WE HAVE A SAVIOR! Advent at East Cooper Sunday, December 28, 2014 WE HAVE A SAVIOR! 9:30 and 11:00 am Combined Services On this Sunday following Christmas, we join our hearts together in joyous praise for the gift of Christ - and all it means. W E H A V E A S A V I O R ! The following prayer may be used as you prepare for worship: The Reflections for the Prelude

O LIGHT OF And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths THE WORLD... and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. in Jesus Christ you came Luke 2:7 among us as light shining in darkness. Isn’t there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is really about?! Charlie Brown We confess that we have not welcomed the This is is what Christmas means – to find in a place where you would least light, or trusted good expect to find anything you want everything you could ever want. news to be good. Michael Card We have closed our eyes to your glory in our Not everyone can wait: neither the sated nor the satisfied nor those without midst, expecting little, respect can wait. The only ones who can wait are people who carry and hoping for less. 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 Forgive our doubt, souls give them no peace, who know that they are poor and incomplete, and and renew our hope, who sense something of the greatness that is supposed to come, before which so that we may receive they can only bow in humble timidity, waiting until he inclines himself toward the fullness of your us—the Holy One himself, God in the child in the manger. God is coming; the grace, and live in the truth of Jesus Christ Lord Jesus is coming; Christmas is coming. No.... he is here. the Lord. Rejoice, O Christendom! Dietrich Bonhoeffer On this week of Christ’s birth, , let us be reminded of the Hope, Morning Welcome the Joy, the Love, and the Peace that is ours in the coming of Jesus The Prelude ECBC Brass Christ, the Lord.

Amen. The Call to Praise from Isaiah 60

Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. People: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and his glory EAST COOPER will be seen upon you. BAPTIST CHURCH 361 Egypt Road Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 Leader: And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of 843.856.3222 your rising. Equipping people to pursue People: Lift up your eyes all around, and see; then you shall see and Jesus Christ passionately be radiant. Arise, shine! Our Light has come! We have a Savior! as they impact the culture. eastcooperbaptist.com

The Carol Joy to theWorld! The ofPraise Song We are nolongerlost ‘Cause He hascome down for us Joy to theworld, Worship theSon, This isChristmas! Jesus, Emmanuelhere withus, Tell alltheworld Achildhasbeengiven, ofourfreedom;The King Come before gifts andadoreAnd bring Him Him; Sing for thelight hascome, This isChristmas! Join inthe songofhope, This isChristmas! Sing with angels And lift upyourSing withangels And voices lift We have aSaviour, We have aSavior! We have a Saviour, We have aSavior! His love willreign forever!

We Have A Savior! A ntioch Hisnewcreation. nation from ev’ry Tell how theSpiritcalls freedom gave us. Tell wholifeand oftheSon, to saveHis Son us. 4. Tell how theFather sent Jesus’ glory. Of and tell thestory To alltheworld goout hurling.against thedarkness Your songsandprayers banners highunfurling, 3. Come, celebrate, your Now are forgiven. who by guiltare driven, Allmenandwomen, and lifehealing. Hebringsusfreedom, light pow’rs ofevilreeling; how Hesendsthe 2. See With grace unbounded. and sinsurrounded, Hecomes to us, by death Him iscentered. in God human story; Our Christ theLord hasentered 1. Rise, shine, you people! TextA Hymn forReflection You People! Rise, Shine, The Affirmation of Faith Westminster Confession of Faith VIII.1 LEADER: Why did God send to us Jesus Christ? The Incarnation CONGREGATION: It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and The incarnation refers ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator literally to the in-fleshing of between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and the eternal Son of God— Savior of his church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: Jesus becoming human. 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 doctrine of the incarnation says that the eternal second person of The Carol Good Christian Men, Rejoice! In Dulci Jubilo 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 divin- ity 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 Congregational Prayer Time Carol God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, God Has Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day; Come to Earth To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray. Aaron Shust O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; All praise to You O tidings of comfort and joy. Eternal Lord, From God our heavenly Father a blessèd angel came; Clothed in a garb And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same; of flesh and blood; How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name. You chose a manger Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place, for Your throne, And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace; While worlds on worlds This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface. are Yours alone. Offertory Prayer Martin Kirby, Deacon of the Day Once did the skies before You bow; Offertory God Has Come to Earth A virgin’s arms ECBC Worship Band cradle You now, And angels, who The Response of Praise Behold Our God in You rejoice, Who has held the oceans in His hands Who has numbered every grain of sand Now listen for Kings and nations tremble at His voice All creation rises to rejoice Your infant voice. Behold our God seated on His throne Come let us adore Him Behold our King nothing can compare Come let us adore Him! They sing glory in the highest; Who has given counsel to the Lord Who can question any of His Words For there’s no other name Who can teach the One who knows all things Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds by which We can be Who has felt the nails upon His hands Bearing all the guilt of sinful man saved. God eternal humbled to the grave Jesus, Savior risen now to reign! Glory in the highest;

Men: You will reign forever! Heaven and earth forever Women: Let Your glory fill the earth will proclaim: God has come to earth! Oh little Child, Christmas Decorations You are our Guest, GIVEN BY... That weary ones • Carl and Esther Ballard in memory of Timothy Ballard in You may rest; • Betty Bessinger in memory of Melvin Bessinger, Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Prine, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bessinger Forlorn and lowly • Billie and Vickie Booth in honor of Van and Camma Barnhill is Your birth; • Ray and Barbara Brock in honor of David, Meagan and Madi Brandli and in memory of Lesley Brandli That we may rise to • Patti Altman Childress in memory of Clint Altman Heaven from earth. • 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 All this for us • Kip and Mary Gearhart in honor of our ECBC family Your love hath done; • Neal and Debra Getsinger in memory of Vernon Getsinger By this to You • Scott and Rosalind Gillie in memory of Doris Gillie our love is won; • Rosemary Grant in memory of Bertfand and Alice Brannon For this we tune • Rick and Debbie Gwinn, Emily Lane and Aunt Frances in memory of Jennifer Gwinn our cheerful lays, • Eugenia Heath in memory of her husband Alec and other loved ones And shout our thanks • 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 in ceaseless praise. • 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 Babies & Toddlers The Morning Sermon In order to maintain a worshipful atmosphere and for the comfort of our little Bearing Witness to the Light ones, we ask that parents John 1:6-8 exit the service with their crying babies and talk- ative toddlers. We would Conrad “Buster” Brown, Senior Pastor encourage parents to use our excellent nursery and 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness trained staff to care for your 8 children. about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The Spoken Word CD’s of today’s sermon I. God sent a man. (v. 6) ($3.00 each) will be available to order through the church “It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every office after today. Free copies of the 3-hole church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all punch sermon notes are available on the wall slats. 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 Missed A Sermon? upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and (or want to hear it again?) repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus You can listen to Sunday messages online at Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It www.eastcooperbaptist. is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to com. Choose the “Resources” tab Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.” Responding to the Word Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article XI, “Evangelism and Missions” As we sit under the reading and teaching of Scripture, it calls for II. Witness to the light. (v. 7) a response as we ask ourselves “what will we do with the truth presented Exclusivism: Jesus is the only Savior of the world and one must be- today?” lieve God’s special revelation culminating in the gospel of Christ to be The Christian life is saved. (In order for one to have eternal life, the individual must hear marked by the offering of one’s self to God to the gospel and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord). be shaped, empowered, directed, and changed by God. In worship, God World Religions: Inclusivism/Plurality presents us with the costly self-offering of Jesus •Pluralism: all paths are valid and lead to God. (Many will experience Christ. We are claimed by “salvation” as they understand it because they embrace their version Christ and set free. of the Real). In response to God’s love in Jesus Christ we •Inclusivism: Jesus is the only Savior of the world, but one does not offer our lives, our gifts, have to believe the gospel to be saved. our time, our abilities, and our material goods, for God’s service, His glory, and our ultimate good. “The great world faiths embody different perceptions and conceptions of, and correspondently different responses to Information 12.28 Please complete and place in the offering plate the Real from within the major variant ways of being human; and that within each of them the transformation of human SANCTUARY existence from self-centeredness to Reality-centeredness is Visitor Tear-off Sign-Up Info taking place. ______John Hick, An Interpretation of Religion, p. 240 NAME ______“Christ, the only mediator, sustains particularity, while Spirit, SPOUSE NAME (if applicable) the presence of God everywhere, safeguards universality. ______STREET / P.O. BOX Christ represents particularity by being the only mediator between God and humanity. (1 Timothy 2:5-6), while Spirit ______CITY upholds universality because no soul is beyond the sphere ______of the Spirit’s operations.” STATE ZIP Clark Pinnock, A Wideness in God’s Mercy, p. 192 (______) ______HOME PHONE Note the character of John the Baptist in his simplicity, hu- ( ______) ______mility, and courage. CELL PHONE ( ______) ______III. A witness…that all may believe through Him. CELL PHONE SPOUSE ______“We must take seriously the fact that God has ordained both E-MAIL the way of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ and the ______means by which the gospel takes effect in people’s lives, E-MAIL SPOUSE namely by its proclamation. Even though there are a lot of Birthdate ______questions to think through, we must never compromise this Birthdate Spouse______point: Apart from the preaching, hearing, and believing of Children’s Names / Gender /Birthdates the gospel, there is no salvation. May the Lord of the church, ______M/F ______by his Spirit, ever work in us so that we may faithfully take NAME BIRTHDATE the glorious gospel of God’s sovereign grace to the nations ______M/F ______for his glory and honor, and supremely for the honor and NAME BIRTHDATE glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Steven Wellum, “Saving Faith”, Morgan and Peterson (ed.), ______M/F ______Faith Comes By Hearing, p. 183 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 Prayer Line: 856-3222 ext. PRAY(7729) ANNOUNCEMENTS Adult Sunday Morning Bible Class Preview Please list your prayer requests and/or January 4th at 9:30 and 11:00 in Room B214/215/216. Find out about upcoming names (with detailed information) of people SMBC offerings and hear faith stories about God’s work in the lives of Scott Stacks, in need. Thank you! Caleb Yaryan, Christie Romine and Lynne King. ___Confidential (distributed only to Pastors) 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 show- case 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 nondenomination- al 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 con- tained 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. Con- tributions 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.

S A N C T U A R Y P R O J E C T 2 0 1 5 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 ECBC Pastoral Staff 856-3222 Given Last Week $ 83,076 Van Barnhill High School ext.2016 Required to Date $ 1,909,000 Danny Beech Young Adults ext. 2027 Over/[Under] $ [98,638] Andy Boyer Equipping ext. 2022 Conrad Brown Senior Pastor ext. 2006 Leland Brown Middle School ext. 2034 ECBC Info Dave Bruner Global Impact ext. 2027 361 Egypt Road MP, SC 29464 Craig Harris Shepherding ext. 2012 Main Office 856-3222 Dean Henderson Worship ext. 2040 Emergency Line ext. 7777 Carl Schooling Pastoral Care ext. 2003 Fax 856-1136 Steve Tuck Children & Family ext. 2028 Web eastcooperbaptist.com