First Steps – April 2, 2018

Many of you know my fondness for ancient prayers. A fan of church history, I delight in studying those who have gone before us in hope of drawing strength from their lives. Many of the saints overcame dire situations. They modeled faith-in-action. Francois de Fenelon, a French priest, prayed this prayer:

“Lord, you began to perfect your apostles by taking away from them the very thing they didn’t think they could do without the actual presence of Jesus. You destroy in order to build. You take away everything in order to restore it many times over. This is the way you work. You do it differently than we would do it.

Once Christ was gone, you sent the Holy Spirit. Sometimes lacking is more powerful than having. Blessed are those who are deprived of everything. Blessed are those from whom Jesus is removed. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, will come to them. He will comfort their sorrows and wipe away their tears.

But Lord, why isn’t my life filled with this Spirit? It ought to be the soul of my soul, but isn’t. I feel nothing. I see nothing. I am both physically and spiritually lazy. My feeble will is torn between you and a thousand meaningless pleasures. Where is your Spirit? Will it ever arrive and create in me a pure heart?

Now I understand! Your Holy Spirit desires to live in an impoverished soul. Therefore, come Holy Spirit! There is no place emptier than my heart. Come and bring peace.”

The honesty in this prayer is refreshing. Often when we acknowledge the great need of our soul, the constant struggle in seeking fulfillment with any-and-all-things only to be disappointed, we are reduced. We are humbled. It is then that we find ourselves ready to receive God’s Spirit. “Come Holy Spirit! Come and bring peace!”

This week’s reading:

Monday – Acts 2
Tuesday – Acts 3
Wednesday – Acts 4
Thursday – Acts 5
Friday – Acts 6

Please Pray for:

Our Nation and Our Leaders
The St. Paul Ministers and Staff family
High School & College Seniors preparing for graduation
The Unwillingly absent members
Phase 3 (Construction of New Youth Building)

