From Rev. Talitha –
Please join us for online celebration this week. We really appreciate knowing that you are out there, connecting with us online in one way or another. This is my third and final sermon in the Matthew 25 series, as we as a church seek to answer the denomination’s call to dismantle structural racism, eradicate systemic poverty, and build congregational vitality. This week we focus on congregational vitality, being awake and alert to the world around us.
This week we have seen some terrible hate crimes at the intersection of anti-Asian racism and sexist objectification, which I will mention in the service, so please be prepared if you are worshiping with young children who may not have heard the news, or if these topics are especially triggering to you. It is important to keep our hearts open even when the news around us is terrible, and sometimes we need extra support to do that. We are here for you if you would like extra support!
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 March 21st Celebration online
- Marcia will bring us to worship with a prelude,
- Ben will welcome us
- Saralinda Jackson shares the Call to Celebration, which was written by Rev. Elizabeth Dilley
- The opening hymn is “Sing Praise to God, You Heavens”
- Barbara Vaughn shares the Prayer for Peace
- We continue with week 5 of “The Faces of Easter” Godly Play story
- Linda Spencer shares the Scripture, which is Matthew 25:1-13
- I will preach
- The special music is a traditional African-American spiritual, “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning,” sung by MPC Riot (Anna Santos, Julia Dunbar, Kim Rankin & Talitha Aho)
- Ben will lead us in prayer
- God’s Work in the World, this week, is part of our ongoing series about the MPC climate call to action
- the closing hymn is “Jesus, Be With Us,” a newly composed hymn for Matthew 25 churches.
- in the Family Life video please note an invitation to join us next week when we will be ordaining and installing new elders in real time on zoom!
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.