September 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements

+Mental Health Virtual Fair presented by Mountain Sky Conference Abundant Health. Three sessions, Sept. 13, 20, 27 @ 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Contact Jana Jones, MSC Abundant Health Coordinator for more information: jl.jones@outlook.com.

+Fellowship Time will resume after the Sunday service September 11.  In an effort to keep the work to a minimum but encourage communication and fellowship, we will keep the food service simple. Volunteers will provide food items which will be stocked in the church pantry and freezer. (Note: A large "celebration cake" will be provided for distribution each first Sunday, starting October 2.)    Volunteers are needed to donate baked/purchased food items. Volunteers are needed to sign up for fellowship setup, serving, and cleanup starting October 2 and each Sunday afterwards. Questions may be directed to Pat Cleaveland.

+As United Methodists we affirm that "The strength of a political system depends upon the full and willing participation of its citizens." (United Methodist Social Principles, ¶164.B). Join Church and Society for a webinar on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 11 AM in conversation with voting rights advocates on how to prepare, educate, and engage people of faith for the polls. Register today at this link.

+Breakfast Fellowship (formerly Men’s Breakfast) will next meet on Saturday, September 10, at 8:00 AM at Doug’s Diner (2574 Baseline Road, Basemar Shopping Center). No reservations necessary!

+Sew What Returns! The September meeting will be at the home of Donna Wasson on Friday, September 16, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Please RSVP to Joan Cooper by September 12. Folks are encouraged to bring their own lunches. Some drinks will be provided.

+Mountain Sky Conference's NextGen & Inclusiveness Ministries invites you to participate in a book study on Queering Wesley, Queering the Church by Keegan Osinski. The book study will take place over the course of five weeks beginning September 13th-October 11th @ 6:30-8:00 PM on Zoom. Register at this link.

+Join United Women in Faith for a Women’s Saturday Retreat hosted by First United Methodist Church (Boulder) on September 17, from 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Lunch will be provided; afterwards, participants will be invited to walk the First UMC labyrinth. The location is 1421 Spruce Street; the theme is “Practicing Sabbath – Even in/Especially in Challenging Times of Life” presented by Belinda Alkula. R.S.V.P. by September 10 to Belinda.

+UMARC webinar: A team of leading United Methodist pastoral counselors will conduct a Zoom webinar addressing “Fracturing Family and Friendships: Inevitable Consequences of UM Splintering?” on Thursday, September 20, at 6:00 PM. Sponsored by the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends (UMARC), free registration is at www.umarc.org.

+This fall, Rebecca Glancy will lead a group to read and discuss Austen Hartke’s book Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians. We will deepen our understanding of the range of LGBTQ+ identities and ways to be a truly welcoming church. As the parent of two nonbinary teenagers, Rebecca has been learning a lot about this subject. The group will meet on    Thursdays from 7:00-8:30 PM via Zoom for six weeks (September 22 to October 27). We will host special guests who will speak about their experiences as well. Contact Rebecca if you are interested in participating.

September 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

YouTube link

Today’s Meditation Verse: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live....” —Deuteronomy 30:19

Welcome... Pastor Charles

Prelude... Hyeji Park / “I Surrender All,” arranged by Greg Howlett

*Call to Worship (Presbytery of the Cascades)... Joey Vander Vorste

God said, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord.” Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, And I will give you rest.” We come in the name of the Spirit, resting from our labors, Let us worship God this day!

*Hymn... “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (UMH #519)

Beatitudes for Workers (based on Matthew 5:3-6 and Luke 6:20-21)... Joey Vander Vorste 

Blessed are you poor who have no work or too little income.

God has promised: yours is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you who are hungry now.

God has promised: you shall be filled.

Blessed are you who weep over unpaid bills, the loss of a job, or your children’s lack of opportunities.

God has promised: you shall be comforted, you shall laugh.

Blessed are you who are merciful.

God has promised: you shall receive mercy.

Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for justice.

God has promised: you shall be filled.

The time is surely coming when God’s justice and peace shall reign throughout the land. Thanks be to God.

United Church of Christ 

*Offering/Doxology (UMH #95)

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer... Pastor Charles

Gospel Lesson: Luke 14:25-33... Joey Vander Vorste

Special Music... Hyeji Park / “Did You Think to Pray,” arranged by Linda Hartman

Second Lesson: Jeremiah 18:1-11... Pastor Charles

This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Sermon... Pastor Charles / “What happens on the wheel”

Communion / The Lord’s Prayer (See insert)

*Hymn... “O How I Love Jesus” (UMH #170)

*Words for the Journey... Pastor Charles

Postlude... Hyeji Park / “It Is Well with My Soul,” arranged by Susan Henry

Worship with us tomorrow

Join us Sunday at 10:15 a.m. for worship in person or online here. Preview Sunday's bulletin here. We will celebrate communion together, so if you are participating at home, please provide for yourself bread or crackers (any type) and juice (any kind).
 

National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding.

From The UMC General Board of Church and Society:

Tune-in Tuesday, October 6th on Church and Society's YouTube page and Facebook Live. The broadcast begins at 11:00 a.m. MST.

Mental illness is a condition that burdens millions of people throughout the world. Between the personal stigma and often difficult life experiences, many are left to feel as though they are alone and without hope of wholeness.

Too often, our society and religious organizations have played a role alienating those suffering from mental illness, casting them aside or contributing to their brokenness and dejection. As United Methodists, we believe those coping with mental illness are human beings made in the ever divine, ever loving and ever image of our almighty God. “Persons with mental illness and their families have a right to be treated with respect on the basis of common humanity and accurate information. This should be evident in how we welcome, assist, uplift and support those with mental illness in our congregations and in our communities.” (Social Principles ¶162.x).

On Tuesday, October 4th at 11:00 a.m. (YouTube and Facebook Live), our service, coming from the Simpson Chapel in the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., will focus on the strength and vitality of those recovering from mental illness. We will pray for those who have recovered from mental illnesses and bring awareness to others living with a mental illness, all who offer spiritual gifts and grace to our community of faith and the world.

Our biblical mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves extends to those who deal with mental illnesses. As such, we pray that you will tune-in as we confess, repent and stand with those recovering from mental illness. It is our sincere hope that something experienced from this service will bring deeper awareness and move you to engage in the advocacy for people with mental health illness and to support action that improves mental health services.

Are you ready to learn?

Each Thursday, Pastor Charles provides a lesson from The Wired Word, an adult study that connects events from the week's headlines with lessons from the Bible. 

If you would like to receive the weekly lesson from The Wired Word, please contact the church office.

Time for action

United Methodists will need to both pray and act to end the scourge of gun violence, says a letter the Council of Bishops released Sept. 1 to the wider church.

Scan the code to read more.

Voting Rights webinar

As United Methodists we affirm that "The strength of a political system depends upon the full and willing participation of its citizens." (United Methodist Social Principles, ¶164.B) 

Join Church and Society on Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, at 1pm EST in conversation with voting rights advocates on how to prepare, educate, and engage people of faith for the polls. 

Register today at this link.