July CrossCurrent

In this Month's Newsletter:
Preacher's Part from Pastor David
A Note From Pastor Donnie
Monthly Mission
Pastor's Discretionary
Hospitality
The Church Mouse
Communion for the Home bound
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Schedule
Monthly Events
Seasonal Announcements

On June 3, 2013, I retired after a 27-year career as a high school math teacher, it was also the day I officially joined the staff at St. Paul’s. On that day I literally drove from the school to the church. By the time I arrived at the church, I had been retired for 30 minutes, ready to begin my new calling as a pastor.

After eleven years in the ministry, I have made the decision to retire for a second time, this time as a pastor. My retirement will be official on June 30, 2025. It is my desire to have more time to spend with my family in addition to slowing down the pace of my life.

I’m announcing my retirement early because there is still more for me to do at St. Paul’s. I want to continue to work with David and the rest of you to help St. Paul’s continue remaining a vital church at it moves into the future. Though an unknown future can be frightening, with God’s help it can also be exciting.

As we do God’s work together for one last year, let’s continue to create a vision for our church as we work hard, have lots of fun, and treasure every moment that we can spend with each other.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

~Pastor Donnie Sturgill

With July comes another year in church life.  Pastors receive their appointments in July and find out where they will be serving for the year ahead. I am pleased to announce that for the fourth year in a row, Bishop Karen Oliveto has appointed me to the people of Colorado Springs through the ministries at St. Paul’s UMC. The year ahead will be an exciting one although it will not be without challenges.  If you have read Donnie’s newsletter, you will understand some of the work ahead.  If not, go read it and then come back to this.
We are moving into the future with the help of the Holy Spirit, with all the saints who came before us cheering us on. In the year ahead and the years beyond, we will continue to go where God sends us, to love how God loves us, and to open our doors to all of God’s children.

When I am uncertain of the future, I think on the words the prophet Jeremiah received from the Lord as noted in Jeremiah 29:11-14. I like the way the Message translation puts it:
I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

In this season of new things, new appointments, new challenges, and new realities, lets rest in the assurance that God will be there for us when we call upon the Lord, when we pray, and when we seek to know God more.  We will not be disappointed.

May God bless you in this coming month and may God bless the ministries of St. Paul’s UMC in the many years to come.

Rev. David Petty

July’s monthly mission is Tesla Educational Opportunity School. For those of you who don’t know, Tesla in an alternative high school that is located across the street from our church.

Ninety-five of the students are at risk of not graduating, many through no fault of their own. Tesla gives the students who want to earn a high school diploma a second chance through opportunities for credit recovery and more individual time with teachers than is possible with traditional schools.

Tesla is not only a school for students who need credit recovery. The school also provides the opportunity for students to earn college credits and to graduate early from high school.

In the past, St. Paul’s has helped provide students with basic needs such as clothes and personal hygiene items. Every Spring we invite the students and faculty to our church for hamburgers and hot dogs. By supporting this mission our church can show Tesla students that the people at St. Paul’s care about them and want to support them as they seek to earn their high school diplomas. By supporting Tesla you can help change the lives of young people who want to be successful and productive adults.

Each communion Sunday we 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.

What a wonderful Sunday we enjoyed with the visiting Texas youth choir and our potluck! Everything was fun fellowship, except that they had to drink unsweetened iced tea….thank goodness we had sugar on the table.

As always, a great big thank you to the June Hospitality team: Jeff Green, Alison Kirby and Anna Arney. They stepped in for me on the 16th and the 23rd. Bless you all.

“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in Your Word.”
Psalm 119:147

Hope In Him

Sometimes we awake in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep.  Our mind spins with appointments, responsibilities, and obligations for the following day.  We worry about money and bills, about loved ones and problems looming on the horizon.  Soon sleep seems impossible, so we go ahead and get up to read, trying to calm our frantic minds before the day starts.  Our weariness goes with us through the day, and soon we return home only to repeat the process another night.

When we are troubled and can’t sleep, we must cry out to God.  When we awake early because our minds and hearts are troubled, we must put our hope in what our Father has promised.  He is with us and will never leave us or forsake us.  He is in control and devoted to our growth for his good purposes.

Today, you can rest easy knowing that your hope is from God and not your own efforts.

St. Paul’s members- we need your help. If you know of anyone in our St. Paul’s family who is homebound, in a nursing home, or unable to come to church for a while, please let me know their name and phone number. I will be happy to contact them and see if they would appreciate having communion brought to them. Lu Petersen, 597-2824.

Jasper Brandt 7/1
Clarine Smith 7/6
Mary Coutts 7/11
Mike Pfahl 7/12
Bob Rickett 7/13
Woody Woods 7/14
Axel Witham 7/18
Helen Bookman 7/21
Darlene Lundberg 7/21
Lori Thom 7/22
Diane Hance 7/23
Travis DeLaney 7/24
Christina Rankin 7/24
Ron Richter 7/28

Diane & Tom Hance
July 4, 1989
35 Years

Diann & Don Geoffroy
July 10, 1971
53 Years

Paul & Ginny Fredell
July 14, 1973
51 Years