Woodland Forest Church
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Tuscaloosa
6701 Hargrove Road East, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405
The Third Sunday of Advent, December 16, 2018
Happenings on the Hill Mary An Wilson
*Call to Worship (inspired by John 1) Pastor Jeff
Pastor: On this third Sunday of Advent, may the Lord be with you!
People: And also with you.
Pastor: In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the
Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
People: Through Him all things came to be. Not one thing had its being
except through Him.
Pastor: All that came to be had life in Him, and that life was the Light of
all people, a Light that shines in the dark, a Light that could not
be overpowered.
People: He came to His own people, and they did not accept Him. But
to all who did accept Him, He gave the power to become
children of God.
Pastor: The Word, Jesus Christ, became a human and lived among us,
and we saw His glory, the glory that is His as the only begotten
Son of God. The Word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God.
*Christmas Hymn
The Third Candle of Advent Faye Colburn and family
Advent Reflection
Scripture Reading Isaiah 9:6-7
Prayer for the Journey
Lighting of the Third Candle
Christmas Hymn 214 Isn’t He
Welcome to our Church Family and Friends Ron Wilson
Fellowship Hymn 201
Emmanuel, Emmanuel, His name is called Emmanuel;
God with us, revealed in us; His name is called Emmanuel.
Offertory Prayer
Offertory Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Glory to the Newborn King
Created by Luke Gambill
Glory to the Newborn King Medley
Joy to the World/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Ring the Bells
Like Shepherds and Wise Men Do/Angels from the Realms
Come as you are. Come from near and far.
Follow your hearts. Follow a star. Come as you are.
Look at the newborn King. Look at the hope He brings.
His praises will ring, angels will sing. Look at the newborn King.
Come and behold Him, come and adore Him like shepherds and wise men do.
Come find the Savior, bow at His manger like shepherds and wise men do.
**
Bow in this holy place. Bow to the Child of grace.
Come watch Him dream, this Baby yet King. Here is the Child of God.
Come, find the Savior, here in the stable like shepherds and wise men do.
Come and worship…Worship Christ the newborn King.
Imagine (Without the Love of God)
Can you imagine a mountain majestic, forest resplendent in scarlet and gold.
Cascading waterfalls, skies blue and brilliant, a sight to behold.
Now cover it all in a blanket of darkness.
Capture the sun and forbid it to shine.
Paradise lost in the shadows forever:
That would be life. That would be living without the love of God.
**
Can you imagine a table of splendor? Candlelight falls on a table prepared.
Ev’rything you desire, suddenly all you could long for is there.
So hungry, so thirsty, you drink of its bounty,
But ev’rything tasted is bitter and dry.
Take all you want, but you walk away empty.
This would be life, this would be living, without the love of God.
Can you imagine a manger forsaken? Can you imagine a stable that’s bare?
No host of heaven proclaiming that love has come…
**
Can you imagine a crowd on a hillside,
broken and battered and hopelessly lost?
Desperate for healing, they pray for salvation and raise up a cross.
But there is no sacrifice, no one found worthy,
no one found willing to pay such a price.
Imagine a Savior, offering of mercy.
That would be life. That would be living without the love of God.
O love of God, how rich and pure. How measureless and strong.
It shall forevermore endure, the saints and angels’ song.
Hope Has Hands
In search of a Child, they traveled so far, led by a star to a place of joy.
Now the wise men tell a beautiful story, describing the glory of a baby Boy.
Hope has hands, freedom has feet, truth will stand,
the Word will speak. The holy and lowly will finally embrace,
For love has a heartbeat, and grace has a face.
Compassion has a tear; joy has laughter.
And here ever after peace has a smile.
Redemption’s blood has veins to flow in, a temple to glow in.
Light is a Child. Hope has hands, freedom has feet…
Go, Tell the World Medley
Go, Tell It on the Mountain/All the World Has Joy/Joy to the World
Christmas Reflection Pastor Jeff
Invitation Hymn 217 Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
*Closing Hymn 181 Joy to the World
*Benediction Blessing Pastor Jeff
*Postlude Joy Has Dawned
Our Ministerial Staff
The Members of Woodland Forest Church
Rev. Jeff Howard, Pastor (762-241-3067)
Rev. Ron Wilson, Interim Minister of Music (205-799-7205)
Rev. Andrew Bowick, Youth Pastor (205-515-2973)
Rev. Pat Taylor, LPC, CPC, Pastoral Counselor (205-657-2206)
Our Support Staff
Larry Taylor, Business Administrator
Rev. Melissa Ivy, Office Administrator
Anthony Ivy, Sound Technician
Faye Colburn, Housekeeping
Rev. Mary An Wilson, Interim Accompanist