October 5, 2025

Pastor’s Discretionary fund - Every week it seems that someone calls the church or stops by with a request for some help While some of these folks have chronic struggles, many of them are momentary life setbacks where a difficult life event such as a job loss, illness, break-up, car trouble, or other, has suddenly put them in a tight spot.
When that happens, folks look for help and try to find someone to show them care, compassion, and kindness just as Christ did. They ask around town and eventually someone might tell them “I hear that the folks at St. Paul’s UMC can help” and that’s when they call us.
When that happens, I am so grateful that we have the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund to help out. Sometimes it’s rent money so a family doesn’t get evicted. Sometimes it’s gas so someone can get to work. Sometimes it’s a pair of shoes for a person who has worn the soles out of the ones they live in. To most of these folks, these things are not luxuries, they are lifelines.
The beauty of this fund is that it allows the church to respond quickly, without needing a line in the budget or a committee meeting to make a decision. Someone shares their story, and we get to say, “Yes. We can help.” And in that “yes” is more than money. It’s dignity, it’s hope, and it’s a reminder that they’re not alone. We love on people because God has loved on us.
Often, this fund fills up just as quickly as we get requests for it and I’ve had times that I have had to tell people “no” because it was run dry. We also track every request that comes in to ensure that we are helping instead of enabling. We want to ensure that our presence is healing and not hurting and that we are good stewards of the resources we have available.
And that’s why this October, we’re asking our congregation to go a little above and beyond in supporting it.
Think of it as fueling up the church’s tank for compassion toward our community when they’re in a moment of greatest need. Whether it’s five dollars or five hundred, every gift matters. A little extra generosity this month means we’ll be ready the next time someone walks through the doors, uncertain of what to do next.
Just mark your gift for the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund or “Monthly Mission – October”. And as you do, remember: you’re not just helping pay a bill. You’re helping restore hope, renew strength, and remind people that God’s love shows up in very practical, very real ways.
Together, we can keep saying “yes”.

October 5, 2025 9:30 am Worship Service
Gathering

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

Crossing the Threshold

Call to Worship
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Leader: The Word of God is not locked in the past.
People: It is living and active, speaking to us here and now.
Leader: The good news of Jesus is not just for one nation or one people.
People: God's word is for the whole world. Every tribe, every tongue, every heart.
Leader: Today we gather at one table, with siblings across the globe.
People: One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one bread, one cup.
Leader: Come with open hearts, open minds, and open doors.
People: We come to worship the Living God, whose Word makes all things new.
Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: We shall rejoice and be glad in it!

*Worship Hymn
Open My Eyes that I May See
UMH #454
 
WORDS: Clara H. Scott, 1895
 
1. Open my eyes,
that I may see
glimpses of truth
thou hast for me,
 
place in my hands
the wonderful key
that shall unclasp
and set me free.
 
Refrain
Silently now
I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
 
2. Open my ears,
that I may hear
voices of truth
thou sendest clear;
 
and while the wave-notes
fall on my ear,
everything false
will disappear.
 
Refrain
Silently now
I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
 
3. Open my mouth
and let me bear
gladly the warm
truth everywhere;
 
open my heart
and let me prepare
love with thy children
thus to share.
 
Refrain
Silently now
I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
 
*Opening Hymn
Thy Word
UMH #601
Refrain
Thy word is a lamp
unto my feet
and a light
unto my path.
 
1. When I feel afraid,
think I’ve lost my way,
still you’re there
right beside me,
 
and nothing will I fear
as long as you are near.
Please be near me
to the end.
 
Refrain
Thy word is a lamp
unto my feet
and a light
unto my path.
 
2. Now I will not forget
your love for me and yet
my heart forever
is wandering.
 
Jesus, be my guide
and hold me to your side,
and I will love you
to the end.
 
Refrain
Thy word is a lamp
unto my feet
and a light
unto my path.

*Greet Your Neighbor – Passing the Peace of Christ

Mystery Box

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
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Offertory
Here I Am Lord
Arr. Mark Hayes
Sanctuary Choir

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!

Scripture Reading
Luke 4:14-22
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

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
The Living Word
Rev. David Petty

Communion Hymn
Let Us Be Bread
TFWS #2260
 
Let us be bread,
blessed by the Lord,
broken and shared,
life for the world.
 
Let us be wine,
love freely poured.
Let us be one
in the Lord.
 
I am the Bread of Life,
Broken for all.
Eat now
and hunger no more.
 
Let us be bread,
blessed by the Lord,
broken and shared,
life for the world.
 
Let us be wine,
love freely poured.
Let us be one
in the Lord.
 
You are my friends
If you keep my commands,
No longer servants
But friends
 
Let us be bread,
blessed by the Lord,
broken and shared,
life for the world.
 
Let us be wine,
love freely poured.
Let us be one
in the Lord.
 
See how my people
Have nothing to eat.
Give them the bread
That is You.
 
Let us be bread,
blessed by the Lord,
broken and shared,
life for the world.
 
Let us be wine,
love freely poured.
Let us be one
in the Lord.
 
As God has loved me
So I have loved you.
Go and live
On in my love.
 
Let us be bread,
blessed by the Lord,
broken and shared,
life for the world.
 
Let us be wine,
love freely poured.
Let us be one
in the Lord.
 
Communion
Rev. David Petty

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven, and earth….And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
 
People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.…And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
 
People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pastor: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.…By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
 
All: Amen.

*Closing Hymn
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
UMH #400
WORDS: Robert Robinson, 1758 (1 Sam. 7:12)
 
1. Come, thou Fount
of every blessing,
tune my heart
to sing thy grace;
 
streams of mercy,
never ceasing,
call for songs of
loudest praise.
 
Teach me some
melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming
tongues above.
 
Praise the mount!
I’m fixed upon it,
mount of thy
redeeming love.
 
2. Here I raise
mine Ebenezer;
hither by thy
help I’m come;
 
and I hope, by
thy good pleasure,
safely to
arrive at home.
 
Jesus sought me
when a stranger,
wandering from the
fold of God;
 
he, to rescue
me from danger,
interposed his
precious blood.
 
3. O to grace
how great a debtor
daily I’m
constrained to be!
 
Let thy goodness,
like a fetter,
bind my wandering
heart to thee.
 
Prone to wander,
Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the
God I love;
 
here’s my heart,
O take and seal it,
seal it for thy
courts above.
 
*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