Omega

Reminder: Gifts and tithes can be sent directly to Martha B. Contributions to the PATH Fund can be marked “PATH Fund” in the memo line. 

Symbols of Faith #12

From time to time a cross from Pastor Charles' collection will be shared here along with an explanation of how it came to be at St. Paul's UMC.

This crucifix, made with glass and pewter figure, was made on the island of Murano, on the north side of the Venetian lagoon. The Alkula's purchased this during one of their visits to Venice in 2005 or 2006. The cross is found now on Pastor Charles' office at the church.

Invitation to prayer

Bishop Karen invites you to join her in prayer this morning:

I am praying this morning for the President and First Lady and everyone around the world whose lives have been impacted by COVID-19. Praying, too, for all health care and front line workers well as those who mourn the death of loved ones.

The only way we will get through this is together, friends.

Be well. Stay safe. Wear a mask.

Is The United Methodist Church involved in politics?

The people called Methodists have been actively involved in social and political matters from their founding in 18th century England. Methodists were among the primary advocates for the abolition of slavery across the British Empire, the organization of labor unions to protect workers from dangerous working conditions, the ending of the debtors prison system, and the creation of new systems of care for poor children. Given this heritage, Methodists have continued to advocate for other social or political issues since that time - women’s suffrage, temperance, civil rights, health care and care for the environment, to name a few.

Today our United Methodist Social Creed and Social Principles express our commitment to fully participate in building a more peaceful and just world.  

Read more at this link.