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:
- The prelude will be “I Wonder as I Wander”, a traditional Appalachian carol, played on the harp by Anna Maria Mendieta
- 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 Jessica Golding family, who will lead the responsive reading
- Katie Kilby will welcome everyone to Celebration
- the opening hymn will be “Comfort, Comfort Now My People”,
- next Susanne Lea will lead us in the Prayer for Peace (from Latin America)
- Time with Children follows, then
- Invitations are next
- next Susanne will read from Matthew 1:18-25,
- the MPC Choir Major Work is next, “A Ceremony of Carols” (1942) by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976); Kim Rankin directing; Jennifer Ashworth, soprano soloist; Anna Maria Mendieta, harp
- Prayers of the People will follow
- then the offering plates will be passed, while Anna Maria plays “A French Noël”
- the closing hymn will be “People Look East”
- we will recite the Charge
- there will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude, “Carol of the Bells”; a traditional Ukrainian 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.