2015 Christmas Day Worship Bulletin

Second Baptist Church, Inc. [Est.1902] (Evangelistic orthodoxy) 925 south Shamrock Avenue --- Monrovia, CA 91016 Bishop, Dr. Wm. LaRue Dillard, Parish Under-shepherd

December 25, 2015, 10:00 -11:00am THIS CHRISTMAS DAY THE HOLY CHILD JESUS LIVES IN ME --HALLELEUJAH! The Call to Worship: -------------------------- Lyceum Council of Elders Hymn: “Silent Night Holy Night” #56 Worship Leader------------------------------Clergy Elder James Walker Responsive Scripture Reading: --Luke 2:1-14-Diakonos /People Fervent Prayer ----------------------------------------------Diakona Holy Praises unto Him! The Welcome to Parish Members & Visitors ---------------- Clergyman

Stewardship of Giving -------------Home & Foreign Mission Emphasis

Let the Choir Sing ----------------------------Combined Choir Members

Sermonic Gospel Message Bishop, Dr. Wm. LaRue Dillard, Preaching (Luke 2:12-14) “Christmas Caroling by Those Singing Angels!”

A Christian Invitation ------------------Reaching out to you for Christ!

The Doxology -------Reverently Chanting ----------------People of God The Benediction -------------------------Bishop Dr. Wm. La Rue Dillard Recessional “Go tell it on the Mountain!”

Bishop’s Love Epistle: December 25, 2015 CHRISTMAS IS A HOLY DAY, NOT A HOLIDAY! (Matthew 1:17—4-17) Sons and Daughters of My Flock, Grace to you!

My desire for you has always been to see you grow in the Word of the Lord that He may be pleased with you. This celebrated Holy Day, Christmas, ought to be a day of joyful praise unto God from all of us because of who He is and who we are in Him. Christmas prophecy was fulfilled 2019 years ago on this date that we celebrate as the day Jesus was born in Bethlehem Judah. It stimulates our minds and hearts because of what he means to Christianity.

In the first section of Matthew’s gospel He employs the number seven. For example, there are seven creation days and Joshua and his men marched around Jericho seven times. And then the book of Revelation features seven letters written by Jesus to seven churches, as well as seven seals, seven bowls, and seven trumpets.

Seven then, is often referred to as a “perfect number.” Even the infamous number 666 is alluding to the fact that it is not 777. Matthew employs the number seven in the first section of his gospel (Matthew 1:17-4:17).

As he describes the birth of Jesus and the period before Jesus begins to preach in A.D. 27, he cites seven Old Testaments - the child Jesus, is born of a virgin (Matt. 1:22-23); His birth in the city of Bethlehem (Matt. 2: 5-6); flight to Egypt and the consequent return (Matt.

2:15); the slaughter of the innocent in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:17-18; the home-base of Nazareth (Matt. 2:23); the ministry of the forerunner, John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-3); and the start of Jesus’ ministry in A.D. 27.

Thus, I declare, that from eternity the Lord has loved His people. Christmas is the visible demonstration of it; Calvary, the cost of it; resurrection and ascension, the triumph and effectiveness of it. No wonder then, that creatures surrounding the throne in heaven exclaim and our choir sing about it: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Now, “Let the redeemed of the Lord says so!” Amen Until He Comes, I Am Serving Christ Joyfully, Bishop Dr. Wm. La Rue Dillard Parish under-shepherd