December 3 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Steve & Michele Matthews light the first Advent candle

Hanging the Chrismons

The anthem was beautiful

The season is underway at St. Paul's

We loving being together!

First Sunday of Advent

(Link for today's worship service)

Today’s Meditation Verse: “I offer my life to You, Lord. My God, I trust You.”     —Psalm 24:1-2a

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Lorie Courier / “Emmanuel Comes,” arranged by Mark Hayes

Lighting the Advent Wreath...Steve and Michele Matthews

Today we begin the season of Advent by lighting the first of five candles on our wreath. The first candle we shall namethe prophet’s candle. From ancient and modern prophets, we hear of the coming of a Savior. Sometimes prophetic words    are hard to believe. We are uncertain of their truth. We must wait and be patient. In honor of all of the prophets, we light this candle. First candle is lit

Dear God of the Prophets, give us this day the prophetic word of hope, that in the moments of despair we might look to You in comfort. We give You thanks for all the prophets, past and present. Amen.                    —Touch Holiness, Ruth C. Duck & Maren C. Tirabasi, eds.

*Hymn...“My Soul Gives Glory to My God” (UMH #198)

Canticle of Light and Darkness (UMH #205)...Bob Muckle

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations                                 Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles

Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9...Bob Muckle

Choral Anthem...“Waiting,” by Joel Raney

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 64:1-9...Pastor Charles

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

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “The coming of the light”

Communion / The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn...“People, Look East” (UHM #202)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

Postlude...Lorie Courier and Suzanne Polacek / “Sleigh Ride,” by Leory Anderson

Devotional for the First Sunday of Advent

1 John 2:1 (North American Standard Bible) “My little children, I am    writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

 

I understand many of God’s gifts to me by looking to the example of a life well lived by my dear mother, Sheila Margaret Barlow Hammitt. Throughout the seasons of my life, my mother was my “north star,” my loving, supportive advocate. She championed all my efforts, whether they were successful or not. “If you do your best, then I am so very proud of you,” she would always say.

 

When I think about Jesus as my advocate, my heart is warmed with memories of how my mother supported, encouraged, counseled, promoted, defended, and celebrated me and all my endeavors. Jesus, God Incarnate, gave me the gift of my mother’s love and support, which has always helped me understand the nature and gift of unconditional love. Advocates offer support, strength, and counsel and intercede for us when necessary. One of God’s gifts to me is the gift of having a mother who personified the loving advocacy of Jesus Christ, the righteous. Thanks be to God! 

 

—Belinda Alkula

We're ready!

Fellowship before the work begins

Fuel at the ready!

Jim and Amy hang the star

Jim, Sandra, Martha, & Steve with the Franz Hall tree 

The church was abuzz with activity this morning as St. Paul's UMC was transformed ahead of the start of tomorrow's start of Advent. Fortified by a breakfast made by Amy Abshire and donuts from Martha Batch, the work was done quickly and with tremendous enthusiasm.

Thanks today to: Amy Abshire, Pastor Charles & Belinda Alkula, Angela Baker, Steve & Martha Batch, Louise Cook, Tim & Sandy Cook, Jim & Sandra Jordan, Claudia Mills, Suzanne Polacek, Judy Waller, and Jim & joey Vander Vorste. 

A special thanks to Angela for arranging for Wilmer to come and tote all the decorations up from the basement!!

Welcome to the 2023-24 Advent/Christmas devotional

The devotional has been prepared especially for your use during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Each day during Advent, a reflection, written by a member or friend of St. Paul’s UMC, will offer a reflection on one of the many names or titles used in relation or connection to Jesus. 

 

Starting on Christmas Day and continuing through the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25-January 5) and ending on the Day of Epiphany (January 6), Pastor Charles will continue the theme with more names and titles ascribed to Jesus to remind us that God’s presence among us doesn’t end with the unwrapping of the last present on Christmas Day.

 

These devotional entries will be available daily online on our Facebook page, @boulderstpauls, and here on this blog.

 

In the days and weeks to come, take a moment from your day and consider, “What do the names and titles I use in relationship to Jesus mean to me?”

 

Every blessing,  

Pastor Charles

A new year begins!

Join us Sunday for worship at 10:15 a.m. in person or online here.

Preview Sunday's bulletin here.

 

It is the first Sunday of Advent, and we will celebrate communion. If you are participating at home, please provide yourself with bread or crackers (any type) and juice (any kind).  

A prayer for World AIDS Day

December 1 is the date set aside for United Methodist World AIDS Day observances. Be encouraged to pray for those infected with HIV/AIDS throughout the Advent season and throughout the year.

 Praying the Prayer Jesus Taught (Inspired by the Lord's Prayer)

Our Father…
You know me … You know about my HIV/AIDS.

Holy is your name …
Prince of Peace in the storms of rejection
Mighty God in the times of my weakness
Wonderful Counselor in the times of confusion
Everlasting Father in the times of initial and eventual death.

May Your Beloved Community come…
Where poverty will be no more
Where disease will be no more
Where discrimination will be abolished
Where justice will abound.

May Your Will become transparent in our culture…
A culture of intolerance and indifference
A culture of ignorance and fear
A culture of exploitation and destruction
A culture of xenophobia and homophobia.

Set us free to experience Your forgiveness…
For actions taken and not taken
For words said and not said
For limiting your possibility within
For not forgiving self or others.

Lead us from temptation to transformation
The temptation of war
The temptation of haughtiness
The temptation of ethnocentrism
The temptation of supremacy.

Provide us with the bounty of health
The food pyramid, not the politics of food
Acceptance, accessibility, and equality
Love, hope and, faith

You deserve glory and honor
For loving me with my HIV/AIDS
For making medications possible through research and science
For the experience of comfort from friends, family, and caregivers
For having prepared a place for me in Abba Father's house.

AMEN for the breath I breathe.
AMEN for Your eternal breath.

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/worship-resources-for-world-aids-day-december-1

Glenn Memorial UMC Hosts Memorial Service of First Lady Rosalynn Carter

Glenn Memorial UMC on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta had the great honor of serving as the location of the service of tribute to former First Lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter on November 28, 2023. Mrs. Carter died on November 19 in Plains, Georgia. 

"Our continued prayers surround the Carter family as they grieve and celebrate the remarkable life of Mrs. Rosalynn Carter," shared Glenn Memorial in a communication to members today. "We were honored to partner with Emory University and The Carter Center to host yesterday's tribute service and we share our appreciation for the many, many staff and volunteers from all over Emory University, The Carter Center, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, all the government officials and local law enforcement agencies, plus vendors and contractors who helped make the day run safely and smoothly."

The service was carried out according to Mrs. Carter's wishes and included the Carter family, dear friends, her pastor the Rev. Tony Lowden, and the Rev. Mark Westmoreland, pastor of Glenn Memorial UMC. Her husband, President Jimmy Carter, sat in the first row of the sanctuary.  

Read more at this link.

Read the program and order of worship.