Devotional for December 3

So often, sharing something from our heart is the best gift we can give. I think the gift I gave my husband that he liked better than ANYTHING... EVER... wasn’t a thing at all. One year I decided to write down a list of his strengths and attributes that make him so special to me: “Ron’s Top 10.” Though he isn’t particularly sentimental, he still has it after twenty-something years.

Matthew 25:40 says what we give to others, we are giving to Christ. Maybe we should create a Top 10 for our kids and for our friends.                                 

Peace to All in this Christmas Season,

Suzanne P.

Wednesday morning fun!

 

We have a LOT of fun each Wednesday morning (10:00 am)! 

Join us, you'll be glad you did (and so will we!)

Wednesday with the Wesleys

 

Devotional for December 2

I am a present shaker. I weigh, poke, and shake a gift before I tear the paper. For years I claimed that part of the fun of opening presents is guessing what’s inside--but truthfully, I don’t like surprises. When I was ten, my parents surprised me. The biggest box under the Christmas tree had my name on it. I had to stand up to tackle the unwrapping. The box was stuffed with weeks’ worth of crumpled newspapers and there, at the bottom, was a smaller box the size of an alarm clock radio. In fact, it was an alarm clock radio. I was surprised--and rather disappointed. My parents were pleased to have outsmarted me, but I just felt tricked. I am the shepherd in the Christmas story who, after the glorious promise made by the caroling angels, arrived in Bethlehem and thought, “That’s it?” A baby born in a manger was not what the Jewish people were expecting. They were surprised--and we know from the account of his betrayal and death that many felt tricked, deceived by the promise of a Saviour who did not deliver them.

We know what’s waiting for us on Christmas morn. All the same, Advent is our chance to shake the present. Advent is a time to retell the Christmas story, to weigh it, to turn it over and over, to look at it from different angles: in other words, to try to understand something about it that we didn’t understand before. And maybe this Advent we will shake the present, that is, shake up our humdrum, day-to-day expectations of who God is and what He can do. Maybe this year God will surprise us.

- Rebecca G.

Giving Tuesday request

Dear Friends of St Paul's UMC, Boulder CO

I trust you had a blessed Thanksgiving even without all family. My family and I have been in prayer with you.

I am coming your way again today. it's #GivingTuesday - a day in which people around the world demonstrate their generosity toward others through financial support of causes that mean the most to them. I know you have done so much for me and my mission already for which I remain grateful but this is a special day for asking and I am sure you will be touched just to give a little more.

 Will you support me in mission, today, and help me reach my #GivingTuesday goal of $15,000?

Your gift of any amount will help to sustain me in direct ministry - together we can partner in mission, but I cannot do it without you!

 Give today, and let's continue to demonstrate the love of God in an uncertain world.

Thank you for your consideration,

Your Missionary,

Mozart Adevu

Giving Tuesday and you

Ever notice how "the perfect gift" often involves not only what the recipient needs, but also what the giver really likes too? 

Through United Methodist Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), we have many opportunities to support projects that advance vital ministries around the world, such as relief aid for disaster victims, scholarships for Native American seminarians, scholarships and loans for students attending United Methodist schools, and so much more!

Visit this link to learn more.

Devotional for December 1

Several years ago a young woman at St. Paul’s wrote an Advent devotional for the St. Paul’s family. We still have that devotional among our Christmas books. It is a treasured gift. May this year’s Advent devotional be a daily gift to all of you this Advent season.

 —Anonymous