May 1, 2021

Dear Beloved St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation Family,

Grace and peace to you, beloved friends. By the time you read these words we will have turned the calendar to May, and the weeks continue to fly by. Still, though, as Christ followers we find ourselves in the season of Easter, at the crucible of living as resurrection people in the midst of a broken world. This intersection of divine love and human need is our focus this weekend, as we remember the vertical and horizontal aspects of our multi-dimensional lives and faith. Join us in today’s worship by clicking clicking here.

Children’s Sunday School
Today is Miss Jenna's last day to lead us in Sunday school. Jenna, one of the Wesley interns, is graduating soon. Share in the lesson on the parable of The Sower by clicking here. There is a leaflet that goes with this lesson, as well as a coloring page, another activity page, and a family activity page, located here. 

Small Group Discussion
Still feeling disconnected? You don’t have to be! We continue to make real and meaningful relationships in our weekly discussion groups. We would love to have you join us on Sunday, May 2nd at 11am on Zoom. You can join us by clicking here (if you are using the Zoom App, the meeting ID is: 859 0584 5591 and the Password is: stpauls).

Regathering Plan
This week, the church council decided to proceed with our phased regathering plan as previously communicated, which means that our worship will move to a live stream in mid-May (hopefully on May 16th), and then invite a limited number of worshipers into the sanctuary on Sunday, June 6th. More information about both of these transitions will be coming soon. Please pay attention to written communication from the church so you don’t miss these important updates!

Grace|Peace,
Pastor Greg
Order of Worship
Greeting: Rev. Greg Milinovich

Call to Worship
One: We are called beloved:
All: this is a bold love, excelling all others!
One: When we receive this love, it changes us:
All: we love because God first loved us!
One: This is the new commandment; this is what makes and marks us:
All: As we are loved by Jesus, so let us love one another!

Opening Hymn: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (UMH 384)

Prayer of Confession (UMH 893)
One: Lord, we confess our day to day failure to be truly human.
All: Lord, we confess to you.
One: Lord, we confess that we often fail to love with all we have and are,
Often because we do not fully understand what loving means,
Often because we are afraid of risking ourselves.
All: Lord, we confess to you.
One: Lord, we cut ourselves off from each other and we erect barriers of division.
All: Lord, we confess to you.
One: Lord, we confess that by silence and ill-considered word
All: we have built up walls of prejudice.
One: Lord, we confess that by selfishness and lack of sympathy
All: we have stifled generosity and left little time for others.
One: Holy Spirit, speak to us. Help us listen to your word of forgiveness, for we are very deaf.
All: Come, fill this moment, and free us from sin.
 
Words of Assurance

Passing the Peace

Children’s Message: Liz McMillan

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21 – Rev. Becky McGee

Message: “Beloved, Let Us Love” – Rev. Greg Milinovich

Pastoral Prayer

Offering

Closing Hymn: “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” (FWS 2223)

Benediction
 
Postlude
Discussion Questions:

  • Pastor Greg used breathing as a metaphor for receiving our belovedness as something we must continually keep doing. How do you continue to learn and relearn that you are God’s beloved?

  • How is loving others the natural response to God’s love for us?

  • Is the cross a meaningful symbol for you of the vertical and horizontal aspects of our live and faith? Does this altar the way you see the cross as a symbol at all? Why or why not?

  • How can we work towards a well-balanced faith between acts of piety (vertical) and acts of mercy (horizontal)?  
St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation
250 East College Avenue | State College, PA 16801 | 814-237-2163 | stpaulsc.org