September 18 @ St. Paul's UMC: Announcements

+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 Tuesday, 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.

+Starting this coming Thursday, 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. 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.

+The United Women in Faith at the Mountain View United Methodist Church (UMC) invite St. Paul's UMC women to a Fall Salad Potluck Luncheon, Wednesday, September 28. Plan is to gather in Barker Hall at 11:15 a.m.; lunch to begin at 11:30 a.m. Program: Neighbors Embracing Afghan Refugees. Please R.S.V.P. intent to attend to Belinda Alkula by Sunday, September 25. (Cell: 303-916-2349/Belinda.Alkula@gmail.com).

September 18 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Today’s Meditation Verse: “No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” —Luke 16:13

Welcome... Pastor Charles

Prelude... Hyeji Park / “Master, No Offering, Costly and Sweet,” arranged by Sumin Choi

*Call to Worship (Psalm 113:1-8)...Amy Abshire

Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.   Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time on and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, Who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, To make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people.

*Hymn... “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath” (UMH #60)

Prayer of Confession (based on Genesis 17, 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31 & 3: 18-20)... Amy Abshire

Awesome God, when we catch sight of the totality of Your claim on our lives, our believing wavers. When we hear the absurdity of Your unbreakable covenant with us, like Sarai and Abram, we laugh. When we face the foolish wisdom of the looming cross, like Peter, we suggest an alternative. Meet us in our disbelieving, loving God, move us gently into the deep waters of faith. 

—Katherine Hawker, Liturgies Outside website

*Offering/Doxology (UMH #95)

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer... Pastor Charles

Epistle Lesson: 1 Timothy 2:1-7... Amy Abshire

Bell Anthem... Jubilate Ringers

Gospel Lesson: Luke 16:1-13 ... Pastor Charles

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

Sermon... Pastor Charles / “So, what’s the catch?”

*Hymn... “Stand Up and Bless the Lord” (UMH #662)

*Words for the Journey... Pastor Charles

.

Postlude... Hyeji Park / “Blessed Assurance,” arranged by Sumin Choi

Come worship with us tomorrow!

 

Join us Sunday for worship and fellowship beginning at 10:15 a.m., or worship with us online here. Preview Sunday's bulletin here. We welcome guest preacher Rev. Janeen Hill to the pulpit!

"Sew What" Resumed Today!

L-R (Clockwise): Belinda Alkula, Pastor Charles Alkula, Michele Matthews, Donna Wasson, Louise Cook, Suzanne Polacek

L-R (Clockwise): Louise Cook, Michele Matthews, Suzanne Polacek, Donna Wasson, Pastor Charles Alkula, Belinda Alkula

Six were on hand today at Donna Wasson's residence in Westminster for the return of "Sew What" to the calendar of St. Paul's UMC! Crocheting, quilting, and cross stitch projects were tended to, and everyone enjoyed a lively conversation and delicious food! 

Donna's daughter, Debra, provided salads and dessert to make the table complete!

We'll meet again October 21st, location is to be announced.

Justice Talks: The Rise of Christian Nationalism webinar

Justice Talks: The Rise of Christian Nationalism is scheduled for September 28, at 3PM. Church and Society staff will be joined by Amanda Tyler, Executive Director for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom and Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director for the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness.

This ecumenical conversation will define Christian nationalism and its history in the United States. Participants can expect to hear from Christian leaders on the dangers of rising trends and the importance of religious freedom for all.

Register Here - https://www.umcjustice.org/.../26911e92-73ba-4d01-b2e4...

Peaks Pikes Peak UWiF District Annual Meeting

The PPP District's United Women in Faith (UWiF, formerly UMW) will hold its annual gathering on September 24, exploring the theme, "Healing and Joy and We Grow." 

This will be a hybrid meeting with the option of three central meeting places (Broomfield, Ft. Collins, and COS), or via Zoom. The focus of the gathering will be the annual business meeting, but will also include a program and speaker.

For more information, contact Cheryl Runyon @ 303-494-0434.

Wednesday with the Wesleys

Q. But how can a liableness to mistake consist with perfect love? Is not a person who is perfected in love every moment under its influence? And can any mistake flow from pure love?

A. I answer (1) Many mistakes may consist with pure love. (2) Some may accidentally flow from it: I mean, love itself may incline us to mistake. The pure love of our neighbor, springing from the love of God, thinks no evil, believes and hopes all things. Now, this very temper, unsuspicious, ready to believe and hope the best of all people, may occasion our thinking some people better than they really are. Here, then, is a manifest mistake, accidentally flowing from pure love.

~ John Wesley (The Character of a Methodist, ¶19)