September 28, 2025

Our September mission is Care & Share. The year ahead brings new challenges for Care and Share. Reductions in federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), changes to how food from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is acquired and reimbursed, and the elimination of Local Food Purchasing Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) funding are all contributing to a difficult and shifting landscape.

These changes mean fewer resources and less food when more neighbors than ever are turning to Care and Share for help. Care and Share’s network – and the charitable food system nationwide – must now do more with less to meet the growing need.
Just $2 provides 5 meals to neighbors in need across Southern Colorado. Last year 25.2 million pounds of food were distributed across 29 counties with 294,994 people receiving the food they so desperately needed. 9,939 children took nutritious food home through Care and Share’s Children’s programs.

The support of the Southern Colorado Community is a powerful thing, making it possible to take on the months ahead.

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;…and the Lord will reward you.” Pr 25:21-22
Thank you from your Mission Team

September 28, 2025 9:30 am Worship Service
Gathering

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

Crossing the Threshold

Call to Worship
Jackie Fletcher

Leader: Come, people of God, with minds awake and hearts alive.

People: We bring our questions and our wonder, our learning and our faith.

Leader: God has given us the gift of reason, that we might seek truth with courage.

People: We will love God with all our heart, soul, strength AND mind.

Leader: In worship we bring head and heart together, offering our whole selves.

People: With open minds and open hearts, we come to worship the Living God.

All: This is the day that the Lord has made. We shall rejoice and be glad in it!

*Gathering Hymn
Wonderful Words of Life
UMH # 600
WORDS: Philip P. Bliss, 1874
 
1. Sing them over
again to me,
wonderful words of life;
let me more
of their beauty see,
wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty
teach me faith and duty.
 
Refrain
Beautiful words,
wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words,
wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
 
2. Christ, the blessed one,
gives to all
wonderful words of life;
sinner, list to the
loving call,
wonderful words of life;
all so freely given,
wooing us to heaven.
 
Refrain
Beautiful words,
wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words,
wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
 
3. Sweetly echo
the gospel call,
wonderful words of life;
offer pardon and
peace to all,
wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
sanctify forever.
 
Refrain
Beautiful words,
wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words,
wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.

*Worship Hymn
How Firm Our Foundation
UMH #529
 
1. How firm a foundation,
ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith
in his excellent word!
 
What more can he say
than to you he hath said,
to you who for refuge
to Jesus have fled?
 
2. “Fear not, I am with thee,
O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God
and will still give thee aid;
 
I’ll strengthen
and help thee,
and cause thee to stand
upheld by my righteous,
omnipotent hand.
 
3. “When through
the deep waters
I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe
shall not
thee overflow;
 
for I will be with thee,
thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee
thy deepest distress.
 
4. “When through
fiery trials
thy pathways shall lie,
my grace,
all-sufficient,
shall be thy supply;
 
the flame shall
not hurt thee;
I only design
thy dross to consume,
and thy gold to refine.
 
5. “The soul that on Jesus
still leans for repose,
I will not, I will not
desert to its foes;
 
that soul, though all hell
should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never,
no, never forsake.”

*Greet Your Neighbor – Passing the Peace of Christ

Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
Revelation 21:1-7
Jackie Fletcher

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Prayer for Illumination

Leader: May the words of my mouth,

People: and the meditations of all of our hearts

All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Message
A Rational Theology
Rev. David Petty

Prayer
 
Prayer Song
Sanctuary
TFWS #2164
WORDS & MUSIC: John Thompson and Randy Scruggs
© 1982 Whole Armor/Full Armor Music, admin. by The Kruger Organization
 
Lord, prepare me
to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy,
tried and true.
 
With thanksgiving,
I’ll be a living
sanctuary for You.
 
Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer
Rev. David Petty
 
The Lord’s Prayer
     
Our Father
who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
 
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth
as it is in heaven.
 
