A call to prayer

From a press release today from the UMC Council of Bishops: 

To the People of the United Methodist Church,
 
We join with Pope Francis in calling for prayer tomorrow, March 25, drawing strength from the Annunciation (Luke 1. 26-38), as we are approximately nine months from the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We invite all to pray to God to rid the world of the coronavirus pandemic.  And all are urged to pray the Lord’s Prayer at noon in their own time zones. In the words of Pope Francis, “We wish to respond to the pandemic of the virus with the universality of prayer, of compassion and tenderness.” As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection at Easter, we have sure trust and confidence that God will hear the united prayers of the church across the world.

Lenten Devotional for March 24

Thomas Worthington Whittredge (1820-1910)

Songs of the Suffering Servant. In the third song, we learn of the abuse and derision the Servant endured at the hands of his enemies.

Isaiah 50:4-11: The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to answer the weary a word that will waken them. Morning after morning he wakens my ear to hear as disciples do; The Lord GOD opened my ear; I did not refuse, did not turn away. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; My face I did not hide from insults and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; Therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He who declares my innocence is near. Who will oppose me? Let us appear together. Who will dispute my right? Let them confront me. See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will declare me guilty? See, they will all wear out like a garment, consumed by moths. Who among you fears the LORD, heeds his servant’s voice? Whoever walk in darkness, without any light, Yet trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon their God! All you who kindle flames and set flares alight, walk by the light of your own fire and by the flares you have burnt! This is your fate from my hand: you shall lie down in a place of torment.

General Conference to move to 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / March 23, 2020 

Nashville, Tenn.: Subsequent to the announcement by the Executive Committee of the Commission on the General Conference that the 2020 General Conference will be postponed, the full Commission met March 21, 2020 to determine next steps to take in setting a new date.

After hearing recommendations from Sara Hotchkiss, Business Manager of the General Conference, and discussion of possible alternatives, the Commission made a determination that the General Conference will not meet in 2020 as originally planned and elected to work toward setting a date in 2021.

Read more at this link.

Appeal from Bridge House

Donate those small hotel/motel soaps, shampoos etc. to help our vulnerable homeless neighbors. Bridge House and the Boulder Homeless Shelter are also in need of towels and fever reducing medicines. NO NEED FOR NEW TOWELS. No need to go shopping. Clean out your bathroom drawers?  

DROP OFF your donations at St. Paul's UMC at the Grinnel Ave. side entrance. There will be a box outside. Once a day, it will be emptied.  

THANK YOU for being Faith through action. Building HOPE.

UMW Day of Giving

On Day of Giving—March 23, 2020— Let us honor our fore-mothers by giving to the Legacy Fund to ensure United Methodist Women can continue serving women, children and youth around the world for the next 150 years. Generous donors have already committed to matching a portion of our gifts received on Day of Giving. Together, we are building our legacy! Read more about our work here.

WAYS TO GIVE
• Online unitedmethodistwomen.org/150

• Phone 800-278-7771
Answered 8 am - 6 pm EST, Monday - Friday

• Text 41444 and enter “Legacy150” in the message

• Check

Make check payable to United Methodist Women

Mailing Address
Attn: Development, Legacy Fund
475 Riverside Drive, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10115

Write “Day of Giving” in the memo

This week @ St. Paul's

All of St. Paul's UMC in-person activities are cancelled until April 30 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The church office will remain open.

Monday:
5:30 pm, Mountain Sky Conference Virtual Potluck 
(Join Zoom Meeting, https://zoom.us/j/604248472 - 
Meeting ID: 604 248 472)

+Our Lenten devotional remains available on our Facebook page, @boulderstpauls, and here on the blog.

+The weekly sermon will be available each week on our YouTube channel at this link.

Scripture lesson for March 29

Buckfast Abbey - Buckfastleigh, Devon, England

The Lenten sermon series continues this week with the beginning of The Great Three Days (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter). We look at the events of the Last Supper and more as the week enters a pivotal phase. The lesson comes from Mark 14:12-71.