Author: Laura Marvets

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First Steps – June 22, 2020

Gregory of Nazianzus was often known as Gregory the Theologian. He studied in Caesarea, Alexandria, and finally in Athens.  For the ancient world, he had an excellent education and was highly respected because of it.  A Bishop of The Church in the 4th Century, he is most known for his teachings concerning the nature of the Godhead and his stress of the oneness of the Trinity.  Saying that, he was heavily concerned with personal holiness and how one lived faithfully day-to-day.

He said, “These three things God requires of all the baptized:  right faith in the heart, truth on the tongue, and temperance of the body.”

Here are what followers of Christ need to constantly remember: Faith, thoughts, words, and actions are connected.  What one believes determines how one thinks, speaks, and acts. For us, we are people of the Kingdom of God.  We live by faith, we adopt a standard of life, ethics, and structure that is conducive to Christ’s teachings.

Draw strength from knowing that you are connected to God. Know that you are connected to a long line of believers whom have lived the same journey of faith under the God of grace and mercy.

This Week’s Readings:

  • Monday – 2 Peter 3
  • Tuesday – 1 John 1
  • Wednesday – 1 John 2
  • Thursday – 1 John 3
  • Friday – 1 John 4

Please Pray for:

  • Our ministers and their families.
  • Those who are unwillingly absent.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • Our nation and our leaders.
  • The World.
  • The Lost.
  • The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.
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Connecting June 21 – June 27

CONNECTING THROUGH WORSHIP & PRAYER

Sunday, June 21 | “Understanding The Old Testament – Living Outside of Eden. “
w/ Rev. Dr. Shane Green
Worship @ 9AM, 11AM, 1PM & 4PM

Click here to join our online worshiping community.

Wednesday, June 24 | Study of the Book of Acts
w/ Rev. Dr. Green @10AM on Facebook Live / Live.spumccolumbus.com

Monday, June 22 – Friday, June 26 | Mid-Day Prayer
Each Weekday @ 12:15PM

CONNECTING YOUTH

Sunday, June 21 | “Sunday School Live”
w/ Mark Ellis @10:45AM on Instagram

Monday, June 22 | “Senior Hot Seat – 21 Questions”
w/ Anna Fugh on Zoom. Link and time will be posted on SPY Instagram.

Wednesday, June 24 | Mid-Week Catch Up
w/ St. Paul Youth Leaders @7PM on Instagram

CONNECTING CHILDREN

All Children’s Online events will be posted on St. Paul Kids Instagram account each week – Be sure to check in online every week!

Sunday, June 21 | “Children’s Sermon”
w/ Sally Key Bowden @ 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, & 4PM

CONNECTING SMALL GROUPS

Sunday, June 21 | “Seekers’ Sunday School”
The Gospel of Mark by Francis Chan
w/ Mary Lou Jarrell @10AM. Contact Mary Lou for more information.

Sunday, June 21 | “Bridges Sunday School”
w/ Mark Ellis @10AM. Contact Mark for more information.

Sunday, June 21 | “Wildwood Sunday School”
w/ Evelyn Barfield @9:45AM. Contact Evelyn for more information.

Sunday, June 21 | “Welcome In” Sunday School Class
w/ Buddy Cooper @10AM
Contact Buddy at buddy@stpaulunitedmethodist.com for more information.

Tuesday, June 23 | “Grace Bible Study”
You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado
w/ Grace Bailey @11AM. Contact Grace for more information.

Tuesday, June 23 | “Spring Harbor Bible Study”
The Book of Acts
w/ Rev. John Fugh @4PM. Contact John for more information.
Call In: (706) 507-9085  PIN 1952#

Thursday, June 25 | “Preschool Mom’s Study”
You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado
w/ Grace Bailey @9AM. Contact Grace for more information.

