April 7, 2024

God is doing amazing things at Crossfire Ministries, located at 3975 N. Academy Blvd. We are adding nearly 30 new families each day of service and are serving almost 500 families daily, Tuesday through Thursday and 250 families on the 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings. The fourth Tuesday night is our School Outreach which is open to school employees who need a little extra help and care. To open up more parking spaces for our guests, we are now having as many volunteers as will, park their cars at a neighboring church and we running a shuttle bus every 15 minutes daily. And we do not see the community need decrease, as many people struggle with the high cost of housing and living.

We pass out Bibles and offer prayer. About 70 to 80 percent stop by the prayer station. We gave away about 3000 Bibles in 2023. Daily we give out things from our thrift store in the form of store credits for our families in need. We average from $1000 to $2000 dollars given out for free each day. We are able to obtain a get a great deal of produce and fresh products from Care and Share and many local businesses but our budget for canned goods and hygiene products averages about $20,000.00 a month. We appreciate the support and help from area churches and individuals who help contribute to this need.

So far, we are continuing to be able to supply our guests with food, clothing, household goods and toiletries. God has been faithful and we give Him all the honor and glory.

I would personally love to give you a tour to see our facility and operations. If it is around our lunch time, I also would love for you to join us for lunch.

With gratitude and blessings,
Leslie Miller
Founder & Assistant Operations Manager
719-650-4336 (cell)

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.

May 9, The Pikes Peak Home School music students who rehearse here on Mondays and Wednesdays will be presenting their spring concert. As a way to say how glad we are that they are at St. Paul’s, we are going to be serving cookies, lemonade, and iced tea during the concert’s intermission. THIS IS A COOKIE CALL!!!!!! We are planning on 300 attendees…That’s a lot of cookies! If you are baking or at the grocery store please make or pick up some cookies and bring them into the church. They can be put in the freezer in the back of the kitchen that is marked VBS or marked “Concert “and placed on the counter. I would also appreciate a few volunteers to help with set-up, serving, and clean-up.

June 9, We have a Youth Choir visiting us and they will be providing some of their music during the service. We want to say, “Thank You” and welcome them with a potluck right after the service. St. Paul’s will be providing the dessert so plan on bringing a main dish, side, or salad to serve 12(since we are hosting the youth and their adult advisors)

Mother’s Day Brunch-May 12th: Back by popular demand, the annual Mother’s Day Brunch will soon be taking reservations. Watch for signup sheets on Sunday mornings beginning in mid-April, or contact the church office and reserve your table. Again, this year, the Picnic Basket will be catering the meal following the church service, so bring the whole family for a hassle-free celebration. The menu will include quiche, French toast with fruit compote, fresh-baked ham, breakfast burritos with all the toppings, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and fruit juices, as well as a variety of continental breakfast items. Suggested donation (remember, no tax or tip!) for adults is $30, with children under 12 eating free. If your budget won’t cover that cost, just give what you can—but come and enjoy the fellowship.

Getting your Ducks in a Row-June 8th: Whether financial and estate planning, keeping medical records, planning for emergency evacuations, or simply making our lives less stressful, we all know we should be better organized. Since we don’t know where to start, we procrastinate. Senior advisor Judy Rough has spent her career helping older clients organize their lives. Though she lives in Denver, she has offered to sponsor a free community seminar at St. Paul’s. The only cost will be for binder materials, available upon registration. The workshop is only a starting point; be prepared to devote some time to following her advice. We’ll enjoy a potluck brunch followed by a half-day workshop. So, sharpen your pencils, bring that egg casserole, and prepare to get your “ducks in a row.” Remember to invite all your friends, since this is a community outreach from St. Paul’s.
Contact Jeanne Marsh (719-229-1708) or the church office to register.

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Greeting
Rev. David Petty

Threshold Moment
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

During this season of Cultivating Community, we are constantly asking who we are and who is with us in community.  Let us affirm for one another that we are siblings in Christ and that we are together in one mission, one vision, all around the same shared table.

