TheHIGH �e Five Solas

of the Reformation

TheHIGH �e Five Solas

of the Reformation

TheHIGH �e Five Solas

of the Reformation

TheHIGH �e Five Solas

of the Reformation Grace AloneEphesians 1:3-8a

Alf Halvorson preaching

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Please silence all devices, and refrain from consuming food or beverages during worship.

March 28 - April 11, 2016Led by Rev. Dave Steane

in GReece

anD TuRkey

FooTSTepS oF pauLJoin executive pastor Dave Steane for a fantastic two-week tour following the footsteps of the apostle paul. you’ll visit athens, Thessaloniki, philippi, modern-day ephesus, patmos, crete, istanbul, and more.For more info: mdpc.org

The Well:What do we fear?

Wednesday, October 28 • 6:30-8:00 PM • ChapelLight snacks @ 6:15 PM • Childcare by reservation: childcare@mdpc.org

Women in all life stages are coming together to hear a panel of real, honest women talk about the things they fear, and how Christ has brought peace in the midst of dark places.

Meet us at The Well, a gathering place for women of all ages to commune and connect.

Kids’ MealsMonthly Service OpportunityHelp us feed the nearly 2,200 preschool children kids’ Meals delivers to daily. MDpc volunteers are instrumental in providing one day’s delivery per month! please bring two loaves of white or wheat sandwich bread to the project.

Wednesday, October 14 5:00 PM | Fellowship Hall

� mdpc.org

� children.mdpc.org

� women.mdpc.org� seniors.mdpc.org

� local.mdpc.org

� study.mdpc.org

� health.mdpc.org� pip.mdpc.org

Partner In Prayer 2016your time given through pip ensures thousands of people

are prayed for every day! as pastor alf writes in his invi-tation letter, "prayer is one of the key avenues God uses

to transform us. We need your help in this ministry, but helping will help you grow in your faith as well."

To be a 2016 partner in prayer,sign up today and next Sunday in the Lobbyor register at pip.mdpc.org.

Senior adults who’d like to better understand the technol-ogy and social media their children and grandchildren are using will learn more about texting, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Vine, and Snapchat.

Tuesday, October 20 | 10:30 AM | Fellowship HallFree program,10:30-Noon, followed by Lunch ($9.50)

Pick up a flier for details.

Prime Timers Presents: Tech Tips II for SeniorsPresented by Dan Aikins, Middle School Discipleship Director

Dave’s Bible Study This year’s study with Executive Pastor, Dave Steane covers the

eight “I AM” statements of Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ identity as God’s Son is unpacked in rich theological terms. These “I AM” statements reveal much about the character and mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

October 14: I Am the Bread of Life (John 6:26-40)

Wednesdays through December 9

6:30 PM | Summit Room

We’ll serve Houston at various mission organizations, eat ethnic food at family-owned restaurants, and take a prayer tour of the city. You’ll see a side of Houston you’ve never seen before! Create a great family memory while learning the importance of serving together. For kids second grade and up; each child must have at least one parent attend.Saturday-Sunday, November 7-8 | $50/person (includes meals, transportation, lodging) Please only sign up if you can commit to the ENTIRE weekend: registration.mdpc.orgContact Mallory (mmoore@mdpc.org) or Rachel (rpoysky@mdpc.org) with questions.

Exploring Jesus’ “I AM” statements in John’s Gospel

Coordinating Team Mauricio chacón | associate pastor for FuenteBrandon Gaide | associate pastor for next GenGinny Glass | communications & Media Dir.Meliza Gómez | contemporary Music Dir.Luke Gordon | youth Ministries Dir.alf Halvorson | Senior pastor charles Hausmann | Traditional Music Dir.kristin Huffman | associate pastor for outreachBrett Hurst | Relationships MinisterGena kooken | Sr. Leadership Ministry coor.Rick Myers | associate pastor for caringRachel poysky | children’s Ministries Dir.Becky Riggs | Business administratorDave Steane | executive pastor & Head of Staffkathryn White | coordinating Music Dir.karen Winship | Human Resources Dir.

Dave peterson | pastor emeritus Gary Bowker | pastor emeritus

MDpc FoundationFor information, contact Business Administrator Becky Riggs at briggs@mdpc.org or 713-953-2570.

11612 Memorial Drive | Houston, Texas 77024 | mdpc.org | 713-782-1710Loving God. Proclaiming Christ. Living Generously. Engaging All.

MDPC Worship MDPC infoMDPC highlights

Ministry Partnerspray for these MDpc partners working to make a difference in the lives of others:

Small Steps Nurturing Center is an exemplary early childhood program in Houston’s First and Fifth Wards providing high-quality education, transpor-tation, nutritious meals, and social and emotional therapy to 180 economically at-risk children.ssnc.org

Souper Bowl of Caring is a global youth-led mission that raises money to battle hunger. a Houston city-wide food drive is held each February. Since 1990, hundreds of thousands of youths have experienced the joy and satisfaction of giving and serving.souperbowl.org

China Resource Center equips and strengthens the growing chinese church and fosters constructive Western engagement in china by building churches in rural areas and distributing Bibles. chinaresourcecenter.org

A Note About Discernmenton February 22 of this year, the congregation voted by a margin of 75% to 25% to enter a time of discernment. However, without a Senior pastor in place, we pushed the pause button. What is happening now? Since his arrival, Dr. Halvorson has concentrated on preaching the Sunday sermons and on meeting the people and learning the ministries of this church. This has allowed the congregation to get to know him and to better under-stand our shared mission. Through a series of informal meetings with groups and indi-viduals, alf has been taking this time to gather a variety of views regarding the future and direction of MDpc. next steps regarding discernment will be developed throughout the fall. We will unpack them as a congregation in 2016, with the goal of closure so that together we can move forward faithfully.

Let’s Talk About Pornour kids - boys and girls alike - are facing an unprecedented wave of pornography. The average age of exposure to porn is 11 years old, and 12 to 17-year-olds are the largest porn consumers, averaging 50 clips per week. This forum is for parents, grandparents, educators, mentors, and other caring adults who want a plan on how to proactively ad-dress this issue. MDpc member, Tim Mavergeorge, is one of the presenters. come learn strategies to inspire your kids to avoid pornography and equip them with the tools to resist looking. Whether your child is in the cradle or in college, you’ll benefit from this.Sunday, October 18 | 6:00-8:00 PM | Chapelwood United MethodistRegister: letstalkaboutporn.com

Moving Forwardcome join us for dinner ($10) and stay to hear Senior pastor alf Halvorson present on “Three key Words,” referring to 2 corinthians 1:3-7. Wednesday, October 21 | 5:45-7:00 PM | Parlor Please RSVP to Bitsy Cleveland: bcleveland@mdpc.org or 713-490-9542

MDPC Concert Series Welcomes Back Mercuryin the season opener, MDpc's concert Series welcomes back the Mercury downtown orchestra for Mercury Moments, a showcase of favorite pieces including Vivaldi's “Sum-mer” from The Four Seasons and Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.Saturday, October 24 | 2:30 PM | ChapelPurchase tickets at mercuryhouston.org or at the door. The season schedule is at concerts.mdpc.org.

The Venturers at MDPC presents: Meet AlfGet to know MDpc’s new Senior pastor, Rev. Dr. alf Halvorson in a unique setting of dinner and fellowship among friends. everyone age 55+ is welcome!Monday, November 2 | Social Hour 6:00 PM, Dinner/Program 7:00 PM | Westchase HiltonYour check is your reservation. RSVP by Wednesday, October 28 to Chuck & Linnie Edwards: 9350 Shady Lane Circle, 77063. Contact them for details: 713-785-7115

Use Your Business Skillsnewspring’s annual Business plan competition, sponsored in conjunction with Houston community college, begins in January. over the past eight years, over 100 MDpc mem-bers have participated as advisers to community college students, helping them draft business plans. it’s a great opportunity to witness to your christian faith in a secular world. advisers work in pairs, mentoring their contestants throughout the competition.Begins January 2016For details, please contact Robert Westheimer at rwestheimer1@comcast.net.

Small Groups: Study “The High Five” this Fall!Today pastor alf continues his sermon series on the five solas of the Reformation: Scripture alone, Christ alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, and To the Glory of God alone. Friends, families, small groups, and classes are encouraged to pick up Sermon notes and discuss. additional content (excerpts from Scripture, our confessions, pastoral reflections) will be available throughout the series at the connection center and at highfive.mdpc.org.Questions? Contact Christyn Knoop: cknoop@mdpc.org or 713-490-0940

MDPC Turns 60...In 2015, we celebrate 60 years of

faith and ministry!a c. 1999 pic of Brett Hurst and kristin Huffman in birthday crowns. They have birthdays one day apart - he's october 11 (that's today!) and she's october 12 (that's tomorrow!). in kristin's words, "Back in the day, we were on the same staff and the rest of them kidnapped us and took us to kim Hock’s house for a birthday breakfast!"

W EEK LY FI NA NCIA L U PDATEOperating Income 2015 Budget $ 10,500,000expected income to date $ 6,028,532actual income to date $ 5,712,945current income Deficit $ 315,587pictured: Thanks to your giving, we support china Resource center, which distributes Bibles and encourages christian community in china.

Please Pray...The White Rose is in memory of• BillyDwyer,whopassedaway

September 26, 2015.

For What Lies Aheadas we reflect on our denominational align-ment, please pray for peace in the hearts of your fellow MDpc family members, and sage discernment for our leadership.Visit denom-issues.mdpc.org for information.

OtHer Worship opportunities

8:30 Blended service

9:45 contemporary service

11:15 traditional service

*please stand if able. ccLi # 182374

SPANISH SERVICE 11:15 aM | chapel fuente.mdpc.org

FIFTH SERVICE 5:00 pM | chapel fifthservice.mdpc.org

WORSHIP INVITATION Michael Middleton | Tara Reynolds

*WORSHIP MUSIC

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON Luke Gordon

GIFTS OF GRATITUDE Dave Steane

MESSAGE The High Five: Grace Alone alf Halvorson ephesians 1:3-8b

PRELUDE French Suite Gordon young (1919-1998)

WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP Dave Steane

CHORAL INTROIT Rejoice the Lord Is King arr. Henry pfohl

*HYMN OF PRAISE Love Divine, All Loves Excelling #376; Vs. 1, 2, 3 | Hyfrydol

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON Rick Myers

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn #579

CHORAL ANTHEM Cantique de Jean Racine (O Redeemer Divine) Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

OFFERTORY Credo (from Gospel Mass) Robert Ray (b. 1928) cassandra Black, soloist; Julio Sanchez, drums

MESSAGE The High Five: Grace Alone alf Halvorson ephesians 1:3-8b

*HYMN OF RESPONSE Amazing Grace #280; Vs. 1, 2, 3 | amazing Grace

POSTLUDE Postlude in the 18th Century Style                    eric Thiman (1900-1975)

WELCOME Dave Steane

*SONGS OF PRAISE

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON Rick Myers

SONG OF PREPARATION

GIFTS OF GRATITUDE

MESSAGE The High Five: Grace Alone alf Halvorson ephesians 1:3-8b

Sermon Notes are available from the ushers and at the connection center and Front office.

MDPC Is Closed TomorrowMDpc will be closed in observance of the columbus Day holiday.

Monday, October 12

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church11612 Memorial Drive | Houston, Texas 77024 | mdpc.org | 713-782-1710

We have been looking at the Five Solas (Only’s) of the Reformation. Do you

appreciate congregational singing? Thank the reformers for reviving it. Do you believe that the Bible should be read in the language of the people? Thank the reformers. Do you think with communion you should have the bread and cup? Then thank the reformers for restoring the cup to lay people. Do you affirm “the priesthood of all believers,” that we are all ministers, empowered by the Spirit to show the love and justice of God to the world? If so, then thank the reformers. I could go on and on. The Protestant Reformation reversed a bad move away from good theological foundations, and it also was a move toward people – making the faith more accessible to all.

1. When you read Ephesians 2:8-10, what emotions hit you? Are you encouraged? Chal-lenged? Confused? Inspired?

2. Are we saved by “grace through faith” or by works? Defend your answer by Ephesians 2:8-10 and James 2:14-18.

3. What do Jesus’ words from Matthew 7:15-17 do to clarify this debate?

4. Martin Luther said, “Good works cannot make a person good; but a good person does good works.” In other words, you can’t be saved by trying to earn it by works. But, once saved by grace, you can’t help but bear the fruit of good works. I said in the sermon that we are saved for deeds but not by deeds. We are saved by grace through faith. Works confirm not cause salvation. Grace is offered to us just as we are, but it doesn’t leave us just as we were. Out of gratitude, we walk the faith out (we bear fruit). Does that explanation help, or do you still have questions? What are they, and how will you get them answered?

5. I told a story of Hal Halverson (no relation to me) who flew C47’s and C54’s during and after WWII. He became known as the “Candy Bomber” or “Uncle Wiggly Wings” for his work during the Berlin Air lift, giving children gum and chocolate. Because of all he had, out of gratitude, he shared. Out of the grace he received, he worked for others. I quoted Tom Brokaw who said, “This is the spirit of Christmas/Christianity. To give in response to the unearned gift of God’s Son for our salvation.” What might that look like in your life? What might be your two sticks of gum? How will this “way of life” grow and take shape in you and us (MDPC)?

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Grace AloneEphesians 2:8-10 and Matthew 7:15-17 (NRSV)

Rev. Dr. Alf Halvorson Preaching

Digging deeper

TheHIGH �e Five Solas

of the Reformation

TheHIGH �e Five Solas

of the Reformation