hope
Advent at East Cooper Sunday, November 30, 2014
hope
9:30 and 11:00 am Sanctuary Services The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before. What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God’s [back] fade in the distance. So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon.
The following prayer may be used as you prepare for worship: O GOD OF HOPE, as we enter this Advent season -- help me not to lose my wonder at the HOPE that advent brings.
Wonder is at the heart of Christmas, and not for one day only but for each waking day. At the heart of Christ’s incarnation is the truth that God makes extraordinary things happen in ordinary places, that heaven and earth holy and earthly God and human are intertwined. Don’t let me lose my wonder. Let me know hope.
Amen.
EAST COOPER BAPTIST CHURCH 361 Egypt Road Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 843.856.3222
Equipping people to pursue Jesus Christ passionately as they impact the culture. eastcooperbaptist.com
The Reflections for the Prelude I still can hardly believe it. I, with shriveled, bent fingers, atrophied muscles, gnarled knees, and no feeling from the shoulders down, will one day have a new body, light, bright, enclosed in righteousness—powerful and dazzling. Can you imagine the hope this gives someone spinal cord injured like me? Or someone who is cerebral palsied, brain-injured, or who has multiple sclerosis? Imagine the hope this gives someone who is manic-depressive. No other religion, no other philosophy promises new bodies, hearts, and minds. Only in the Gospel of Christ do hurting people find such incredible hope. Joni Eareckson Tada God redeemed us in His Son so that he might love us and delight in us even as he loves and delights in his eternal Son. Adoption is God‘s act of making room within his triune love for prodigals who are without hope, and providing them with homes in this world and the world to come. Dan Cruver And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:38 To wait on God means to pause and soberly consider our own inadequacy and the Lord’s all-sufficiency, and to seek counsel and help from the Lord, and to hope in Him (Psalm 33:20-22; Isaiah 8:17). ... The folly of not waiting for God is that we forfeit the blessing of having God work for us. The evil of not waiting on God is that we oppose God’s will to exalt Himself in mercy. John Piper
For Wonder is at the root of praise.
HOPE IS ON THE WAY
We’re not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. C. S. Lewis Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:11b
Morning Welcome Prelude
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
ECBC Orchestra
Morning Scripture Reading The Gathering Praise
Romans 8:22-25 Our God Saves
In the name of the Father, In the name of the Son In the name of the Spirit, Lord we’ve come We’re gathered together, To lift up Your name To call on our Savior, To fall on Your grace Hear the joyful sound of our offering As Your saints bow down, as Your people sing We will rise with You, lifted on Your wings And the world will see that Our God saves, our God saves There is hope in Your name Mourning turns to songs of praise Our God saves, our God saves
The Responsive Reading
From Titus 2:11-14
LEADER: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, CONGREGATION: Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Advent The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate.
In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a CONGREGATION: Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness congregation, as they and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good affirm that Christ has come, works. that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. LEADER: Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
The Hymn of Hope
All My Hope on God Is Founded
Michael
That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live “between the times” and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s inbreaking into history in the incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which “all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption,” it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
The Morning Hymn In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all— Here in the love of Christ I stand.
Hope The word “hope” in ordinary English vocabulary is generally distinguished from certainty. We would say, “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I hope it happens.”
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied; For ev’ry sin on Him was laid— Here in the death of Christ I live.
When you read the word “hope” in the Bible (like in 1 Peter 1:13—”set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”), hope is not wishful thinking. It’s not “I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I hope it happens.” That’s absolutely not what is meant by Christian hope.
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain; Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine— Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
Christian hope is when God has promised that something is going to happen and you put your trust in that promise. Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it will come to pass. Biblical hope is not finger-crossing. It is a confident expectation of good things to come. Hebrews calls it the “full assurance of hope” John Piper
In Christ Alone
No guilt in life, no fear in death— This is the pow’r of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home— Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.
The Lighting of the Candle of HOPE 9:30 The Carper Family 11:00 The Doll Family
The Advent Scripture Reading: JOHN 1:1-14
The Advent Plea
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Hyfrydol
The Offertory Prayer The Offertory
Reid Elliott, Deacon of the Day
ECBC Choir and Orchestra
We Have A Savior
A child has been given, The King of our freedom Sing for the light has come This is Christmas
PROJECT ANGEL TREE Pick a tag off the Angel Trees (located in the ECBC Hallways) and return the gift to church by next Sunday, December 7.
Come and adore Him And bring gifts before Him Joy to the world Worship the Son This is Christmas Jesus, Emmanuel here with us Tell all the world We have a Savior We have a Savior We are no longer lost ‘Cause He has come down for us We have a Savior We have a Savior Sing with angels And lift up your voices Join in the song of hope This is Christmas His love will reign forever
The Congregational Greetings The Morning Sermon Craig Harris, Community Groups / Shepherding Pastor The Benediction
Let Your Kingdom Come
Your glorious cause, O God, engages our hearts May Jesus Christ be known wherever we are We ask not for ourselves, but for Your renown The cross has saved us so we pray Your kingdom come Let Your kingdom come Let Your will be done So that everyone might know Your Name Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth Till Your sovereign work on earth is done Let Your kingdom come Give us Your strength, O God, and courage to speak Perform Your wondrous deeds through those who are weak Lord use us as You want, whatever the test By grace we’ll preach Your gospel Till our dying breath
The Postlude
Remaining 2014 Christmas Outreach Opportunities
LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING December 1 - January 31 Pray about what your family can give to reach the nations with the HOPE found only in Christ. ECBC Church Goal: $500,000. ECBC CHRISTMAS CONCERT “CHRISTUS PARADOX” Sunday, December 7 7:00 PM North Charleston Performing Arts Center Invite friends and neighbors to this outreach opportunity. Bring canned goods to share with Lowcountry Food Bank. Invitation flyers available in hallway kiosks. Concert and Parking are Free. CHRISTMAS EVE “Immanuel • God With Us” Use Christmas Eve services for another outreach opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors to come with you for a celebration of the incarnation of Christ. Services are 40 minutes in length at 4pm, 5pm, and 6pm.
Babies & Toddlers In order to maintain a worshipful atmosphere and for the comfort of our little ones, we ask that parents exit the service with their crying babies and talkative toddlers. We would encourage parents to use our excellent nursery and trained staff to care for your children.
The Spoken Word CD’s of today’s sermon ($3.00 each) will be available at the church office after today. Free copies of the 3-hole punch sermon notes are available on the wall slats.
Missed A Sermon? (or want to hear it again?) You can listen to Sunday messages online at www.eastcooperbaptist. com. Choose the “Resources” tab and click on “Sermons.”
Responding to the Word
As we sit under the reading and teaching of Scripture, it calls for a response as we ask ourselves “What will we do with the truth presented today?” The Christian life is marked by the offering of one’s self to God to be shaped, empowered, directed, and changed by God. In worship, God presents us with the costly self-offering of Jesus Christ. We are claimed by Christ and set free. In response to God’s love in Jesus Christ we offer our lives, our gifts, our time, our abilities, and our material goods, for God’s service, His glory, and our ultimate good.
The Morning Sermon Craig Harris, Community Groups/Shepherding Pastor
Information 11.30 Please complete and place in the offering plate SANCTUARY Visitor
Tear-off Sign-Up Info
________________________________ NAME ________________________________ SPOUSE NAME (if applicable) ________________________________ STREET / P.O. BOX ________________________________ CITY ________________________________ STATE ZIP (__________ ) ____________________ HOME PHONE ( __________ ) ____________________ CELL PHONE ( __________ ) ____________________ CELL PHONE SPOUSE ________________________________ E-MAIL ________________________________ E-MAIL SPOUSE Birthdate _________________ Birthdate Spouse__________________ Children’s Names / Gender /Birthdates ____________________M/F __________ NAME BIRTHDATE ____________________M/F __________ NAME BIRTHDATE ____________________M/F __________ NAME BIRTHDATE ___ I would like to become a Christian. ___ I would like to join ECBC. ___ I would like a personal visit. ___ I have a confidential need to discuss. ___ Add me to mail / e-mail list. ___ I would like information re:________ ___ I would like to join a Community Group. ___ Other: ________________________
Prayer Requests / People in Need
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please list your prayer requests and/or names (with detailed information) of people in need. Thank you! ___Confidential (distributed only to Pastors)
ADVENT 2014 You are encouraged to go to the following link to a free PDF Advent reading guide which you may download to print or to read from your computer - A Daily Devotional Book from John Piper, “Dawning of Indestructible Joy”. These daily devotionals will help you and your family prepare for the Christmas season and will encourage you to stay focused on the real joy of the season. www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy
Prayer Line: 856-3222 ext. PRAY(7729)
Old Fashioned Christmas Carol sing and dinner Sunday, December 21 at 5:30 pm. You and your family are invited to join us for an Old Fashioned Carol Sing and Christmas Dinner in the CLC. Laura Turner and her family will also be performing. Donations to offset food costs are appreciated. Contact Chef Bob at
[email protected] with questions. Perspectives Perspectives is a 16 week course starting in January helping believers from all walks of life see how they can get threaded into God’s story of redeeming people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself. This isn’t a class about missions, but a course on how every believer can be intimately woven into the story of God using His people to be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. To learn more about Perspectives go to www.perspectives.org or eastcooperbaptist.com/go. Contact Erin at erink@eastcooperbaptist. com for more information. Converge Junior/Senior Retreat All high school juniors and seniors are invited to attend Converge. The retreat is in Ridgecrest, NC, from February 6-8, 2015. Cost is $150. Register at www.eastcooperbaptist.com (registration ends 2/1/15). Contact Larkin at
[email protected] with questions. Women’s Annual Retreat: Living Joy! Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort, January 16-18, 2015. Speaker: Ruth Ripkin. Come enjoy sweet fellowship and time with the Lord at our annual women’s retreat. Go to www.eastcooperbaptist.com for more informaiton and to register.
Giving
Given Last Week Required to Date Over/[Under]
ECBC Info
$ 118,181 $ 1,564,000 $ [34,536]
361 Egypt Road MP, SC 29464 Main Office 856-3222 Emergency Line ext. 7777 Fax 856-1136 Web eastcooperbaptist.com
Elders Harry Carter
Elder Chairman Reg Christopher Missions Joe Diamond & Ron Romagnoli Children Rick Ethredge Benevolence & Pastoral Care Mark Fitts High School John Graham PCA Rick Gwinn Finance & Facilities David Jackson Equipping/SMBC Mark Leiendecker Worship Lee Lewis Campus Outreach Robert McCants IV & Van Hendry Contemporary Worship Brad Reed Community Groups & Shepherding Ned Rupp & Bobby Weaver Young Adults Claude Tackett Middle School Derek Walden Deacons & Local Missions Mike Weeks Men & Women
