Bay Shore Church - Sermons and News from Bay Shore Community Congregational Church in Belmont Shore, California.

The offertory will be an arrangement of a favorite hymn to many: “How Great Thou Art” (Chalice Hymnal No. 33). Although the hymn originated in Europe, it was not widely known until 1957, when the Billy Graham Crusade in New York City began using the hymn. S. K. Hine brought this hymn to America after 70 years of literary activity, involving several different writers and translators. In 1885 or 1886 Rev. Carl Boberg, a Swedish preacher, wrote the hymn O Store Gud (O Great God). In 1907 it was translated into German, and in 1912 into Russian. In 1927, the English missionary Hine found it and started using it in his ministry in the Ukraine. When W.W. II broke out, Hine brought the English translation with him to England. He added the fourth stanza just after W.W. II, when many refugees from eastern Europe were streaming into England. The refugees were always asking: “When are we going home?” Hine’s response was: “In the day we reach our heavenly home will we proclaim with the hymn, ‘My God, How Great Thou Art’.” May we, at Bay Shore, experience God’s presence and love through our worship together.

Alicia Adams

9:30a.m. Worship – Sunday School - Nursery

The Rev. Charles Ensley’s Sermon:
“SEEING IS BELIEVING; BELIEVING IS SEEING”
Jesus meets us, even in times of doubt and disbelief, and provides what is needed for faith
and renewed zeal for witnessing through the Spirit’s gifts and hope’s invitation.

Scripture Lesson: John 20:19-31
Lay Reader: Paige Contreras

Chancel Choir Anthem: Cherish the Cross
Offertory selection: Ave Maria
Jennifer Scaffidi – flute
Alicia Adams – piano

Bay Shore Community Congregational Church
5100 The Toledo
Long Beach, California 90803-5539

Rev. Charles E. Ensley, Jr.
Senior Minister
revcee@bayshorechurch.org

Church Office: Tel (562) 433-0401 Fax (562) 433-5078
Bayshorechurch@aol.com
www.bayshorechurch.org

This Sunday’s Activities
8:30 Chancel Choir Rehearsal
9:30 Worship, Sunday School and Nursery
10:30 Fellowship Hour & Fifth Sunday Brunch
11:00 Children’s Choir Rehearsal
4:00 Confirmation Class at Naomi Suematsu’s

Flowers on the altar are given by Dick and Linda Landes in celebration of their 31st anniversary.
Flowers in the niche are given by Paul Knerr in loving memory of the 4th anniversary of his wife Chris’ death.

Greeters are: Anthony, Missy and Anthony Nocera

Lay Reader: Paige Contreras
Paige has been a member of Bay Shore Church for 12 years. Her favorite church involvement is serving on the Parish Outreach Committee. She and husband John have two  sons, Bret, 17 and Kelly, 14. Paige is a stay at home mom and enjoys reading and baking.

MUSIC FOR SUNDAY
March 30

Prelude
Introduction and Menuet from “Suite Gothique”
Léon Boëllmann (1862-1897)

Offertory:
Meditation on “How Great Thou Great”
Swedish Folk Melody
setting by Janet Linker (b.1938)

Postlude:
Rejoice, the Lord Is King
John Darwall
arrangement by Kenneth D. Varner (21 century)

I heard many good comments from the congregation after the Chancel Choir’s Palm Sunday’s presentation of selections from Handel’s Messiah between readings of the last days of Jesus’ life from Matthew’s Gospel. Some said they knew the story, but had never heard it presented so thoughtfully and dramatically. I noticed how quiet the congregation was, both during the choruses and the narration. Such solemnity befits the story we were hearing, in word and song, of Jesus’ sacrifice.

