1. Bayshore Gardens Community Church
Believing, Again
Gaining Hope
Caring Relationships
Christ Jesus

2. 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.

3. THE WHITE ATTENDANCE PAD so that we may celebrate your
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

4. and Read Announcements We invite you to take advantage
Please Take
Your Bulletins Home
With You
and Read Announcements
We invite you to take advantage
of the many opportunities for fellowship and service

5. THE SACRAMENT OF
HOLY COMMUNION
Next Sunday

6. Bayshore Gardens Community Church
Believing, Again
Gaining Hope
Caring Relationships
Christ Jesus

7. THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor / CONGREGATION
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. And they asked,
“WHERE IS THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN BORN KING OF THE JEWS? WE SAW HIS STAR IN THE EAST AND HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM.”

8. They went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was.
WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR,
THEY WERE OVERJOYED.

9. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.
THEN THEY OPENED THEIR TREASURES AND PRESENTED HIM WITH GIFTS OF GOLD, FRANKINCENSE AND MYRRH.
[ Matthew 2:1a,c,2,9b,10,11 ]

10. ‘WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE’
Bringing gifts we traverse afar-
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

11. Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain;
Gold I bring to crown Him again.
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

12. Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a deity nigh,
Prayer and praising, All men raising, Worship Him God on high.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

13. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume,
Breathes a life of gathering gloom,
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

14. Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Earth to heaven replies.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

15. The Assurance Of Pardon will receive forgiveness of sins
SILENT PRAYERS OF
THANKSGIVING AND CONFESSION
The Assurance Of Pardon
Acts 10:43
Everyone who believes in Christ
will receive forgiveness of sins
through His name.

16. Dale Newhouse, Director
THE CHANCEL CHOIR
‘ONE SMALL CHILD’
‘WHAT CHILD IS THIS?’
Dale Newhouse, Director
Pat Woods, Accompanist

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

19. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; And calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

20. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go
and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out;

21. And there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.
Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

22. AS WITH GLADNESS MEN OF OLD
#290
(1)
As with gladness, men of old Did the guiding star behold As with joy they hailed its light Leading onward, beaming bright So, most glorious Lord, may we Evermore be led to You.

23. (2)
As with joyful steps they sped To that lowly childhood bed There to bend the knee before Him Whom Heaven and earth adore; So may we with willing feet Ever seek Your mercy seat.

24. (3)
As they offered gifts most rare At that manger rude and bare; So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin’s alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to You, our heavenly King.

25. (4)
Holy Jesus, every day Keep us in the narrow way; And, when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Your glory hide.

26. (5)
In the heavenly country bright, Need they no created light; You its Light, its Joy, its Crown, You its Sun which goes not down; There forever may we sing Alleluias to our King!

27. Bayshore Gardens Community Church
THE SERMON
WHY THE WISE MEN WERE WISE
Bayshore Gardens Community Church
Dr. Daniel Herlein

28. The Magi were Persian Zoroastrians considered to be astronomers as well as astrologers, who believed that the movement of celestial bodies, that is, the stars, the planets, the sun and the moon influence human affairs and determine the course of events.

30. BECAUSE THEY WILLINGLY
FIRST,
THE WISE MEN
WERE WISE
BECAUSE THEY WILLINGLY
FOLLOWED THE STAR.

31. BECAUSE THEY KEPT FOLLOWING EVEN WHEN THEY COULDN’T SEE IT.
SECOND,
THE WISE MEN
WERE WISE
BECAUSE THEY KEPT FOLLOWING
THE STAR
EVEN WHEN THEY COULDN’T SEE IT.

32. BECAUSE THEY TRUSTED GOD’S WORD.
THIRD,
THE WISE MEN
WERE WISE
BECAUSE THEY TRUSTED GOD’S WORD.

33. WHERE MARY AND THE BABY JESUS WERE.
FOURTH,
THE WISE MEN
WERE WISE
BECAUSE THEIR WISDOM SHOWED
WHEN THEY ARRIVED
AT THE HOUSE
WHERE MARY AND THE BABY JESUS WERE.

34. THE WISE MEN WERE WISE BECAUSE THEY OFFERED
FIFTH,
THE WISE MEN WERE WISE BECAUSE THEY OFFERED
THE YOUNG JESUS
GIFTS FIT FOR A KING: GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH.

35. BECAUSE THEY KNEW KING HEROD WAS NOT SOMEONE TO BE TRUSTED.
SIXTH,
THE WISE MEN
WERE WISE
BECAUSE THEY KNEW KING HEROD WAS NOT SOMEONE TO BE TRUSTED.

36. Perhaps our goal for the new year of 2015 should be to have the wisdom of the wise men: To follow the light of Christ as our guide in life To trust God even in the dark times.
To let God’s Word show us the way.
To worship sincerely and honestly. To give our very best gifts to Christ. To let Christ show us the best way
To live our lives the Way of Life in Him.

37. 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.

38. As A Tangible Expression To Financially Support
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

39. OFFERTORY MUSIC
CHRISTMAS MEDITATION
Pat Woods, Piano

40. 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

41. THE CLOSING HYMN
#295
‘TELL ME THE
STORY OF JESUS’

42. Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus
Sang as they welcomed His birth
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth”

43. Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past,
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore;
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.

44. Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain;
Tell of the grace where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again!
Love in that story so tender,
clearer than ever I see;
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
Love paid the ransom for me.
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.

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

46. Join us for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall