Bayshore Gardens Community Church Believing, Again Gaining Hope Caring Relationships Christ Jesus
WE EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO MEMBERS, REGULAR ATTENDERS, and THOSE VISITING TODAY. If you are visiting with us, we welcome you to our church! You are no longer a stranger for you are with the people of God.
WE INVITE YOU TO SIGN THE WHITE ATTENDANCE PAD so that we may celebrate your presence with us today! Please pass it on to the next person and then back down the row
Please Take Your Bulletins Home With You and Read the Announcements We invite you to take advantage of the Opportunities for fellowship and service
Upcoming Potlucks! Saturday January 7th Honoring Pastor Dan Saturday February 4 th BGCC Anniversary Dinner
GREETERS We are looking for four volunteers to serve as greeters at our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. See the bulletin for details. Contact the church office if you are willing to help. 755-3503.
THE CHRISTMAS EVE COLLECTION WILL BE DESIGNATED FOR THE RCA GLOBAL MISSIONS.
Bayshore Gardens Community Church Believing, Again Gaining Hope Caring Relationships Christ Jesus
THE CALL TO WORSHIP [ Pastor / CONGREGATION ] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame leap like deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. FOR WATERS BREAK FORTH IN THE WILDERNESS, AND STREAMS IN THE DESERT (ISAIAH 35: 5-6)
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE (ISAIAH 9:6)
LIGHTING OUR ADVENT CANDLE The First Sunday Of Advent
ADVENT PRAYER Dear God, It s so easy for me to forget the recklessness of Advent. It all looks so safe and tidy and sanitary in our nativity scenes. The hay is soft and yellow. Joseph and the sheperds have showered and groomed their beards.
Little Lord Jesus is wrapped in swaddling clothes of pure white 100 % cotton, a serene smile on his face. King Herod is nowhere in sight. But how different the reality must have been: a newborn and his parents stashed among the animals, covered in dirt and sweat
Weeping tears of joy or pain or fear or infant hunger. How agonizing it must have been for You, as a father, to entrust Your Son to a human race that had already failed You innumerable times. How heartbreaking it must have been.
How foolish. It cost You everything to become Emmanuel, God with us. Make me reckless enough to follow in Your footsteps this Advent season. Let your coming be my call to action. Let the incarnation be my battle cry.
I pray by the power of Jesus, whose foolish love has given me life, Amen.
Away In A Manger HYMN 262
Away in a manger no crib for a bed The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head The stars in the sky looked down where he lay The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing the Baby awakes But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes I love Thee Lord Jesus look down from the sky And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me I pray Bless all the dear children in thy tender care And take us to heaven to live with Thee there
SILENT PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND CONFESSION
THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5)
Angels We Have Heard on High Hymn # 278
Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echo back their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.
A TIME OF SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
Hark the Herald Angels Sing hymn #277
Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled Joyful all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King.
Christ by highest heav n adored Christ the everlasting Lord Late in time behold Him come Offspring of the Virgin s womb Veiled in flesh the God-head see Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell Jesus our Emmanuel Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the new born King
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace Hail the son of righteousness Light and life to all He brings Ris n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King
Today s Message Love All Rev. Dustin Sedlak
Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT) 36 Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses? 37 Jesus replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. [a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. [b] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.
1 Corinthians 13 (NLT) Love Is the Greatest 13 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn t love others, I would be nothing.
3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn t love others, I would have gained nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Galatians 5:22 (NLT) 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
OUR 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. The Pastoral Prayer and The Lord s Prayer
OUR OFFERING As A Tangible Expression Of Our Gratitude To God, We Joyfully Offer Our Monetary Gifts To Financially Support God's Work At Bayshore Gardens Community Church
OFFERTORY MUSIC Birthday of a King Harriet Hoeksema, organ
THE DOXOLOGY PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW; PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW; PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOST; PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN
What Child Is This, Who, Laid to Rest Hymn 281
What Child is this, who laid to rest, On Mary s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: This, this is Christ the King, The babe, the Son of Mary. verse 1 & refrain
Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: This, this is Christ the King, The babe, the Son of Mary. verse 2 & refrain
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, Come, peasant, king to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him. This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: This, this is Christ the King, The babe, the Son of Mary. * verse 3 & refrain
THE PASTORAL BENEDICTION Go forth from this place as God s elect and covenant people... AMEN