April 14, 2024

God is doing amazing things at Crossfire Ministries, located at 3975 N. Academy Blvd. We are adding nearly 30 new families each day of service and are serving almost 500 families daily, Tuesday through Thursday and 250 families on the 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings. The fourth Tuesday night is our School Outreach which is open to school employees who need a little extra help and care. To open up more parking spaces for our guests, we are now having as many volunteers as will, park their cars at a neighboring church and we running a shuttle bus every 15 minutes daily. And we do not see the community need decrease, as many people struggle with the high cost of housing and living.

We pass out Bibles and offer prayer. About 70 to 80 percent stop by the prayer station. We gave away about 3000 Bibles in 2023. Daily we give out things from our thrift store in the form of store credits for our families in need. We average from $1000 to $2000 dollars given out for free each day. We are able to obtain a get a great deal of produce and fresh products from Care and Share and many local businesses but our budget for canned goods and hygiene products averages about $20,000.00 a month. We appreciate the support and help from area churches and individuals who help contribute to this need.

So far, we are continuing to be able to supply our guests with food, clothing, household goods and toiletries. God has been faithful and we give Him all the honor and glory.

I would personally love to give you a tour to see our facility and operations. If it is around our lunch time, I also would love for you to join us for lunch.

With gratitude and blessings,
Leslie Miller
Founder & Assistant Operations Manager
719-650-4336 (cell)

Each communion Sunday thereafter we will have a basket for those who feel called to give above and beyond their pledge. This "second-mile" giving will help fund the pastor's discretionary fund, which helps meet community needs as they arise, such as gas, lodging, clothing, etc. Feel free to bring your spare cash and change to help make a change in the lives of those in need.

May 9, The Pikes Peak Home School music students who rehearse here on Mondays and Wednesdays will be presenting their spring concert. As a way to say how glad we are that they are at St. Paul’s, we are going to be serving cookies, lemonade, and iced tea during the concert’s intermission. THIS IS A COOKIE CALL!!!!!! We are planning on 300 attendees…That’s a lot of cookies! If you are baking or at the grocery store please make or pick up some cookies and bring them into the church. They can be put in the freezer in the back of the kitchen that is marked VBS or marked “Concert “and placed on the counter. I would also appreciate a few volunteers to help with set-up, serving, and clean-up.

June 9, We have a Youth Choir visiting us and they will be providing some of their music during the service. We want to say, “Thank You” and welcome them with a potluck right after the service. St. Paul’s will be providing the dessert so plan on bringing a main dish, side, or salad to serve 12(since we are hosting the youth and their adult advisors)

Mother’s Day Brunch-May 12th: Back by popular demand, the annual Mother’s Day Brunch will soon be taking reservations. Watch for signup sheets on Sunday mornings beginning in mid-April, or contact the church office and reserve your table. Again, this year, the Picnic Basket will be catering the meal following the church service, so bring the whole family for a hassle-free celebration. The menu will include quiche, French toast with fruit compote, fresh-baked ham, breakfast burritos with all the toppings, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and fruit juices, as well as a variety of continental breakfast items. Suggested donation (remember, no tax or tip!) for adults is $30, with children under 12 eating free. If your budget won’t cover that cost, just give what you can—but come and enjoy the fellowship.

Getting your Ducks in a Row-June 8th: Whether financial and estate planning, keeping medical records, planning for emergency evacuations, or simply making our lives less stressful, we all know we should be better organized. Since we don’t know where to start, we procrastinate. Senior advisor Judy Rough has spent her career helping older clients organize their lives. Though she lives in Denver, she has offered to sponsor a free community seminar at St. Paul’s. The only cost will be for binder materials, available upon registration. The workshop is only a starting point; be prepared to devote some time to following her advice. We’ll enjoy a potluck brunch followed by a half-day workshop. So, sharpen your pencils, bring that egg casserole, and prepare to get your “ducks in a row.” Remember to invite all your friends, since this is a community outreach from St. Paul’s.
Contact Jeanne Marsh (719-229-1708) or the church office to register.

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Threshold Moment
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Some of us have large extended families and others might be a family of one. Some of us have family we like and others, maybe not so much. This community is a family of folks who choose one another. Let us affirm for one another that we are indeed siblings in Christ and that we are together in one mission, one vision, all around the same shared table.

Threshold Song
Who is My Mother, Who is My Brother?
TFWS #2225 vs. 1,4

1. Who is my mother,
who is my brother?
all those who gather
round Jesus Christ:
 
Spirit-blown people,
born from the Gospel
sit at the table,
round Jesus Christ.
 
4. Bound by one vision,
met for one mission
we claim each other,
round Jesus Christ:
 
Here is my mother,
here is my brother,
kindred in Spirit,
through Jesus Christ.

Calling on God Prayer
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Leader: Let us pray together:

People: Gracious and loving God, how good and pleasant it is when Your people live together in unity, when siblings get along with siblings! You set the lonely in families and lead out prisoners with singing. Today, we pray for our families and our community, that our bonds of love and understanding grow stronger. Guide us in living out Your love, sharing Your grace with one another, and being a beacon of Your light in the world. Amen.

Opening Hymn
The Gift of Love
UMH #408
 
1. Though I may speak
with bravest fire,
and have the gift
to all inspire,
 
and have not love,
my words are vain,
as sounding brass,
and hopeless gain.
 
2. Though I may give
all I possess,
and striving so
my love profess,
 
but not be given
by love within,
the profit soon
turns strangely thin.
 
3. Come, Spirit, come,
our hearts control,
our spirits long
to be made whole.
 
Let inward love
guide every deed;
by this we worship,
and are freed.
 
Passing the Peace of Christ

Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
Mark 3:20-35
Lu Petersen
 
Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!”

The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, “He’s possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons.”

When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: “How can Satan throw Satan out? A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse. And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can’t endure. He’s done for. No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized. I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.”

He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”
 
Prayer for Illumination
Rev. David Petty
 
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 Family We Choose
Rev. David Petty

Tending a new creation may involve the creation or expansion of our concepts of “family.” In the scripture Jesus confirms that kinship in God’s Realm can go beyond bloodlines. We can re-create family in so many ways, whether we grew up with a family of origin that offered us support or did not. Who is our kin? All those who seek to live together in love!
 
Prayer, Silent Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer
Lu Petersen

Invitation to Offering
Lu Petersen

Offertory
Jesus, What a Beautiful Name
Camp Kirkland
Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Rev. David Petty

Doxology
Praise God From Whom 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 Blessing
Rev. David Petty

Blessed are you who build bridges instead of walls—You who nurture bonds of love and understanding within your family and community.

Blessed are you who gather, who share, and who find God in the warmth of togetherness.

Sending Hymn
Bind Us Together
TFWS #2226
 
Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken
Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
Bind us together in Love
 
There is only one God,
There is only one King
There is only one Body,
That is why we sing.

Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken
Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
Bind us together in Love

Benediction
Rev. David Petty
 
Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts