First Steps – June 19, 2023

Someone once said, ā€œPrayer accomplishes within us, within our spirits, deep within our souls, what is later lived out in the circumstances and conditions of our obedience.ā€Ā  I like the quote.Ā  It reminds me that I canā€™t outlive my prayer life.Ā  It also reminds me of the connection between what many call the inward self and the outward self.
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Prayer goes beneath the surface and superficial to breach oneā€™s heart (identity).Ā  Its purpose is to explore and cultivate the heart.Ā  God, in His infinite wisdom, uses prayer as a conduit so that His spirit is infused with the heart of the one praying.Ā  The inward self is being changed and transformed by Godā€™s spirit.Ā  This inward work of God has a purpose, for it becomes the power by which one is obedient.Ā 
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A person can do numerous good things even magnificent things without prayer.Ā  But a prayerless life will result in gaping holes.Ā  Sooner or later, in the depth and complexity of relationships where submission and commitment are required, the inward self will be exposed.Ā  A prayerless life will always struggle with the pulls and demands of a selfish heart; therefore, pray so that the inward self is continually renewed.Ā  It will later be lived out in obedience.


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This Week’s Readings:
*Monday – Acts 2
*Tuesday – Acts 3
*Wednesday – Acts 4
*Thursday – Acts 5
*Friday – Acts 6

Prayer Requests:
– Families traveling throughout the summer.
_Our unwillingly absent members.
-Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not.
-Comfort those who are grieving and in distress.
-Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times.Ā 
-Guidance for those seeking to find their way.
-Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

ā€œDonā€™t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.ā€ – Philippians 4:6


A “Stellar” VBS for 2023!

This year’s Vacation Bible School centered around a space theme, with the motto “Shine Jesus’ Light.” Just like a star, we are reminded to continuously shine with Jesus’ teachings in mind. All astronauts enjoyed fantastic voyages each day with science, arts and crafts, story time, recreation, cinema, and of course, snacks!

Thank you to our volunteers! You made this happen! We want to send a “stellar” thank you to Molly Coleman, Anna Garcia, Rachel Williams, and Sara Rumph. Also, thank you to parents and children for your donations to the Ukraine Ministries! Because of your giving, our children in orphanages will receive $1512.71! We’d also like to announce that our Space Rangers group raised the most money for this important mission!

Thank you again for a successful week of VBS!

June 4, 2023 – “Right Rites: Part 1, Communion” – Rev. Dr. Shane Green

Worship (SPUMCColumbus)
Worship (SPUMCColumbus)
June 4, 2023 - "Right Rites: Part 1, Communion" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
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Contemporary Worship Service/1 Corinthians 11:23-26

First Steps – June 12, 2023


Lately, Iā€™ve been reading and pondering the different prayers of Jesus.Ā  Thankfully the different gospels record a few.Ā  They mention Jesus praying multiple times but every now and then they give us the actual words prayed.Ā  I love that about the gospels because when I pray those same prayers I feel a kinship with the originatorā€”Jesus.Ā  His most famous prayer was a response to the disciplesā€™ ask of ā€œTeach us to pray.ā€Ā  Of course, we know his response asĀ The Lordā€™s Prayer.Ā 
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In that prayer, the first few lines are successive imperatives: ā€œHallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.ā€Ā  The prayer gathers energy and increases in intensity only to explode outwardlyā€” ā€œon earth as it is in heaven.ā€Ā 
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What is equally significant is how Jesus modeled what he prayed.Ā  If one were to fast forward to the end of each gospel, one finds Jesus living out that prayer in his betrayal, arrest, trial, and death.Ā  In his life, he illustrated obedience.Ā  He illustrated the glorification of God.Ā  He illustrated submission to Godā€™s will.Ā  He understood his life and purpose as a means to fulfill Godā€™s Kingdom.Ā 
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On one level, we see this as something only Jesus can do.Ā  Granted there is a great deal of truth in that thought.Ā  The uniqueness of Christ was confirmed in his resurrection.Ā  Yes, there were and are some things only Jesus did and can do.Ā  Yet, as followers of Christ, we are to walk his path.Ā  We are expected, even commanded, to live as he lived.Ā  We embrace those imperatives ofĀ Hallowed be your name, Your Kingdom come,Ā andĀ Your will be doneĀ so that they explode with the newness of life for all those around us to see.Ā Ā Ā The Lordā€™s PrayerĀ is not something simply to be prayed, it is something to be lived.Ā 



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This Week’s Readings:
*Monday – Luke 21
*Tuesday – Luke 22
*Wednesday – Luke 23
*Thursday – Luke 24
*Friday – Acts 1

Prayer Requests:
-Our unwillingly absent members.
-Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not.
-Comfort those who are grieving and in distress.
-Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times.Ā 
-Guidance for those seeking to find their way.
-Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

ā€œDonā€™t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.ā€ – Philippians 4:6


May 28, 2023 – “Methods of Evangelism” – Rev. John Fugh, Jr.

Worship (SPUMCColumbus)
Worship (SPUMCColumbus)
May 28, 2023 - "Methods of Evangelism" - Rev. John Fugh, Jr.
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Contemporary Worship Service/1 Corinthians 9:19-27