August 11, 2024

Opportunity Awaits!

You can help clothe children in need in El Paso County as they start back to school. Remember how excited you were to have new clothes for school?

The Assistance League of Colorado Springs is a non-profit, all volunteer, philanthropic organization committed to improving the well-being of children and families through several programs: Operation School Bell, Buddy Bear and ASK. ASK furnishes assault survivor kits in cooperation with Memorial Hospital. These kits include clothing and hygiene supplies. Assistance League is the only organization in Colorado Springs which provides this help to survivors. Sweet Dreams is another program providing mattress/box spring sets to emancipated children leaving foster care along with sheets, pillow cases and towels. Some of these children have never had a bed of their own. Can You Hear Me? is a program which screens preschoolers’ hearing.

As stated, our focus for August is Operation School Bell. It is also Assistance League’s major program. Operation School Bell provides new school clothing and hygiene kits to enhance self-esteem and to encourage regular school attendance for children in need in El Paso County. Public school staff refer children. Based on age, children are given an allotment for purchase at Kohl’s. Appointments are scheduled and some limitations are placed on what can be purchased. A volunteer helps with shopping and checkout to ensure adherence to guidelines. As of 2020, Operation School Bell had served over 100,000 students in El Paso County. Operation School Bell has partnered with United Way to distribute additional coats to children. Widefield High School has held a coat and blanket drive in the last few years to assist Operation School Bell in keeping our youth warm.
If you would like to participate in this mission, you may mail a check to St. Paul’s, drop it off or put it in the plate on Sundays in August, with the memo “August Mission: Operation School Bell”. You may also donate cash or use the online portal for your gift to this worthy cause.

Thank you for your long term support of this mission.
—Missions Committee

“I needed clothes and you clothed me... “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
(Matthew 26:36a, 40)

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

*Threshold Song
Guide My Feet
v. 1, 2, 3, 5 TFWS #2208
 
1. Guide my feet
while I run this race.
(Yes, my Lord!)
Guide my feet
while I run this race.
(Yes, my Lord!)
 
Guide my feet
while I run this race,
for I don’t want to
run this race in vain!
(race in vain)
 
2. Hold my hand
while I run this race.
(Yes, my Lord!)
 Hold my hand
while I run this race.
(Yes, my Lord!)
 
Hold my hand
while I run this race,
for I don’t want to
run this race in vain!
(race in vain)
 
3. Stand by me
while I run this race.
(Yes, my Lord!)
 Stand by me
while I run this race.
(Yes, my Lord!)
 
Stand by me
while I run this race,
for I don’t want to
run this race in vain!
(race in vain)
 
5. Search my heart
while I run this race.
(Yes, my Lord!)
 Search my heart
while I run this race.
(Yes, my Lord!)
 
Search my heart
while I run this race,
for I don’t want to
run this race in vain!
(race in vain)
 
*Opening Hymn
Walk with Me
TFWS #2242
 
Refrain 
Walk with me,
I will walk with you
and build the land that
God has planned
where love shines through.
 
1. When Moses heard
the call of God he said,
“Lord, don’t send me.”
But God told Moses,
“You’re the one
to set my people free.”
 
Refrain 
Walk with me,
I will walk with you
and build the land that
God has planned
where love shines through.
 
2. Now Peter was
a most unlikely
man to lead the flock;
but Jesus knew
his holiness and
he became the Rock.
 
Refrain 
Walk with me,
I will walk with you
and build the land that
God has planned
where love shines through.
 
3. Young Mary Magdalene
was sure her life
could be much more,
and by her faith
she dared to let
God’s love unlock the door.
 
Refrain 
Walk with me,
I will walk with you
and build the land that
God has planned
where love shines through.
 
4. And when you share
your faith with me
and work for life made new,
the witness of
your faithfulness
calls me to walk with you.
 
*Greet Your Neighbor – Passing the Peace of Christ
 
Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
Hebrews 12:1-12
Norm Thom

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—

“My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord
or lose heart when you are punished by him,
for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves
and chastises every child whom he accepts.”

 Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children, for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees

Prayer for Illumination
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
Olympic Faith part 2 of 4
“Training Courage & Perseverance”
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
Norm Thom

Offertory
 
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
Forward Through the Ages
UMH #555
 
1. Forward through the ages,
in unbroken line,
move the faithful spirits
at the call divine;
 
gifts in differing measure,
hearts of one accord,
manifold the service,
one the sure reward.
 
Refrain
Forward through the ages,
in unbroken line,
move the faithful spirits
at the call divine.
 
2. Wider grows the kingdom,
reign of love and light;
for it we must labor,
till our faith is sight.
 
Prophets have
proclaimed it,
martyrs testified,
poets sung its glory.
heroes for it died.
 
Refrain
Forward through the ages,
in unbroken line,
move the faithful spirits
at the call divine.
 
3. Not alone we conquer,
not alone we fall;
in each loss or triumph
lose or triumph all.
 
Bound by God’s
far purpose
in one living whole,
move we on together
to the shining goal.
 
Refrain
Forward through the ages,
in unbroken line,
move the faithful spirits
at the call divine.
 
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts