Thursday, August 25th, 2016
Register for Small Groups!
Register during Family Hour starting Sunday, September 4, 2016! There’s something for everyone, a variety of opportunities. Small Groups are a way to get to know your church family better… sign up for a knitting group, labyrinth walking, shopping classes, yoga, learn to be an informed voter and more. What better ways could there be to build relationships with your church family?
To download the latest brochure click here: Small Groups Catalog Fall 2016
Thursday, July 21st, 2016
Taizé prayer, a form of meditation that is relatively new to MPC but draws on rich years of tradition elsewhere, now takes place monthly. Our next service is Wednesday, September 21st at 7 PM. 
If you are in search of spiritual refreshment in the midst of your busy life, come to our Taize service for candlelight, simple music, Scripture reading and silence. If your busy life is so full that you think you don’t have time for it… you probably can benefit from it more than anyone!
Taizé offers an opportunity to become aware of an inviting reverent space and to find the quiet place within. The Taizé monastery was founded just after WWII in France, with a mission of reconciliation. The simple songs created by the monks offer a way for people of many nations and languages to pray together. They allow us to drop down from the busyness of our heads into the stillness of our hearts, and there to encounter the Holy. The prayer service is simple, communal, and anonymous – you won’t be asked to introduce yourself or join any committees. All are welcome.
For child care (available upon request), contact the church office, one week in advance.
Our central goal is to change our culture of materialism and violence to one of generosity, compassion, and cooperation. We believe that to heal and transform our world, we must work from a larger framework of meaning and purpose, with spiritual consciousness undergirding our efforts. – from the Spiritual Activists Mission Statement.
photo by Shawn Carpenter
Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
After our Good Friday service, one of you stopped me with a doozy of a question. What does Jesus’ “dying for our sins” really mean? As we talked, it became clear that to this person, the concept of an atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins was not even a little bit useful, helpful, or spiritually meaningful. If you feel this way, you are not alone. The metaphor of Christ’s death as an atoning sacrifice has gotten a lot of attention through the centuries, but it doesn’t always make sense.
The good news is that it does not have to be the only metaphor – or even the central metaphor – for the Christian experience. We have a broad diversity of metaphors, images, and explanations to use. I like to think about the image of a toolbox, and the wise saying that goes with it: “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!” So screws, staples, chains, bolts, hinges, and wires all become things to hammer down, and they are nearly always damaged in the process. Well, the atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins may be the often-used hammer in the wider Christian toolbox, but it only really solves one problem: sin. If sin is a central problem for you in your spiritual life, then you need the tool that matches – and I hope we provide it for you. I hope we preach loud and clear that in Christ, you are forgiven, no matter how grievous your sins may be. Like the thief who was crucified next to Jesus, who asked to be remembered, I hope you hear God’s YES to you.
But maybe you aren’t a nail to be hammered, and maybe you aren’t weighed down spiritually by guilt and sin. If you’ll permit me to keep playing with the images, perhaps the central problem in your life is a sense of alienation or loneliness. Maybe you feel you don’t belong, or that you’re stuck, or that you aren’t good enough to be part of the group you want to join. Someone can hammer into you all day long that you are forgiven for your sins, but your sins weren’t bothering you in the first place, and even the most lavish forgiveness is never going to touch the pain of feeling alone. The concept of spiritual adoption — the idea that we are reborn as brothers and sisters in a spiritual family through Christ — might be the story that speaks to you. The image of Mary weeping in the garden and being greeted so lovingly by the risen Christ, and commissioned to go share the good news with the disciples, might be the one that finds you in your place of need. Perhaps it would even oil the rusty hinges of your heart, just slightly scuffed from all the hammering, and allow them to swing open and meet the love that awaits you.
So in these days and weeks as we continue to celebrate Easter, why don’t you try some new tools and new stories, to see if they work for you. If you can’t imagine yourself as the convicted thief crucified next to Jesus, maybe you can imagine yourself as Mary weeping in the garden, or the puzzled disciples walking the road to Emmaus trying to figure it all out. And let us give thanks for the diversity of our sacred stories, knowing that where one turns uselessly in our hands, another may be just the key for us.
