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 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT This morning’s theme... GOD’S “JUST RIGHT” GIFT FOR EACH ONE OF US Text: Romans 5:1-8

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

THE CALL TO WORSHIP [ Pastor / CONGREGATION ] Prepare the Way for the Lord... WHERE CROOKED ROADS NEED STRAIGHTENING Prepare the Way for the Lord WHERE PEOPLE WALK IN DARKNESS Prepare the Way for the Lord WHERE BUSY LIVES NEED STILLING

Prepare the Way for the Lord WHERE MINDS ARE FULL OF TINSEL AND PARTIES Come, O Come Emmanuel INTO THIS BROKEN WORLD WE CALL PLANET EARTH O Come, O Come Emmanuel INTO THIS BUSY PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME

O Come, O Come Emmanuel INTO THIS FRAGILE GROUP OF YOUR PEOPLE O Come, O Come Emmanuel INTO COLD HEARTS AND DULLED MINDS O Come, O Come Emmanuel WHERE THERE IS NO PEACE O Come, O Come Emmanuel WHERE PEOPLE SHOUT IN THE WILDERNESS

O Come, O Come Emmanuel WHERE PEOPLE STILL WALK IN DARKNESS O Come, O Come Emmanuel O COME, LORD JESUS AND HELP US FIND ROOM FOR YOU IN OUR HEARTS.

‘O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL’ #249 [ All who are able please stand ]

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, born the King of angels. O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; O sing all ye bright hosts of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest. O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to You be all glory given; Word of the Father now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

LIGHTING OUR ADVENT CANDLE The Fourth Sunday Of Advent

SILENT PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND CONFESSION THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON Isaiah 66:13-14a As a mother comforts her child, so will I, the Lord, comfort you; And you will be find peace...Then your heart will rejoice and you will be restored.

THE SONG OF RESPONSE #281 ‘WHAT CHILD IS THIS?’

(1) 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 Haste, haste to bring him laud The Babe, the Son of Mary.

(2) Why lies He in such low estate Where ox and sheep are feeding? Good Christian, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you; Hail, Hail, the Word made flesh, The Babe, the son of Mary.

(3) So bring him incense, gold and myrrh Come peasant king to own him; The King of Kings salvation brings Let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, Raise the song on high, The Virgin sings her lullaby; Joy, joy for Christ is born, The Babe, the son of Mary.

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

THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE Romans 5:1-8 Read by Leland VerHelst Therefore, since we are justified by faith, that is, made right with God, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, andendurance produces character, andcharacter produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, (though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die). But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

THE SONG OF PREPARATION #272 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night

(1) While shepherds watched their flocks by night All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around, And glory shone around.

(2) Fear Not, said he, for mighty dread Had seized their troubled minds, Glad tidings of great joy I bring, To you and all your kin, To you and all your kin.

(3) To you in David’s town this day is born of David’s line, the Savior who is Christ the Lord; And this shall be the sign, And this shall be the sign.

(4) The heavenly Babe you there will find To human view displayed, All warmly wrapped in swadling clothes, And in a manger laid, And in a manger laid.”

(5) All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace, Goodwill, henceforth, from heav’n to you, Begin and never cease, Begin and never cease.

THE SERMON THE “JUST RIGHT” GIFT! Romans 5:1-8

John 3:16 - LGT God loved you and me so much that He gave us the perfect gift of His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes and trusts in Him will never be separated from God but will have everlasting life with God now and forever.

FIRST, A “JUST RIGHT” GIFT MUST BE PERSONAL Luke 2:11... Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to YOU!

Isaiah 49:16 I have engraved your name on My hand and I will never forget you. Matthew 10:30 Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered and known by God. Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace YOU have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God...

SECOND, A “JUST RIGHT” GIFT MEETS A SPECIFIC NEED Matthew 1:21 - Mary will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name, JESUS, because He will, HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS. Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is spiritual death, but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

THIRD, A “JUST RIGHT” GIFT IS SACRIFICIAL 1 John 4:10 - This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved US and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for OUR sins. Romans 5:8 - God demonstrates His love for US in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for US.

GOD’S “JUST RIGHT” GIFT SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD It’s a gift that is PERSONAL It’s a gift that meets a SPECIFIC NEED It’s a gift that is SACRIFICIAL

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 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 #251 ‘IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR’

(1) It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: Peace on the earth, goodwill to men From heavens all gracious King! The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.

(2) Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world: Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.

(3) O you beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow; Look now, for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing; Oh rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing.

(4) For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years Shall come the time foretold, When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace, their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

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