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:
- Marcia Roy will play a prelude, “Prelude on Hyfrydol”, by Healey Willan
- The Advent wreath will process forward while we sing “While We Are Waiting, Come”
- next, Mai and Lise Thogerson will lead us in lighting the Advent wreath
- Katie Kilby will welcome everyone to Celebration
- the opening hymn will be “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
- next Mike Griffith will lead us in a Prayer for Peace (adapted from a Democratic Republic of the Congo prayer published by the World Council of Churches)
- Debbie Fallehy will lead us in celebrating December birthdays
- then it’s Time for Children (after which the children will be dismissed to Godly Play)
- we will hear invitations after that
- next the MPC choir, led by Kim Rankin, will sign “Be a Candle of Hope”, by Becky Slagle Mayo
- Mike will read from the scriptures, Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:5-28
- Rev. Ben will offer a sermon, “When Does God Get Involved?”
- the offering plates will be passed next,
- then we will celebrate communion together
- the closing hymn will be “Prepare the Way, O Zion”
- we will recite the Charge
- there will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude
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.