Worship Online
Central’s Session has agreed that it is in the best interest of all who worship at Central, and all who are served by our community, to cancel all in-person worship and activities at Central until further notice. Every Sunday, new content will be posted to this page for a worship-on-demand experience that you can view anytime throughout the week. For those without regular internet access, we are mailing worship materials via postal mail. If you have limited web access or know of someone in need of mailed content, please contact Anna Sanchez or call (651) 224-4748.
For tips on video viewing, see the bottom of this page.
Sunday, December 13
To watch worship in one steady video stream, click here.
Welcome
Rev. David Colby welcomes us into worship today, and lights the third Advent candle.
hymn
David Winkworth and Jayson Engquist share the hymn "People, Look East," Hymn #105 in Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal.
Children’s Time
Children and Youth Ministries Coordinator Katie Morris speaks with Central's youth about what it means to "practice joy."
Scripture
Phyllis Brashler shares today's scripture readings, from the books of Isaiah 40:1-11 and Luke 2:1-14.
DOWNLOAD
Sermon
Rev. David Colby delivers a sermon on practicing joy during this season.
DOWNLOAD
prayer
Rev. David Colby leads us in closing prayer.
DOWNLOAD
Music
Central Choir section leaders Abbie Betinis and Eric Bartlett sing "Each Winter as the Year Grows Older," accompanied by Steve Swanson on piano.
4 Ways to Give
If Central is your church home, we encourage you to continue your regular tithes and offerings during this season. In so many ways, the work of Central is more important than ever before as we step up to serve those lacking important resources of daily living. To make your offering this week, simply click on an icon below.
MAIL A CHECK
IN PERSON
DONATE ONLINE
AUTO-RECURRING
Announcements
CAROLS FROM CENTRAL - A LIVESTREAM EVENT TODAY!
Tune in on YouTube TODAY (December 13) at 2:00 p.m. for a test broadcast from the sanctuary at Central, featuring carols by Jennifer Anderson and Adam van der Sluis, and readings by Kiera Faye. While we don't have plans to broadcast worship live right now, we wanted to use this opportunity to test the camera equipment purchased with a recent technology grant from the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area.
To join in, click this link at 2:00 p.m.: https://youtu.be/T3BCx-bP9Us. While you're there, YouTube users can hit SUBSCRIBE on Central's YouTube channel to keep up with new videos!
The holidays will be celebrated in a different way this year at Central. TODAY (December 13) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Coordinated Mission Committee, Women of Central, and Knitting Group will be holding a drive-up donation drop-off at the MPR parking lot for the Giving Tree and Mitten Tree donations.
GIVING TREE - This year the tradition of the festive holiday tags on the Giving Tree continues, but in a slightly different way. We will collect gift cards of any denomination (Target, Walmart, and/or Kohls) and accept wrapped gifts that you can sign up for online. Gifts can be dropped on this day, or anytime the office is open. Gifts should be wrapped and include a tag with the recipient’s name and a note of what the gift is. Deadline for gifts is December 15.
MITTEN TREE - Although we didn’t have our festive holiday brunch this year, the Mitten Tree tradition will continue. The Women of Central, Knitting Group, and Coordinated Mission committees are partnering together to collect donations of winter gear for Neighborhood House and Interfaith Action Department of Indian Programs. In addition to the typical donations of mittens, gloves, hats and scarves; new or gently used coats and other winter gear are also welcome. The items of greatest need are children’s coats and boots.
ALTERNATIVE GIFT MARKET - We will not be having our annual Alternative Gift Market of handmade items, coffees, and delicious chocolates. However, donations can still be made to Martha’s Closet and VocalPoint by sending a check to Central’s office with the designee noted in the memo field.
CONNECT ON FACEBOOK
Through the month of December, we will be posting questions to you about the season. We hope you will share photos, comments and stories with us each Sunday morning! Visit our page at www.facebook.com/centralforgood.
One more weeks before the holiday break, so stop on by! Connection Circles run every Thursday until December 17 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.. These Zoom events are hosted by Central's Deacons and offered as a means for our community to gather and connect through different guided conversations. People of all ages and backgrounds share personal stories, concerns, and offer support with others. If you have not yet been a part of one, we invite you to stop by!
QUESTIONS AND EMERGENCIES
If at anytime you have questions, concerns or ideas, we invite you to reach out to our staff who will continue to be available. While voice mail will be checked as staff are able, we encourage you to send emails for more immediate response. If you have a pastoral emergency, please call 651-224-4728 ext. 102 and the voicemail will provide instruction to reach the pastor.
Pastoral care: Rev. David Colby
Deacons: Deacon Committee Chair, Mark Vance
Music: Jennifer Anderson
Children and Youth: Katie Morris
General Inquiries: Anna Sanchez
Communication/Website: Christie Rachelle
LICENSE
Permission to reprint, podcast, and stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-712575.
All rights reserved.
Past Sunday Worship Content
To view content, simply click on the date to go to that page.
Sunday, December 6
Don’t Be Afraid to Bring Peace [ Isaiah 1-4, 8-11 and Luke 1:46-55 ]
Sunday, November 29
Don’t Be Afraid to Hold Hope [ Isaiah 64:1-9 and Luke 1:26-45 ]
Sunday, November 22
Celebrating the Confirmation Class of 2020
Sunday, November 15
The Church’s First Leadership Transition [ Acts 1:1-26 ]
Sunday, November 8
A Still More Excellent Way [ 1 Corinthians 12:3 - 13:13 ]
Sunday, November 1
40 Days and Nights [ Mark 1:9-13 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and 14-15 ]
Sunday, October 25
The Reformed Church Always Reforming [ Guest Preacher ]
Sunday, October 18
Wandering in the Wilderness . . . on the Cusp [ Deuteronomy 34:1-9 ]
Sunday, October 11
Wandering in the Wilderness . . . are we there yet? [ Exodus 17:1-17 ]
Sunday, October 4
Wandering in the Wilderness . . . and God Provides [ Exodus 16:1-21 ]
Sunday, September 27
Signs of Hope After a Long Time [ Genesis 8:1-22 ]
Sunday, September 20
Will This Ever End? [ Genesis 6:11 - 7:7 ]
Sunday, September 13
The First Day [ Genesis 1:1-5 ]
Sunday, September 7
Re-Membering Connection as Resilience [ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ]
Sunday, August 30
Prepared to Endure Everything with Patience [ Colossians 1:9-14 ]
Sunday, August 23
Conversation on Anti-Racism [ Mark 10:48, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 12:1, and John 16:13 }
Sunday, August 16
Conversation on Hunger [ Psalm 107:1-9 and Mark 6:30-44 ]
Sunday, August 16
Conversation on Homelessness [ 1 John 3:16-24 and Isaiah 32:17-18 ]
Sunday, August 2
Worship with Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area [ Exodus 14:10-18 ]
Sunday, July 26 - Worship with Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
Tears of Lament [ John 11: 28-44 ]
Sunday, July 19
Compassion for the World [ Leviticus 25 ]
Sunday, July 12
Compassion for the Journey [ Ruth 1:1-22 ]
Sunday, July 5
Compassion at the Table [ Luke 15: 11-32 ]
Sunday, June 28
Compassion for the Neighbor [ Mark 2:1-12 ]
Sunday, June 21
Looking Forward [ Isaiah 40:29-31 & Mark 12:25-31 ]
Sunday, June 14
Be Loved. Be Kind. Be You. [ Mark 2: 28-31 ]
Sunday, June 7
With All Our Breath [ Genesis 2:7-9, Job 27:3-6, and Isaiah 42:1-9 ]
Sunday, May 31
Pentecost Sunday [ Acts 2: 1-41 ]
Sunday, May 24
How Do We Get Started? [ Acts 1:1-14 ]
Sunday, May 17
The Gospel Goes to Athens [ Acts 17:22-31 ]
Sunday, May 10
The Church is On the Move [ Acts 14:20-28 ]
Sunday, May 3
They Broke Bread at Home [ Acts 2:42-46 ]
Sunday, April 26
Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly [ Micah 6:6-8 ]
Sunday, April 19
The Peace of Jesus Christ [ John 20:19-31 ]
Sunday, April 12 - EASTER SUNDAY
Easter in a Time of Social Distancing [ John 20:1-18 ]
Friday, April 10 - GOOD FRIDAY
Good Friday [ Psalm 22:1-5 ]
THURSDAY, APRIL 9 - MAUNDY THURSDAY
Last Supper Together | Love One Another [ John 13:33-38 ]
SUNDAY, APRIL 5 - PALM SUNDAY
Even the Stones Will Shout Aloud! [ Luke 19:28-40 ]
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
Finding a Balm in Gilead [ Psalm 27 ]
SUNDAY, MARCH 22
The Valley of Dry Bones [ Ezekiel 37:1-14 ]
Looking for more? Check out our Sermon Archive and download recent sermons from the past few months.
Video Controls and Closed Captioning
To turn on closed captioning, click the CC at the bottom right of the page. To enlarge the video to full screen to better read the text, click the white box in the lower right corner. To exit full screen viewing, press the "ESC" key on your keyboard.
Sometimes computer volume is controlled separately from YouTube volume - look for volume keys on the keyboard or monitor.
