Bulletin - Sunday, September 20, 2026
St. Paul’s Ocean Grove Church
oceangrove.church | 732-775-1125
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Scripture & Message Outline
Scripture Lesson: Galatians 6:14-17
Series: Stigmata
Title: The Mark That Matters
1. The Marks We’re Given
– Culture brands people through abuse, mistakes, status, and money.
– Once a mark is given, it’s hard for others – or ourselves – to see past it.
2. The Mark Paul Refused
– Circumcision used in Galatia as a manufactured status marker – an insider/outsider test.
– The oldest trick: turn a free gift into something that must be earned or proven.
3. The Mark Paul Claimed
– “Stigmata” – Paul’s actual scars, renamed.
– Grace doesn’t erase the mark. It renames what the mark means.
4. Whose Mark Do You Wear?
– Invitation to trade the world’s mark for the cross.
– For believers already marked: let the cross have the final word, not the old label.
Conversation Starters
• Have you ever had a label stick to you that wasn’t really true anymore?
• What’s a mark or scar – physical or otherwise – that tells a story you’re not ashamed of?
• If God renamed one thing about how you see yourself, what would you want it to be?
Reflection Questions
• What label or mark has followed you longest – one you were given by circumstance, mistake, or someone else’s opinion?
• Where have you been trying to out-perform a mark instead of letting grace rename it?
• What would change this week if you believed “beloved” was truer about you than the world’s label?
Action Step
Write down one label the world (or your past) has given you. Underneath it, write what Galatians 6 says grace calls you instead. Keep it somewhere you’ll see it this week – a mirror, a wallet, a phone lock screen.
Top 3
1. SPARK – Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00pm
2. Jersey Shore Worship: One Worship – Saturday, September 26 at 5:00pm in the Great Auditorium
3. Block Party – Sunday, September 27 at 4:00pm
Ministry Highlight: Small Groups for Growing and Community — for ALL ages, ALL week long
Tender Care Nursery School · Anchored Kids · Anchored Students · College Angels · Sisterhood Saturdays · HEART · Connect Over Coffee · Crafting Crew · Home-based Small Groups · Bible in a Year · NEW! Recovery in Grace · Women’s Bible Study · Men’s Bible Study
Mission Moment: NEW! SCRUBS Cleaning Ministry
Order of Worship at 9am
Worship Songs & Prayer
Praise
Who You Say I Am
Living Hope
Prayer
Welcome and Announcements
Anchored Kids’ Dismissal
Offering
Song – Build My Life
Scripture Lesson
Message
Song – No Longer Slaves
Closing Prayer
Order of Worship at 11am
Prelude - In the Cross of Christ I Glory
Introit - #186 – Alleluia
Announcements
Opening Prayer
*Hymn - #295 – In the Cross of Christ I Glory
*The Apostles’ Creed (Hymnal #881)
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (Hymnal #895)
Choir Anthem - The Majesty and Glory of Your Name – Tom Fettke
Offering
Offertory - Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
Prayer of Dedication
*Doxology – Praise God From Whom All Blessing Flow (Hymnal #95)
Scripture Lesson
Message
*Hymn - #159 – Lift High the Cross
*Benediction
*Benediction Response - #665 – Go Now in Peace