"When Life Doesn't Make Sense: God's Goodness and Pain" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on November 11, 2024 at 6:01 am
11:00 A.M. Traditional Worship November 10, 2024 The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship ...................................................................Be Joyful The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude......................................................Partitas on Dennis, by F. Ashdown Hymn of Celebration.................................The Church’s One Foundation (#545) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Sacrament of Baptism..................................................................(see insert) The Pastoral Prayer with the Lord’s Prayer.........................................Rev. Fugh The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory Anthem.................................................Happy Land, arr. B. Harlan The Doxology The Scripture Lesson...........Genesis 50:15-21 (p. 42); Matthew 7:24-27 (p. 788) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Sermon When Life Doesn’t Make Sense: God’s Goodness & Pain.....Rev. Dr. Green The Hymn of Consecration..............................Blest Be the Tie that Binds (#557) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen...........................................Go Now in Peace The Postlude......................................................Trumpet Tune in D, by M. Sobaje The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"Living and Dying with Hope" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on November 4, 2024 at 6:14 am
Order of Worship November 3, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements ............................................Mrs. Grace Bailey The Choral Call to Worship .........................Bretheren, We Have Met to Worship The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude..................Largo & Minuetto from Sonata in E minor, by G.F. Handel The Processional Hymn..................................................For All the Saints (#711) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) All Saints’ Recognition............................................................. Recognition of The Communion of Saints Donald Leon Baggett Willard Alan Barnes James Edwin Cummings, Jr. Alicia Hendrick Hall Jane Dykes Herndon Mary Alice Humes Terry Bovard Hurley Sally Gordy Kenimer Phillip Elliott Kirven Clarence Robert Koon Lindsay Waddell Layfield Marsengill Lillie Mae Vinson Nelson George Fredrick Schladensky H. Dan Stallings James Clarence Walton Recognition of the Communion of Saints...........................Four Lighting Tables The Collect for All Saints...............................................Rev. Dr. P. Shane Green The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory/Anthem.................................................Celtic Laud, by C. Courtney The Doxology The Scripture Lesson.............1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 and Psalm 90:1-6, 10-12 The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Sermon...........................Living and Dying with Hope, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Service of Holy Communion....................................................................#12 Recessional Hymn.........................................................Hymn of Promise (# 707) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen...................................................3 fold Amen The Postlude.............................................................Ein' feste Burg, by C. Kuntze The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"The Power of Words" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on October 28, 2024 at 4:56 am
Order of Worship October 27, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements ............................................Mrs. Grace Bailey The Choral Call to Worship .........................................................I Come with Joy The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude...........................................La Fille aux cheveaudelin, by C. Debussy The Hymn of Celebration................................Grace Greater than Our Sin (#365) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Sacrament of Infant Baptism.................................Elizabeth Mayher Hamric The Pastoral Prayer with The Lord’s Prayer......................................Mrs. Bailey The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory.......................Open Our Eyes/Be Thou My Vision, arr. M. Hayes The Doxology The Scripture Lesson................................................Ephesians 4:17-32 (p. 951) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Anthem.................................................O Lord Most Holy, by Franck/Hopson The Sermon......................................The Power of Words, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Hymn of Consecration................................Great Is Thy Faithfulness (#140) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen.................................................Together Met The Postlude......Variations on the Duet from LaMolinara, by Paisiello/Beethoven The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"Body Parts Everywhere" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on October 21, 2024 at 5:00 am
Order of Worship October 20, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship ....................................................................Be Joyful The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude..............................................................Praeludium in F, by J.S. Bach The Hymn of Celebration....................................................Jesus Calls Us (#398) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Pastoral Prayer with The Lord’s Prayer.........................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. Special Music.......................................................Build My Life, Mr. Jake Hess, III The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory.................................................................Adagio, by G.F. Handel The Doxology The Scripture Lesson..................................................Ephesians 4:1-16 (p. 951) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Anthem......................................................O Come, Angel Band, Arr. S Curry The Sermon.................................Body Parts Everywhere, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Hymn of Consecration.................................................I Surrender All (#354) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen...........................................Go Now in Peace The Postlude.....................................................................Fuga in F, by J.S. Bach The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"What to Pray When You Don't Know What to Pray" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on October 14, 2024 at 5:09 am
Order of Worship October 13, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship ..........................This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude...............................................We Gather Together, arr. M. Bradshaw The Hymn of Celebration..........................God of Grace and God of Glory (#577) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Sacrament of Infant Baptism.................Lillian Louise Cartledge (see insert) The Pastoral Prayer with The Lord’s Prayer.........................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory...............................................Adagio Cantabile, by L. Beethoven The Doxology The Scripture Lesson.......................................Ephesians 3:14-21 (pp. 950-951) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Mission Moment..................................................Rev. Lynn Meadows-White The Anthem.............................................................Give Me Jesus, arr. B. Harlan The Sermon............................What to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Pray, The Hymn of Consecration...............................Standing on the Promises (#374) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen...................................................3 fold Amen The Postlude...................................................................Voluntary, by M. Hawdon The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him