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First Steps – June 15, 2020

N.T (Tom) Wright, former Anglican Bishop, is currently the Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Oxford.  I have a deep appreciation for his research and writings. He wrote this reflection about Acts 18 and Paul’s ministry in Corinth and Ephesus:

“Luke offers us no set pattern for the way in which people come, step by step, into full membership in the Christian family and full participation in all the possibilities that are opened to them. Sometimes it happens this way and sometimes that way.  Just as humans grow to maturity at different paces, and some make great strides in one area while others have to catch up later, so it seems to be in the church. What matters is that we are open, ready to learn even from unlikely sources, and prepared for whatever God has to reveal to us through Scripture, the apostolic teaching, common life of believers, and the Holy Spirit.”

I marvel at this reflection because I think he has his finger on the pulse of faith development.  It is not and never has been a one-stop-shop.  It is the one God in Christ whom is the driver behind faith development; but God works in tandem with the person. This means the speed of faith development is largely due to the person.  God is always waiting and wanting but isn’t a violator of one’s will.

Therefore, a premium is placed on one’s openness.  We need to always be open, ready, and willing.  If we are, God will always do what is needed to form the nature of Christ in us. Thanks be to God!

This Week’s Readings:

  • Monday – 1 Peter 3
  • Tuesday – 1 Peter 4
  • Wednesday – 1 Peter 5
  • Thursday – 2 Peter 1
  • Friday – 2 Peter 2

Please Pray for:

  • Our ministers and their families.
  • Those who are unwillingly absent.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • Our nation and our leaders.
  • The World.
  • The Lost.
  • The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.
Posted on

Connecting June 14 – June 20

CONNECTING THROUGH WORSHIP & PRAYER

Sunday, June 14 | “Understanding The Old Testament – Where To Being. “
w/ Rev. Dr. Shane Green
Worship @ 9AM, 11AM, 1PM & 4PM

Click here to join our online worshiping community.

Wednesday, June 17 | Study of the Book of Acts
w/ Rev. Dr. Green @10AM on Facebook Live / Live.spumccolumbus.com

Monday, June 15 – Friday, June 19 | Mid-Day Prayer
Each Weekday @ 12:15PM

CONNECTING YOUTH

Sunday, June 14 | “Sunday School Live”
w/ John Fugh, III @10:30AM on Instagram

Monday, June 15 | “Senior Hot Seat – 21 Questions”
w/ Jack Wright @ 8PM on Zoom. Link will be posted on SPY Instagram.

Wednesday, June 17 | Mid-Week Catch Up
w/ St. Paul Youth Leaders @7PM on Instagram

CONNECTING CHILDREN

All Children’s Online events will be posted on Sally’s YouTube Channel @3:30PM
You can also stay up to date on St. Paul Kids Events on Instagram.

Sunday, June 14 | “Children’s Sermon”
w/ Sally Key Bowden @ 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, & 4PM

Tuesday, June 16 & Thursday, June 18 | St. Paul Kid’s “Driveway Visits”
w/ Sally Key Bowden. Please email Sally if you are interested in your children participating.

CONNECTING SMALL GROUPS

Sunday, June 14 | “Seekers’ Sunday School”
The Gospel of Mark by Francis Chan
w/ Mary Lou Jarrell @10AM. Contact Mary Lou for more information.

Sunday, June 14 | “Bridges Sunday School”
w/ Mark Ellis @10AM. Contact Mark for more information.

Sunday, June 14 | “Wildwood Sunday School”
w/ Evelyn Barfield @9:45AM. Contact Evelyn for more information.

Sunday, June 14 | “Welcome In” Sunday School Class
w/ Buddy Cooper @10AM
Contact Buddy at buddy@stpaulunitedmethodist.com for more information.

Tuesday, June 16 | “Grace Bible Study”
You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado
w/ Grace Bailey @11AM. Contact Grace for more information.

Tuesday, June 16 | “Spring Harbor Bible Study”
The Book of Acts
w/ Rev. John Fugh @4PM. Contact John for more information.
Call In: (706) 507-9085  PIN 1952#

Thursday, June 18 | “Preschool Mom’s Study”
You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado
w/ Grace Bailey @9AM. Contact Grace for more information.

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First Steps – June 8, 2020

Recently I read an article in Wall Street Journal (May 12) titled: The Science of Prayer. Being a pastor, naturally I was curious what the article was going to say.  Here are a few quotes to consider:

“Since [the] pandemic, the practice of prayer has increased. Amy Wachholtz, Associate Professor and Clinical Health Psychology Director at University of Colorado—’It [Prayer] lets you put down your burden and mentally rest for a bit.’  Different studies have revealed that it can calm your nervous system, shutting down your fight or flight responses.  It can make you less reactive to negative emotions and less angry.”

“Focusing on a higher power (article’s term) is better than just meditation. Imagine carrying a backpack for hours and then when it becomes too heavy, you give it to someone else—this is what prayer can do.  But not all prayer is created equal, experts say.  A 2004 study on religious coping methods in the Journal of Health Psychology found that people who approach God as a partner, or collaborator, in their life had better mental and physical health outcomes, and people who are angry at God—who feel punished or abandoned—or who relinquish responsibility and defer to God for solutions had worse outcomes.”

“Florida State University research has found that people who pray for their spouse when they feel a negative emotion have more satisfaction in their marriage. “

If you are not a praying person, consider becoming one.  If you are, continue the discipline and trust God to carry your burdens.

Remember Jesus’ words: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30.



This Week’s Readings:

  • Monday –  James 3
  • Tuesday –  James 4
  • Wednesday –  James 5
  • Thursday – 1 Peter 1
  • Friday  – 1 Peter 2

Please Pray for:

  • Our ministers and their families.
  • Those who are unwillingly absent.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • Our nation and our leaders.
  • The World.
  • The Lost.
  • The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.
Posted on

Connecting June 7 – June 13

CONNECTING THROUGH WORSHIP & PRAYER

Sunday, June 7 | “One Other Thing To Remember.”
w/ Rev. John Fugh, Jr.
Worship @ 9AM, 11AM, 1PM & 4PM

Click here to join our online worshiping community.

Wednesday, June 10 | Study of the Book of Acts
w/ Rev. Dr. Green @10AM on Facebook Live / Live.spumccolumbus.com

Monday, June 8 – Friday, June 12 | Mid-Day Prayer
Each Weekday @ 12:15PM

CONNECTING YOUTH

Sunday, June 7 | “Sunday School Live”
w/ Logan Olgetree @10:30AM on Instagram

Tuesday, June 9 | “SPY Quarantine Olympics”
w/ St. Paul Youth Leaders @ 5PM on Instagram

Wednesday, June 10 | Mid-Week Catch Up
w/ St. Paul Youth Leaders @7PM on Instagram

Thursday, June 11 | “SPY Quarantine Olympics”
w/ St. Paul Youth Leaders @5PM on Instagram

CONNECTING CHILDREN

All Children’s Online events will be posted on Sally’s YouTube Channel @3:30PM
You can also stay up to date on St. Paul Kids Events on Instagram.

Sunday, June 7 | “Children’s Sermon”
w/ Sally Key Bowden @ 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, & 4PM

Tuesday, June 9 & Thursday, June 11 | Weekly St. Paul Kid’s Video
w/ Sally Key Bowden @3:30PM on YouTube.

CONNECTING SMALL GROUPS

Sunday, June 7 | “Seekers’ Sunday School”
The Gospel of Mark by Francis Chan
w/ Mary Lou Jarrell @10AM. Contact Mary Lou for more information.

Sunday, June 7 | “Bridges Sunday School”
w/ Mark Ellis @10AM. Contact Mark for more information.

Sunday, June 7 | “Wildwood Sunday School”
w/ Evelyn Barfield @9:45AM. Contact Evelyn for more information.

Sunday, June 7 | “Welcome In” Sunday School Class
w/ Buddy Cooper @10AM
Contact Buddy at buddy@stpaulunitedmethodist.com for more information.

Tuesday, June 9 | “Grace Bible Study”
You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado
w/ Grace Bailey @11AM. Contact Grace for more information.

Tuesday, June 9 | “Spring Harbor Bible Study”
The Book of Acts
w/ Rev. John Fugh @4PM. Contact John for more information.
Call In: (706) 507-9085  PIN 1952#

Thursday, June 11 | “Preschool Mom’s Study”
You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado
w/ Grace Bailey @9AM. Contact Grace for more information.

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