Weekly Bulletin — St. Paul United Church of Christ, Wapakoneta Ohio

ST. PAUL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

108 W. Mechanic Street Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895

“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are WELCOME here!”

First Sunday After Pentacost June 15, 2025

* (Asterisk) The Congregation Is Invited to Stand

RINGING THE BELL

PRELUDE: “Holy Spirit, Truth Divine” Arr. Stephen Walters

Martha Hefner

LIGHTING THE ALTAR AND CHRIST CANDLES

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

*WELCOME HYMN (Sing Twice)

*CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist: Rollie Wellington

ONE: Sing, O community of wanderers! We gather in joy, in the warmth of love that blossoms among us.

ALL: Let our hearts overflow with laughter, as joy bubbles like a spring in the desert.

ONE: Peace, like a gentle breeze, sweeps through our souls, calming the storms and whispering hope within.

ALL: With patience, we dance in sacred time, trusting the journey, embracing the gift of waiting.

ONE: We scatter kindness like stardust, transforming each moment into a miracle divine.

ALL: Goodness calls us to stand boldly, a voice for the voiceless, and justice in our hands.

ONE: In faithfulness, we plant seeds of trust, nurturing bonds that grow rich and deep.

ALL: Let gentleness be our guiding star, treading lightly upon the earth and in each heart.

ONE: With self-control, we navigate the tempest, steering our vessels toward shores of calm.

ALL: Come, let us weave a tapestry of worship, Alive with the Spirit's uniqueness and grace. Let us rejoice together in the fruits of the Spirit!AMEN!

*HYMN: #595 “They’ll Know We Are Christians” (VERSES 1&2)

♫1We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord. We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord. And we pray that all unity may one day be restored. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. 2 We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand. We will work with each other; we will work side by side. And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love♫

*OPENING PRAYER (Unison)

Gracious and loving Spirit,

We gather in this sacred space with hearts wide open, Eager to receive the fruits of Your love. As we come together, fill us with joy that dances in our souls, And let peace flow over us like a gentle stream. Awaken in us the patience to embrace each moment, And inspire us to share kindness as freely as the air we breathe. May we stand for goodness and justice, Boldly lifting our voices for those who are unheard. In our fellowship, lead us to nurture faithfulness, Strengthening the bonds that unite us in love. Guide our hearts to be gentle and compassionate, As we walk together on this journey of faith. Help us harness self-control, Steering our paths with discernment and grace. May our worship today be a tapestry of hope, Woven with the threads of Your Spirit. We ask for Your presence among us, As we celebrate the gifts we share and the love we embody. Amen.

*HYMN: #595 “They’ll Know We Are Christians” (VERSES 3&4)

♫3We will work with each other; we will work side by side. We will work with each other; we will work side by side. And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love . 4 All praise to the Father, from whom all things come. And all praise to Christ Jesus, his only Son, And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love ♫

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Pastor Anthony Spearhart

DEDICATE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love

Benevolence giving for June –OCWM (Our Church’s Wider Mission)

We will not be passing an offering plate. Please leave your love offerings in the collection box in the center aisle.

OFFERING PRAYER OF DEDICATION: (Unison)

Spirit of the Living God, receive our gifts as tangible expressions of our belonging to your church and our commitment to the ministry begun in Christ and continued through this faith community. Magnify them in miraculous ways, and make our generosity a demonstration of the love you have given us and we return to the world your love. Amen.

*WE GIVE GLORY TO GOD Gloria Patri #734

♪Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. ♫

SCRIPTURE READING: Galatians 5:22-26

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

Scripture Response

One: The word of God for the people of God! May God grant us the wisdom

to interpret these words, and the courage to live by what we learn.

ALL: God is still speaking! Thanks be to God!

MEDITATION HYMN:

Come to the Table of Grace - Music at the end of the bulletin

SERMON “Rooted & Fruitful: Growing in the Spirit Together”

Pastor Anthony Spearhart

PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORDS PRAYER (Debts and Debtors)

…Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

*HYMN #393 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”

♫1Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. 2Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. 3We share our mutual woes, each other’s burdens bear; and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. 4From sorrow, toil, and pain, and sin we shall be free; and perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity♫

*OUR COMMON CALLING

Let us go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

*BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE: #614 “Let There Be Peace On Earth”

♫ Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me; let there be peace on earth the peace that was meant to be. With God our creator, children all are we. Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow; to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. ♫

*POSTLUDE: “Peace Be With You” Franz Schbert arr L.N. Porter

Martha Hefner

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL CHURCH

SUNDAY June 15,2025

9:30 A.M. – Worship Service

MONDAY-FRIDAY

Summer Lunch served 11:30 –12:30

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025

6:30 P.M. – Faith Formation Committee Meeting

WEDNESDAY, June 18, 2025

5:30 P.M. – Mission Committee Meeting

THURSDAY, June 19, 202

11:15 A.M. Senior Citizen’s Luncheon (9:00 Breakfast, Bingo, etc.)

