First Steps – March 1, 2021

While attending a funeral service, a granddaughter said this about her deceased grandfather, “He excelled at giving the gift of a good experience.” What a legacy blessing.

Love is formed through the bond of experience. Trust is formed through the bond of experience. This doesn’t mean, nor will it ever imply, perfection in a relationship. No individual is perfect. No single life is perfect; therefore, no relationship will be perfect. Thankfully, they don’t have to be. Strong, fruitful, fulfilled relationships are never perfect. They only need to be authentic, where both parties show up with good intentions, act on those intentions, and be willing to forgive. If there is a secret to a blessed relationship, I think that this is it.

We love people into wholeness, meaning relationships are crucial to the spread of the gospel and the sanctification process. God, through the Holy Spirit, will use every experience to reveal his love, grace, and mercy. We only need to excel at giving the gift of a good experience.

This Week’s Readings:

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

Please Pray for:

Families in crisis.
Loved ones battling illness.
Those seeking to find their way.
The St. Paul Church family and our ministries.
The United Methodist Church family.
Our leaders, our country, and our world.

“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

Sunday Morning Worship Service Cantata: O Holy Night
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on December 16, 2024 at 6:05 am
December 15, 2024 11:00 Traditional Worship The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship .....................................Prepare the Way of the Lord The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude...........................................Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, by J.S. Bach The Choir Presentation..........................................O Come, O Come, Emmanuel The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles' Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri................................................................................(#71) The Lighting of the Advent Wreath....The Erin and Hunter Murphy Family Special Altar Guild Recognition.................................Mrs. Mary Pat King The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory...............................This Day Is so Rich in Joy, by J.S. Bach The Doxology...................................................................................(#94) The Welcome and Registration of Attendance Leader: The Peace of Christ be with you. Congregational Response: And also with you. (Children ages K4-2nd graders are dismissed to Children’s Church - Room M235; children 3 and younger are taken to the nursery by parents.) The Congregational Response: O Come, thou Dayspring come and cheer our spirits by their justice here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction.........................................Noel, Born Is the King of Israel The Postlude...........................................................Joy to the World, arr A. Fedak The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him O Holy Night Cantata.................................................Songs Listed Inside
Advent Sermon Series: Is It Better to Give than to Receive? (Part 2)
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on December 9, 2024 at 5:25 am
December 8, 2024 Order of Worship 11:00 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship .....................................Prepare the Way of the Lord The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude................................................Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, arr. J. Goode Hymn of Celebration...............................Angels from the Realms of Glory (#220) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Lighting of the Advent Wreath.................................Julia and Connor Green The Pastoral Prayer with the Lord’s Prayer.........................................Rev. Fugh Hymn of Preparation...........................................There’s a Song in the Air (#249) The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Doxology The Scripture Lesson 1Chronicles 16:37-43 (pp. 327-328); Matthew 2:1-12 (pp. 783-784) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Sermon.......................If It Is, It Involves Commitment, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Hymn of Consecration...........................................What Child Is This (#219) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction.................................................................Dresden Amen The Postlude.....................................From Heaven to Earth I Come, by J.S. Bach The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
Is It Better to Give than Receive? (Part 1) - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on December 2, 2024 at 5:25 am
The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship .....................................Prepare the Way of the Lord The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude....................................................................Polish Carol, by A. Jordan Hymn of Celebration........................Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates (#213) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Lighting of the Advent Wreath...........................Whitney and Shaun O’Hara 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...........................................Come, Emmanuel, by D. Besig The Doxology The Scripture Lesson....................Genesis 26:1-6 (p. 19); Luke 1:26-38 (p. 831) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Sermon...........................If It Is, then It Involves Trust, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Sacrament of Holy Communion............................................................(#12) The Hymn of Consecration..................Come,Thou Long-Expected Jesus (#196) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction......................................................................3 fold Amen The Postlude...........................Wie schon leuchtet der Morganstern, by V. Klauss The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"The Cost of Complaining and the Gift of Thanksgiving" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on November 25, 2024 at 5:56 am
Order of Worship November 24, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship ..................................................We Gather Together The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude............................................St. George's Windsor, arr. M. C. de Jong Hymn of Celebration.............................Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (#694) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Baptism of Henry Reeves Harper................................................(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....................I Give You Thanks, by J.W. Lindh; the Covenant Choir The Doxology The Scripture Lesson..........Numbers 14 :17-25 (p. 116); Luke 17:11-19 (p. 852) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Anthem........................Thanks Be to Thee, by G.F. Handel / arr. C. Lefebvre The Sermon......................The Cost of Complaining and the Gift of Thanksgiving, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Hymn of Consecration............................zx (#102) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction........................................................We Gather Together The Postlude........................................Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott, by A. Hesse The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"Finding Hope in Uncertain Prayers" - Rev. John Fugh, Jr.
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on November 18, 2024 at 5:59 am
Order of Worship November 17, 2024 11:00 A.M. The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .....................................Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Choral Call to Worship ...........................................................This Is the Day The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude.........................................................Prelude in a minor, by J.S. Bach Hymn of Celebration.............................Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown (#386) Special Recognition of Riley Middleton.......................................Rev. Dr. Green The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Pastoral Prayer with the Lord’s Prayer.................................Rev. Dr. Green The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory Anthem............Deep River, arr. H. Heavy; Soloist Tommy Bridges The Doxology The Scripture Lesson..........................................Ephesians 3:20-21 (p. 950-951) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment.................................................................Rev. Dr. Green The Sermon....................Finding Hope in Uncertain Prayers, Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Hymn of Consecration................................Great Is Thy Faithfulness (#140) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction.................................................................Dresden Amen The Postlude...........................................................................Gloria, by A. Raison The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him

Sunday Morning Worship Service Cantata: O Holy Night
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on December 16, 2024 at 6:05 am
December 15, 2024 11:00 Traditional Worship The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship .....................................Prepare the Way of the Lord The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude...........................................Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, by J.S. Bach The Choir Presentation..........................................O Come, O Come, Emmanuel The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles' Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri................................................................................(#71) The Lighting of the Advent Wreath....The Erin and Hunter Murphy Family Special Altar Guild Recognition.................................Mrs. Mary Pat King The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory...............................This Day Is so Rich in Joy, by J.S. Bach The Doxology...................................................................................(#94) The Welcome and Registration of Attendance Leader: The Peace of Christ be with you. Congregational Response: And also with you. (Children ages K4-2nd graders are dismissed to Children’s Church - Room M235; children 3 and younger are taken to the nursery by parents.) The Congregational Response: O Come, thou Dayspring come and cheer our spirits by their justice here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction.........................................Noel, Born Is the King of Israel The Postlude...........................................................Joy to the World, arr A. Fedak The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him O Holy Night Cantata.................................................Songs Listed Inside
Advent Sermon Series: Is It Better to Give than to Receive? (Part 2)
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on December 9, 2024 at 5:25 am
December 8, 2024 Order of Worship 11:00 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship .....................................Prepare the Way of the Lord The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude................................................Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, arr. J. Goode Hymn of Celebration...............................Angels from the Realms of Glory (#220) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Lighting of the Advent Wreath.................................Julia and Connor Green The Pastoral Prayer with the Lord’s Prayer.........................................Rev. Fugh Hymn of Preparation...........................................There’s a Song in the Air (#249) The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Doxology The Scripture Lesson 1Chronicles 16:37-43 (pp. 327-328); Matthew 2:1-12 (pp. 783-784) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Sermon.......................If It Is, It Involves Commitment, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Hymn of Consecration...........................................What Child Is This (#219) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction.................................................................Dresden Amen The Postlude.....................................From Heaven to Earth I Come, by J.S. Bach The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
Is It Better to Give than Receive? (Part 1) - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on December 2, 2024 at 5:25 am
The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship .....................................Prepare the Way of the Lord The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude....................................................................Polish Carol, by A. Jordan Hymn of Celebration........................Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates (#213) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Lighting of the Advent Wreath...........................Whitney and Shaun O’Hara 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...........................................Come, Emmanuel, by D. Besig The Doxology The Scripture Lesson....................Genesis 26:1-6 (p. 19); Luke 1:26-38 (p. 831) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Sermon...........................If It Is, then It Involves Trust, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Sacrament of Holy Communion............................................................(#12) The Hymn of Consecration..................Come,Thou Long-Expected Jesus (#196) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction......................................................................3 fold Amen The Postlude...........................Wie schon leuchtet der Morganstern, by V. Klauss The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"The Cost of Complaining and the Gift of Thanksgiving" - Rev. Dr. Shane Green
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on November 25, 2024 at 5:56 am
Order of Worship November 24, 2024 11 a.m. Traditional Service The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .........................................Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Choral Call to Worship ..................................................We Gather Together The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude............................................St. George's Windsor, arr. M. C. de Jong Hymn of Celebration.............................Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (#694) The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Baptism of Henry Reeves Harper................................................(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....................I Give You Thanks, by J.W. Lindh; the Covenant Choir The Doxology The Scripture Lesson..........Numbers 14 :17-25 (p. 116); Luke 17:11-19 (p. 852) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment......................................................Mrs. Donna Hightower The Anthem........................Thanks Be to Thee, by G.F. Handel / arr. C. Lefebvre The Sermon......................The Cost of Complaining and the Gift of Thanksgiving, Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Hymn of Consecration............................zx (#102) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction........................................................We Gather Together The Postlude........................................Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott, by A. Hesse The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him
"Finding Hope in Uncertain Prayers" - Rev. John Fugh, Jr.
by STPAULCOLUMBUS on November 18, 2024 at 5:59 am
Order of Worship November 17, 2024 11:00 A.M. The Chiming of the Hour The Welcome & Announcements .....................................Rev. Dr. Shane Green The Choral Call to Worship ...........................................................This Is the Day The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar The Prelude.........................................................Prelude in a minor, by J.S. Bach Hymn of Celebration.............................Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown (#386) Special Recognition of Riley Middleton.......................................Rev. Dr. Green The Affirmation of Faith ............................................The Apostles’ Creed (#881) The Gloria Patri The Pastoral Prayer with the Lord’s Prayer.................................Rev. Dr. Green The Leader: Let Us Worship God with His Tithes and Our Offerings. The Offertory Prayer The Offertory Anthem............Deep River, arr. H. Heavy; Soloist Tommy Bridges The Doxology The Scripture Lesson..........................................Ephesians 3:20-21 (p. 950-951) The Passing of the Peace The Welcome and Registration of Attendance The Children’s Moment.................................................................Rev. Dr. Green The Sermon....................Finding Hope in Uncertain Prayers, Rev. John Fugh, Jr. The Hymn of Consecration................................Great Is Thy Faithfulness (#140) The Cross and Flame Go Before Us into the World The Choral Benediction.................................................................Dresden Amen The Postlude...........................................................................Gloria, by A. Raison The Church Returns to His World to Serve Him