Threshold Song
Who is my Mother? Who Is My Brother?
v. 1, 4 TFWS #2225
 
1. Who is my mother,
who is my brother?
all those who gather
round Jesus Christ:
 
Spirit-blown people,
born from the Gospel
sit at the table,
round Jesus Christ.
 
4. Bound by one vision,
met for one mission
we claim each other,
round Jesus Christ:
 
Here is my mother,
here is my brother,
kindred in Spirit,
through Jesus Christ.

Calling on God Prayer
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Leader: Let us pray together:

People: Gracious God, we are Easter people. For us, and for this day, we give thanks. You are our rock, our fortress, our salvation and our refuge.

As we gather to worship, let us find rest in Your presence as we celebrate once again the resurrected Christ. Renew our spirits, O Lord, that we may live in the joy and peace of Your eternal love.
Amen

Opening Hymn
Come and Find a Quiet Center
TFWS #2128
 
1. Come and find
the quiet center
in the crowded
life we lead,
 
find the room
for hope to enter,
find the frame
where we are freed:
 
Clear the chaos
and the clutter,
clear our eyes
that we can see.
 
all the things
that really matter,
be at peace,
and simply be.
 
2. Silence is a
friend who claims us,
cools the heat
and slows the pace,
 
God it is who
speaks and names us,
knows our being,
touches base,
 
making space
within our thinking,
lifting shades to
show the sun,
 
raising courage
when we’re shrinking,
finding scope
for faith begun.
 
3. In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other’s pain,
let our loves
and fears unravel,
 celebrate the
space we gain:
 
There’s a place
for deepest dreaming,
there’s a time for
heart to care,
 
in the Spirit’s
lively scheming
there is always
room to spare.
 
Passing the Peace of Christ

Mystery Box

Scripture Reading

Mark 2:23-3:6
2 Corinthians 4:5-12 CEB
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Then [Jesus] said, “The Sabbath was created for humans; humans weren’t created for the Sabbath. This is why the Human One is Lord even over the Sabbath.”
 — Mark 2:23 - 3:6

God said that light should shine out of the darkness. He is the same one who shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
— 2 Corinthians 4: 5-12 CEB

Prayer for Illumination
Rev. David Petty
       
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
Rest-Assured: Re-Creating a Culture of Rest
Rev. David Petty

As we begin the series, we will look to what Jesus taught about keeping the Sabbath. In order to tend a new creation within us, we focus less on rules, and more about what gives us life and light as a way of “Sabbath-making!” This, then, is the way we are refreshed and renewed so that the light of Christ can be reignited and shine within us. What practices of Sabbath will we engage in this season that will refresh our spirits?
 
Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Offertory
Here I Am Lord
Daniel Schutte
Sanctuary Choir

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!

Communion
Rev. David Petty
 
Communion Hymn
One Bread, One Body
UMH #620
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
1. Gentile or Jew,
servant or free,
woman or man,
no more.
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
2. Many the gifts,
many the works,
one in the Lord of all.
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
3. Grain for the fields,
scattered and grown,
gathered to one, for all.
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
Communion Hymn
Hymn of Promise
UMH #707
 
1. In the bulb
there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons,
a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
 
In the cold
and snow of winter
there’s a spring
that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
 
2. There’s a song
in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn
in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
 
From the past
will come the future;
what it holds,
a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
 
3. In the end
is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt
there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
 
In our death,
a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

Closing Blessing
Rev. David Petty

Closing Hymn
Easter People, Raise Your Voices
UMH #304
 
1. Easter people,
raise your voices,
sounds of heaven
in earth should ring.
 
Christ has brought
us heaven’s choices;
heavenly music,
let it ring.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Easter people, let us sing.
 
2. Fear of death
can no more stop us
from our pressing
here below.
 
For our Lord
empowered us to
triumph over every foe.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
On to victory
now we go.
 
3. Every day to
us is Easter
with its
resurrection song.
 
When in trouble
move the faster
to our God
who rights the wrong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
See the power
of heavenly throngs.
 
Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Blessed are you who find rest amid the chaos - You who can quiet your mind despite the background noise of life.

Blessed are you who nap, who rest, and who find God in the midst of it all.
Amen.
 
Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts