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 .
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 play a prelude, “How Brightly Beams the Morning Star”, arr. Roger C. Wilson
- Rev Ben Daniel will welcome everyone to Celebration
- Mary Ellen McKey will lead us in a Call to Worship (PC(USA) Book of Common Worship, adapted)
- the opening hymn will be “We Three Kings”
- next Mary Ellen will lead us in a Prayer for Peace (published by Christian Aid)
- we will celebrate January birthdays
- then it’s Time with Children
- Invitations are next
- Special Music will be next, the MPC Choir, led by Kim Rankin, will sing “Cold the Winter” by Mark Schweizer
- Mary Ellen will read from the scriptures, Matthew 2:1-12
- Katie Kilby will offer a sermon
- the Hymn of Response will be “The First Nowell”
- the offering plates will be passed next, and Marcia will play an offertory, “Infant Holy” arr. RW Thygerson
- next we will celebrate communion
- the closing hymn will be “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow”
- we will recite the Charge
- there will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude from Marcia, “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light”, arr. JS 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.