PALM SUNDAY | SUNDAY MARCH 28, 2021
Palm Sunday Morning | SIBLING CHURCHES
Palm Sunday this year we are going to take advantage of our ability to see how our sibling churches are gathering by inviting you to visit one of four churches. Please choose one of the communities below. We will survey people’s experiences afterward.
Calvary Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, CA
https://www.calvarypresbyterian.org/
TIME: 10:00am streaming on Facebook (Not Zoom)
LINK: https://www.facebook.com/calvarypresbyterian/
WHAT TO EXPECT: Calvary worship offers a pre-produced video that features weekly lectionary-based liturgy that includes hymns, readings, children’s meditation, sermon, anthem, and offering. Participants will see three of our pastors lead worship, watch thematic engaging visuals, hear multi-singer online choral pieces and traditional organ and piano pieces, and congregants reading the weekly scripture lesson.
Southminster Presbyterian Church, Beaverton, OR
https://www.southmin.org/
TIME: 10:00am on Zoom
LINK: Zoom Link (Meeting ID: 973 7845 1059 and Passcode: 516585)
Southminister Presbyterian Church is an open and affirming progressive congregation. We have been a More Light congregation for over 15 years, and a leader in the overtures for LGBTQ ordination and marriage within PCUSA. We have been a Matthew 25 congregation since summer 2020 and have an abiding commitment to social and climate justice. Our Interim Pastor, Rev. Don Ludwig, has been an Associate Pastor with Southminster for the past 15 years and is known for his inspiring and challenging messages.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Southminster does a live Zoom worship at 10:00 AM Sundays. Music varies from live or pre-recorded original music to selected inspiring videos that fit our worship theme. There are readings from scripture and often other sources. After Pastor Don’s Sermon there will be a time for prayers and then a closing hymn and benediction. We sometimes have short interactive break out rooms or group discussion after the sermon, and we hang around for 10-20 minutes after the service for informal “popcorn fellowship.” All are welcome and we’re a friendly, informal congregation.
Plymouth Church, Seattle, WA
https://plymouthchurchseattle.org/
TIME: 10:30 on Zoom
LINK: Register via Zoom
WHAT TO EXPECT: Surrounded by the ebb and flow of downtown Seattle, Plymouth Church UCC is a radically inclusive church that believes justice is living out one’s faith in public. Our spiritual connection with Jesus Christ moves us toward one another to build together the Beloved Community.
Elim Church, Canada (This uses AltarLive)
https://www.elimchurch.ca/
TIME: 8:00am
LINK: Online church Entry Page (May want to create an AltarLive Account)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Elim uses AltarLive a technology that we may consider here at FPCPA. Elim is stylistically and theologically different, so please take time to explore their webpage and the “What to Expect” section.
PAlm Sunday afternoon | The Beyonce Mass
https://www.beyoncemass.com/
DATE: March 28, 2021
TIME: 2:30-4:00pm PDT
LINK: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wt32ojvg (Password: womanist2021)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Watch a Video
What if “Flaws and All” was a song about a complicated relationship with God? And “Survivor” spoke to how Black women thrive even as they’re undervalued and underestimated?
Beyoncé Mass is a womanist worship service that uses the music and personal life of Beyoncé as a tool to foster an empowering conversation about Black women—their lives, their bodies, and their voices.
Curated by Rev. Yolanda Norton, the H. Eugene Farlough Chair of Black Church Studies at San Francisco Theological Seminary, this groundbreaking spiritual experience has gathered thousands of people at worship services from Southern California to Portugal
MAUNDY THURSDAY | April 1, 2021 | 6:30pm PST
bit.ly/FPCPAMaundyThursday
DATE: Thursday, April 1, 2021
TIME: 6:30-7:30pm PDT
ZOOM LINK (No registration required): bit.ly/FPCPAMaundyThursday
Please bring a beverage and/or meal and be ready to share stories of family, community, and revisit the upper room. We will share in a brief service of communion at the end of our time so be sure to have something to eat and drink
Our sibling church Covenant Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto will be joining us.
THE LAST WORDS ON GOOD FRIDAY | APRIL 2, 2021 | 11:00am PST
bit.ly/FPCPAGoodFriday
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 2, 2021
TIME: 11:00am PDT (Doors open at 10:50)
ZOOM LINK (No registration required): bit.ly/FPCPAGoodFriday
First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto will be hosting a Traditional Midday Good Friday Service and welcoming in the current Co-Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Gregory Bentley, as well as seven former and Moderators and Vice-Moderators. This is a unique experience to meet and hear the voices of leaders from our church as each takes one of the seven last words of Christ.
You will not need to download a bulletin, but the order of preachers is as follows. The service is expected to last just over an hour.
FIRST WORD: Rev. Gregory Bentley (Recorded)
(Moderator, 224th General Assembly, 2020)
Scripture: Luke 23:32-34
“Abba, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
SECOND WORD: Rev. Larissa Kwong Abazia
(Vice-Moderator, 221st General Assembly, 2014)
Scripture: Luke 23:39-43
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
THIRD WORD: Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel
(Moderator, 214th General Assembly, 2002)
Scripture: John 19:25-27
“Jesus said to his mother: “Woman, this is your son.”
Then he said to the disciple: “This is your mother.”
FOURTH WORD: Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri
(Co-Moderator, 223rd General Assembly, 2018)
Scripture: Mark 15:33-36
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
FIFTH WORD: Rev. Dr. Neal Presa
(Moderator, 220th General Assembly, 2012)
Scripture: John 19:28-29
“I am thirsty.”
SIXTH WORD: Rev. Dr. Byron Wade
(Vice-Moderator, 218th General Assembly, 2008)
Scripture: John 19:30
“It is finished.”
SEVENTH WORD: Rev Denise Anderson (Recorded)
(Co-Moderator, 222nd General Assembly, 2016)
Scripture: Luke 23:44-46
“Abba, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
GOOD FRIDAY EVENING AT COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | APRIL 2, 2021 | 7:00 PM PDT BIT.ly/goodfridaycpc
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 2, 2021
TIME: 7:00 PM PDT
ZOOM LINK (No registration required): bit.ly/goodfridaycpc The Covenant Presbyterian Family invites you to join in the traditional Good Friday Tenebrae Service of hymns scripture readings and the extinguishing of the lights.