Mercy Seat

Reunion Day Mass

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:57:07 +0000

September will see yet another World Premiere of a new musical setting of the Lutheran liturgy. Wes Burdine, our liturgical coordinator, will debut the new liturgy entitled, Reunion Day Mass. The liturgy is a gospel and soul inspired homage to the likes of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Come out in September and check out the first gospel and soul liturgy at Mercy Seat.

Reunion Day Mass

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:53:02 +0000

The Reunion Day Mass came from a long-standing desire to pay homage to musicians such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. It was an attempt to change up the alt-country moods of some of our liturgies and inject some new melodies into our theological bloodstream at Mercy Seat. Thematically, it takes up the promise of deliverance, especially in the Song of Praise, “All My Friends are Comin’ Back to Jesus” and the cross-lament of the Sanctus, “I Cry, ‘Holy!’. It also includes the song “Reunion Day” that encloses the service parenthetically, promising, “It won’t be long ’til that fine reunion day.” The band is composed of liturgy regulars, Scott Munson and Jayanthi Kyle (of Black Audience), plus Mike Berger (of Cincinnati punk outfits toolshed and The Bushrocks) and Kim Larson.

Sept. Book Club

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:25:45 +0000

This Month’s book club will be hosted over in good ol’ St. Paul (Directions to the Osterholt’s). Since we’ll be in the capitol, we thought it would be appropriate to celebrate one of it’s most notorious authors, Scotty the Fitz (aka, F. Scott Fitzgerald). And since we are the World’s Laziest Book Club, we’re keeping it short with the 1920 short story that first put the Minnesotan on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, Bernice Bobs Her Hair.

August’s Liturgy

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:33:43 +0000

John Hermanson will be back in the liturgical seat (as it were) when he brings back his liturgy entitled, “Is This the Feast of Victory?” John’s liturgy was featured in a recent article in MN Monthly and you can read about it as well as listen to the songs here.

Good News, Bad News Liturgy

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:12:15 +0000

For the next few weeks, we are delighted to have Scott Munson leading us with his Good News, Bad News Liturgy. Good News, Bad News is a setting of the Mass that sounds like it was pulled straight from Memphis, so come check it out.

Grace Alworth’s Sermon

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:20:29 +0000

On July 4th, Grace Alworth gave the guest sermon. If you missed it due to celebratory explosions and watermelon-eating, you can check it out now.

The Big Move

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:51:29 +0000

Mercy Seat has a new home. We’re settling down and moving into a new building and this time we’re going to start putting down some roots. Here are the essentials: our first Sunday in the new building is July 18th. The address is 1500 6th St. NE, Minneapolis.
Now for the longer version. We want to reaffirm our NE Minneapolis roots, believing that our mission as a church is tied to this neighborhood. Along with NE Community Lutheran and several other partners, we will be moving into the old Holland school. For a while, we will be housed in the cafeteria (to reaffirm the four basic food groups as written on the back wall) as the school’s atrium is worked on to make it appropriate for a sanctuary. This is part of a larger effort by Grace Center for Community Life. The new building houses a charter school, a food pantry, support groups and several other churches. In the next few weeks, we’ll be looking to hear from everyone about how we can make this move a step forward and a way to become a more visible presence in the neighborhood.
Here is a map of where we are now located.
Oh, it also has air conditioning.

July Book Club

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:30:03 +0000

Just when you thought we couldn’t get lazier, we go an prove ourselves again. For June, the World’s Laziest Book Club (TM) read the book Holy Man by Susan Trott. The problem is that we were having such a good time hanging out and talking that no one ever discussed the book. And so, for this month’s book club we will be reading the same book as well as some poetry. For more information, join the facebook group.
The book club will be held after church on July 18th at Wes & Lydia’s house. You don’t need to have read the book to attend, especially since Wes won’t have read it, because he is reading a biography of Elvis.

Massa by Ben Kyle

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:24:01 +0000

We are delighted to have Ben Kyle return and lead us with his Massa liturgy. One of the first original liturgies that Mercy Seat commissioned, Massa is an alt-country take on the liturgy with gospel roots. Listen to some of it below.

Camping

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:19:12 +0000

Join us for Mercy Seat’s first camping trip to Jay Cooke State Park on July 16th and 17th. We have reserved a group tent only site and will share food and fun. All are welcome. Sign up on our facebook site or email Sarah Hjelmberg. Details will follow.