| February 6, 2025 St Paul's UMC Newsletter Sunday Worship at Notre Dame Please join St Paul’s at Notre Dame Chapel for Sunday Worship. Celebrate Black History Month through the lens of African American spirituals. Each week, we’ll explore a different spiritual and its connection to Scripture, lifting up stories of resilience, faith, and hope. Stevens House Work Party You're invited - join the next work party on Saturday, February 8, from 1 PM to 4 PM. Whether you're able to help with manual labor or simply want to enjoy the fellowship, your presence is greatly appreciated. For any questions, please reach out to Pastor Sam at pastor@stpaulsumcsj.com February is Black History Month February is Black History Month, and in the woven tapestry of The United Methodist Church, African Americans are—and have been—vital, having played a major role in the denomination’s development. Black History Month has been observed in February in the United States and Canada since 1976. The celebration of Black history was started by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926 as a weeklong focus to educate American people about African American history. Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the gifts and offerings that African Americans contribute to the world and the church through art, music, writing, leadership, and action. There is much to recognize, reflect upon, and share with others. As a denomination, The United Methodist Church has much room to grow in diversity and inclusion. Here are 29 ways you, your family, and your congregation can celebrate and participate in Black History Month. Click Here Candles, Prayer, Commitment On Tuesday January 21 , PACT member churches, and community members turned out at dusk for a Prayer Vigil to speak out and uplift the most vulnerable in our community – our neighbors – immigrants who are now in fear of ICE deportation. Ministers and leaders of multiple faiths spoke to the crowd of 50 gathered on the County Administrative offices plaza. As the darkness and cold closed in on us while holding flickering candles, two personal stories of brave journeys to the US, the lives left, and opportunities sought were shared and translated. We wrote names and messages on hearts then placed them on the colorful alter created by loving hands. It was a privilege to be there with Donna Furuta and John Powell representing St. Paul’s, to share a sacred time of prayerful unity, and commitment for action going forward. We are ALL immigrants – when did your family come? -Helen Lund (I’m the one behind the Micah 6:8 sign) Bridging the Cultural Divide Interactive Zoom Training Do you wonder how we can better bridge cultural, generational, language, gender, and other divides? In a growing, diverse community, how can we develop the awareness and skills required to live meaningfully with others of a different background? Bridging the Cultural Divide invites us to embrace cultural humility and develop our skillsets to be adaptive and agile in intercultural relationships. Created by the Leadership Development Office and the Committee on Clergy Leadership Development, this interactive Zoom training is on Saturday, February 8th, from 9 AM to Noon. Feb. 8, 9am-Noon Register Here February Marquee Essay by David Lowe Marquee Discussion February 19, 7 pm ZOOM “Love the trees, those who do not love trees do not love Christ.” St Amphilochios of Patmos Our relationship with the natural world is perhaps far more important than we think. It is easy to see that the Bible tells us to love and care for our fellow humans, but harder to see that it also tells us to love and care for the earth and its creatures. Many believe that Genesis tells us to dominate and subdue the earth. But that is not the only interpretation of Genesis. The original Kings James version uses the term “replenish” in Genesis 1:28 : “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” The term “replenish” suggests care rather than exploitation. We can be seen as gardeners and stewards, rather than owners and users. The main issue is whether the earth exists only for humanity’s benefit, or if it has its own reasons for existence apart from us. God pronounced the whole of creation as good in Genesis and that is a concept that is easy to forget. If creation is good, is it right for us to destroy large portions of it for human needs and progress? If we understand creation as having some agency or purpose, it is easier to balance human needs with the needs of creation. If we see creation as only existing for the benefit of humans, then no such balancing will ever take place. Creation itself is fallen, as is humanity, everything awaits a final coming of God to save and redeem (Romans 8:19-23). But God is present in the fallen creation, just as God is present in fallen humanity. A famous orthodox prayer includes the line that God is ‘everywhere present and filling all things.’ Remembering that God is present in the trees, the forests, the deserts, and the oceans makes it harder to see them as simply resources to be used for our purposes. Part of the faith journey is to continually keep in mind the good of creation and the presence of God within it. For many Christians the prayer that includes the line of God being ‘everywhere present and filling all things’ is a daily prayer often said in the morning. As people of faith we seek to live in the presence of God. The modern world pushes us away from that presence, toward a world view that is without God and centered only on ourselves. Without intentionally keeping the world view of faith in mind, the world view of modernity will overwhelm us. Keeping faith in mind on a daily basis requires intentionality, effort and discipline. Each person’s way is different. Remembering to see God in creation and loving that creation is a part of that way. ZOOM LINK HERE Mark Your Calendar Stevens House Work Party 1-4 pm February 8 Marquee Discussion 7 pm February 19 Church Office Closed February 20 & 21 Join St Paul's for Worship Event Time Sunday Kaleidoscope Bible Study 9:15 10:15 am In-person and online Zoom Link Here Meeting ID: 860 8474 8199 Passcode: 728851 Sunday Hybrid Worship 10:30 11:30 am In-person and online At Notre Dame Chapel, 3 rd and William Zoom Link Here Meeting ID: 811 6931 7471 Passcode: 928944 Worship Recording after 2pm Sunday Worship So God Can Use Me - February 2, 2025 Online Giving Let's be buddies Visit Our Site pastor@stpaulsumcsj.com -Rev. Sam Blewis, St Paul's UMC Pastor Pastoral Care Emergency Line: 650-314-9774 office@stpaulsumcsj.com -Laura Dillinger, St Paul's Office Manager |
Sunday Worship at Notre Dame | |
Please join St Paul’s at Notre Dame Chapel for Sunday Worship.
