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 .
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In celebration this week:
- The prelude will be a medley performed by Barrelhouse Jazz Band: “Canal St.”, “Bourbon St.”, and “When You’re Smiling”
- Rev. Dr. Keith Geckeler will welcome everyone to Celebration
- then Sari Kulberg will lead us in a Call to Celebration (from Iona)
- the opening hymn will be “The Lord is God”
- next, Sari will lead us in a Prayer for Peace, (from Iona, adapted)
- Debbie Fallehy will lead us in the celebration of September birthdays
- followed by Time with Children (children will then be dismissed to Godly Play)
- we will hear invitations after that
- then Sari will read Deuteronomy 6:4-8, Mark 12:28-34, and Matthew 25:32-36, 40
- Keith will offer a sermon, “Shema Ishrael”
- then we will sing the hymn of response, “Here, O Lord, We See You”
- the offering plates will be passed while Barrelhouse Jazz play “Pennies from Heaven” and “All of Me”
- then we will sing together, “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
- we will celebrate communion
- the closing hymn will be “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”
- we will recite the Charge together
- Keith will offer a benediction, after which we will sing together, “Amen, amen, amen”
- followed by a postlude from Barrelhouse Jazz, “When the Saints Go Marching In”
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.