McPhail Weblog Dec 20th 2020

 

McPhail Baptist Church

Dec 20th 2020

Prelude: “In The Bleak Midwinter”  

Sue Sparks

Carol: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Prayer:    

Great and marvellous God, your gifts of life and light and love can be received only if we are open. So this is our prayer, that we might be open to You.

     Open our eyes to see your glory in the coming again of the light of each day, and in the light of truth wherever spoken or done. Open our ears to hear the song of angels in the soft music of hope and longing within us, the laughter of friends, the cries for peace on earth, goodwill among all.

     Open our hearts to the gifts of love that we yearn to give and receive; the hand on the shoulder, the time to listen, the smile of understanding, a new beginning free of past grievance.

     And dear God, open us to Christ’s birth within us, and among us, that we may be born into the fullness of His image, and fullness of His kingdom, that we might open our hearts to the child of the cradle, and to the Christ of the cross. For it is in His name, we pray. Amen.

Favourite Carols  

 

Special Music: “Once In Royal David’s City”

Margot Lange and Ernie Cox

Announcements:

*Please note that we will be sending out a special Christmas Eve edition of the McPhail weblog this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Please also note that there will not be a weblog edition on January 3rd. Here is the weblog holiday schedule: 

Thursday Dec 24th   -  Special Christmas Eve blog

Sunday Dec 27th    -    Regular Sunday blog 

Sunday Jan 3rd    -       No blog this Sunday 

Sunday Jan 10th    -     Regular Sunday blog resumes 

*We are excited to now offer an e-transfer option for McPhail offerings. If you would like to make use of this option, offerings can be sent via online banking to offerings@mcphailbaptist.ca If possible, please include your envelope number in the memo line. For those who would prefer mailing in their offering, funds can be sent via post to: McPhail Baptist Church, 249 Bronson Ave, Ottawa, ON. K1R 6H6 We are deeply thankful for your ongoing support of this ministry!  

Special Music: “One Child”

Ernie and Lynda Cox 

Scripture reading: 

1 Kings 3:4-14; Ephesians 3:16-19   

Read by Lindsay Zink

 1 Kings 3:4-14 (New King James Version)

4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

6 And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

Ephesians 3: 16-19 (New Revised Standard Version) 

16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Special Music: “Jesu Bambino/O Holy Night”

Terri-Ann Wint and Ernie Cox 

Carol: "Once in Royal David's City" 

Sermon: "Wishful Thinking"

Rev. Ernie Cox

Carol: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” 

Postlude: “Variations sur 'In Dulci Jubilo'” 

Sue Sparks

  

Benediction