Give us this day
our daily bread,
and forgive us
our trespasses,
 
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
Lead us not
into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
 
For Thine is the Kingdom,
and the Power
and the Glory forever.
Amen

Prayer Song
Sanctuary
TFWS #2164
WORDS & MUSIC: John Thompson and Randy Scruggs
© 1982 Whole Armor/Full Armor Music, admin. by The Kruger Organization
 
Lord, prepare me
to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy,
tried and true.
 
With thanksgiving,
I’ll be a living
sanctuary for You.

Giving Back

Invitation to Offering
Jackie Fletcher

Offertory

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Rev. David Petty

Doxology
Praise God from Who All Blessings Flow
UMH #94
 
Praise God, from whom
all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures
here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Praise God, the source
of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ,
whose power uplifts!
 
Praise the Spirit,
Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!

*Closing Hymn
Take My Life and Let It Be
UMH #399
WORDS: Frances R. Havergal, 1873 (Rom. 12:1)

1. Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments
and my days;
let them flow
in ceaseless praise.
 
Take my hands,
and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet,
and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.
 
2. Take my voice,
and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips,
and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
 
Take my silver
and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use
every power as
Thou shalt choose.
 
3. Take my will,
and make it Thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart,
it is Thine own;
it shall be Thy royal throne.
 
Take my love,
my Lord, I pour
at Thy feet its
treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
 
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Let’s show encouragement and thanks for their service.

Thank you both, for being the shepherds who know your flock and care for each one of us with tenderness. Your compassion, patience, and wisdom have touched our lives in so many ways. We pray God blesses you both as you bless us!

October 23rd at 5 pm - We will be hosting our Annual Community Pumpkin Carving and Soup supper. We need 12 crockpots of soup, with ingredient lists for people with allergies to see which soups they can enjoy. Get out your fall comfort soup recipes! The whole community is invited to make a mess with the Methodists during our fall community soup supper. We provide pumpkins, carving utensils, space to make a mess, and the soup.

If you can make a donation to help us make this event possible, we'd really appreciate it. If you need a hot meal and can't afford the donation, that's ok too. The most important part is that we gather, we get messy, and celebrate being together.

A signup sheet went around on Sunday, Sept. 28. The signup sheet will also be available on the Volunteer Table.

There will also be spaces for volunteers to help.

Get ready kids - and adults too!

Circle Sunday October 26th on your calendar. It’s time for St Paul’s annual spookiest, wildest and most fun time of the year - Trunk or Treat!

 Kids: 5:00 is the time to arrive dressed up in your spookiest, scariest or handsomest, prettiest costume. Check out all the other kids’ costumes and have fun in the huge Bounce House!

Adults: this is the time for your to decorate your trunk, organize that terrific candy stash and watch the fun.

5:15 Ghoul’s Grill opens with traditional Halloween fare - hot dogs, chips, and something to drink.

At 5:30 the Costume Parade begins, followed by the main event - Trunk or Treating!
Candy donations will be accepted starting Sunday September 21st; there will be a decorated box in the Narthex. But feel free to provide your own wrapped treats on October 26th.

You don’t want to miss this event. And don’t worry - the ghosts are friendly!

Colorado Springs Christmas Chorus
Do you like to sing Christmas Carols?

Once again, the Colorado Springs Barbershop Christmas Chorus is gearing up for a fun-filled November and December. If you like to sing Christmas carols, then this is the place to do it. There is a caveat: All men and any woman who can sing either the Tenor or Alto part in an SATB choir are welcome. We sing in the Barbershop style which means that the melody line is what appears to be the Alto voice in the SATB choir and it's an octave lower than written. We provide sheet music and learning tracks.

As it says in the flyer, we rehearse for an hour the first 4 Mondays of November and then sing at retirement communities the next three Thursdays in December. We will start on the 3rd of November and I'm looking forward to seeing some of you here at the church in the Choir Room.

Rehearsals (@ St. Paul’s UMC) 7:30 – 8:30 pm November 3,10,17,24
Performances (location TBD) December 4,11,18
Songbooks are provided and will be used during the performances.

For more information: Russ Josephson (719) 426-1621