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:
- Marcia Roy will present a prelude, “How Brightly Beams the Morning Star”, by Roger C. Wilson
- Katie will welcome everyone to Celebration,
- then Frank Dauby will lead us in a Call to Celebration (adapted from a prayer by Johannes Tauler, a disciple of Mister Eckhart)
- The opening hymn will be “The First Nowell”.
- Next, Frank will lead us in a Prayer for Peace (adapted from a Lebanese prayer)
- Then, Debbie Fallehy will lead us in a celebration of January birthdays
- followed by a Time with Children. (Children will then be dismissed to Godly Play or Echo the Story
- Invitations will be presented nest,
- Then the MPC Choir will perform “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” by Adgar M.Pace & R. Fisher Boyce, directed by Kim Rankin
- Frank will read from Matthew 2:1-12
- Rev. Ben will deliver a sermon entitled, “Take the Long Way Home”,
- Then we will sing the hymn of response, “‘We Three Kings”.
- Next, the offering plates will be passed while an offertory is played by Kim, “Angels From the Realms of Glory/We Three Kings” arranged by John Eidsvoog
- Then we will celebrate communion.
- The closing hymn will be “Watchman, Tell Us of The Night”,
- We will recite the Charge together,
- There will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude from Marcia, “Break forth Oh Beauteous Heavenly Light” by J. S. Bach
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.