September 24, 2022

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

Grace and peace to you all! This week we finish our series “Outdoing: Being Kind as a Way of Life” with the closing words in the epistle of 1 Timothy. In this last week we will reflect on the call to “be present.” As the writer calls Timothy and ourselves, as current readers, to let go of our quest for more and take hold of the life that is truly life, we are reminded that it is God who richly gives life to all things. God, the Holy One, is present with us! What might these words have to teach us about practicing a life of outdoing one another by showing honor (Romans 12:10)?

You are invited to join us in worship, either in person or online – we look forward to gathering with the church in worship.

Here is our schedule for September 25, 2022: 

9:00 AM

In-person Service of Word and Table in the sanctuary

9:00 AM

In-person Sunday School for children, youth, and adults



10:30 AM

Hybrid worship service in-person and livestreamed here.

*Please remember that since this service is filmed and live-streamed,

you or your family members may be on our worship recording,

which is streamed and archived on our YouTube channel.

11:30 AM

Discussion Group in-person and on Zoom

(Join by clicking here, or use Meeting ID- 859 0584 5591 and Passcode- stpauls)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please remember that masks are optional, and if you are feeling uncomfortable, or are experiencing any symptoms, you can worship with us via our livestream at 10:30 (see link above).

Grace | Peace,

Pastor Sarah

Prelude: “Simple Gifts” (Wilbur Held)

Mary Bahnfleth

Greeting and Welcome

Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt

Call to Worship 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow

The Holy is here, present with us. 

Let us praise God, all creatures here below

The Holy is here, present with us. 

Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit 

You are present with us. 

Anthem: “It’s a Happy Day” (Gary Pfeiffer, arr. Keene)

Children’s Choir

Opening Hymn: “I Sing the Almighty Power of God” (UMH 152)

Passing the Peace

Dr. Jessica Davis

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NRSV)

Andrew Chung

Sermon: “Be Present”

Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt

Prayer Song: “Christ Beside Me” (TFWS 2166, vs. 1-2)

Pastoral Prayer

Closing Hymn: “Take My Life” 

Benediction

Postlude: “Toccata in F Major” (Dietrich Buxtehude)

Mary Bahnfleth

Discussion Questions

• 1 Timothy 6:6-19, has a lot to say about money and riches – what is one phrase or image that you want to hold onto going forward? What challenge did you hear in these words?

• Romans 12:10 calls us to “outdo one another in showing honor”; what does the image of “outdoing” as blazes on a trail, guiding the way, add to this verse? What do you think it looks like for us to blaze the trail for others?

• In our prayer song today, we sang some of the words of St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer: “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me…”. What does this prayer convey to you about the “life that is truly life”?