Dear St. Paul Church Family,

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” — Acts 2:42-47

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

As we gather this Sunday, we will begin a new sermon series based on Acts 2:42–47, exploring the four essential foundations that shaped the life and growth of the early church:

Prayer

Teaching

Fellowship

Mission

These four foundations were at the heart of the early Christian community, and they remain just as essential for the health, vitality, and witness of Christ’s Church today. Over the next four weeks, we will discover how God continues to strengthen His people when we are rooted in these timeless practices.This Sunday, we will begin with Prayer—the foundation that keeps us connected to the heart of God and empowers every aspect of our lives and ministry.

As you prepare your heart for worship, I invite you to reflect on these questions:How would you describe your personal prayer life at this season of your journey with Christ?What would change in your family, church, or community if prayer became our highest priority?

Where is God inviting you to trust Him more deeply through prayer rather than relying on your own strength?

This has also been a very productive and encouraging week in the life of our church. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet with our Worship Team, and we shared a thoughtful and fruitful conversation. Together we identified several areas where we can continue growing so that our worship remains creative, well-coordinated, welcoming, and, above all, Spirit-filled. I am deeply grateful for the dedication and servant hearts of everyone who is helping lead our worship ministry.

I also had the privilege of meeting with our Social Media and Digital Ministry Team. We are making exciting progress toward creating a refreshed and updated church website that will be beautiful, informative, easy to navigate, and simple to update for years to come. Our hope is that the website will become a welcoming doorway for both our congregation and those seeking a church home.To help make this possible, we would love your partnership. If you have photographs from church worship services, fellowship gatherings, mission projects, or ministry events from the past year, we would greatly appreciate them. In the coming days, we will provide a link where you can easily upload your pictures so they may become part of telling the story of what God has been doing through St. Paul United Methodist Church.

As followers of Christ, we are also called to lift up our world in prayer. We continue to pray for peace among the nations, especially as tensions and conflicts involving Iran, the United States, and Israel affect countless lives. May God grant wisdom to all elected and appointed leaders, giving them hearts that seek justice, compassion, and the well-being of all people. May the Prince of Peace guide them beyond personal interests toward decisions that promote reconciliation, healing, and lasting peace.Let us pray together:

Gracious and loving God,

We thank You for Your faithfulness and for calling us to be Your Church. As we begin this new journey through the foundations of the early church, deepen our devotion to prayer, strengthen us through Your Word, unite us in genuine fellowship, and send us into the world with courage to share the love of Christ.Bless every ministry of St. Paul United Methodist Church. Continue to guide our Worship Team, our Digital Ministry Team, and every volunteer who faithfully serves Your kingdom. As we rebuild and renew our website and outreach, may every photograph, every conversation, and every act of service reflect Your grace and welcome others into Your family.

We also lift before You our nation and our world. Bring comfort where there is suffering, hope where there is despair, and peace where there is conflict. We especially pray for wisdom for the leaders of Iran, the United States, Israel, and every nation. May they seek justice, pursue peace, and value the dignity of every human life created in Your image.Prepare our hearts for worship this Sunday. Fill us anew with Your Holy Spirit so that everything we do may glorify Jesus Christ, in whose holy name we pray.

Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Rajiv Pathik

P.S. I am so excited to see you all in person this Sunday! I believe God has wonderful things in store for us as we worship together. Come with an open heart, invite a friend, and let us seek the Lord together. May it be a truly joyful and blessed morning!