connecting to grow in faith
The Bible knows nothing of a solitary religion.
-John Wesley
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We grow in faith together. That's why we think it's important to create community and build relationships. Whether it's through Wednesday night dinners, Sunday School, a Small Group, or Youth Group, there's a way for you to connect and grow in love for God and others.
Wednesday Night Alive...
Every Wednesday evening throughout the School Year, we get together for a light family meal.
Join in the meal prep or chip in a few bucks, all are welcome at the table!
After dinner, we have activities and programs for all to participate in.
Contact us for more info, or just show up on Wednesday!
6:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Multigenerational Program
Children's Ministry
We are preparing for our Christmas pageant,
which will be on Christmas eve at 5:30 pm.
All children and youth are invited to participate!
Contact Melinda Ginosar at
208-360-6641 or melindaginosar@gmail.com.
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Schedule
Saturday, December 8, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Christmas Play Rehearsal
Saturday, December 15,
Christmas Play Rehearsal;costume fitting
Saturday, December 22,
Dress rehearsal
Sunday, December 23,
Children’s Worship both services, practice singing
Monday, December 24, 4:45 pm,
Children/Youth meet in Sonshine room for costumes and warm-up before service
Children’s
Christmas Pageant is during the Christmas Eve service at 5:30pm
Youth Ministry
*youth Ministry is on!*
Pizza. Dodgeball. Mission Trips. Jesus. That's a recipe for connecting students to one another and God! Contact Annie Schoonen for more info on connecting your family or serving in Youth Ministry!
Jr. & Sr. High Sunday Schools, Sundays at 10:30 am
We encourage teens and families to worship at the 9:00 am Contemporary service, and then stay for games, food, and discussion.
Youth Group, Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
After dinner on Wednesdays, we gather together for some fun, friends, and growing in faith! It's a perfect time to invite friends who are curious about church. For grades 6th- 12th.
Throughout the year:
Mission Trips
Camps
Bowling, Sledding, Bonfires
Service Projects
Concerts
Weekend Activities
and more fun!
Adult discipleship
Growth in discipleship is growth in love for God and one another. It's a lifetime process! We offer several ways for you to connect with others to grow in faith. Contact us for more info on joining or starting a discipleship group!
Adult Sunday School, Sundays at 9:00 am
Theology on Tap, Sunday Evenings at the Bear and Blue Tap House, 6:00 pm
Study Group, Monday Evenings at the Miles' home
Women's Study, Monday at 1:00 pm
Pastor's Study Group, Wednesday at 6:30 pm
Prayer Group, Thursdays at 1:30 pm
Throughout the year, we offer short term studies as well. Subscribe to our email list below to catch all our discipleship information!
Grow † Pray † Study
Each week, we offer daily Scripture readings and thoughts in our Grow • Pray • Study (GPS) Guide.
Come back on Mondays for the weekly GPS, and spend time in study and prayer daily!
You matter to God.
St. Paul’s UMC
GPS: Grow, Pray Study Guide for the week of December 9 - December 15, 2018
Advent Conspiracy: Spend Less
Destination: To gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a deeply committed follower of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. To be able to recognize your experiences of God and to discover God in new and different ways.
Memory verse: I encourage you to read this Scripture every day and by the end of the week have it memorized or to the point of where you can paraphrase the verse(s). Try writing it down on post-it notes and place them in areas where you will see it daily, for example the bathroom mirror or the dashboard of your car.
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Philippians 2:6-7 NIV
Daily Prayer:
Called to follow Christ, we are called to a life
of humility. But what does that even mean? Do we seek to exalt
ourselves – to be lifted above others? Does our sense of success depend on
someone else’s failure? Does our love of God entirely guide our relationships?
Do we twist service into convenience and leisure, ignoring the idea that to
serve is to be a servant? Disturb the
habits of our sin, O God. Rouse us from the sleep that cradles sin’s
embrace. In the name of Jesus, we pray – show us your ways.
Highlight what we can change and change
what we cannot. God is at work in you! God is alive in us! God
lives, and our sins are forgiven, through Christ, our Savior.
Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 read Matthew 1:18-21. There were stories that both Alexander the Great and Augustus, both great military leaders were conceived by divine beings. It is Jesus who was conceived by a divine being (the Holy Spirit). Jesus comes not as a great leader of military domination but as one of life-giving service. Why is this important?
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 read Matthew 1:22-25 and Isaiah 7:14. Fulfillment language in the Gospels emphasizes God at work in the Scriptures. Do you see how Matthew 18-21 and Isaiah 7:14 relate? How do they relate? Why do you think it was important for Isaiah to reference Isaiah?
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 read Isaiah 7:10-15. God invites King Ahaz to ask for a sign of Immanuel (God with us). Ahaz refuses, Isaiah realizes that the King’s refusal is because he wants to enter into an alliance with the Assyrians. God is going to give him a sign regardless. God gives the sign of Immanuel to demonstrate the God is with both Judah and Jerusalem; therefore, there is no need to enter into an alliance with Assyria. When have you been like King Ahaz, not wanting a sign from God so you can you do your own thing? When have you listened to an Isaiah in your life and asked God for a sign?
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 read Luke 1:39-45. The exchange of greetings between May and Elizabeth demonstrates their faithfulness to God. They both received their pregnancy announcement from the angel (messenger). Elizabeth immediately recognizes Mary as the mother of the Messiah. John in Elizabeth’s womb recognizes Mary’s baby as the Messiah. When is your first memory of recognizing Jesus as Messiah?
Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 read Luke 1:46-56. This passage is also known as Mary’s Magnificant or Mary’s Song. Her Magnificant grounds her praise in God’s present activity in God’s faithfulness and ancient promise. God is seen as both warrior and merciful. God as warrior engages in battle on behalf of God’s people and brings deliverance. God the merciful, who cares for the lowly and the needy. God’s overruling of human rulers is about putting them in a position where they also might experience the graciousness of God. Pray for world leaders that they might experience the mercy of God.
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 read Luke 1:67-80. This passage is known as Zechariah’s Song or Benedictus because it closes the narrative. He retells the importance of John as prophet before Christ, he tells the interweaving of John and Jesus’ stories into one of God’s redemptive purpose. How do you see the stories of John and Jesus working together?
Resources: Bible by God, The Advent
Conspiracy by Rick McKinley, Chris Seay and Greg Holder.
