Bayshore Gardens Community Church B elieving, Again G aining Hope C aring Relationships C hrist Jesus

TODAY IS THE SECOND SUNDAY OF THE ADVENT SEASON If you would like to learn more about the meaning of The Advent And Christmas Seasons an explanation document is available on the chancel by the Advent Candle

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.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE BRIEF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE WORSHIP SERVICE. MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. NON-MEMBERS AND VISITORS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND AND OBSERVE.

THIS MORNING’S THEME Matthew 16:13-16, 21, WHAT IS THE FORGOTTEN, HIDDEN SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS? We will discover what this symbol is and how this symbol helps us to define the real meaning of Christmas.

NEXT SUNDAY THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT THE GIANT LEAP OF CHRISTMAS (EVERYBODY BELIEVES IN SOMETHING WHAT IS THAT SOMETHING FOR YOU?) Text: John 1:1-5; 10-12; 14

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE Thursday, December 24, :00 PM

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 Announcements We invite you to take advantage of the opportunities for fellowship and service

Bayshore Gardens Community Church B elieving, Again G aining Hope C aring Relationships C hrist Jesus

AN ADVENT AFFIRMATION OF FAITH [ Pastor / CONGREGATION ] I believe in Jesus Christ whom the prophet Isaiah called: “WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.” I believe in Jesus Christ about whom the angels sang:

“GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, PEACE TO ALL ON WHOM GOD'S FAVOR RESTS.” I believe in Jesus Christ about whom the shepherds said: “LET US GO TO BETHLEHEM AND SEE THIS THING THAT HAS HAPPENED WHICH THE LORD HAS TOLD US ABOUT.” I believe in Jesus Christ about whom Magi from the east asked:

“WHERE IS THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN BORN KING OF THE JEWS? WE HAVE SEEN HIS STAR IN THE EAST AND HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM.” I believe in Jesus Christ about whom the Virgin Mary said, “MY SOUL PRAISES THE LORD AND MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD, MY SAVIOR.”

I believe in Jesus Christ whom Scripture calls: “THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, MESSIAH, SON OF GOD, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS, ALPHA AND OMEGA.”

**THE OPENING HYMN #259 ‘ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY’ [ All who are able please stand ]

(1) Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth; You who sang creation’s story; Now proclaim Messiah’s birth. Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ the newborn king.

(2) Shepherds in the fields abiding Watching o’er your flocks by night; God with us is now residing; Yonder shines the Infant light. Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ the newborn King.

(3) Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations, You have seen the natal star. Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ the newborn King.

(4) Saints before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear; Suddenly the Lord descending, In His temple shall appear. Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ the newborn King.

(5) Tho’ an infant now we view Him, He will share His Father’s throne; Gather all the nations to Him; Every knee shall then bow down. Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ the newborn King.

LIGHTING OUR ADVENT CANDLE The Second Sunday Of Advent

SILENT PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND CONFESSION THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON Psalm 103: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s love toward those who reverence Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our sins from us.

THE SONG OF RESPONSE #284

In the little village of Bethlehem, (1) There lay a Child one day; And the sky was bright with a holy light O’er the place where Jesus lay. Alleluia! - O how the angels sang. Alleluia! - How it rang! And the sky was bright with a holy light ‘Twas the birthday of a King.

‘Twas a humble birthplace, (2) But O how much God gave to us that day, From the manger bed what a path has led, What a perfect, holy way. Alleluia! - O how the angels sang. Alleluia! - How it rang! And the sky was bright with a holy light ‘Twas the birthday of a King.

A TIME OF SHARING WITH GOD’S CHILDREN OF ALL AGES

THE HOLY SCRIPTURE Elder Roy Palk, J.D. Matthew 16:13-16 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; Others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about YOU?” Jesus asked.“Who do YOU say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Matthew 16:24-27 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a person if he gains the whole world,yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

**THE SONG OF RESPONSE #286 ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY

Once in royal David´s city stood a lowly cattle shed where a mother laid her Baby in a manger for His bed Mary was that mother mild Jesus Christ her little Child (1)

He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And His shelter was a stable, And His cradle was a stall; With the poor and meek and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy. (2)

Jesus is our child-hood's pattern, Day by day like us He grew, He was little, weak, and helpless, Tears and smiles like us He knew, And He feeleth for our sadness, And He shareth in our gladness. (3)

And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love; For that Child so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heaven above, And He leads His children on, To the place where He is gone. (4)

THE SERMON THE SHADOW BEHIND THE CRADLE KEY VERSES: Matthew 16:14-15 “But what about YOU?” Jesus asked. “Who do YOU say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Please See Sermon Outline Bayshore Gardens Community Church Dr. Daniel Herlein

JESUS ASKED, “WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM?” Matthew 16:13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some say that you are John the Baptist; others say Elijah; Still others say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Matthew 16:14a

“YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”

People, like Peter, are the kinds of people God uses as the foundation, (the rock) upon which to shape the Church into a>> a God honoring, >> Biblically relevant >> alive and vibrant, >> productive exciting, body of believers.

The critically important yet often forgotten symbol that cannot be left out of Christmas is THE CROSS. Jesus Christ was born TO US to die FOR US.

IF ANY ONE WISHES TO COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME. Matthew 16:24

Jesus’ question “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” is summed up perfectly in Question One and Answer One of the Heidelberg Catechism: WHAT IS YOUR ONLY COMFORT, IN LIFE AND IN DEATH?

That I belong, body and soul, in life and in death, not to myself, but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ; Who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins, and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil;

That He protects me so well that, without the will of my Father in heaven, not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit His purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on, to live for Him.

The Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer 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.

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 ‘NOW THE HOLY CHILD IS BORN’ Harriet Hoeksema, organist

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

THE CLOSING HYMN #277 ‘HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING’

Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all you nations rise, Join the triumph in the skies; With angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem,” Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King;

Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin’s womb: Veiled in flesh the Godhead 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 Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that men may no more die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King;

THE PASTORAL BENEDICTION Go forth from this place as God’s elect and covenant people... AMEN

PLEASE REMEMBER THE BRIEF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE WORSHIP SERVICE. MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. NON-MEMBERS AND VISITORS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND AND OBSERVE.