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, “Divinum Mysterium”, arr. Wilbur Held
- The Advent wreath will process forward while we sing “While We Are Waiting, Come”
- next, the Heller family will lead us in lighting the Advent wreath
- Katie Kilby will welcome everyone to Celebration
- the opening hymn will be “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
- next Shelley Kelly will lead us in a Prayer for Peace
- then it’s Time for Children
- next is the MPC Choir’s Major Work Pt.1, “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst (children are dismissed to Godly Play following part 1)
- Shelley will read from the scriptures, Isaiah 9:2-7
- Rev. Ben Daniel will offer a homily,
- the choir will sing PT 2 of their Major work, “Fantasia on Christmas Carols” by Ralph Vaughan Williams
- followed by a pastoral prayer,
- the offering plates will be passed next, and Marcia will play an offertory, “In Dulci Jubilo”, arr. JS Bach
- the closing hymn will be “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
- we will recite the Charge
- there will be a benediction
- followed by a postlude, “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”, arr. Wilbur Held
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.