It is quite possible that those who heard it will have a better appreciation of the Good News of Easter morning, when various persons came to the tomb, only to find it open and empty! Had Jesus’ body been stolen, or is it possible that his prediction of “building the temple in three days” had come to pass? At the time of Lazarus’ death, he had spoken to his sister Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

This is the crucial question for us this Easter Sunday morning: “Do you believe this?” Does the brutal crucifixion and wondrous resurrection of Jesus from the bonds of death make a difference in your life? Do you understand the miraculous transformations that can come about in a person’s life because of their belief in Jesus as the Son of God and as their Savior?

Throughout Lent, I have been using stories from John’s Gospel to tell how Jesus personally and intimately touched and changed the lives of various individuals: the Pharisee Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, the sisters Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus brought back to life. Each of these demonstrates not only Jesus’ role and power, but also his compassion and caring, both for persons he knew—Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and those unknown to him—the woman at the well and the blind man.

Do you have any reason to believe Jesus wouldn’t have just as much of a personal interest in you, in what’s going on in your life, a concern for whatever is keeping you from being the best person you want to be? I believe he does, and hope Easter will bring hope and resurrection to your life and faith.

Charlie Ensley
Senior Minister

March 23 – I have written this before, but I am so moved by the story that it has to be repeated. As a tradition at Bay Shore, George Frederick Händel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from the Messiah will conclude the service. The Messiah is a long work requiring 2-1/2 hours to perform, and Händel composed it in ONLY 24 days. Never a religious man in the same sense as Bach, Händel became a God-intoxicated man while writing the Messiah. When he completed the “Hallelujah Chorus” he exclaimed to his servant, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God himself.” Again and again his servants found him in tears as he put to paper an awesome phrase or a devout passage. And then, after the last monumental Amen had been written, he confided simply to a physician, “I think God has visited me.” May we, at Bay Shore, experience God’s presence and love through our worship together this Easter Sunday.

Our thanks to the more than dozen nominees whose names were submitted to serve on the Associate Minister Search Committee. Due to the size of the committee, not all can be selected. This week, a subcommittee of the Board of Stewards is reviewing the nominees, looking for the most balanced slate of ages and interests, and will present a slate to the Board for their approval on March 25. Then the committee will meet with the Interim Associate Conference Minister, June Boutwell, to begin their work.

Enjoy a great evening of dining, a spectacular view of the Long Beach and Los Angeles harbors, and great fellowship with us. We’ll meet this Saturday, March 22 at the Rancho Palos Verdes home of the Lights, 29030 Clevis Road. Please call Tom or Vall for potluck-style dish assign-ment and directions.

Maureen Anderson, our church secretary since 2000, has submitted her resignation, effective March 24. Maureen is taking over the position of office manager of her family’s business; a position formerly held by her daughter, who is moving to Oregon to complete her degree. We are grateful for Maureen’s pleasant presence in the church office, and her dedicated service these past 7½ years. Katy Collins has agreed to substitute in the office until a new secretary is hired.

MAUNDY THURSDAY, March 20, 7 p.m.
Observance of the Last Supper, with communion in Gabrielson Chapel.

GOOD FRIDAY, March 21, Noon – 3 p.m.
The sanctuary will be open for your own personal prayers and meditation.

EASTER, March 23 – Two services at 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.
begin at the noted hour, with no announcements. Music by trumpet, timpani, organ, handbells and choir. The services conclude with an opportunity to join the choir in singing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Fellowship Hour between services at 10:00 a.m.

You may bring cut flowers to place in the Living Cross on the front steps.

May 4, right after worship, is our Bay Shore Buried Treasure event. We’ll have a piratical good time with a special musical presentation by our Choir and Hand Bells, fun and games for the kids, traditional chili cook-off, luncheon buffet, and silent / live auctions.

All ashore that be goin’ ashore.

Are you a working woman with no time for yourself and even less time for God? Grab your calendar, your best girl friend and a latte and join other Bay shore women for “Faith in the Marketplace” the working women’s conference, Friday (evening) May 2, and Saturday May 3. Conference tickets are $45 or $40 if we can get a group of ten to buy a table just for Bay Shore. See Traci Reitz or Laura T. and pick up a flyer in the Concert Hall after service.