August 18, 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.

Monday
6:30p Jubilee Bell Rehearsal
7:00p Vocal Fusion Rehearsal
7:30p Peak Experience Barbershop Chorus

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
In Christ There is No East or West
UMH #548
 
1. In Christ there is
no east or west,
in Him no south or north;
 
but one great
fellowship of love
throughout the
whole wide earth.
 
2. In Christ shall true
hearts everywhere
their high
communion find;
 
His service is
the golden cord
close binding humankind.
 
3. In Christ is neither
Jew nor Greek,
and neither slave nor free;
 
both male and female
heirs are made,
and all are kin to me.
 
4. In Christ now meet
both east and west,
in Him meet
south and north;
 
all Christly souls
are one in Him
throughout the whole
wide earth.
 
*Worship Song
Blest Be the Tie that Binds
v. 1, 3 UMH #557
 
1. Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship
of kindred minds
is like to that above.
 
3. We share
each other’s woes,
our mutual burdens bear;
and often for
each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
 
*Greet Your Neighbor – Passing the Peace of Christ
 
Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
Hebrew 12:14-15 & John 6:22-35
CLM Twinkle Gordon

 Pursue peace with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and through it many become defiled.

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with his disciples but that his disciples had gone away alone. But some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us, then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

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 3 – Effort & Cooperation
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!

*Sending Hymn
Together We Serve
v. 1-4 TFWS #2175
 
1. Together we serve,
united by love,
inviting God’s world to
the glorious feast.
 
We work and we pray
through sorrow and joy,
extending your love
to the last
and the least.
 
2. We seek to become
a beacon of hope,
a lamp for the heart
and a light for the feet.
 
We learn, year by year,
to let love shine through
until we see Christ
in each person we meet.
 
3. We welcome the scarred,
the wealthy, the poor,
the busy, the lonely,
and all who need care.
 
We offer a home
to those who will come,
our hands quick to help,
our hearts ready to dare.
 
4. Together, by grace,
we witness and work,
remembering Jesus,
in whom we grow strong.
 
Together we serve
in Spirit and truth,
remembering love is
the strength of our song.
 
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts