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:
- Kim Rankin will play a prelude, ” Gaelic Morning”, a traditional Gaelic melody
- Katie Kilby will welcome everyone to Celebration,
- then Mary Ellen McKey will lead us in a Call to Celebration (Orthodox)
- The opening hymn will be “Praise, I Will Praise You, Lord”.
- Next, Mary Ellen will lead us in a Prayer for Peace (World Council of Churches)
- followed by a Time with Children. (Children will then be dismissed to Godly Play and Echo the Story)
- Invitations will be presented next,
- Then the MPC Choir will perform “A New Year Carol” words anonymous, music by Benjamin Britten (1913 – 1976), directed by Kim Rankin
- Mary Ellen will read from Mark 1:14-20
- Rev. Ben will deliver a sermon entitled, “A Donkey, a Child and a Business Executive Walk into a Sermon”,
- Then we will sing the hymn of response, “‘Tu Has Venido Al Orillo”, with Ben and Anne singing the verses in Spanish and Ben playing guitar,
- followed by a Pastoral Prayer.
- Then Suzanne Jones and Kira Heller will offer a “God’s Work in the World” from the Democracy and Politics team.
- Next, the offering plates will be passed while an offertory is played by Kim, “Rain Down”
- The closing hymn will be “God of Grace and God of Glory”,
- We will recite the Charge together,
- There will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude from Kim.
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.