Scripture lessons for August 11

William Hogarth, Paul Before Felix, 1748 

We continue with our summer sermon series with a look at King Agrippa and his encounter with Paul in Acts 25:23-27; 26:1-3, 24-29.

August 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Prayers

Joys: 

+Rebecca Glancy gives thanks for the upcoming reboot of the community yoga class at St. Paul's.

+Judy Waller is thankful that the task of shifting choir music has been completed with the assistance of Mawce Glancy.

+Belinda Alkula gives thanks that her involvement in Mission u has been wrapped up! 

+Steve Bainbridge gives thanks for the visit with grandchildren last week and for the assistance the two-year old offered in taking out the trash. 

+We give thanks for this week's birthdays: Amy Abshire, Sabrina Bishop, Tim Cook, Ron Polacek, and Kelly Smoot. We celebrate this week's anniversaries: Bob & Melanie Muckle and Frank & Katherine Richardson.

+We give thanks for those participating in today's worship service: Belinda Alkula (video), Steve Bainbridge (greeter), Lylah Bishop (acolyte), Tim Cook (class), Dave (clarinet) & Marcia Green (piano), Etta Levitt (Zoom usher), Kathy Lloyd (Zoom host), Claudia Mills (liturgist / fellowship), and Joey Vander Vorste (communion).

Concerns: 

+We join with many others in praying for those impacted by the fires along the Front Range including those fighting these fires. 

+Louise Cook asks for prayers for her son's niece who is having surgery today.

+The Coopers lift up their daughter, Diane, who is facing surgery.

+We continue to pray for those in the midst of conflict in Haiti, Yemen, South Sudan, Ukraine & Russia, Gaza & Israel, and wherever else God's people are in distress.

August 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements

 

+A free virtual book discussion with author Susan Mettes, sponsored by National Office of United Women in Faith, will be hosted via Zoom on August 6, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Susan’s book is The Loneliness Epidemic: Why So Many of Us Feel Alone and How Leaders Can Respond. Pre-reading of the book is not required, but it will enrich your experience of the author’s talk. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration link will be in Tuesday’s News You Can Use email. Questions? Contact Belinda Alkula.

+New chair yoga class coming soon! In response to popular demand, Jovanka will begin offering chair yoga on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. starting August 17. Yoga is cancelled August 3 and August 10 while we plan this reboot.

+Donations are needed to stock Knights Closet for the start of school year. Rupali Hofmann, Fairview High School’s Student Support Services Community Liaison, requested the following items: 

Body wash - Canned soup (not chili, tomato soup, or clam chowder) - Crackers -Goldfish crackers - Granola bars - Microwavable white rice - Nuts - Pop Tarts -Pretzel packs - Protein bars - Ramen Noodles - Rice - String cheese (will be kept in staff fridge) - Trail mix.

Please bring donations to the church by August 11. Questions may be directed to Sandy Bainbridge or Belinda Alkula. 

+A food drive for EFAA will follow in September. Meanwhile, any donation made to EFAA before August 31 will be matched—for example, $100 becomes $200. See Judy Waller for more information.

+The Mountain Sky Conference will be welcoming the Rev. Dr. Joey Shelton, who will be presenting on "Christian Nationalism through the Wesleyan Lens." This webinar will kick off a virtual multiweek study and resources bank. More details are forthcoming about the guest speaker, the content, and study to follow. Please Save the Date: late afternoon of Sunday, August 25th.

August 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Communion Sunday

Marcia and Dave Green

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

(Link to today's worship service recording)

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”      —John 6:35

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Marcia and Dave Green / “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” arranged by Bulla

*Call to Worship...Claudia Mills

Leader: In the midst of darkness and chaos...People: God imagined.

Leader: In the fury and darkness...People: God imagined a world filled with trees and blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

Leader: In the meadow, God stood...People: And imagined foxes, bluebirds, and slithering snakes.

Leader: In a world of rainstorms and wildlife, cattle and grasses blowing in the breeze...People: God imagined humanity. God imagined the continuum from person to person.

Leader: In a world teeming with billions of people...People: God imagined me. 

Leader: God imagined you, and God imagined me. We are created in the image of God. People: God imagined us all. God loves each of us. 

Leader: Let us worship with the same imagination as the creating One! People: Amen.

—by Tim Graves, posted on LiturgyBits

*Hymn...“Gather Us In” (TFWS #2236)

Litany of Confession (inspired by Habakkuk 2: 1-4)...Claudia Mills

For ignoring the vision breathed by the living Spirit churning deep

within our souls, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, have mercy upon us.

For refusing to look at the vision alive within those who look or act or sound different from us, Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy, have mercy upon us.

For choosing familiarity, ease, and comfort rather than risking the opportunities afforded in the vision, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, have mercy upon us.

—Katherine Hawker for the Evangelical United Church of Christ, Posted on Liturgy Outside

First Lesson: Philemon 1-7...Claudia Mills

Special Music...Marcia and Dave Green / “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” arranged by Green

Community prayer concerns and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles

Second Lesson: Philemon 8-18...Pastor Charles

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

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “Onesimus’ debt”

Communion / Lord's Prayer, p. 13

*Hymn ...“We Are God’s People” (TFWS #2220)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

*Response...“God Be With You Till We Meet Again” v. 1 and chorus (UMH #672)

Postlude...Marcia and Dave Green / “Wade in the Water,” arranged by Bulla

August is underway at St. Paul's UMC!

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

Part 4: Speaking to the world with (closer to) one voice

The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church have always been intended to reflect the whole church speaking to the whole world about how United Methodists understand the implications of the kingdom of God Jesus proclaimed for every part of our lives as human beings on Earth.

These Social Principles were first adopted in 1972. At that time, they were the primary vehicle for the four-year-old denomination forged by the uniting of the Evangelical United Brethren and The Methodist Church to offer public witness with (close to) one voice. 

Much has changed since 1972, including the rise of “culture wars” in the United States and the overall composition of The United Methodist Church.

Read more at this link.

Ladies Lunch Bunch in Louisville!

The August gathering of the Ladies Lunch Bunch came together on a hot, smoky August day at Old Sante Fe in Louisville with Kathy Lloyd serving as hostess.