SERMON
This Sunday: The Rev. Dr. Mike Harbert

“A Life Well Lived”
Matthew 22:34-40

Bible Passages:

Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 1; Matthew 22:34-40

Lector:
Dave Nee

Crucifer:
Peggy Pfeifer

Ushers:
Stephan Pratt and Carol Williams

Flowers:
Margaret Gaston
“In loving memory of Judith Eleanor MacDonald.”

Fellowship:
Cheryl Rogers and Dave Fahey

Musicians

Prelude

“Oldies, but Goodies”

My Lord What A Morning
African American, arr. Burleigh

My Faith Looks Up to Thee
L. Mason, arr. Hurley

Shall We Gather At the River
Lowry, arr. Copland

Let Me Hide Myself in Thee
Hastings, arr. Courtney

Offertory
My Lord What A Morning
African American, arr. Burleigh

Organ Postlude
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
M. Luther, arr. T. Albrecht

Welcome to guest musicians Jon-Mark Hurley and Mark Stevens.

Jon-Mark Hurley, cantor and tenor, is a collaborative pianist, conductor, actor, and vocalist with a career spanning church music, musical theatre, film, and television. He currently serves as Assistant Director and Collaborative Pianist for Monterey Peninsula Voices and the Aria Women’s Choir and previously served as Director of Traditional Worship at Compass Church. A SAG-AFTRA and AEA performer with a Master of Music from Belmont University, Jon-Mark is passionate about creating meaningful worship experiences through musical excellence, collaboration, and the power of storytelling.

Mark Stevens’ music career began at the age of twenty when he and a friend wandered into The Grapevine Jazz Club in Chicago. House pianist, Charles Morgan, said to him “Hey kid! Your friend here says you play piano and let’s see what you got!” Since that defining moment, Mark hasn’t looked back and music remains his passion.

Influenced by a Long-Ago Reformer

“A Mighty Fortress,” the ever-popular hymn by Martin Luther, was written nearly 500 years ago. Although Luther lived far removed from 21st-century California, every song that is part of our worship is in small part indebted to Luther’s legacy. As a highly trained theologian and Bible scholar, Luther advocated for liturgy and songs in the language of the people, rather than in Latin. He completed a translation of the Bible into German in 1534, and wrote a number of hymn texts in German, so that they could be more easily sung by lay people. Luther’s emphasis on the language of the people led to the publication of many hymnals in French, English, and German, and the custom of everyone singing together as part of the church service. We can trace our modern tradition of hymn-singing, whether old-time songs or newer poetry, to Reformation-era hymnals.

Music Coming Up
November 1st
Dr. Sara Petty, oboe
Cathryn Wilkinson, organ and piano