From Rev. Ben –
This is the last Sunday in Advent! We hope you will join us online for worship, as we get ready for Christmas. We also hope you will join us on Christmas Eve at 5:30 PM for a special service that many people are working on even now. This week’s service is focused on the themes of winter and darkness as we approach the longest night of the year.
Thank you to everyone who put together this week’s service!
You can submit comments and prayer requests via our Comments Form at mpcfamily.org/comments . We’d love to hear from you!
If you are visiting today, we hope you’ll fill out our online Visitor Card at mpcfamily.org/hello .
View December 20th Celebration online
- Kim gives us a meditative prelude on “Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night”
- Kim and Will will bring in the advent wreath with our traditional song, “While We Are Waiting, Come” (lyrics below)
- The Zolezzi family leads us in the liturgy for lighting the advent candles
- Talitha will welcome us
- The opening hymn is a virtual choir from our MPC choir members, on that well-beloved song, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
- Melinda Maxwell-Smith shares the Prayer for Peace, which is adapted from a prayer by Rev. Abigail Carlisle-Wilke
- Debbie Dille reads the Scripture, Isaiah 60:1-5
- Ben will preach
- The McKiernan family band presents “Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night” as special music
- Talitha will lead us in advent prayer
- The closing hymn is “In the Bleak Midwinter”
- and Talitha will close us with invitations, charge, and benediction
The Charge (say together) Go out into the world in peace. Have courage; hold on to what is good. Return no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, and help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.