From Rev Ben:
If the weather forecasters have forecast correctly, by the time you read this we will be in a heat wave, a weather pattern already anticipated in this week’s celebration. I filmed my sermon in the sanctuary, while wearing a tweed sports coat. The next day I filmed the charge and benediction wearing a short sleeved linen shirt, all of which is to say life is unpredictable.
There are, however, some things which remain the same week in and week out, and one of those things is celebration at Montclair Presbyterian Church. Even when holding celebration means we’re all having to learn new skills and we’re having to be together apart, still we worship.
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 September 6th Celebration online
- Marcia leads is in a prelude,
- Talitha welcomes us to celebration,
- Frank Dauby calls us to celebration using a liturgy from Iona,
- Our opening hymn is “Love Divine, All Love Excelling,”
- Susanne Lea leads us is a prayer for peace which is adapted from a prayer by Walter Rauschenbusch,
- Debbie Fallehy leads us in a birthday blessing,
- Pat Schwinn reads Romans 13,
- I am preaching on Romans 13,
- The special music is “Prayer of Saint Francis”, composed by Kim Rankin and sung by Kim, Leslie Louie, Steve McKiernan and Andrew Newell,
- Keith and Cheryl Geckeler lead us in communion,
- The closing hymn is “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me,”
- And the family life video has announcements, and invitation from the auction committee, the charge and benediction.
LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING
- Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down. Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion; pure, unbounded love thou art.
Visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart. - Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast; Let us all in thee inherit; let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty. - Come, Almight, to deliver; let us all thy like receive;
Suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as they hosts above, Pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love. - Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee:
Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.
I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME
- I want Jesus to walk with me;
I want Jesus to walk with me;
all along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. - In my trials, Lord, walk with me;
In my trials, Lord, walk with me;
When my heart is almost breaking, Lord,
I want Jesus to walk with me. - When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me;
When I’m in troucble, Lord, walk with me;
When my head is bowed in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
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.