Celebrate Black History Month through the lens of African American spirituals. Each week, we’ll explore a different spiritual and its connection to Scripture, lifting up stories of resilience, faith, and hope. | |
You're invited - join the next work party on Saturday, February 8, from 1 PM to 4 PM. Whether you're able to help with manual labor or simply want to enjoy the fellowship, your presence is greatly appreciated.
For any questions, please reach out to Pastor Sam at pastor@stpaulsumcsj.com
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February is Black History Month | |
February is Black History Month, and in the woven tapestry of The United Methodist Church, African Americans are—and have been—vital, having played a major role in the denomination’s development.
Black History Month has been observed in February in the United States and Canada since 1976. The celebration of Black history was started by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926 as a weeklong focus to educate American people about African American history.
Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the gifts and offerings that African Americans contribute to the world and the church through art, music, writing, leadership, and action. There is much to recognize, reflect upon, and share with others. As a denomination, The United Methodist Church has much room to grow in diversity and inclusion.
Here are 29 ways you, your family, and your congregation can celebrate and participate in Black History Month. Click Here
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Candles, Prayer, Commitment | |
On Tuesday January 21, PACT member churches, and community members turned out at dusk for a Prayer Vigil to speak out and uplift the most vulnerable in our community – our neighbors – immigrants who are now in fear of ICE deportation. Ministers and leaders of multiple faiths spoke to the crowd of 50 gathered on the County Administrative offices plaza. As the darkness and cold closed in on us while holding flickering candles, two personal stories of brave journeys to the US, the lives left, and opportunities sought were shared and translated. We wrote names and messages on hearts then placed them on the colorful alter created by loving hands.
It was a privilege to be there with Donna Furuta and John Powell representing St. Paul’s, to share a sacred time of prayerful unity, and commitment for action going forward. We are ALL immigrants –
when did your family come?
-Helen Lund (I’m the one behind the Micah 6:8 sign)
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Bridging the Cultural Divide
Interactive Zoom Training
| |
Do you wonder how we can better bridge cultural, generational, language, gender, and other divides?
In a growing, diverse community, how can we develop the awareness and skills required to live meaningfully with others of a different background?
Bridging the Cultural Divide invites us to embrace cultural humility and develop our skillsets to be adaptive and agile in intercultural relationships.
Created by the Leadership Development Office and the Committee on Clergy Leadership Development, this interactive Zoom training is on Saturday, February 8th, from 9 AM to Noon.
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February Marquee Essay by David Lowe
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Marquee Discussion February 19, 7 pm ZOOM
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“Love the trees, those who do not love trees do not love Christ.”
St Amphilochios of Patmos
Our relationship with the natural world is perhaps far more important than we think. It is easy to see that the Bible tells us to love and care for our fellow humans, but harder to see that it also tells us to love and care for the earth and its creatures. Many believe that Genesis tells us to dominate and subdue the earth. But that is not the only interpretation of Genesis. The original Kings James version uses the term “replenish” in Genesis 1:28 : “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” The term “replenish” suggests care rather than exploitation. We can be seen as gardeners and stewards, rather than owners and users.
The main issue is whether the earth exists only for humanity’s benefit, or if it has its own reasons for existence apart from us. God pronounced the whole of creation as good in Genesis and that is a concept that is easy to forget. If creation is good, is it right for us to destroy large portions of it for human needs and progress? If we understand creation as having some agency or purpose, it is easier to balance human needs with the needs of creation. If we see creation as only existing for the benefit of humans, then no such balancing will ever take place.
Creation itself is fallen, as is humanity, everything awaits a final coming of God to save and redeem (Romans 8:19-23). But God is present in the fallen creation, just as God is present in fallen humanity. A famous orthodox prayer includes the line that God is ‘everywhere present and filling all things.’ Remembering that God is present in the trees, the forests, the deserts, and the oceans makes it harder to see them as simply resources to be used for our purposes. Part of the faith journey is to continually keep in mind the good of creation and the presence of God within it. For many Christians the prayer that includes the line of God being ‘everywhere present and filling all things’ is a daily prayer often said in the morning.
As people of faith we seek to live in the presence of God. The modern world pushes us away from that presence, toward a world view that is without God and centered only on ourselves. Without intentionally keeping the world view of faith in mind, the world view of modernity will overwhelm us. Keeping faith in mind on a daily basis requires intentionality, effort and discipline. Each person’s way is different. Remembering to see God in creation and loving that creation is a part of that way.
ZOOM LINK HERE
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Mark Your Calendar
Stevens House Work Party 1-4 pm February 8
Marquee Discussion 7 pm February 19
Church Office Closed February 20 & 21
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Join St Paul's for Worship | |
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Sunday Kaleidoscope Bible Study |
9:15 10:15 am |
In-person and online
Zoom Link Here
Meeting ID: 860 8474 8199
Passcode: 728851
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Sunday Hybrid Worship
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10:30 11:30 am |
In-person and online
At Notre Dame Chapel, 3rd and William
Zoom Link Here
Meeting ID: 811 6931 7471
Passcode: 928944
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Worship Recording |
after 2pm |
Sunday Worship |
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So God Can Use Me - February 2, 2025 | |
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