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MOUNTAIN BROOKPRESBYTERIAN CHURCHLiving a Friendly Faith“We love because God first loved us.” 1 John 4:19December 15, 20243405 BROOKWOOD ROAD • MOUNTAIN BROOK, ALABAMA 35223WWW. MBPCUSA.ORG • (205) 967-5037
Prayer of PreparationMerciful God,you come into our midstlonging for communion with us,becoming one of us.Break our resistance to life with you,show us the path toward just relations,and bring us into your unimaginable peace;in Jesus’ name. Amen.*Please stand as you are able.
ORDER OF WORSHIPDecember 15, 2024✠ GATHERING ✠We gather together to praise God, confess our sins, and receive forgiveness in Jesus Christ.We celebrate God’s gift by passing the peace and joy of Christ to our neighbors.PRELUDE Pastorale W. B. HaynesCHIMING OF THE HOURADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING Margaret Kaz & Brenton ThompsonWe light these candles, as a sign of the coming light of Christ. InChrist there is life and light for all people. Now lift up your heads andrejoice: your redeemer is drawing near. And on this Third Sunday ofAdvent, as we light the candle of joy, Prepare the way of the HolyOne! All flesh will see the salvation of God. Glory to God in thehighest, and peace to God’s people on earth!INTROIT Savior of the Nations, Come*CALL TO WORSHIP Karen Ogle*HYMN 128 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly W ŻŁOBIE LEŻYCONFESSION AND PARDONCALL TO CONFESSION5
CONFESSION OF SINThe Lord is near.In your presence, Holy God,we confess that we need repentance.We have broken your commands against idolatry.We do not live in peace with your creation or your people.We have not trusted your word, and we are afraid.Forgive us, restore us, and turn our shame into praise,for the sake of the One who proclaims the good newsand for the sake of all the world.(A time of private confession) Amen.DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS*GLORIA (HYMN 113) Refrain: Angels We Have Heard On High GLORIAGloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo.*THE PEACEMOMENT WITH CHILDREN Rebecca RobertsWhile the organist plays, children are invited to come up front for the Children’s Moment.6
✠ PROFESSION, PRAYER, AND PROVISION ✠We profess what we believe to God’s Word by stating what we believe.We pray for our church, community, and the world.We provide for our Gospel ministry to sustain the work of God’s Kingdom on earth byoffering our talents and tithes.BAPTISM Jamie Sidwell, Son of Keith & Helen Sidwell*PROFESSION OF FAITH Apostle’s CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty,Maker of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, dead, and buried;he descended to the dead;the third day he rose again from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and sitteth on the right handof God the Father Almighty;from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.I believe in the Holy Ghost;the holy catholic church;the communion of saints;the forgiveness of sins;the resurrection of the body;and the life everlasting. Amen.7
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLETHE LORD’S PRAYEROur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,thy kingdom come, thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom, and the power,and the glory, forever. Amen.OFFERINGOFFERTORY Savior of the Nations, Come arr. G. Smoke*DOXOLOGY OLD HUNDREDTHPraise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below;Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost; Amen.*PRAYER OF DEDICATION*HYMN 132 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice IN DULCI JUBILO8
✠ THE WORD ✠We hear the Word of God read and proclaimed through Scripture, music, and preaching.PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION1stREADING Isaiah 12:2-6 (NRSV) Pew Bible p. 5962Surely God is my salvation;I will trust, and will not be afraid,for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might;he has become my salvation.3With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.4And you will say in that day:Give thanks to the LORD,call on his name;make known his deeds among the nations;proclaim that his name is exalted.5Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;let this be known in all the earth.6Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.ANTHEM Behold, God Is My Salvation J. W. Lindh9
2ndREADING Luke 3:7-18 (NRSV) Pew Bible p. 8907John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "Youbrood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bearfruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We haveAbraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stonesto raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the ax is lying at the root ofthe trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut downand thrown into the fire."10And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11In reply hesaid to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who hasnone; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12Even tax collectorscame to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should wedo?" 13He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed foryou." 14Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He saidto them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or falseaccusation, and be satisfied with your wages."15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning intheir hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16Johnanswered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one whois more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong ofhis sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17Hiswinnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gatherthe wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchablefire."18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to thepeople.Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.SERMON Repentance is a Good Thing! Rev. Roberts10
✠ SENDING ✠We leave the service taking the peace and joy of Jesus Christ into the world.*HYMN 133 O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES*BENEDICTIONRESPONSEPrepare the Way, O ZionPOSTLUDE Toccata in G D. BuxtehudeThe Christmas tree in front of the office building was donated in memory ofBrittin Turner Coleman by his family. Britt spent many happy hours walkingthe beautiful grounds of the church with his wife.11
CHILDCARE AND CHILDRENDuring the worship service, children in Kindergarten through 6thgrade,are invited to participate in Sunday School. They will leave theworship service after the Children’s Moment.On Sundays when Communion is offered, children attending SundaySchool will rejoin the worship service to receive Communion.2024 ACOLYTESAvery FairclothCharlotte KearseSara Turnley RobinsonBeckett FairclothPaul KearseTripp RobinsonVera JohnsonEmily KimRushton RobinsonHazel JohnsonAudrey KimJackson RobinsonJesse HortonHosford RobertsWilliam WellmanWilliam KaiserPryor RobertsKatherine WellmanLuke KaiserCarolyn RobertsMary Claire WilsonCONGREGATIONAL CAREThe Congregational Care team is here for you! If you or anyone youknow is experiencing hardship from death, illness, hospitalization, oranything else, please let us know.We care and want to help!Diane Beck (205) 915-0903Karen Ogle (585) 267-6140Becca Roberts (404) 861-8387Bill Heslop (972) 743-3426Mindy Faircloth (919) 389-0038Katherine Robinson (205) 706-4506Molly Trueb (205) 540-5769Judy Wilson (205) 967-8935Nancy Harper (205)956-663412
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THE STAFFPastorRev. Madison RobertsDirector of Music & OrganistGary SmokeAdministrative AssistantGabby DonohueClerk of SessionKaren OgleDirector of PreschoolMorgan RogersChildren’s Choir DirectorAllison SandersFinancial AssistantBecky TroullierBoy Scout Troop 320Scoutmaster: Dave CaskeyCub Scout Pack 320Cubmaster: Aaron BennettTHE SESSIONThe governing board of our church is called the “Session.” Thecurrent members of the Session are listed below. Please don’t hesitate tocommunicate with them about any matter concerning the church.2025Rebecca RobertsJimmy OgleKaren Ogle2026Ralph CookBill HeslopJonathan Jordan2027Leslie KearseDebbie CrumptonDiane BeckPlease access the church website at www.mbpcusa.orgto view the church calendar and video of portions of our weekly services.Please drop your bulletin in the basket located in the Narthex as you leave the worship service,or feel free to take it home and refer to it during the week.Permission to reprint/stream the music in this service is obtained from ONE LICENSEwith license #A-726770. All Rights Reserved.17
WELCOME VISITORS!We are so glad that you could join us today. We would love to getto know you, and if you would like to learn more about our church,please take a moment to fill out the form below. Again, welcome!Visitor InformationName:E-Mail:Address:State: Zip Code:Phone:Questions or Comments:18