May 12, 2024

Each month, our community comes together to extend our blessings beyond the walls of our church through the "Monthly Mission" offering. This special collection traditionally supports various organizations and causes, reflecting our commitment to support God's mission in our community.

This month, the mission committee has decided to direct our "Monthly Mission" offering to an exceptionally vital cause — our own church. This offering will help to address an urgent need within our church budget that ensures our ministries continue to thrive and our facilities remain a welcoming place of worship and service.

While this might be a shift from our usual practice, it is a reminder that maintaining the strength and stability of our church is equally crucial in fulfilling our mission. It allows us to continue providing spiritual guidance, community support, and a facility for the whole community. We are “putting our own oxygen mask on first” this month to make sure we can support this neighborhood for many years to come.

We ask for your continued generosity to our May monthly mission, knowing that every contribution will play a direct role in sustaining the church. Let us come together in this collective effort to support St. Paul's as our monthly mission.

Thank you for your steadfast faith and dedication to St. Paul's.

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.

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)

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
Down to the River to Pray
Cynthia Hibbetts

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
 
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.
 
2. Differently abled,
differently labeled
widen the circle
round Jesus Christ:
 
Crutches and stigmas,
cultures’ enigmas
all come together
round Jesus Christ.
 
3. Love will relate us
color or status
can’t segregate us,
round Jesus Christ:
 
Family failings,
human derailings
all are accepted,
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, like a child with its mother, so is our soul within Your tender care. Like the birds of the air, you cover us with Your feathers, and under Your wings, we find refuge. On this day, we give thanks for the nurturing love that has shaped us, reflecting Your mothering spirit. May we grow in Your love and comfort, prepared to face the world with strength and grace. Amen.

Opening Hymn
Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth
TFWS #2050
WORDS: Jean Janzen, based on the writings of Juliana of Norwich (15th cent.)
MUSIC: H. Percy Smith
© 1991 Abingdon Press, admin. by The Copyright Co.

1. Mothering God,
you gave me birth
in the bright
morning of the world.
 
Creator,
source of every breath,
you are my rain,
my wind, my sun.
 
2. Mothering Christ,
you took my form,
offering me
your food of light,
 
grain of life,
and grape of love,
your very body
for my peace.
 
3. Mothering Spirit,
nurt’ring one,
in arms of patience
hold me close,
 
so that in faith
I root and grow
until I flow’r,
until I know.

Passing the Peace of Christ
 
Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
Mark 6:1-13 The Message
Nancy Gehrung

He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He stole the show, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?”

 But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?” They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.

Jesus told them, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.

 Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions:
“Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.

“And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave.
“If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.

Special Music
Laurie Gabriel

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 Lunch for the Road: God's mothering love prepares us for paths ahead.
Rev. David Petty

Prayer, Silent Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer
Nancy Gehrung

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
Nancy Gehrung

Offertory
The Majesty and Glory of Your Name
Tom Fettke
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 nurture and care—
You who embody the tenderness and strength of divine love in the act of mothering.

Blessed are you who comfort, who teach,
and who find God in the bonds of unconditional love.

Sending Hymn
Blest Be the Tie That Binds
UMH #557
WORDS: John Fawcett, 1782
 
1. Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship
of kindred minds
is like to that above.
 
2. Before our Father’s throne
we pour our
ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes,
our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
 
3. We share
each other’s woes,
our mutual burdens bear;
and often for
each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
 
4. When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still
be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
 
Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Postlude
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Anna Laura Page
Cynthia Hibbetts