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
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If you are visiting today, we hope you’ll fill out our online Visitor Card at mpcfamily.org/hello .
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In celebration this week:
- The prelude, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, will be played by Kim Rankin on piano, and William Keys on trombone
- We’ll sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” together as the Advent wreath is processed to the front
- Jessica Golding and family will light the wreath, and lead us in the responsive reading
- Ben will welcome everyone to Celebration,
- The opening carol will be “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”.
- Next, Cynthia Blumgart will lead us in a Prayer for Peace
- We will sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” next, followed by
- God’s Work in the World: Pat Schwinn on the Christmas Joy Offering
- followed by a Time with Children.
- Next, we will sing “Go Tell it on the Mountain”.
- Cynthia will read from 2nd Samuel next, chapter 7:1-11, 16
- Katie will deliver a sermon entitled, “An Unexpected Dwelling Place”
- Then we will sing the Carol of Response, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”,
- Followed by a pastoral prayer.
- The offering plates will be passed while an offertory is presented by a women’s ensemble of the MPC Choir singing, “In the Bleak Midwinter”, by Gustav Holst, arr. Craig Courtney
- the Closing Carol will be “Joy to the World”
- We will recite the Charge together,
- There will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude, “In dulci jubilo” a Medieval German Carol
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.