From Rev. Ben –
This is the week each year when, according to Presbyterian tradition, congregations reflect upon what it means to follow the various callings God places on our lives. Now that there seems to be a new era dawning in American life, this feels like particularly important spiritual work.
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View January 24th Celebration online
- Marcia plays a prelude, “A Charge to Keep I Have”, arr. George Brandon
- Talitha welcomes us to Celebration,
- The Santos family leads us in a call to celebration,
- The opening hymn is “Today We All Are Called To Be Disciples of the Lord”,
- John Lochner leads us in a prayer for peace from his home in Dallas,
- Bob Zdenek reads Mark 1:16-20,
- I will preach a sermon called “Courage and Call”,
- The special music is “The Call”, poem by George Herbert, music by Ralph Vaughan Williams; sung by Talitha Aho, Debbie Fallehy, Bonnie Hamlin, Betsy King, and Kim Rankin.
- Talitha leads us in a pastoral prayer,
- The closing hymn is “Tu Has Venido Al Orilla”, verses sung by me and Anne; please join us on the refrain, and
- I will close the service with a family life video.
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.