First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande

Saint Patrick Hears the Call: the Voice of the Irish


St. Patrick's Day Night
Saturday, March 17, 2012
7:00pm in the Sanctuary

Join us this evening for an hour conversation, video, slides, chat, and music (couple Irish hymns) about the life of St. Patrick. Led by Jamie Foster, we'll explore what's true and what's not so true about St. Patrick's life, and what he can teach us about being Christian.

For St. Patrick, it's all about responding to God's grace by discipleship and evangelism.

Bring your friends!

A freewill offering will be taken.

Childcare will be provided.

Pictured below is Lough Swilly (Loch Swilly) in Ireland, where John Newton was miraculously saved from a stormy death, inspiring his writing of "Amazing Grace".



Jamie's slides (PDF, 1.4mb).

Animated video of St. Patrick's story getting to Ireland as a missionary: click here (YouTube).

Quotes are from St. Patrick's "Confessio":

“one should proceed without holding back from danger to make known the gift of God and everlasting consolation, to spread God's name everywhere with confidence and without fear, in order to leave behind, after my death, foundations for my brethren and sons whom I baptized in the Lord in so many thousands.”



“our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven.”



“I was like a stone lying in deep mire, and he that is mighty came and in his mercy raised me up and, indeed, lifted me high up and placed me on top of the wall. And from there I ought to shout out in gratitude to the Lord for his great favours in this world and for ever, that the mind of man cannot measure.”

“I would wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in rain, and I used to feel neither ill nor any slothfulness, because, as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that time.”


For an interesting tangent, read about St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Click here.