Greetings to you! It is hard to believe, but this week’s online celebration is the sixth such celebration that we’ve done since precautions around the spread of COVID-19 kept us from worshiping together on March 15. We are learning and experimenting, and your ongoing feedback is helping us to make these video celebrations better each week.
This week is “Doubting Thomas Sunday”, when it is traditional to remember the doubts of the apostle Thomas and (for many of us anyway) to celebrate the role that doubts and doubters play in keeping faith healthy. It feels like a really good story to read and to reflect upon this year because it is a story that takes place behind closed doors.
You can also submit comments and prayer requests via our Comments Form at mpcfamily.org/comments . We’d love to hear from you!
If you are visiting today, we hope you’ll fill out our online Visitor Card at mpcfamily.org/hello .
View April 19th Celebration online
- Marcia will open with an organ prelude, “We Know that Christ is Raised” (arr. Dale Wood);
- Talitha will welcome us;
- Jerry and Sally White will call us to celebration using a prayer from the Church of England
- Kim will lead us in the opening hymn “Open My Eyes That I Might See” (the words are printed below);
- Tara Flanagan will lead us in a Scottish prayer for peace;
- Dolores will tell a Godly Play story;
- Kristen Bank will read the story of Thomas and his Doubts (John 20:19-29);
- Ben will preach while doing his best imitation of the Frugal Gourmet;
- Ed Rudman of the Ruling Elders and Anna Santos of MPC Riot will provide a special music offering;
- Talitha will lead us in a pastoral prayer; and
- Ben will lead the charge and give the benediction.
Looking forward, at 11 AM on Sunday please join us for family hour on Zoom (please email Rev. Ben or email Rev. Talitha for the password) and on Wednesday at noon, please feel free to join the pastor’s Bible study on Zoom.
As our social isolation begins its sixth week, we pray that you will notice all of the ways God’s spirit is alive in you and in the places where you are sheltering in place.
“Open My Eyes, That I May See”
Words and Music by Clara H. Scott
1 Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth you have for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now, I wait for thee,
ready, My God, thy will to see;
open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
2 Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth you send so clear;
and while the wave notes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now, I wait for thee,
ready, My God, thy will to see;
open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
3 Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart, and let me prepare
love with your children thus to share.
Silently now, I wait for thee,
ready, My God, thy will to see;
open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Note: though the text and music of this hymn reflect the Victorian era in which they were written, the author and composer of this hymn was the first woman to publish a collection of her own hymns and anthems. Her work helped pave the way for women’s leadership in the Church, not just in music but in education and from the pulpit as well.
The Charge (say together)
Go out into the world in peace. Have courage; hold on to what is good. Return no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, and help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.