Sunday 13 December 2020 – 3rd Advent
A People Fully Alive :Restored, Resourced, Released
Isaiah 61:1-3; John 10:10
Today’s Worship Leader is Jonathan
And the Speaker is Jacqui Tonks
Sunday 13 December 2020 – 3rd Advent
We welcome you to our Service where we gather together not as those who have our lives perfectly sussed out, but as fellow pilgrims on a journey. We meet to acknowledge God’s power through the Holy Spirit in our lives, to celebrate and to affirm that we are not our own – we belong to God and belong to one another because of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.
Reflection
Welcome to our church family worship service this morning. Today is the third Sunday of Advent, the theme of which is John the Baptist. Over Advent we reflected on Israel waiting on God, the Biblical prophets promising God’s deliverance hundreds of years prior to the birth of Jesus, now with John the Baptist we are considering someone alive at the same time as Jesus. John is a fascinating character you can read about him in Mark 1 & 6; Matthew 3 and Luke 3 and John 1 & 3. Here is my prayer for today:
God of all holiness, we give you thanks,
For the ministry of John the Baptist:
For his message of repentance;
For his warning of coming judgement;
For his speaking truth to power,
— Whether religious, political or military,
He only cared for what was right and true;
And for his voice that cried in the wilderness,
Preparing the way for Jesus our Lord.
In this season of Advent,
We repent of our sinful ways.
We acknowledge our need for your forgiveness.
We ask for courage to speak the truth.
We ask that like John, we too can point others to Jesus.
Echoing his words, we pray,
That Jesus would become more and we become less,
So that all the glory may go to you, Holy God,
Through your only son,
In whose name we pray.
– Jonathan Robinson (Pastor)
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MBC Prayer Events
CAP prayer meeting first Tuesday of the month at 9am at church
If you have a prayer request or want to join the prayer team contact Diane Hutchinson at phone 455-0443
or email dianehutchinson41@yahoo.com .Please remember to use the prayer box at the back of the church if you want the prayer team to pray for anything specific in confidence. If you need prayer for sickness or other matters please contact one of the Elders.
Foodbank: Donations of basic food items are appreciated for the Presbyterian Support Foodbank. There is a labelled box under the foyer table. Please be sure to replace it if it has to be removed for a particular event.
Contributions to the Newsletter: We welcome church members to contribute a praise item, bit of news or something that will encourage everyone. Email or drop a wee note to Tongsiew at admin@mbc.ac.nz – deadline is Friday evening of every week.
MBC Caring & Sharing……..
Help Make Our Advent Wreath! It would be lovely if you wanted to bring something from your garden, some flowers, or some cuttings to decorate the wreath with each Sunday. Big thanks to Janice Thompson for last Sunday’s display of beautiful flowers … as well as all you wonderful folks who remembered to bring something in as well!!
Good News Youth— The money that we collected for the Sausage Sizzle and Cake Stand has been put to good use buying a brand new table tennis table for our youth and it arrived on Friday morning!!! Excitement…….
MBC Caring & Sharing……..
Help Make Our Advent Wreath! It would be lovely if you wanted to bring something from your garden, some flowers, or some cuttings to decorate the wreath with each Sunday. Big thanks to Janice Thompson for last Sunday’s display of beautiful flowers … as well as all you wonderful folks who remembered to bring something in as well!!
Good News Youth— The money that we collected for the Sausage Sizzle and Cake Stand has been put to good use buying a brand new table tennis table for our youth and it arrived on Friday morning!!! Excitement…….
Pilgrims’ Christmas Lunch last Friday was held in our foyer. They enjoyed warm fellowship and amazing roast pork and trifle – it was such a treat and all thanks to Winsome and Alison who have done a sterling job all through the year running Pilgrims !!!!
Mum Heart Group – Sara Evans is a PhD student at Otago, a follower of Jesus, and amongst many other gifts – a mother of two. She has a passion to share the journey, and offers the following invitation to ‘mums of all ages and stages’. Being a mum is hard, often isolating work. At times we can feel overwhelmed with options and questions, and conflicting information. But motherhood wasn’t designed to be this way! We’re starting a group geared towards mums who want a fresh vision of motherhood. Together we’ll seek to understand what it looks like to engage our children intentionally as disciples being led towards Christ. This isn’t another “how-to” or behavior management-oriented program but a chance to consider what it means to love our families intentionally and craft life giving space in our homes. Over food, drink, and a good book, we’ll build a community of mums who are creating Gospel-oriented life in their homes for an eternal purpose. Join us for an informal get together, January 14th to find out more and decide if this group is for you! In order to adequately provide space and refreshments, please let us know you’re coming! Questions? Get in touch with Sara Evans: sarabibb@gmail.com
Details
When: Fortnightly Thursday Evenings, (2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month) 730pm
Where: St. John’s Anglican Church in 373 Highgate, Roslyn next to Yvette Williams Rest Hme
What to bring: Yourself! We will also be reading Life Giving Parent by Clay and Sally Clarkson as a jumping off point for discussion.
