April 28, 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 10, 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
I Feel the Spirit Moving
Deb DeLaney, Soloist

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

Threshold Moment
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Let us affirm for one another that we are siblings in Christ, diverse in our backgrounds, equally loved, and that we are together in one mission, one vision, all around the same shared table - an inclusive table for all of God's people.

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: Lord of Life, in Your presence, there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom, living each moment to its fullest in Your grace. Guide us in the path of life, illuminating our journey with Your truth and love. May we savor the blessings of each day, and in doing so, glorify You. Amen.

Opening Hymn
Wonderful Words of Life
Vs. 1, 3 UMH #600
 
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.
 
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.
 
The Peace
 
Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 6: 1-13
June Cornish

 Since we work together with him, we are also begging you not to receive the grace of God in vain. He says, I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation. Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation!

We don’t give anyone any reason to be offended about anything so that our ministry won’t be criticized. Instead, we commend ourselves as ministers of God in every way. We did this with our great endurance through problems, disasters, and stressful situations. We went through beatings, imprisonments, and riots. We experienced hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger. We displayed purity, knowledge, patience, and generosity. We served with the Holy Spirit, genuine love, telling the truth, and God’s power. We carried the weapons of righteousness in our right hand and our left hand. We were treated with honor and dishonor and with verbal abuse and good evaluation. We were seen as both fake and real, as unknown and well known, as dying—and look, we are alive! We were seen as punished but not killed, as going through pain but always happy, as poor but making many rich, and as having nothing but owning everything.

Corinthians, we have spoken openly to you, and our hearts are wide open. There are no limits to the affection that we feel for you. You are the ones who placed boundaries on your affection for us. But as a fair trade—I’m talking to you like you are children—open your hearts wide too.

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
Sitting with Snails
Rev. David Petty

Prayer, Silent Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer
June Cornish

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

Invitation to Offering
June Cornish

Offering
I Must Tell Jesus/Blessed Assurance
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 live with intention and joy—You who make the most of each day, finding the sacred in the ordinary.

Blessed are you who laugh, who love, and who find God as you pursue your life's work.
 
Sending Hymn
They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love
TFWS #2223
 
1. We are one in the Spirit,
we are one in the Lord,
we are one in the Spirit,
we are one in the Lord,
 
and we pray
that all unity
may one day
be restored:
 
Refrain
And they’ll know
we are Christians
by our love,
by our love;
yes, they’ll know
we are Christians
by our love.
 
2. We will walk
with each other,
we will walk hand in hand,
we will walk
with each other,
we will walk hand in hand,
 
and together
we’ll spread the news
that God is
in our land:
 
Refrain
And they’ll know
we are Christians
by our love,
by our love;
yes, they’ll know
we are Christians
by our love.
 
3. We will work
with each other,
we will work side by side,
we will work
with each other,
we will work side by side,
 
and we’ll guard
human dignity,
and save
human pride:
 
Refrain
And they’ll know
we are Christians
by our love,
by our love;
yes, they’ll know
we are Christians
by our love.
 
4. All praise to the Father,
from whom
all things come,
and all to Christ Jesus,
God’s only Son,
 
and all praise
to the Spirit,
who makes us one:
 
Refrain
And they’ll know
we are Christians
by our love,
by our love;
yes, they’ll know
we are Christians
by our love.
 
Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Postlude
Recession in C
Cynthia Hibbetts