This Week at MCC, All Saints Day with Covenant Rock Band

"If you think getting up on Sunday Morning is hard, try rising from the Dead."  

On Sunday, October 31, All Saints Day, eight new members are welcomed, and one former member returns to the congregation at Memorial Congregational Church.  In the new member ceremony, the congregation pledges to support the joining members in the church family, promising to uphold the principles of the church covenant.  All new members receive a loaf of bread as a welcoming token, baked by Sudbury residents Hal and Betsey Cutler. Hal is a descendent of the historic Goodnow family.

Reverend Tom O'Brien, officially installed as the MCC pastor on October 17, takes the lesson for both children and adults from the story of the conversion of the sinner Zacchaeus found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 19.  The story closes with verses 9-10: 'Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."'

The children's moment, entitled 'Changing Perceptions' sends the kids off to church school.   Rev. O'Brien focuses on the theme of 'Transforming Love' for the adult sermon, referring to Zacchaeus' transformation from sinning tax collector to lover of God.

Several interpretations of Martin Luther's hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God" will be heard:  for the Prelude, Cathy Meyer plays an arrangement by Michael Praetorius from the early 17^th century, followed by Johann Pachelbel's version which came nearly one hundred years later for the Postlude.

MCC's light rock ensemble 'Covenant' accompanies the congregation in the singing of When the Saints Go Marching In and the Senior Choir in the Lojeski arrangement of Amazing Grace.