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025

Senior Citizen’s Luncheon (9:00 Breakfast, Bingo, etc.) AT VICTORY CENTER

SATURDAY, June 21, 2025

Food Drive at Fairground 10:00 a.m. till food is gone.

SUNDAY, June 22, 2025

9:30 A.M. – Worship Service with Rev. Dan Busch

Given the Week of June 8, 2025

General Fund $ 2,971.25 Benevolence $ 70.00 Building Fund $167.00

Average General Fund Monthly Expenses $24,269.70

Monthly Income from Piel Endowment $4,789.23

Given to General Fund so far this month $5,084.00

Given to Building Fund so far this month: $ 282.00

Attendance for Sunday, June 8, 2025 - 10:15 –47

Online Attendance for Sunday June 8, 2025 - (3) 6

CHURCH NEWS –June 8, 2025.

The Altar Flowers were given by Cheryl Short for God’s gift of beautiful flowers in your own backyard!

VOLUNTEER AUDIO VISUAL PERSON(S) NEEDED We are in urgent need of other volunteers to learn to run the slides during worship. If you are interested in exploring this possibility, talk to Pastor Anthony, soon. Thanks for considering this!

DISASTER CLEAN UP BUCKETS: The Conference is in need of more disaster buckets. The clean up bucket items list is available in the back of the sanctuary if you would like to put together a whole bucket or two to donate. Monetary donations will be accepted for this purpose if that works better. We also are offering the option of biweekly focus items to donate. For the next two weeks, we will focus on 50-100 foot clothesline (cotton or plastic) and N95 dust masks (five needed per bucket). Please turns these in by June 22..

HYGIENE KITS: There are also lists for Hygiene Kits if you would like to put together two or three of these to donate. Monetary donations will be accepted towards these as well.

NURSERY - The church nursery is usually open each Sunday and is supervised by members of the Faith Formation Committee. The nursery is only open upon request. Any family wishing to have their children attend the church nursery while they are participating in worship in the sanctuary, please notify an usher so they can make arrangements for nursery coverage. Please do not take your child to the nursery first without contacting an usher, as a nursery supervisor is only available in the nursery upon request.

We Support Our Church By Our Prayers

Members of St. Paul’s Prayer Chain are honored to pray for you, your family and loved ones. This is an email group that sends prayer requests as they are received. The requests are confidential to the group and not placed on this published prayer list unless requested. If you have a prayer request, please contact the following:

Pastor Anthony Spearhart at the church

Jennifer Frische, call or text 419-231-3790, any hour. Leave a message.

The following people are in need of our prayers:

Barbara Wheeler*Brittany (Warner) Grover*Brenda (Kohler) Ward* Marilyn Brandehoff * Alice Fischbach * Liz Thiedt * Jim Smithey * Kaelyn Zwiebel * Vicki Smith * Lewis Erb Jr. * Lewis Erb Sr * Rev. Adrian Sunday * Helen Erb *Rosemarie (Rosie) Goodwin *; * John Simpko * Josh Wellington * Joyce Andalero* Dick and Carol Presar * Jack Prater*Susan & Mike Bartlett * Jennifer Willison * Emil George* Roger Dircksen*Wayne Quellhorst* Clara Beth Muhlenkamp,* Brian Rodhe,* Martha Freer* Mark and Susan Bishop * Family of Mary Jane Merricle.

Members and friends serving in the U.S. military:

Amanda (Preston) Johnston, Scott Presar, Aaron Hibner, Skyla Hibner

We are currently refreshing our prayer lists. If you would like a name listed, please call or e-mail the office at 419-738-2215 or office@stpaulucc.com

ST. PAUL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

108 W Mechanic Street

Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895

Website: www.stpaulucc.com

www.facebook.com/StPaulWapakoneta

CONTACT US:

Church Office (419) 738-2215

CHURCH STAFF & VOLUNTEERS:

Pastor Anthony Spearhart; anthony@stpaulucc.com Direct (419) 738-2215,

Cell: (419) 773-0379

Church Secretary, Janice Wright, office@stpaulucc.com Direct (419) 738-2270

Ministry Coordinator - Tami Zwez; tami@stpaulucc.com Direct (419) 738-2279