we have a savior!

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WE HAVE A SAVIOR!

Advent at East Cooper Sunday, December 28, 2014

9:30 and 11:00 am Combined Services

WE HAVE A SAVIOR!

On this Sunday following Christmas, we join our hearts together in joyous praise for the gift of Christ - and all it means.

WE HAVE A SAVIOR!

The following prayer may be used as you prepare for worship: O LIGHT OF THE WORLD... in Jesus Christ you came among us as light shining in darkness. We confess that we have not welcomed the light, or trusted good news to be good. We have closed our eyes to your glory in our midst, expecting little, and hoping for less. Forgive our doubt, and renew our hope, so that we may receive the fullness of your grace, and live in the truth of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Amen.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Isn’t there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is really about?! Charlie Brown This is is what Christmas means – to find in a place where you would least expect to find anything you want everything you could ever want. Michael Card Not everyone can wait: neither the sated nor the satisfied nor those without respect can wait. The only ones who can wait are people who carry restlessness around with them and people who look up with reverence to the greatest in the world. Thus Advent can be celebrated only by those whose souls give them no peace, who know that they are poor and incomplete, and who sense something of the greatness that is supposed to come, before which they can only bow in humble timidity, waiting until he inclines himself toward us—the Holy One himself, God in the child in the manger. God is coming; the Lord Jesus is coming; Christmas is coming. No.... he is here. Rejoice, O Christendom! Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Morning Welcome The Prelude





The Call to Praise

ECBC Brass from Isaiah 60





On this week of Christ’s birth, , let us be reminded of the Hope, the Joy, the Love, and the Peace that is ours in the coming of Jesus Christ, the Lord.

The Reflections for the Prelude

Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

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

People: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and his glory will be seen upon you. Leader: And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. People: Lift up your eyes all around, and see; then you shall see and be radiant. Arise, shine! Our Light has come! We have a Savior!

The Carol

Joy to the World!

Antioch

Rise, Shine, You People!

A Hymn Text for Reflection 1. Rise, shine, you people! Christ the Lord has entered Our human story; God in Him is centered. He comes to us, by death and sin surrounded, With grace unbounded. 2. See how He sends the pow’rs of evil reeling; He brings us freedom, light and life and healing. All men and women, who by guilt are driven, Now are forgiven. 3. Come, celebrate, your banners high unfurling, Your songs and prayers against the darkness hurling. To all the world go out and tell the story Of Jesus’ glory. 4. Tell how the Father sent His Son to save us. Tell of the Son, who life and freedom gave us. Tell how the Spirit calls from ev’ry nation His new creation.

The Song of Praise

We Have A Savior! A child has been given, The King of our freedom; Sing for the light has come, This is Christmas! 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 Saviour, We have a Savior! We are no longer lost ‘Cause He has come down for us We have a Saviour, 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 Affirmation of Faith The Incarnation The incarnation refers literally to the in-fleshing of the eternal Son of God— Jesus becoming human. The doctrine of the incarnation says that the eternal second person of the Trinity took on humanity in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. A helpful way to remember the key aspects of the incarnation is John 1:14: “The Word became flesh.” So the eternal Son of God, without ceasing to be God, took on a fully human nature. This is the incarnation. And what a magnificent doctrine and fuel for worship this is! Jesus didn’t just become man because he could. This was no circus stunt, just for show. He became man “for us and for our salvation” (in the words of the old creed). The Word became flesh to save us from our sin and to free us to marvel at and enjoy the unique union of divinity and humanity in his one spectacular person. The incarnation is not only the way in which Jesus became Immanuel—God with us—but it’s an eternal testimony that he and his Father are unswervingly for us. -- David Mathis

Westminster Confession of Faith VIII.1



LEADER: Why did God send to us Jesus Christ?



CONGREGATION: It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Savior of his church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom he did from all eternity give a people, to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.

The Carol

Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

In Dulci Jubilo

Congregational Prayer Time Carol

God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day; To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy. From God our heavenly Father a blessèd angel came; And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same; How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name. Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.

Offertory Prayer Offertory





Martin Kirby, Deacon of the Day God Has Come to Earth

ECBC Worship Band

The Response of Praise

Behold Our God Who has held the oceans in His hands Who has numbered every grain of sand Kings and nations tremble at His voice All creation rises to rejoice Behold our God seated on His throne Come let us adore Him Behold our King nothing can compare Come let us adore Him!

Who has given counsel to the Lord Who can question any of His Words Who can teach the One who knows all things Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds Who has felt the nails upon His hands Bearing all the guilt of sinful man God eternal humbled to the grave Jesus, Savior risen now to reign! Men: You will reign forever! Women: Let Your glory fill the earth

GIVEN BY...

Christmas Decorations

• Carl and Esther Ballard in memory of Timothy Ballard • Betty Bessinger in memory of Melvin Bessinger, Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Prine, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bessinger • Billie and Vickie Booth in honor of Van and Camma Barnhill • Ray and Barbara Brock in honor of David, Meagan and Madi Brandli and in memory of Lesley Brandli • Patti Altman Childress in memory of Clint Altman • Allen and Diane Conger in memory of grandson Kirk and in honor of Ray Craig • Alison Davis in memory of Cynthia Hill • Diane Dinkins-McCants in memory of Hannah Rupp • Kip and Mary Gearhart in honor of our ECBC family • Neal and Debra Getsinger in memory of Vernon Getsinger • Scott and Rosalind Gillie in memory of Doris Gillie • Rosemary Grant in memory of Bertfand and Alice Brannon • Rick and Debbie Gwinn, Emily Lane and Aunt Frances in memory of Jennifer Gwinn • Eugenia Heath in memory of her husband Alec and other loved ones • Mitch and Lisa Jones, Jonathan and Ashley in memory of John Jones • Ed and Gretchen Kaylor in honor of our 3 grandchildren and in memory of Peyton Grace and Jack Kaylor and Mac Lindsay • Cristina Krasny in memory of my mother Maria Antonieta de Ramirez • The Lamm Family in momory of Rex Albert “Gran Gran” Lamm and Hannah Rupp • Lonnie and Katherine Morris in memory of Henry Morris • Lex and Cindy Osterkamp in memory of Daniel Graham Osterkamp • Wendy Putnam in honor of the Faculty and Staff of Palmetto Christian Academy • Anne Russell and family in memory of Hal Russell • Grey and Shelby Simpson in memory of Paul Yost • Jonathan and Kristin Stewart in memory of Judy Stewart from her grandsons and Ruby Stewart from her great grandsons • Brice and Tracie Sweatt and family in memory of John Michael Sweatt, John Harvey Sweatt, Gerald Neely Edwards and Jeremy Brice Sweatt • Milan and Ladora Waters in memory of Nara Waters • Joe and Amy Welch in memory of Clinton McNeill • John and Barbara Worley in memory of Eleanor C. Johnson, Vincent T. Johnson, Richard E. Ward, and Ernie Basha

God Has Come to Earth Aaron Shust

All praise to You Eternal Lord, Clothed in a garb of flesh and blood; You chose a manger for Your throne, While worlds on worlds are Yours alone. Once did the skies before You bow; A virgin’s arms cradle You now, And angels, who in You rejoice, Now listen for Your infant voice. They sing glory in the highest; For there’s no other name by which We can be saved. Glory in the highest; Heaven and earth forever will proclaim: God has come to earth! Oh little Child, You are our Guest, That weary ones in You may rest; Forlorn and lowly is Your birth; That we may rise to Heaven from earth. All this for us Your love hath done; By this to You our love is won; For this we tune our cheerful lays, And shout our thanks in ceaseless praise.

The Morning Sermon

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 to order through 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

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.

Bearing Witness to the Light John 1:6-8 Conrad “Buster” Brown, Senior Pastor 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

I. God sent a man. (v. 6) “It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.” Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article XI, “Evangelism and Missions” II.

Witness to the light. (v. 7)

Exclusivism: Jesus is the only Savior of the world and one must believe God’s special revelation culminating in the gospel of Christ to be saved. (In order for one to have eternal life, the individual must hear the gospel and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord). World Religions: Inclusivism/Plurality •Pluralism: all paths are valid and lead to God. (Many will experience “salvation” as they understand it because they embrace their version of the Real). •Inclusivism: Jesus is the only Savior of the world, but one does not have to believe the gospel to be saved.

“The great world faiths embody different perceptions and conceptions of, and correspondently different responses to the Real from within the major variant ways of being human; and that within each of them the transformation of human existence from self-centeredness to Reality-centeredness is taking place. John Hick, An Interpretation of Religion, p. 240 “Christ, the only mediator, sustains particularity, while Spirit, the presence of God everywhere, safeguards universality. Christ represents particularity by being the only mediator between God and humanity. (1 Timothy 2:5-6), while Spirit upholds universality because no soul is beyond the sphere of the Spirit’s operations.” Clark Pinnock, A Wideness in God’s Mercy, p. 192 Note the character of John the Baptist in his simplicity, humility, and courage. III. A witness…that all may believe through Him. “We must take seriously the fact that God has ordained both the way of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ and the means by which the gospel takes effect in people’s lives, namely by its proclamation. Even though there are a lot of questions to think through, we must never compromise this point: Apart from the preaching, hearing, and believing of the gospel, there is no salvation. May the Lord of the church, by his Spirit, ever work in us so that we may faithfully take the glorious gospel of God’s sovereign grace to the nations for his glory and honor, and supremely for the honor and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Steven Wellum, “Saving Faith”, Morgan and Peterson (ed.), Faith Comes By Hearing, p. 183

Information 12.28 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)

Adult Sunday Morning Bible Class Preview January 4th at 9:30 and 11:00 in Room B214/215/216. Find out about upcoming SMBC offerings and hear faith stories about God’s work in the lives of Scott Stacks, Caleb Yaryan, Christie Romine and Lynne King.

Prayer Line: 856-3222 ext. PRAY(7729)

Open House Kindergarten and First Grade Thursday, January 8 @ 6:00 pm Preschool – High School Thursday, January 22 @ 6:30 pm For more information and PCA applications for the 2015-2016 school year visit our website www.palmettochristianacademy.org. For questions, contact Lisa Shimakonis at the Admissions Office: 843-881-9967 x2081 GATEWAY Sunday, January 11th We believe that growth happens in us when we as the people of God intentionally seek ways to develop deeper “Christ-centered” relationships and find ways to use our God-given gifts to serve both inside and outside of the church within the local community. We want to encourage you to do TWO things intentionally this year: 1. Make Community Groups and Adult Sunday Morning Bible Class a priority. 2. Discover ways that you can serve people both inside and outside of the church, in the local community. So please mark your calendars for January 11th and make plans to visit us in the gym, following the morning services! We will be serving a great lunch for you as we showcase all the ECBC ministry opportunities you can take part in, as well as the chance to get connected into a Community Group and an Adult Sunday Morning Bible Class. We look forward to seeing you there! 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 information and to register. grief share January 29th–April 27th, 7pm-8:30pm in B222 Grief Share is a nondenominational support group that meets weekly to provide help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend. The video seminar is led by the leading grief recovery experts and encouragement is experienced through the group discussions. The cost is $20 which includes the workbook. Each session is self contained so anyone can join at any time. For more information or to register go to www.eastcooperbaptist.com Financial Year-End Giving Thank you so much for your consistent financial support throughout the year! To be sure you receive contribution credit for 2014, please have your giving in by the following times: Hand-delivered: To the ECBC office by 12:00 pm WEDNESDAY, December 31. Contributions hand-delivered after 12:00 pm on the 31st will be credited to 2015. Mail: Post-marked by USPS by December 31, 2014. Any mail postmarked in 2015 will be credited to 2015. Online: By 11:59 pm on December 31, 2014.

SANCTUARY PROJECT 2015 Q: I see the construction fencing has been put in place for our new Sanctuary, when will actual construction begin? A: We now have a Land Disturbance Permit. We anticipate sitework beginning in early January. We are planning a formal Ground Breaking Celebration Service for the whole church in early February. Watch for details.

Giving

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ECBC Info

ECBC Pastoral Staff

$ 83,076 Van Barnhill $ 1,909,000 Danny Beech $ [98,638] Andy Boyer

361 Egypt Road MP, SC 29464 Main Office 856-3222 Emergency Line ext. 7777 Fax 856-1136 Web eastcooperbaptist.com

Conrad Brown Leland Brown Dave Bruner Craig Harris Dean Henderson Carl Schooling Steve Tuck

856-3222

High School Young Adults Equipping Senior Pastor Middle School Global Impact Shepherding Worship Pastoral Care Children & Family

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