May 17, 2025

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

Grace and peace, dear ones! Who are the resurrection people? That is the question we’ve been asking ever since we lifted our voices together, with the lilies and daffodils, proclaiming joyfully, “Christ the Lord is risen today!” Since that Easter morning, a month ago, have we remembered resurrection? Are we practicing it? And if we would, in fact, be resurrection people, what would that mean?

We’ve been talking about how resurrection people are those who are witnesses, who see in new ways, and who offer life. This week we are going to hear a pretty remarkable story about Peter and how he came to realize – by remembering Jesus – that part of our work as people of resurrection is to remove the obstacles for others. Come and join us for worship this weekend as we consider what obstacles are sometimes built and maintained, keeping folks from experiencing the gift of repentance and mercy.

Here is our schedule for tomorrow, May 18th:

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

9:00 AM: Sunday School for all ages, in-person only

10:30 AM: Hybrid Worship Service with Chancel Choir, 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.

11:45 AM: Hybrid Discussion Group, in-person and on Zoom

Join by clicking here, or use Meeting ID 87591478033 and Passcode stpauls.

Grace | Peace,

Pastor Greg

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) In our reading from Acts 11 today, after remembering Jesus, Peter asked, “Who was I to hinder God?” What are some ways that we might sometimes (perhaps often without meaning to) hinder the work of God? What are the obstacles that are keeping folks closed off from mercy and repentance? Are we maintaining those obstacles?

(3) What might it look like for us, as resurrection people, to more intentionally and actively be “obstacle removers?” What role does remembering play in this?

Prelude: “Sheep May Safely Graze” (J. S. Bach)

Ryan Ditmer

Greeting

Rev. Greg Milinovich

Call to Worship

One: Come, let us gather in a Love that transcends all limitations:

All: Yes! Let us lift our voices together, united in the risen Christ!

One: Come, let us remember that nothing can separate us from God’s love;

All: let us embrace the Spirit of welcome, beyond our own comfort.

One: Come, let us be resurrection people together, shaped by Love:

All: Hallelujah! Let us remove all obstacles and widen the circle!

Opening Hymn: “O Church of God, United” (UMH 547)

An Affirmation from Romans 8:35, 37-39 (UMH 887)

Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt

Leader: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword?

All: No! In all things we are more than conquerors through the One who loved us. We are sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thanks be to God! Amen. 

Passing the Peace 

Children’s Message

Liz McMillan

Anthem: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” (R. Kevin Boesiger)

Chancel Choir; Ferdinand Hilse, cello

Scripture Lesson: Acts 11:1-18 (NRSVUE)

Glenn Albert

Message: “Those Who Are Removing Obstacles”

Rev. Greg Milinovich

Hymn: “Your Love, O God” (UMH 120)

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Offering

Closing Hymn: “Help Us Accept Each Other” (UMH 560)

Announcements

Benediction

Postlude: “Dir, Dir Jehova will ich Singen” (Max Drischner)

Ryan Ditmer