January 16, 2020
Dear Beloved St. Paul's UMC and Wesley Foundation Family,
Grace and Peace to you, friends, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. While 2021 remains fresh and new, we are still reeling from the scenes of anger and fear that have taken place in our country in the last 10 days. We may also be anxious about the days ahead, about the inauguration, more violence, and the healing that obviously needs to take place. In the midst of this reality, God is still showing up, and still calling us to something new, as we've been discussing for these last 10 months. In this weekend's worship service, we remember how God is inviting us to discipleship, even now, even in this time, as we continue to follow the God who surprises us. You can worship with us by clicking here.
In response to the attack on the Capitol, the United Methodist Council of Bishops issued a call to action which can be read here, and some local community leaders have planned a "No Place for Hate" candlelight vigil for Sunday evening at 4:30 in the State College Presbyterian Church parking lot, as a way to express solidarity that Centre County is no place for hate. More information about the vigil can be found here.
Children's Sunday School
This week, our students will be learning about how Jesus called his disciples, and how Jesus calls us! In this prerecorded Sunday School lesson, we sing together, learn together, and pray together. Join with us in Sunday School by clicking here.
Small Group Discussion
Once again we want to invite you to join with us in relationship building tomorrow (January 17) on Zoom at 11:00 AM by clicking here (if you are using the Zoom App, the meeting ID is: 859 0584 5591 and the Password is: stpauls), as we break into small groups and discuss the call to discipleship in such times as these.
Grace|Peace,
Pastor Greg
Order of Worship
Greeting and Call to Worship: Psalm 139:7-12
Opening Hymn: "We Would See Jesus" (UMH 256)
Prayer of Confession (written by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Thou Eternal God, out of whose absolute power and infinite intelligence the whole universe has come into being, we humbly confess that we have not loved thee with our hearts, souls and minds, and we have not loved our neighbors as Christ loved us. We have all too often lived by our own selfish impulses rather than by the life of sacrificial love as revealed by Christ. We often give in order to receive. We love our friends and hate our enemies. We go the first mile but dare not travel the second. We forgive but dare not forget. And so as we look within ourselves, we are confronted with the appalling fact that the history of our lives is the history of an eternal revolt against you. But thou, O God, have mercy upon us. Forgive us for what we could have been but failed to be. Give us the intelligence to know your will. Give us the courage to do your will. Give us the devotion to love your will. In the name and spirit of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Affirmation and Passing the Peace
Children's Message: Shannon Milinovich
Scripture: John 1:43-51 (NRSV) - Glenn Albert
Message: "Come and See" - Rev. Sarah Voigt
Litany for Revealing
One: God, forces are at work in our world,
All: Which are at odds with your goals:
Death and destruction,
Injustice and abuse,
Apathy and self-centeredness,
Violence and hatred,
Status quo and inertia,
And hidden sins brought to light.
But ahead we can see,
Your kingdom coming,
Your people awakening,
Your glory shining.
We can see how today's messy revealing
Is tomorrow's hope,
How the rubble of today's destroyed systems
Is tomorrow's fertile soil.
So we trust,
And we follow,
And we stay awake
And we keep watch.
And we don't shirk our work,
And we don't deny our complicity,
And we don't disempower the prophets,
And we don't silence the marginalized.
And we don't surround ourselves with so much noise that we can't hear your voice.
And we don't allow ourselves to despair.
We beat our swords into ploughshares.
We set our tables and open our doors.
We make way for the Community of God.
We prepare the way of the Lord.
Help us to humbly accept all the change that must happen,
In our society and in our own hearts,
To work together for new life and for good,
And to walk the peaceful way of Christ. Amen
©2019 by Fran Pratt. All Rights Reserved
Pastoral Prayer (with "Stay With Us," vs. 3, 1, FWS 2199)
Offering
Closing Hymn: "The Summons" (FWS 2130)
Benediction
Postlude

Discussion Questions:
  1. Pastor Sarah shared Eugene Peterson's definition of discipleship as a "long obedience in the same direction." How have you found this to be true (or not)?

  2. In what ways or places have you, like Jacob and the disciples, been surprised by the presence of God? How have you marked or identified those revelations? (or how could you?)

  3. As a result of the pandemic, many of us have been forced to live life more slowly. What have you learned about yourself and your faith journey as a result of this? What do you want to take with you?
St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation
250 East College Avenue | State College, PA 16801 | 814-237-2163 | stpaulsc.org