Who: Mums of all ages and stages
Upcoming Sunday Sermons
20 Dec 4th Advent Mike Tonks
24 Dec Christmas Eve Jonathan Robinson
25 Dec Christmas Day Jonathan Robinson
27 Dec Sunday Service
3 Jan 21 Sunday Service
Special Services
Thurs 17th Dec 6:30pm South Dunedin Combined Churches Community Carols @ St Patrick’s Basilica, 40 MacAndrew Road, South Dunedin
Sun 20th Dec 4pm Musselburgh Baptist Christingle Service @ MBC
Activities At MBC this Coming Week
13 Dec Sun Sunday Service
Private Booking Church Kitchen Olivia Rose 230pm –8pm
14 Dec Mon CAP Baking—Kitchen 9am –1pm
Pastoral Care Meeting 1pm
Private Booking Church Kitchen Olivia Rose 230pm—8pm
15 Dec Tue Private Booking Church Kitchen Olivia Rose 8 am—3pm
Musselburgh Baptist Church, 131 Musselburgh Rise, Dunedin 9013
www.mbc.ac.nz or contact admin@mbc.ac.nz phone 03-4562065 for more information
Church office hours On the following days you will usually find someone at the Church Office (or not too far away) to take your enquiries, or even just to pray with you. Monday 12-5, Tuesday 9-1 Wednesday 9-1 Thursday 9-12 Friday 10-1pm or phone us on 456 2065.
Donations to the Church the church’s bank account number is 030881-0053478-00 for automatic payments to make a regular contribution to the church, or to make a one-off donation electronically. Receipts for all donations made during the financial year (which ends in March) will be issued in April.
Missed a sermon or want to hear it again? Want to check out the notes? Just head to www.mbc.ac.nz to check it out. All messages from the last few years are available on line.
Items for the Newsletter –. Please send items for the newsletter to Tongsiew at admin@mbc.ac.nz with Newsletter in the subject box. Deadline is Friday evening please.
Pastor Contact You can contact Jonathan Robinson at pastor@mbc.ac.nz or by phone 4554477, 0284210708 (please don’t ring after 9pm, except in emergencies ).
Pin Access to church front door can be made available to any church member who has a need to access the church premises outside of Sunday services. Please get in touch with Tongsiew for further information.
Creche/Cleaning Cupboard Keys – Sometimes the crèche door is locked when necessary (e.g. private rental of premises where crèche is not part of rental). The keys are now hanging on the noticeboard next to the Cleaning Cupboard (which is under the hallwaystairs). Please put the keys back where they belong—Thanks!
Home Groups At MBC Home groups provide an opportunity to have some concentrated time of fellowship and support, bible study and equipping and prayer that everyone can take part in. If you are not yet part of a Home Group we encourage you to think about being part of one. Please contact a person below in the first instance, as venues may vary. If you are unsure please see James Watson who will provide more information.
| People to Contact | Day/Time of Meeting | Phone number |
| Bruce & Annemarie Munro | Alt. Mon 7.30 pm | 0276764610 |
| Rachel Roe | Alt. Mon 7.30 pm | 4879500 |
| Jo & Stephen Knowles | Alt. Tues 8.00 pm | 4544742 |
| Dorothy & Tej Prakash | Alt. Wed 7.30 pm | 4555995 |
| James Watson ( Men’s Group) | Alt. Wed 7.30pm | 4555856 |
| Diane Hutchinson (Women’s Group) | Thurs (term time) 1-3 pm | 4550443 |
Prayer for our Church
Inspired by Isaiah 40
God of comfort and hope,
Speak to us your people again.
Help us to prepare ourselves for your coming.
We are like grass, short lived and fragile,
And your word is eternal and all powerful.
Yet you speak tenderly to us,
For we are your people,
The sheep of your pasture.
You will carry us and lead us.
Creator God, mighty in power,
We are like grasshoppers before you,
Yet we are not hidden from you.
You see us and you strengthen us.
Help us to rise on wings like eagles,
Help us to run the race you place before us,
Help us to walk in your ways through the wilderness,
Until the day when all people see your glory,
Just as you have promised.
Every blessing!!
Jonathan