"When Life Doesn't Make Sense: God's Goodness and Pain" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on November 11, 2024 at 6:01 am
11:00 A.M. Traditional Worship November 10, 2024 The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship ...................................................................Be Joyful The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude......................................................Partitas on Dennis, by F. Ashdown Hymn of Celebration.................................The Church’s One Foundation (#545) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Sacrament of Baptism..................................................................(see insert) The Pastoral Prayer with the Lord’s Prayer.........................................Rev. Fugh The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory Anthem.................................................Happy Land, arr. B. Harlan The Doxology The Scripture Lesson...........Genesis 50:15-21 (p. 42); Matthew 7:24-27 (p. 788) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Sermon When Life Doesn’t Make Sense: God’s Goodness & Pain.....Rev. Dr. Green The Hymn of Consecration..............................Blest Be the Tie that Binds (#557) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen...........................................Go Now in Peace The Postlude......................................................Trumpet Tune in D, by M. Sobaje The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"Living and Dying with Hope" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on November 4, 2024 at 6:14 am
Order of Worship November 3, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements ............................................Mrs. Grace Bailey The Choral Call to Worship .........................Bretheren, We Have Met to Worship The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude..................Largo & Minuetto from Sonata in E minor, by G.F. Handel The Processional Hymn..................................................For All the Saints (#711) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) All Saints’ Recognition............................................................. Recognition of The Communion of Saints Donald Leon Baggett Willard Alan Barnes James Edwin Cummings, Jr. Alicia Hendrick Hall Jane Dykes Herndon Mary Alice Humes Terry Bovard Hurley Sally Gordy Kenimer Phillip Elliott Kirven Clarence Robert Koon Lindsay Waddell Layfield Marsengill Lillie Mae Vinson Nelson George Fredrick Schladensky H. Dan Stallings James Clarence Walton Recognition of the Communion of Saints...........................Four Lighting Tables The Collect for All Saints...............................................Rev. Dr. P. Shane Green The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory/Anthem.................................................Celtic Laud, by C. Courtney The Doxology The Scripture Lesson.............1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 and Psalm 90:1-6, 10-12 The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Sermon...........................Living and Dying with Hope, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Service of Holy Communion....................................................................#12 Recessional Hymn.........................................................Hymn of Promise (# 707) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen...................................................3 fold Amen The Postlude.............................................................Ein' feste Burg, by C. Kuntze The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"The Power of Words" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on October 28, 2024 at 4:56 am
Order of Worship October 27, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements ............................................Mrs. Grace Bailey The Choral Call to Worship .........................................................I Come with Joy The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude...........................................La Fille aux cheveaudelin, by C. Debussy The Hymn of Celebration................................Grace Greater than Our Sin (#365) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Sacrament of Infant Baptism.................................Elizabeth Mayher Hamric The Pastoral Prayer with The Lord’s Prayer......................................Mrs. Bailey The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory.......................Open Our Eyes/Be Thou My Vision, arr. M. Hayes The Doxology The Scripture Lesson................................................Ephesians 4:17-32 (p. 951) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Anthem.................................................O Lord Most Holy, by Franck/Hopson The Sermon......................................The Power of Words, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Hymn of Consecration................................Great Is Thy Faithfulness (#140) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen.................................................Together Met The Postlude......Variations on the Duet from LaMolinara, by Paisiello/Beethoven The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"Body Parts Everywhere" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on October 21, 2024 at 5:00 am
Order of Worship October 20, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship ....................................................................Be Joyful The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude..............................................................Praeludium in F, by J.S. Bach The Hymn of Celebration....................................................Jesus Calls Us (#398) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Pastoral Prayer with The Lord’s Prayer.........................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. Special Music.......................................................Build My Life, Mr. Jake Hess, III The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory.................................................................Adagio, by G.F. Handel The Doxology The Scripture Lesson..................................................Ephesians 4:1-16 (p. 951) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Anthem......................................................O Come, Angel Band, Arr. S Curry The Sermon.................................Body Parts Everywhere, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Hymn of Consecration.................................................I Surrender All (#354) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen...........................................Go Now in Peace The Postlude.....................................................................Fuga in F, by J.S. Bach The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"What to Pray When You Don't Know What to Pray" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on October 14, 2024 at 5:09 am
Order of Worship October 13, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship ..........................This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude...............................................We Gather Together, arr. M. Bradshaw The Hymn of Celebration..........................God of Grace and God of Glory (#577) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Sacrament of Infant Baptism.................Lillian Louise Cartledge (see insert) The Pastoral Prayer with The Lord’s Prayer.........................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory...............................................Adagio Cantabile, by L. Beethoven The Doxology The Scripture Lesson.......................................Ephesians 3:14-21 (pp. 950-951) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Mission Moment..................................................Rev. Lynn Meadows-White The Anthem.............................................................Give Me Jesus, arr. B. Harlan The Sermon............................What to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Pray, The Hymn of Consecration...............................Standing on the Promises (#374) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen...................................................3 fold Amen The Postlude...................................................................Voluntary, by M. Hawdon The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him