Join members and friends of GPMC for one of our candlelight Christmas Eve services lessons and carols. All of our worship services are in the sanctuary and our later services include our full choir.
Children of all ages are invited to participate in our Living Crèche (nativity scene) as either angels or shepherds at this year’s 5 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Costumes will be available in Barbour Chapel before service for the children to wear over their clothes. They will sit with their families in the sanctuary until it’s time to walk up to the chancel. Lead shepherds and angels will signal the appropriate time and will help usher the children to the front of the church. Children will return to their seats right after the Christmas message and before the offering. In addition to helping the Christmas story come alive, children who participate will also get a front row view of the baby Jesus. We are also encouraging children to bring a “white gift” (food donations wrapped in white tissue paper) which they will place in the baskets on the chancel steps. The donations will be given to a local
community food bank. We look forward to your children participating in this beautiful service.
This is the sermon from Sunday morning worship on December 9. It was the second Sunday of Advent, when churches often celebrate the peace that comes with Jesus Christ. Throughout Advent, our worship includes a time of silence and/or music for reflection between the preaching text(s) and the sermon. On this particular Sunday, Rev. Henry donned a camel hair coat in honor of John the Baptist and our middle school Sunday school students led worship. The reading upon which the sermon was based is Luke 1: 8-25.
This is the sermon from Sunday morning worship on December 2. It was the first Sunday of Advent, when churches often celebrate the hope that comes with Jesus Christ. Throughout Advent, worship includes a time of silence and/or music for reflection between the preaching text(s) and the sermon. The reading upon which the sermon was based is 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13.
This year’s Christmas Story Concert, featuring the work of James Biery and including the GPMC Choir and local musicians, is free of charge and no ticket are required. Free childcare is provided. Join us as we celebrate Christ’s coming in song.
This is the sermon from Sunday morning worship on November 18. It was the Sunday when we awarded Bibles to third graders who completed a special class and also recognized 50 year members. The reading upon which the sermon was based 1 Samuel 1: 21-28.
November 18 is a special day in the life of GPMC. We will be recognizing children who completed the 3rd Grade Bible class and presenting them with their own Bibles. We will also be celebrating members of our congregation who have been on the journey of faith at GPMC for over 50 years. We even have some 70 year members!
Join us for these celebrations. The 3rd Grade Bible presentation is at the 9 am service and we will be celebrating 50 year members at both morning services.
Holiday Lunch and Fun! Parish Life Council invites everyone to join us for our annual Holiday Lunch and Fun on Sunday, November 25th, immediately following the one service of worship at 10:30a.m.
Formerly known as Sandwiches at Memorial, this year we are happy to bring you even more than our usual luncheon offering. Christian Education Council will be providing seasonal activities for kids and adults immediately following lunch, and the Worship Council invites you to help with the “hanging of the greens” in preparation for Advent.
All of this fellowship and activity will be free of charge. Please sign up at the Reception Desk or by calling (313) 882 5330.
Join us for a special 3:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon of music as the GPMC choir, under the direction of James Biery, is joined by local musicians for a presentation of a requiem in memory of victims of gun violence in the United States. You can order tickets by calling the church office or online at https://www.eventgroove.com/event/Durufl-And-Bernstein-29659.
This is the sermon from Sunday morning worship on November 4, 2018. The text was Mark 12: 28-34 (included below). It was a full Sunday at GPMC: new members, children as liturgists, communion, special choral music and All Saints’ Sunday. This made for a short sermon. It was also approximately a week after the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, where 11 men and women were killed by an anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant shooter. At the 5:00 p.m. service, Peter also spoke of the book “Rising Out of Hatred,”by Eli Saslow. It is the story of a young white nationalist who was loved into renouncing his ways by two Jewish men and an immigrant who wouldn’t give up on the white nationalist or the idea that love can overcome hate.
Mark 12: 28-34
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.