Scripture lessons for June 21

Our second week in the summer sermon series, Stories That Sneak Up on You looks at "I don't read the cookbook anymore." The scripture lessons for next Sunday come from Psalm 119:110-115 and 1 Corinthians 13:11-13.

June 14 @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements

+Pastor Charles' Summer Sermon Series is taken from Stories That Sneak Up On You by John Duckworth. This summer, we'll hear "Christianstein," "I don't read the cookbook anymore," "The Call," “A pocketful of change,” “Waiting for the ambulance,” “How I sold my vacuum cleaner,” and "The conversion of Paul Bunyon”

+You are invited to join us each Wednesday morning @ 10:00 am, for a virtual coffee / tea informal gathering via Zoom. Join our Zoom gathering at this link. 

+The 2020 Annual Conference Session will be held online June 19 and 20. The theme for this year's session is Repairers of the Breach based on Isaiah 58:9-12, "...you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in." The limited digital format will be held over Zoom Webinar. Find more details about the 2020 Session at this link.

+The Ladies Summer Book Group resumes meeting, virtually, this Thursday at 3:00 pm. This summer's book is Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint by Nadia Bolz-Webber. Contact Belinda A. for Zoom login information.

+Pastor Charles has joined an awesome Mountain Sky Conference fundraising effort, Miles-O-Love, to benefit Feeding America and East Angola Pastor support. He is riding his bike now through June 20th (the last day of Annual Conference) to accumulate miles and to raise money for these two worthwhile causes. His goal is to raise $500. Will you help him make his goal and donate to TEAM 2 at this link? 

+Be sure to view our calendar to see the latest activities being offered through various virtual platforms. 

June 14 @ St. Paul's UMC: Prayers

Joys:

+Thanks to Don & Peg F. and Suzanne P.for their work outside of the church this past week.

+Prayers are asked for the work of the Mountain Sky Annual Conference (June 19 & 20). 

+Harry O. had a birthday last week.

+Myrle reports that her fishing trip in July to Alaska is back on!

Concerns:

+Those who are dealing with the impact of the pandemic including those facing health concerns, economic anxiety, or other disruptions of life. 

+Lifting up in prayers those affected by the pervasive nature of racism in our society.

+Skippy R. asks prayers for Linda B. who is having surgery.

+Tiffany's father is having ongoing health concerns. 

+Dave B. asks for prayers for his friend Andy & his family with health concerns.

+We welcome Jim M. who moved into the Brookdale - Meridian.

+Louise C. asks for prayers for a friend, Connie, who has health concerns.

+Prayers are asked for healing/acceptance of broken relationships.

+Prayer for a Covid-19 vaccine to come soon.

+Suzanne P. asks for prayers following the death of her friend, Dee.

June 14 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

June 14 —2nd Sunday after Pentecost 

Today’s Meditation Verse: “So I’ll offer a sacrifice of Thanksgiving to You, and I’ll call on the Lord’s name.” – Psalm 116:17

Welcome—Pastor Charles

Call to Worship (Psalm 116:1-2)—Pastor Charles (Leader) and Rebecca Glancy (People) (Congregation is encouraged to read People’s response aloud on mute setting.)

Leader: I love the Lord because God hears my requests for mercy.

People: I’ll call out to the Lord as long as I live, because God listens closely to me.                                                                                                                                       

Prayer for Discernment (Hugh Cameron, UMC Book of Worship, #510)--Rebecca Glancy (Congregation is encouraged to read aloud on mute setting.)

Almighty God, in a world of change You placed eternity in our hearts and gave us power to discern good from evil. Grant us sincerity, that we may persistently seek the things that endure, refusing those which perish, and that, amid things vanishing and deceptive, we may see the truth steadily, follow the light faithfully, and grow richer in that love which is the life of all people; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations—Pastor Charles

Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer—Pastor Charles (Congregation is encouraged to pray The Lord’s Prayer aloud on mute setting.)

First Gospel Lesson: Matthew 9:35-10:1—Rebecca Glancy

Musical Offering: “Welcome Child of the Light” (Anthem Aires – December 8, 2019)

Second Gospel Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:9-13—Pastor Charles               

Summer sermon series: “Christianstein" —Pastor Charles  (from Stories That Sneak Up on You by John Duckworth)

Words for the Journey—Pastor Charles

       

Reminder: Gifts and tithes can be sent directly to Martha Batch (contact the church office for address). Contributions to the PATH Fund can be marked “PATH Fund” in the memo line. 

Black Lives Matter & John Wesley

The New Room - The oldest Methodist building

From The New Room - Bristol: 

Part of the Museum at the New Room is dedicated to exploring John Wesley's opposition to slavery. John took a long time to publish his views but his book Thoughts On Slavery (1774) became a bestseller. He faced opposition in Bristol for his anti-slavery views which even led to a riot in the chapel when he spoke from the pulpit about the topic in 1788.

Methodism does not bear a clean slate when it comes to slavery (George Whitefield, who also worked in Bristol, at one point owned slaves) but there is no doubt that John Wesley's experiences in the USA and Britain helped him to speak powerful words in Bristol and beyond.

More information and audio clips about Wesley's views on slavery can be found here.

John's statue stands in our Broadmead Courtyard at The New Room in Bristol. He believed that #BlackLivesMatter and so do we.

Praying for Change: Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism

In this Kairos moment of protest and awakening, Discipleship Ministries and other agencies and bodies of the United Methodist Church are providing resources and guidance on how to become anti-racist individuals and churches. Please seek out the help you need in this time of transformation.

The Worship Team of Discipleship Ministries believes, however, that such a change will not happen unless the whole process is bathed in prayer every step along the way. To that end, we will be providing daily prayers to help keep us all centered on the journey ahead. From Monday through Friday, a new prayer will be posted here for your use as personal devotion, to share in your small group, or for use in corporate worship.

If you wish to receive these prayers each day in your email, the process for signing up is outlined below. If you would like to submit a prayer, please contact the Worship Team and we would be glad to work with you on how to submit for posting. Join with us in this season of prayer and change in our denomination and beyond.

Click here to subscribe

Global Ministries webinar

What is the missional responsibility of the church – the body of Christ – in a world that has been wounded by the COVID-19 pandemic? 

Participate via this link.