It’s hard to believe it, but we have reached the middle of June, which means 2020 is almost half gone; it also means we are halfway through Pride month. This week we will be observing Pride in celebration and I’m glad we are. There is a lot going on in the world right now—a pandemic, an up-swell of voices proclaiming #BlackLivesMatter and calling for the dismantling of white supremacy. It seems like celebrating is exactly what we should be doing, because all struggles for equality and justice are interconnected.
One of the wonderful things about online celebration is that our community is growing. This week in celebration I am thrilled to introduce you to my friends Lynn and Andy Viale, who are leading us in the prayer for peace. Lynn and Andy are from Gilroy, and have been joining us for celebration for as long as we’ve been doing celebration online. I know the Viales because Lynn has been hosting a pastors’ support group I’ve been a part of for more than twenty five years. Before our last pastor’s group Zoom meeting a couple of weeks ago, Andy asked Lynne if “their pastor” (meaning me) was going to be joining the group. They love our community so much that they invited Lynn’s brother John to join us from his home in Texas. John now joins us both for celebration and for Bible study. It is a bit of a drive to Oakland from Gilroy, but I feel confident that once we can meet in person, Lynn and Andy will drive up every once in a while, especially when John is visiting from Texas.
You can 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 June 14th Celebration online
- Marcia will lead us in a prelude, March from “Scipio” by GF Handel — dedicated to our Graduates!
- Talitha will welcome us to celebration,
- Tara Flanagan will lead us in a call to celebration, which is adapted from a poem by Mary Oliver,
- The opening hymn is “God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us” (words below), Lynn and Andy Viale will lead us in the prayer for peace,
- Bob Zdenek will read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12,
- I will preach a sermon that attempts to celebrate Pride in a season of pandemic and wide-spread gatherings of folks bearing witness to the truth that #BlackLivesMatter,
- Our special music comes from members of the MPC choir, singing “Praise the Source of All Creation”
- Talitha will lead us in a pastoral prayer,
- Our closing hymn is “We Are One in the Spirit”(words below),
- Ben will lead us in the Charge (words below) and Benediction,
- In honor of our graduates, Andrew Newell will sing “Fathers and Sons” from the musical “Working”, and
- Our closing video will weave together words and images from Steve McKiernan, our graduating seniors, Talitha, and me.
- Be sure to watch the bonus video!
God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us
1 God of compassion, in mercy befriend us,vgiver of grace for our needs all-availing.Wisdom and strength for each day ever send us,vpatience untiring and courage unfailing.
2 Though we are lost, you have sought us and found us,vstilled our rude hearts with your word of consoling.Wrap now your peace, like a mantle, around us,vguarding our thoughts and our passions controlling.
3 How shall we stray, with your hand to direct us,you who the stars in their courses are guiding?What shall we fear, with your power to protect us,we who walk forth in your greatness confiding?
WE ARE ONE IN THE SPIRIT
- We 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.
Chorus
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 walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
And together we’ll spread the News that God is in our land.
(Chorus) - We 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 man’s dignity and save each man’s pride.
(Chorus)
4.All praise to the Father, from whom all things come
And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one
(Chorus)
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.
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.