July 21, 2024

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 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.

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

Threshold Moment
Rev. David Petty

Opening Hymn
Standing on the Promises of God
V. 1,3,4 UMH #374
 
1. Standing on the promises
of Christ my King,
through eternal ages
let His praises ring;
 
glory in the highest
I will shout and sing,
standing on the
promises of God.
 
Refrain
Stand - - - ing,
stand - - - ing,
standing on the promises
of God my Savior;
 
stand - - - ing,
stand - - - ing,
I’m standing on the
promises of God.
 
3. Standing on the promises
of Christ the Lord,
bound to Him eternally
by love’s strong cord,
 
overcoming daily
with the Spirit’s sword,
standing on the
promises of God.
 
Refrain
Stand - - - ing,
stand - - - ing,
standing on the promises
of God my Savior;
 
stand - - - ing,
stand - - - ing,
I’m standing on the
promises of God.
 
4. Standing on the promises
I cannot fall,
listening every moment
to the Spirit’s call,
 
resting in my Savior
as my all in all,
standing on the
promises of God.
 
Refrain
Stand - - - ing,
stand - - - ing,
standing on the promises
of God my Savior;
 
stand - - - ing,
stand - - - ing,
I’m standing on the
promises of God.
 
Worship Song
Rock of Ages
v. 1,2,4 UMH #361
 
1. Rock of Ages,
cleft for me,
let me hide
myself in thee;
 
let the water,
and the blood,
from thy wounded
side which flowed,
 
be of sin the
double cure;
save from wrath,
and make me pure.
 
2. Not the labors
of my hands
can fulfill
thy law’s demands;
 
could my zeal
no respite know,
could my tears
forever flow,
 
all for sin
could not atone;
thou must save,
and thou alone.
 
4. While I draw this
fleeting breath,
when mine eyes
shall close in death,
 
When I soar
to worlds unknown,
see thee on
thy judgment throne,
 
Rock of Ages,
cleft for me,
let me hide
myself in thee.

Passing the Peace of Christ
 
Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
CLM Twinkle Gordon

 So then, remember that at one time you gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us, abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone; in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

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
Shawshank Redemption: Redeemed for a Purpose
Rev. David Petty
 
Pastoral Prayer
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
 
Silent Prayer

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

Invitation to Offering
Lu Petersen

Offertory
In Christ Alone
Dominick Nors
 
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 Hymn
Sending Hymn
Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone
V. 1,3, Refrain W&S #3104
 
1. Amazing grace!
how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found;
was blind, but now I see.
 
3. The Lord has promised
good to me;
his word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
 
My chains are gone,
I’ve been set free.
My God, my Savior,
has ransomed me.
And like a flood his mercy reigns,
unending love, amazing grace
 
 My chains are gone,
I’ve been set free.
My God, my Savior,
has ransomed me.
And like a flood his mercy reigns,
unending love, amazing grace
 
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts