PLEASE NOTE: Celebration is back in the sanctuary! Masks are optional, but encouraged. You also may watch the service on a live stream at home. Please use this option if you aren’t feeling well. To learn more about these choices, please visit mpcfamily.org/celebrate. In order to keep everyone healthy & safe, we will:
- encourage masking when indoors
- run the furnace filtration system for ventilation, doors and windows open only when necessary
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 .
If you’d like to support our work in the world (which is much appreciated!) please visit mpcfamily.org/donate .
In celebration this week:
- The prelude will be played by Marcia Roy, “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come”, Friedrich W. Zachau
- We’ll sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” together as the Advent wreath is processed to the front
- the Sutkus-Thompson family will light the wreath, and lead us in the responsive reading
- Katie will welcome everyone to Celebration,
- The opening hymn will be “People, Look East”.
- Next, Lin Gentry will lead us in a Prayer for Peace (adapted from a Democratic Republic of the Congo prayer, published by the World Council of Churches).
- Next, Debbie Fallehy will lead us in the celebration of December birthdays,
- Followed by a Time with Children.
- Invitations are next,
- Followed by the MPC Choir anthem: ““Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”, Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788); music by Mark A. Miller, directed by Kim Rankin
- Then Lin will read aloud the scripture reading from Mark 13:24-37
- Next,Ben will share a sermon, “Apocalypse When?”.
- The hymn of response will be “The Days are Surely Coming”,
- Followed by a God’s Work in the World from Claire Collins and Luci Del Maggiore of Catholic Charities, on their refugee foster care program.
- The offering plates will be passed while Kim plays an offertory,
- Then we will celebrate communion.
- The closing hymn will be “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”.
- We will recite the Charge together,
- There will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude
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. Care for Creation. Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Celebration live stream recordings
Every week, we post a live stream recording to YouTube. You can view information about those live stream recordings and access a link to the playlist on our Celebration Recordings page.