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 Ruling Elders (and friends) will offer a prelude, “War Is Over” (Happy Christmas) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
- the Advent wreath will come forward as the congregation sings the hymn, “Come Now, O Prince of Peace”
- the wreath will be lit by the Bell family, who will lead the responsive reading
- Katie Kilby will welcome everyone to Celebration
- the opening hymn will be “While We Are Waiting, Come”,
- next Shelley Kelly will lead us in the Prayer for Peace (from Iona)
- Time with Children follows, then
- Invitations are next
- Pat Schwinn will offer a God’s Work in the World with information about the Christmas Joy Offering
- next Shelley will read from Luke 1:39-55,
- Rev. Ben Daniel will offer a sermon, “Mary, the Terrorist”
- the hymn of response will be, “Canticle of the Turning”
- then the offering plates will be passed, while the Ruling Elders (and friends) perform Jackson Browne’s “Rebel Jesus”
- the closing hymn will be “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
- we will recite the Charge
- there will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude, “Go Tell It On The Mountain”; an African American Spiritual, arranged by Zachary Williams, performed by The Ruling Elders (and friends)
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.