July 20, 2020July 20, 2020 by Laura Marvets

First Steps – July 20, 2020

This morning while I spent time in quiet reflection, the word patience continually resurfaced. Much of my time centered around this question, “What is the best way to acquire patience?” I use the word acquire because it is not something one is born with but something that is developed or obtained over time.

Therefore, consider these two questions:

First – Are you willing to acquire it? It takes time and many will not complete the journey that is needed to develop their inward nature. Patience has to do with one’s heart and how one chooses to respond to things around them.

Second – Am I willing to let the past go and allow the future to take care of itself? Often, we are controlled by our past. We perpetually allow our past mistakes or regrets to dictate our lives. Forgiveness is not just something we receive from God, something we give and receive from others, but something we have to do to and for ourselves. If God has forgiven our past mistakes, meaning it is not something on His radar screen, then why can’t we follow suit? Receiving forgiveness from God is directly correlated to forgiving ourselves.

Likewise, the future has enough worry for itself. At least it did for Jesus (see Matthew 6:34). He didn’t want something to rob “the now” by introducing something from tomorrow. When you think about it, most of our fears are tied to false narratives about the future. Therefore, the key is to live just for this day, nothing more, nothing less.

I believe the key to patience is learning to live strictly in the present moment. Granted, learning to live this way takes time and discipline; but, if we are willing to acquire it, with prayer and reflection, it is something obtainable.

I think Paul had it right when he said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7). Acquire patience —Live for today.

This Week’s Readings:

Monday – Revelation 12
Tuesday – Revelation 13
Wednesday – Revelation 14
Thursday – Revelation 15
Friday – Revelation 16

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.

"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
"God Had a Secret?" - Rev. John Fugh, Jr.
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on October 7, 2024 at 5:17 am
Order of Worship October 6, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements ............................................Mrs. Grace Bailey The Choral Call to Worship .........................................................l Come with Joy The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude The Hymn of Celebration...........................Come, Christians, Join to Sing (#158) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri 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 Anthem...............................Anthem Celtic Laud, by C. Courtney The Doxology The Scripture Lesson..................................................Ephesians 3:1-13 (p. 950) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Sermon............................................God Had a Secret?, Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Sacrament of Holy Communion............................................................(#12) The Hymn of Consecration................................Go, Make of All Disciples (#571) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen.................................................Together Met The Postlude........................................................................Postlude, by H. Smith 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
"God Had a Secret?" - Rev. John Fugh, Jr.
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on October 7, 2024 at 5:17 am
Order of Worship October 6, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements ............................................Mrs. Grace Bailey The Choral Call to Worship .........................................................l Come with Joy The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude The Hymn of Celebration...........................Come, Christians, Join to Sing (#158) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri 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 Anthem...............................Anthem Celtic Laud, by C. Courtney The Doxology The Scripture Lesson..................................................Ephesians 3:1-13 (p. 950) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Sermon............................................God Had a Secret?, Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Sacrament of Holy Communion............................................................(#12) The Hymn of Consecration................................Go, Make of All Disciples (#571) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction and Amen.................................................Together Met The Postlude........................................................................Postlude, by H. Smith The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him