Every blessing,
Talitha
Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we are welcoming Rabbi Michael Lerner to our pulpit. Rabbi Lerner is the editor of Tikkun magazine and is the author of several books on the intersection of spirituality and progressive politics. He is a spiritual leader of international repute, whose message resonates with folks of all different faith backgrounds.
After celebration, Rabbi Lerner will be leading a discussion on his work with the Network of Spiritual Progressives, and organization with which I am personally affiliated (I sit on their board of spiritual advisors). Through the Network, Rabbi Lerner is attempting to affect profound and real change in our nation and world. This is exciting stuff. I hope you will join us for celebration and for the discussion after.
God’s Peace!
Ben
Monday, March 14th, 2016
Easter is early this year! Come and get ready with the festive celebration of Palm Sunday on March 20th. Then come for a family-friendly evening communion service on Maundy Thursday, March 24th at 7 PM (potluck dinner at 6pm). We will also observe the very solemn Good Friday on March 25th at 7 PM by candlelight.
These services help us get ready to approach the joyous mystery of Easter. See you there.
Wednesday, September 16th, 2015
The Rev. Talitha plots her next move: Wednesday night church gatherings!
I pitched this idea to you in May, and got enthusiastic support from Session, the Children and Youth Education Committee, and many individuals. So let’s put wings on it and get ready to fly.
Intergenerational Bible Study is going to be a Wednesday night series, and everybody is invited, no matter what your age, philosophy, or background may be. The idea was inspired by two children who each said (separately!) “I wish we had more time to learn about the Bible” and a youth who slipped a note in the suggestion box saying “Youth Group would be awesomer if we talked about God more.” Heaven help us if we do not rally the community together to answer these sacred calls!
DATES: We’ll set aside Wednesdays from October 7th through November 18th. Our time slot will be 6 to 7:30 (6 to 6:45 for dinner, 6:45-7:30 for Bible Study).
DINNER: the idea is that you should be able to show up empty-handed, straight after work or wherever your day takes you. So, rather than potlucking it, we will cook a simple meal for you. Volunteer cooks are welcome, as are volunteer cleaner-uppers, and there will be a basket to receive a few dollars to cover the cost of ingredients. I am used to planning meals for a group of youth that includes gluten-free, vegan, and other dietary requests, so we should have you covered.
BIBLE STUDY: Please, bring your doubts, your questions, your own faith, and your life experience. This will not be a lecture but a community-led query process, and you will respond to the text with conversation, art, poetry, etc. We hope that this open method will allow you to feel comfortable exploring our sacred texts and stories, while also providing fodder for the intellectually curious to chew on. There will be a table for children, a table for youth, and one or more tables for adults to have their reflection and conversation. Volunteer table-leaders don’t need a lot of instruction ahead of time.
LIVING THE QUESTIONS: if you want to take part in this adult education class, it will begin at 6:45 PM so that you can go directly from our dinner to the class. Please let us know if you are coming for dinner though.
THIRD WEDNESDAYS: we will have dinner at 6 and attend the Taizé service together at 7.Child-friendly activities will be included in the Taizé service on these days.
RSVP: It’s open to all but a head-count would really help us plan. So, just talk to me or email me. Include your dietary restrictions if any, and your interest in volunteering for any of the slots (cooking, cleaning up, leading a table discussion, collecting money, perhaps helping to organize all the volunteers?)
Thanks!
Rev. Talitha
Tuesday, August 4th, 2015
This spring, the Session of MPC decided to approve the hiring of a part-time Godly Play teacher to work with our team of talented volunteer teachers and with Associate Pastor, Talitha G. Phillips. The decision made in April was dependent on funding. Now that we have a budget approved for the 2015-2016 fiscal year, we are getting ready to interview candidates!
Some Background
We are blessed to have many children attend our Godly Play programs. They can be seen each Sunday, eagerly exiting Celebration after the Time with Children. However, with such blessings comes an increased obligation to our youngest members. We want to provide our children with a consistent and stable classroom experience. Our youngest members should experience the same feelings of community, reflection, and learning in Godly Play that our adult members feel in worship. By hiring someone to work on a regular basis we know we can provide a more positive classroom experience that would attract, keep, and nurture our children well. The volunteers who currently serve on the team, rotating through the classroom on a regular basis, also can expect a more positive and less stressful experience as we build on experiences from one week to another.
The Teacher will work three to four Sundays a month for a total of 40-50 weeks per year, approximately 5 hours per week when teaching on Sunday, and will be paid $100 per week worked. Hours are 9:30 am – 11:30 am on Sundays plus about three additional flexible hours during the week to prepare the Sunday story or activity and meet with staff. Godly Play training will be provided, up to 20 hours annually. The contract term is 12 months.
Necessary qualifications:
● Demonstrated interest in religious education and knowledge of Bible stories
● A solid foundation in your own spirituality and faith
● Teaching experience or other experience leading children/youth (camp, youth group)
● Demonstrated ability to manage a classroom or organized group of children
● Radical patience and deep kindness
Additional helpful background includes:
● Academic biblical studies at any level
● Montessori and/or Godly Play background
● ADHD and autism-spectrum awareness
● Musical ability
A complete description here: Job Description
To apply, please contact GPhiring@mpcfamily.org
Tuesday, May 5th, 2015
This Mother’s Day the youth group is doing something for moms in need. Did you know that diapers aren’t covered by SNAP or WIC, and that having a supply of disposable diapers can make the difference between a child attending daycare or being stuck at home with a parent who therefore can’t work?
Rather than just raise money for our diaper drive, the youth group decided to go diaper shopping… to take on the discomfort and judging that people experience when they have babies at a young age, and to make a statement that we ALL need to support moms in need.
Please watch our video and think about it… and please bring your wipes and diapers (size 3-5 are the most needed) to donate on Sunday!
Thursday, March 26th, 2015
Looking for a place to celebrate Easter? Looking to bring a friend this year? MPC’s Easter celebration is festive and fun for all ages, and we hope you will join us!
Our service begins at 10 AM with introductory music by the great Barrelhouse Jazz Band and the MPC choir. Our worship is celebratory and kid-friendly, musical and reflective and thought-provoking. The Rev. Ben Daniel will preach, and the Revs. Talitha G. Phillips and Kathy Ray will join in the celebration of Communion. Children are invited to stay in the service the whole time, or to go upstairs with our storytellers for a chance to hear the whole Easter story. We will have a special story time for younger children in the nursery as well.
Our fellowship continues after the service! As the saints go marching in and the band entices you to start dancing, our youth group members (grades 7-12) finish their work hiding eggs for the little ones (under 6th grade) to find right after the service. Our egg hunt is eco-friendly… no plastic eggs or junky trinkets, just real dyed hard-boiled eggs. Children can bring baskets or bonnets to hold their eggs, or take one of the fun baskets our youth crafted out of recycled materials. As soon as a child has found 5 eggs they can get a (fair-trade) chocolate prize.
As we celebrate in the courtyard while the children find eggs, there will be sparkling cider and strawberries served for all, coffee and other goodies available in the Family Room, and jazz continuing from the band.
Thursday, March 26th, 2015
We welcome you to this week’s services as we observe the action-packed and tumultuous days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. On Palm Sunday, March 29th, the children lead us in a joyful procession waving palms and ribbons, as we remember the triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
On Maundy Thursday, April 2nd, we will gather for a simple meal at 6PM, a seder-inspired meal recalling the Passover meal that Jesus would have shared with his disciples. At 7 PM we will move into the sanctuary for a worship service including Communion.
On Good Friday we do not host a service here but recommend that MPC’ers visit our neighbors at St John’s Episcopal (just up the road) at 7 PM.
Come back on Easter Sunday at 10 AM for a remembrance of the empty tomb, and a joyful Resurrection celebration! Our Easter services always feature the Barrelhouse Jazz Band, a kid-friendly service with a special story upstairs, and afterwards our egg hunt hosted by the youth group, and a strawberry and sparkling cider reception in the courtyard.
Photo by Hannah Swithenbank, https://www.flickr.com/photos/swiv/
