Registration may be closed, but there’s still a chance to serve at St Paul for All! We have openings during our third shift at 11:00 AM.
Please arrive 10 minutes early to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Where to meet: The Large Room in the Youth Building (enter through the double doors under the banner).
Dress Code: Wear your St Paul for All shirt with jeans or khakis and comfortable shoes. If you didn’t get your shirt, you can pick one up before your shift at the church.
Family-Friendly: Children 4 and older are welcome to serve alongside you. Consider serving as an individual or bring your family to make it a special day of giving back together!
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel that small acts of kindness and generosity go unnoticed or seem insignificant. But in God’s eyes, even the smallest gestures make a difference. Jesus compared a mark of discipleship to a cup of cold water given to little ones. Those generous souls will not lose their reward (Matt 10:42). Furthermore, the Kingdom of God was compared to a small mustard seed that can yield a massive harvest. A small and insignificant seed becomes something far more, like simple acts of generosity.
In our church and community, we often witness the beauty of the smallest of deeds. Perhaps a meal prepared while someone is recovering from an illness, a kind word shared during a difficult time, or a prayer uttered for someone in need are just a few examples. I’m still energized by the small act of a few people gathered around a table to make a food bag full of ingredients. One small bag after another until, eventually, 25,052 bags were made in a single morning. By setting aside three single mornings over three years, 76,200 bags were made, which equates to over 460,000 meals. On one level, small and insignificant acts became a massive harvest.
Your small acts have a ripple effect that extends far beyond our sight and understanding. Therefore, look for ways to lend a hand to a neighbor or someone in need. Seek to make another person’s life better. Ask yourself, “How can I practice small acts of kindness and generosity today?” The Hebrew writer reminds us, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).
We are reading the Bible in just a little over a year! We are now reading Numbers. You may join anytime. Just mark your Bible on the chapter you started and keep up with the weekly readings.
Things to Pray About: Pray for our country and the 2024 Presidential Election Pray for spiritual maturity. Our unwillingly absent members and shut-ins. Pray for comfort for those who are grieving. Wisdom for our church leaders, local leaders, and world leaders. Family restoration through forgiveness. Continued growth of the faith of the people. Pray for understanding.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6
Dr. John Gladstone, an English Canadian Baptist minister, told a story about a fellow English clergyman who was serving a very small church. Each week, at the end of the service, he would offer communion for those who stayed. Week after week, only a handful of people would stay for the sacrament. One Sunday, even less stayed. The minister even questioned if he should have it because there were just a few. Eventually, he went on with what was promised. He got to the part of the liturgy where it said, “And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn…” He stopped, looked up towards heaven, and said, “God forgive me. I didn’t realize I was in such company.”
This coming Sunday is All Saints’ Sunday. This Sunday reminds us that we are in a community above and beyond time and space. In a mystical union, held together by Christ, we are connected to all those who have gone before us. Frankly, I’m comforted by this connection. I hope you are as well.
We are reading the Bible in just a little over a year! We are now reading Numbers. You may join anytime. Just mark your Bible on the chapter you started and keep up with the weekly readings.
Things to Pray About:
Pray for our country and the 2024 Presidential Election
Pray for spiritual maturity.
Our unwillingly absent members and shut-ins.
Pray for comfort for those who are grieving.
Wisdom for our church leaders, local leaders, and world leaders.
Family restoration through forgiveness.
Continued growth of the faith of the people.
Pray for understanding.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6
In the first half of Ephesians 4, Paul focuses on Christian maturity and how it creates unity in the Body of Christ. In verse 15 Paul mentioned, “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ.”
The association of truth and love in this clause is a significant one. Any claim of loyalty to truth (which results in lack of love) stands as much condemned as any claim to an all-embracing love (which is indifferent to truth). They are not competing as if to say there is a balance that is unachieved. It is a lifestyle that is embodied. The Church is seen as the witness to this lifestyle. Both truth and love should flow freely and in lockstep with each other.
How great it would be for Christians to reclaim this understanding of maturity. We are called to grow, develop, blossom, and mature. It is this level of faith-living that is the most effective witness in the world. Truth without love can be brutally legalistic, hyper-critical, and overly harsh. Love without truth is empty sentimentality.
We are reading the Bible in just a little over a year! We are now finishing the reading of Leviticus and we are starting Numbers. You may join anytime. Just mark your Bible on the chapter you started and keep up with the weekly readings.
Things to Pray About:
Pray for our country and the 2024 Presidential Election
Pray for spiritual maturity.
Our unwillingly absent members and shut-ins.
Pray for comfort for those who are grieving.
Wisdom for our church leaders, local leaders, and world leaders.
Family restoration through forgiveness.
Continued growth of the faith of the people.
Pray for understanding.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6
For Wednesday Night Family Supper we enjoyed a fun and energetic presentation of “Chopped” with Jim Rumph and Sally Watkins as our top chefs! With the objective of creating a dessert, our chefs had a limited time to bring their culinary delights to the judges. In the end, Sally’s dessert was chosen and Jim was chopped! However, everyone enjoyed the antics during the cooking process–especially the children!
A few weeks ago, this hymn was sung in worship. In 28 years of ministry, I can’t recall ever singing this hymn, which is unfortunate because the words are beautiful. You might be familiar with this hymn but if not, I offer it to you for reflection.
O God of Every Nation
O God of every nation, of every race and land, redeem your whole creation with your almighty hand; where hate and fear divide us, and bitter threats are hurled, in love and mercy guide us, and heal our strife-torn world.
From search for wealth and power and scorn of truth and right, from trust in bombs that shower destruction through the night, from pride of race and station and blindness to your way, deliver every nation, eternal God, we pray.
Lord, strengthen all who labor that all may find release from fear of rattling saber, from dread of war’s increase; when hope and courage falter, Lord, let your voice be heard; with faith that none can alter, your servants undergird.
Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease, when hatred and division give way to love and peace, till dawns the morning glorious when truth and justice reign, and Christ shall rule victorious o’er all the world’s domain.
In the past few days, I’ve used these words as a prayer. I invite you to do the same.
We are reading the Bible in just a little over a year! We are now reading Leviticus. You may join anytime. Just mark your Bible on the chapter you started and keep up with the weekly readings.
Things to Pray About:
Pray for our country and the 2024 Presidential Election
Pray for spiritual maturity.
Our unwillingly absent members and shut-ins.
Pray for comfort for those who are grieving.
Wisdom for our church leaders, local leaders, and world leaders.
Family restoration through forgiveness.
Continued growth of the faith of the people.
Pray for understanding.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6
