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

TODAY IS THE SECOND SUNDAY OF THE ADVENT SEASON Please pick up a copy of “The Advent And Christmas Seasons Of The Church Year” which explains the real meaning of this special time of the year

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 many 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 the 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

SILENT PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND CONFESSION THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON Psalm 103:11-12 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.

SILENT PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND CONFESSION THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON Psalm 103:11-12 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 #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

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.

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.

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.

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

THE HOLY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 3:7-14 The LORD said, [to Moses] "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land, into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey – the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.“ But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name? Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

The Birthday of a King Hymn 284

In the little village of Bethlehem, 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 birth-place, 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.

THE SERMON “FEAR NOT, BUT WHY NOT?” KEY VERSE: Exodus 3:11-12 Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I WILL BE WITH YOU.” Bayshore Gardens Community Church Dr. Daniel Herlein

The most common command (366 times) in the Bible? FEAR NOT

LUKE 1:11-13 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “FEAR NOT, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.”

LUKE 1:28-30 The angel, Gabriel, went to the virgin Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “FEAR NOT, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

LUKE 2:10-11 The angel said to the shepherds, “FEAR NOT for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born to you in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

How much better it is to live our lives with FAITH and confidence in God than in continual FEAR and skepticism about what MIGHT happen, about what COULD happen.

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN FEAR and FAITH STIFLING vs. ASSURING WEAKENING vs. EMPOWERING CRIPPLING vs. HEALING Holding BACK vs. Moving FORWARD

God often chooses to work through a HUMAN instrument The instrument God chose to free His people was MOSES.

Exodus 3:11-12 MOSES said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" GOD’S RESPONSE: “I WILL BE WITH YOU.”

Exodus 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM; Tell them “I AM” has sent you.

FEAR NOT! BUT WHY NOT?  The Great “I AM” is with you !

Fear not tomorrow for God is already there.

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, 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

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... …………………………… Go in Peace Go to Serve AMEN BRIEF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING AT 10:15 - SANCTUARY

Join us for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall