Montclair Presbyterian Church is the community I always wished I could live in. As the world speeds up, and pressures from work and school increase, we get dragged in a thousand directions, and it’s hard to remember which way is up. MPC is a reminder that there is still room in our lives for contemplation, charity, hope, and growth, and that we are richer for it.
Author Archive
Warmth and Inclusivity
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
I go to MPC because of the warmth and inclusivity. I can bring my whole self.
Virginia Abascal
I attend Montclair Presbyterian Church because I am never bored.
Bunny Stevens
I came here 30+ years ago because this was a doing church not a praying church.
Meta McAuley
If I were standing naked at the corner of 14th & Broadway at 3 am, there are several MPC members I could call who would pick me up, no questions asked.
Earl Hamlin
Preaching, Music, and Social Justice
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
Thirty plus years ago, I came to and joined Montclair Presbyterian Church. The daughter and grand-daughter of Presbyterian ministers, I had outgrown the church of which I had been a member for a number of years, as well as serving on its staff. My choice was between St. John’s in Berkeley and Montclair [MPC]. What drew me to Montclair was the preaching and the music program which has been exceptional over the years. My social contacts have been small, thought I have made a number of good friends that I have come to value. I hope to continue my membership for the future. I have also been impressed with the strong social justice involvement of Montclair in the past and appreciated my involvement in that action.
Minda Lucero
Interfaith Art Exhibit: September 17 – October 22
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
For several years, Montclair Presbyterian Church has been proud to be part of the ‘Faith Trio’, a partnership between MPC, the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, and Kehilla Community Synagogue. Later this month, this group is sponsoring “Diverse Visions of Harmony: An Interfaith Art Exhibit”, which will showcase over 90 pieces of art from 40 artists. Learn more by checking out the links included below:
Upcoming Sunday Celebrations!
Monday, August 29th, 2011
Celebration will be outside in the courtyard so wake up early enough to dress accordingly! The Barrelhouse Jazz Band will lead us in music so wear your dancing shoes. Rev. Mark Smith will be preaching
MPC partners with Kehilla Synagogue and the Islamic Cultural Center in a fellowship called the Faith Trio. We are glad to be hosting an interfaith service on Sunday, September 11th (the ten-year anniversary of 9/11). This sad anniversary is a crucial time to remember the importance of interfaith cooperation.
As Rabbi David Cooper from the Kehilla Synagogue has said, “The September 11 attacks of ten years ago were a work of hatred designed to drive people apart from each other and foment intolerance and discord. Too much of the response to the violence of 9/11 has furthered intolerance and hatred.
Both spiritually and pragmatically, the end of the cycle of violence and hatred must begin with ourselves and what better way to do so than to pray as Jews, Muslims and Christians together. We pray that we should understand that prayer is not enough and that we will need to work and struggle together and also, play and celebrate together if we are to be effective in making peace a more likely reality and also if we are to be the change that we seek.”
On 9/11 we will mourn all that has gone wrong, but will also celebrate all that contributes to peace and understanding among us. Rabbi David Cooper and Imam Rahim Nobahar will join with Pastor Beth in leadership, and the members of all three communities are invited to join us: for celebration at 10 AM, and for a reception following. Associate in Music Kim Rankin will include some of the musical traditions of the three religions during celebration as well.
Serenity
Sunday, July 31st, 2011
by Charles Ives
Brandon Adams, soloist
Marcia Roy, Piano
Podcast (music-samples): Play in new window | Download
Kyrie
Sunday, July 31st, 2011
by W.A. Mozart
Brandon Adams and Marcia Roy, Piano
Podcast (music-samples): Play in new window | Download
Gerber for Grownups
Sunday, July 31st, 2011
Guest Preacher Talitha Phillips discusses two parallel Bible stories — manna in the desert and the feeding of the five thousand — and asks: who are we in these stories, and what do they tell us about nourishment, sharing, and community?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
MPC Home Page updates
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
In the past few weeks, in response to discussions at our Web Survey Follow-up meeting, we’ve been working on a big pile of site improvements…
Home page main statement/tagline:
One clear message from that meeting was that we should simplify the ‘big statement’ on the home page. Accordingly, we have…
- shortened the main message considerably
- removed links from the statement (except for Learn More) to make it easier to ‘take in’, while italicizing the key phrases to call attention to them
We’re still on the fence as to whether we should ask the MPC community for ideas on a new statement/tagline, or if we should wait for guidance from the Mission Study team. Opinions welcome!
To increase our ‘social media’ aspect, we have…
- revamped the top nav to give the blogs their own category. This meant combining About Us and Where We Are, but that was a change that made sense anyway.
- added icons directing folks to our YouTube and Flickr resources as well as our Facebook page (and reduced icon size to make the home page less ‘busy’)
- started allowing comments on the Family Living blog, dipping our toes into true conversations with site visitors
To trim the amount of stuff on the Calendar Highlights section (and generally de-emphasize it on sub-pages), we have:
- set up a system to prevent “private” events from showing up on the Calendar Highlights section on the home page. Some non-MPC events will still show up there if they reinforce the idea that we are community-friendly (such as Al-Anon) but generally we’ll be focusing more on MPC
- begun work on moving the calendar to the bottom of the site home page and replacing it (on sub-pages) with a calendar icon that links to the overall Google Calendar
What’s next?
To give our site more of a personal voice — and to encourage folks to drop by — we’re adding a new “Why I go to MPC” section. And we need your help! The following note will be in the bulletin this coming Sunday:
Why MPC? Please Share Your Story
The MPC Tech Team is looking for ‘Why I go to MPC’ stories/statements that can be added to the MPC website. Could you write one for us? Your statement wouldn’t have to be long– 100 to 250 words only, please — and it could really help bring new people here on Sunday. Is is the community? The music? The preaching? Was there a special experience that keeps you coming back? Just send your statement/story to whympc@mpcfamily.org . Questions? Please contact Steve McKiernan at spmckiernan@gmail.com, or any member of the MPC Tech Team. Thanks for sharing!
You are heartily encouraged to submit your story.
Youth Mission Trip
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
For their 2011 Mission Trip, members of our High School Youth Group will spend next week (July 25-Aug. 3) in Portland, Oregon. They will be volunteering in and learning about a variety of hunger justice programs, coordinated by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. This is an interfaith food and farm partnership, which has recently received a grant from the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Volunteer opportunities include (1) Zenger Farms, an Urban Agriculture Center in a low-income area; (2) Portland Fruit Tree Project, which gleans urban fruit trees; (3) N.E. Emergency Food Program; (4) New Seasons Market, a local chain which hires from the neighborhoods they locate in and sources food as locally as possible. While on the trip they will also be taking photos for the Joining Hands with Bolivia Poverty, Pollution and Solutions photo contest.
