August 30, 2025

Beloved St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation Family,

Grace and peace to you, beloved ones! Every day, I walk by our gorgeous mural (on the back of the Wesley Foundation building) which was painted by students in the spring of 2021. The words on the mural say, “you are loved. you are welcome here.” It gives me great joy to know that MANY people walk by this piece of public art every day; I see videos on social media reminding us of its beauty and visitors to town taking their picture in front of it. In some ways, it feels like this mural is a way that we, St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation, share the love and welcome of God with our community. As we consider the Gospel text this week of Jesus at the table, a place he is found often; may these words continue to challenge and urge us to be a people of welcome, a people who are practicing hospitality, sharing the welcome we have known from God, who knows and sees and welcomes us.  

We hope you will join us as we gather together! Please note that we have returned to our Fall schedule, with two services each week.

Here is our schedule for tomorrow, August 31st:

9:00 AM: In-person Worship Service of Word and Table in the Sanctuary 

10:30 AM: Hybrid Worship Service, in-person in the sanctuary and livestreamed here

Please remember that since this service is filmed and live-streamed, you or your family members may be on our worship recording, which is streamed and archived on our YouTube channel. 

11:30AM: Acolyte training with Pastor Greg, available for anyone interested in learning

Please note that we will not currently be having our post-worship discussion group. We continue to value the kind of dialogue and discussion that leaves room for a variety of viewpoints and values the act of asking questions, naming doubts, and using our imaginations to dream of a different future. We will continue to provide discussion questions each week as a way for you to have these kinds of conversations with your friends, family, small groups, or others with whom you are sharing the journey.

Grace and Peace

Pastor Sarah

Discussion Questions

(1) What did you notice in our worship today? Thinking not only about the words of the sermon, where did you notice the Spirit, an unexpected connection, a flicker of life, hope, or love?

(2) What is an experience you have had at the table that has formed and shaped you? 

(3) How might you practice hospitality, in the various aspects of your life? How might our church continue to welcome others, to practice hospitality?

Prelude: “You are Welcome Here” (M. Haugen, M. Miller, arr.)

Tunes: Gather Us In, Welcome

Mary Bahnfleth, organ

Greeting

Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt

Call to Worship

One: Come, you who have been on the outside, who have felt at the margins;

All: God offers us welcome, making room for all. 

One: Come to this table of grace – strangers, friends, siblings together in Christ;

All: Christ lifts up those who have been made low, is near to those who are humble in spirit. 

One: Come, let us look to Christ, who shows us the way of abundant love;

All: let us praise the One who welcomes with open arms!

Opening Hymn: “All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King Divine” (UMH 166)

Prayer

Rev. Greg Milinovich

Jesus of the Way,

When your friends argued about power and prestige you stood someone unnoticed by them all among them and spoke of welcome. May we who are powerful look beyond our power; may we who are unnoticed be noticed; may we find the welcome that waits for us. And in so doing welcome you who welcomes us. Amen.

Daily Prayer, Pádraig Ó Tuama

Passing the Peace

Children’s Message

Ted Voigt

Scripture Lesson: Luke 14:1, 7-14 (NRSVUE)

Paula Farabaugh 

Message: “You are Welcome Here”

Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt

Hymn: “Make Me A Servant” (TFWS 2176)

Pastoral Prayer 

Lord’s Prayer

Offering

Closing Hymn: “Morning Glory, Starlit Sky” (UMH 194)

Announcements

Benediction

Postlude: Postlude on “Monkland” (Albert L. Travis)

Mary Bahnfleth, organ