August 25, 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
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Threshold Moment
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

*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
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
TFWS #2171
 
1. Make me a channel
of your peace.
Where there is hatred,
let me bring your love,
 
Where there is injury,
your pardon, Lord,
and where there’s doubt,
true faith in you.
 
2. Make me a channel
of your peace.
Where there’s
despair in life,
let me bring hope.
 
Where there is darkness,
only light,
and where there’s sadness,
ever joy.
 
3. Oh, Master, grant that
I may never seek
so much to be consoled
as to console,
 
to be understood
as to understand,
to be loved
as to love
with all my soul.
 
4. Make me a channel
of your peace.
It is in pardoning
that we are pardoned,
 
In giving of ourselves
that we receive,
and in dying that
we’re born to eternal life.
 
*Worship Song
O Church of God United
v. 1, 3 UMH #547
 
1. O church of God, united
to serve one common Lord,
proclaim to all one message,
with hearts in glad accord.
 
Christ ever goes before us;
we follow day by day
with strong and
eager footsteps
along the upward way.
 
3. Though creeds
and tongues may differ,
they speak,
O Christ, of thee;
and in thy loving spirit
we shall one people be.
 
Lord, may our
faithful service
and singleness of aim
proclaim to all the power
of thy redeeming name.
 
*Greeting Your Neighbors – Passing the Peace of Christ
 
Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
John 1:5; Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 2:6
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light,

whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk in the same way as he walked.

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 4 – Torchbearers and Light in Action
Shay Batte
 
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
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Offertory
 Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

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
We’ve a Story to Tell the Nations
UMH #569
 
1. We’ve a story to
tell to the nations,
that shall turn their
hearts to the right,
 
a story of truth and mercy,
a story of peace and light,
a story of peace and light.
 
Refrain
For the darkness
shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning
to noonday bright;
 
and Christ’s great kingdom
shall come on earth,
the kingdom of
love and light.
 
2. We’ve a song to be
sung to the nations,
that shall lift their
hearts to the Lord,
 
a song that shall
conquer evil
and shatter the
spear and sword,
and shatter the
spear and sword.
 
Refrain
For the darkness
shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning
to noonday bright;
 
and Christ’s great kingdom
shall come on earth,
the kingdom of
love and light.
 
3. We’ve a message
to give to the nations,
that the Lord who
reigneth above
 
hath send us his Son
to save us,
and show us that
God is love,
and show us that
God is love.
 
Refrain
For the darkness
shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning
to noonday bright;
 
and Christ’s great kingdom
shall come on earth,
the kingdom of
love and light.
 
4. We’ve a Savior
to show to the nations,
who the path
of sorrow hath trod,
 
that all of the
world’s great peoples
might come to
the truth of God,
might come to
the truth of God.
 
Refrain
For the darkness
shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning
to noonday bright;
 
and Christ’s great kingdom
shall come on earth,
the kingdom of
love and light.
 
Benediction
Shay Batte

Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts