Calendar of Ministry Events
December
To All Officers – We need your calendar of events for 2017 ASAP ..Email or call the church office…’’’ Attention All Officers: 2017 Budget Forms are in your bulletin. Please complete and submit to the church office ASAP. Today 18 Please visit the bookstore today!!! Great Sales!!!! Tuesday 20 MOM Christmas Care Packages Operation 12 noon Thurs-Fri 22-23 Office Closed Sunday 25 Christmas Day Service 10:45 a.m. Thurs-Fri 29-30 Office Closed Tue-Fri 27-30 Children, Youth & Young Adults California Convention Theme: Next Level Encounter – Hotel Info: Double Tree by Hilton 1150 9th Street Modesto, CA. 95354 – Reservations Call: 209-525-3032 Cut-off date: 12/13/2016 Saturday 31 No New Year’s Eve Service Sunday Friday
1 6
Sunday Thursday Saturday
8 12 14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Application of Truth is the Final Step of Learning…
Bishop Wm. LaRue Dillard, Ph. D. Parish-Shepherd/Soul-Watcher
December 18, 2016
January
New Year’s Day Service 10:45 a.m. Annual Thirty-One Night All City Preaching Crusade New Revolution Baptist Church in Pasadena Bishop Dillard will be the guest speaker See Flyer for additional information. The Lord Supper Celebration 4:45 p.m. UWFG Officers Meeting 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Bishop’s Cabinet meeting 9:30 a.m. STOPPING TRAFFICK 2017 "Human Sex Trafficking Symposium"@ 11:00 a.m – 2:30 p.m. Located in the Fannie M. Goodwin Bldg. Admission: Free/All are Invited Purpose: To educate and enlighten the Body of Christ and our community on a fast-growing industry designed to threaten the very safety of our children and loved ones. Martin Luther King, Jr. Presentation during 10:45 a.m. Worship Service Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 12th
Special Announcements When youngsters turn 13 years of age, they must attend Teen Discovery Class in the upstairs Computer Room in Fannie M. Goodwin Building. SBC Livestreams at https://new.livestream.com/accounts/10332936 Pay tithes at www.secondbaptistmonrovia.org/tithes-offering.htm
HIS GLORY IS OUR STORY! (John 1:1-14)
“Troubles Break the Syndrome of Independence and Willfulness and Bring Us Back to the Lord!” Bishop Dr. Wm. LaRue Dillard
www.secondbaptistmonrovia.org---sbcmon@aol.com
Bishop’s Home: (626) 358-8198 - - ralavenrue@aol.com Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bishop’s Epistle
December 18, 2016
THE INCARNATION OF GOD WHICH CHANGES EVERYTHING! (Luke 2: 8-20) Sons and Daughters of Christ! Grace to you!
Like the shepherds of old back in 4 B.C., in Jerusalem, we live in two worlds now at Christmas - the outer world filled with hatred, conflict, and international tension, and the inner world of personal struggles. Get in touch with your feelings today. We all suffer from future jitters over our war-weary world gripped in soul-sized issues. None of us is free of difficult situations and impossible people. And inside are the hopes and hurts, disappointments and discouragements, fears and frustrations we all feel. The shepherds said: “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15)
Most of all, we feel a horizontal flatness about both worlds - if anything is to be done, we must try alone and most of what needs to be done may never change. The hopes and fears of all the years are ours as we join those shepherds out under the stars. Silence, sleeping sheep, and the shepherds at a banked fire. We are about to have an experience with them which changes everything in the world! Suddenly, piercing the silence is magnificent sound and dispelling the darkness is a glorious splendor that makes the night as day. No wonder the shepherds crouch in fear, clutching one another, looking and listening with astonishment. Hear the angels’ words as if for the first time. “Don’t be afraid—I bring exciting news for you and everyone. A Savior, Christ the Lord, has been born in Bethlehem! This is the sign: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Today, let’s fall on the knees of our heart as the heavenly host joins the angel to sing the most love—drenched, hope-infusing words ever sung: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.”
The shepherds went back to work a different people because of what they had seen and heard. They glorified and praised God. That was the difference. Glory means manifestation—praise and unfettered adoration. Now the shepherds manifested God in the way they lived and all of life was freshly alive with gratitude for His presence in their world. I maintain that it’s what happens after Christmas that makes all the difference. In a few hours, we, too, will go back to work---back to old relationships and pressing responsibilities; back to our troubled world as it is; back to the frustration of all-too— familiar problems. But if we are daring enough to accept the gift which changes everything—Christ’s love, joy, hope, and peace---we can go back to work different saints because of what we have heard, seen, felt accepted and experienced ourselves. Amen Until He Comes, I Am ---Serving Christ Joyfully – Bishop Dr. Wm. LaRue Dillard, Parish-Under-shepherd
THEME: STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE, ADVANCING THE KINGDOM!
The Call to Worship----------------------- Lyceum Council of Elder Hymn of Worship:------“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” #58
Diaconates Leading Worship with the Gathered Assembly
Salutation/Responsive Scripture(Luke 2:8-17)Leader/People Fervent Prayer for God’s Presence The Period of Praises------------------------------Leader/People Welcome (Parishioners and Visitors) We’re so glad your here
Stewardship of Worshiping (Paying Tithes and Giving Offerings) Choir Selection-Glorifying the Name of the Lord--Voices of Unity
Acknowledgment and Announcements--Evelyn Jenkins-Coleman Choir Selection-Glorifying the Name of the Lord--Voices of Unity SERMONIC GOSPEL MESSAGE Bishop Dr. Wm. La Rue Dillard, Preaching
“WHAT THE ANGELS SING ABOUT” (Luke 2:8-14 NKJV) A Christian Invitation
Your Prayer Requests ◊To Be Born Again ◊ To Join this Parish Church The Doxology (Reverently) “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!” The Benediction Recessional Chant “Let the Church Say Amen!”