Presence and Discipleship

This morning is our Commitment Sunday. Thank you for each one of you who makes commitments today to prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Christ has no hands but ours. The commitments we make help us to make Jesus real to the world.

Sermon Notes:
For more information on the change in Willow Creek's approach to ministry, see this article. You can also read the book they wrote about the study, Reveal.

A little more history on Methodism.

And some on works of piety

And works of mercy

Presence in Fellowship

We're spending two weeks talking about the importance of community. The Greek word that we're thinking about is koinonia. Here's a reference to the various passages in the New Testament where we find the word. (Note: I cite this website only for this purpose. I do not endorse the website as a whole.)

In the sermon today, I made use of Robert Putnam's book Bowling Alone. It is a really good book, but you have to be very patient with it - it's thick with lots of data.

I also mentioned his newer book, American Grace. It's on my want list. If you read it let me know how it is! If you don't have time to read the book, here's a very interesting interview of Putnam where he talks about his findings and predictions.

Presence in Worship

We'll be back next week!

A Place at the Table

With the adoption in January of revised values and a new Mission statement, St. Paul's is entering a new period. Last Saturday St. Paul's leadership accepted the Incubator Team's report and adopted three vision statements to guide us in the near future. Change does not stop, but change need not divide.

8:15

This morning's Call to Worship is based on a litany by Gordon Brown found in the book Shaping Sanctuary. A couple years ago Linda Stoner visited a church that had adapted it as a Call to Worship. She brought it back to St. Paul's, where Marti Johnson further adapted it and add our Welcome Statement to it. We have used it two or three times each year since then. Email us at stpaulsumc@stpaulslenexa.org if you'd like a copy of the whole Call to Worship.

Our second hymn, We Are the Body of Christ, is one we've sung in the past. It is a reminder of our common call with Christians throughout the world. When you read through the letters of Paul in the New Testament, look for how often the language of the Church as the Body of Christ appears.

Take a look at the lyrics to Stefanie's offertory, Do They See in Jesus in Me? Use this as a challenge to yourself when you leave worship today.

9:30

Today's Playlist:
Ho Hey
Your Grace Is Enough
Love the Lord
Home
Do They See Jesus in Me
Right Here

11:00

This morning's Call to Worship is based on a litany by Gordon Brown found in the book Shaping Sanctuary. A couple years ago Linda Stoner visited a church that had adapted it as a Call to Worship. She brought it back to St. Paul's, where Marti Johnson further adapted it and add our Welcome Statement to it. We have used it two or three times each year since then.


Our second hymn, We Are the Body of Christ, is one we've sung in the past. It is a reminder of our common call with Christians throughout the world. When you read through the letters of Paul in the New Testament, look for how often the language of the Church as the Body of Christ appears.

Take a look at the lyrics to Stefanie's offertory, Do They See in Jesus in Me? Use this as a challenge to yourself when you leave worship today.

This week's sermon:

For more on the number of Christian denominations worldwide look here.