Guest Speaker

Welcome to the Morning Worship of the College Heights Baptist Church on December twenty-sixth the last Sunday of 2021 Service begins at 10:30 AM REJOICE, HE IS HERE! But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “Let God be exalted!” Symbols of the Christ Psalm 70:4 The Five-pointed Star, sometimes called the star of Jacob, the star of Bethlehem, or the star of Jesse. This is the great symbol of the epiphany (meaning “a time of great insight”), when Christ was manifested to the Gentiles by the guiding of the star. The Old Testament prophecies read, “there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel ...” (Numbers 24:17); “And the Gentiles shall come to the brightness of the rising.” (Isaiah 60:3). Their fulfillment is given in Matthew 2:1-2; “There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, ‘where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.’” Christ also called himself “the bright and morning Star” in Revelation 22:16. On our Christmas trees the star is usually shown as five-pointed, but in most pictures, like the one above, the star is shown with an even number of points, or rays, for symmetry. There are other forms of the star that have been, and still are, used in reference to Jesus: the six-pointed “Jewish star” or “Star of David” (Jesus was a Jew), the eight-pointed one (maybe reminding us that He was circumcised and named on the eighth day), and the twelvepointed one (usually called the “sun of righteousness”). As the star directed the wise men to Jesus, so we should also be a light directing seekers to Him. Prelude & Announcements Music “All Come, All Ye Faithful” Welcome & Announcements Scripture & Prayer Music Lentz Upshaw 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 “We Believe” “All Praise to Him” Prayer Lentz Upshaw Message Response Benediction 89 Marvin Steinfort “Let Your Kingdom Come” Psalm 67:1-2 Postlude Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man His Son hath given; While angels sing with tender mirth, A glad New Year to all the earth. MARTIN LUTHER (1493-1546)