From Rev. Ben:
According to my calculations, of this Sunday, July 19, we will have been doing online celebrations for four months, which is a third of a year. I won’t say it’s gotten any easier to do online celebration, but I do think we have gotten better at it. This week’s video play list can be found below.
View July 19th Celebration online
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 .
- For our prelude, Analise King plays “It Is Well With My Soul” on the euphonium,
- Talitha welcomes us to celebration,
- May and David Tong lead us in a call to celebration,
- Our opening hymn is “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”,
- Rick Heller lead us in a prayer for peace,
- Cheryl Geckler reads Matthew 13:24-30, which is the parable of the wheat and the tares,
- Kim will provide a special music offering: Hymn #821, “How Can I Keep From Singing?”, sung by members of the MPC choir
- I will preach a sermon in front of the redwood tree by the church office,
- Talitha will lead us in a pastoral prayer, and
- The service will conclude with a “family life” video that includes, announcements, invitations, a charge and a benediction.
Also, in the last two issues of Contact I have invited you to participate in an online poll about reopening the church and returning to in-person celebration. This week (and maybe last week too), the online poll was kind of messed up. I’m not sure what I did with the original file (which I’m pretty sure wasn’t so bad) but whatever happened, I apologize. Thank you for taking the poll. If you haven’t already taken it, I invite you do so by following this link to a restored poll.
Blest Be The Tie That Binds
- Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above. - Before our Maker’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers.
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares. - We share our mutual woes;
Our mutual burdens bear.
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear. - When we are called to part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again. - From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.
While We Are Living
(lyrics to be posted here)
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.