The Lords Day Worship Service

September 9, 2012 ~ New City Church Calgary

Welcome We are glad you have joined us today. Whether you are a Christian seeking to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, or a skeptic looking for answers, or someone who is struggling to make sense of life and are looking for a caring community, you are warmly welcome here. Were glad you came. There is a nursery available for kids aged 0-2 years. Kids are always welcome in the service with us too. After the Service Please stay around for some refreshments after the service and meet someone new. If we havent met you before, please come say Hello. Wed like to make that connection. Pastors John Ferguson & Mike Ivancic

Reflections & Preparation for Worship O God, by Your power may we, together with all the saints, comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that we may be filled with Your fullness. Amen. ~ based on Ephesians 3:18-19

Say among the nations, The Lord reigns! Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. ~ Psalm 96 The Christian commitment is distinguished in that it is a commitment to a belief about the meaning of the whole of human experience it its entiretynamely, the belief that this meaning is to be found in the person of Jesus Christ, incarnate, crucified, risen, and destined to reign over all things. The confessionthat Jesus is Lord implies a claim regarding the entire public life of mankind and the whole created world. The Christian mission is thus to act out in the whole life of the whole world the confession that Jesus is Lord of all. ~ Lesslie Newbigin, The Open Secret to the one who says that the whole truth of God cannot be disclosed in Jesus Christ, the Christian may fairly ask, What is the source of your knowledge that this is so? How does the doubter know so much about the unknowable? ~ Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society These men who have turned the world upside down have come here alsoand they are all acting against the decree of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. ~ Early opposition to Christianity in Acts 17 1

 God Calls Us To Worship Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6
The Call to Worship Leader: based on Psalm 95

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; Let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. We have gathered to worship and enjoy our gracious God. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Unison:

Hymns of Praise & Worship Immortal, Invisible Immortal, invisible, God only wise In light inaccessible hid from our eyes Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise Unresting, unhasting and silent as light Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might Thy justice like mountains high soaring above Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love Great Father of glory, pure Father of light Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight All praise we would render; O help us to see Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee

Sing Alleluia All creatures of our God and King Lift up your voice and with us sing Sun, moon, and stars rejoice on high Praise to the Lord of light divine Sing alleluia, sing alleluia Praise the Father above Sing alleluia Sing alleluia, sing alleluia For His infinite love Sing alleluia Praise to the Giver of good things Merciful Father, Holy King Join with the angels sing out loud Praise Him who reigns above the clouds Sing alleluia, sing alleluia Praise the Father above Sing alleluia Sing alleluia, sing alleluia For His infinite love Sing alleluia

Women: O praise Him Alleluia O praise Him Alleluia O praise Him Alleluia

Men: when the morning comes for the rising sun when the day is done praise the Lord of love alleluia alleluia

All creatures of our God and King Lift up your voice and with us sing Sing alleluia, sing alleluia Praise the Father above Sing alleluia Sing alleluia, sing alleluia For His infinite love Sing alleluia

God Graciously Renews Us in Christ Have mercy on me, O God, in Your faithful love, in Your great tenderness wipe away my offenses; wash me thoroughly from my guilt, purify me from my sin. ~ Psalm 51:1-2

Call to Confession Leader: Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. ~ Isaiah 1:18

Prayer of Confession Unison: Almighty and merciful God, We have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things that we ought not to have done. Silent Confession and Reflection O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are repentant, according to Your promises Declared to the world in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And grant, O merciful God, for His sake, That we might live a holy, just, and humble life To the glory of Your holy name. Amen. The Words of the Gospel ~ from Romans 8:1; 5:1 Unison:

Leader: Unison:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! How Deep You were broken that I might be healed You were cast off that I might draw near You were thirsty that I might come drink Cried out in anguish that I might sing How deep is Your love How high and how wide is Your mercy How deep is Your grace Our hearts overflow with praise to You You knew darkness that I might know light Wept great tears that mine might be dried Stripped of glory that I might be clothed Crushed by Your Father to call me Your own Completely Done What reason have I to doubt Why would I dwell in fear When all I have known is grace My future in Christ is clear My sins have been paid in full There's no condemnation here I live in the good of this My Father has brought me near I'm leaving my fears behind me now chorus The old is gone, the new has come What You complete is completely done We're heirs with Christ, the victory won What You complete is completely done I don't know what lies ahead What if I fail again You are my confidence You'll keep me to the end I'm leaving my fears behind me now (repeat chorus)

Songs of Response

God Gives Us His Words of Eternal Life 4

Lord Jesus, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! Let your word dwell in us richly, that whatever we do, in word or deed, we may do everything in Your name, giving thanks to the Father through You. ~ based on John 6:68, Colossians 3:16-17

Todays Scripture Lesson: PSALM 96

Worship & Mission (Part 1)

John Ferguson, Pastor

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him;strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;tremble before him, all the earth! 10 Say among the nations, The Lord reigns!Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it!Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the Lord, for he comes,for he comes to judge the earth.He will judge the world in righteousness,and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Leader: Unison: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

 God Feeds Us His Covenant Meal From the east and the west, from the north and the south, people will come and take their places at the banquet in the Kingdom of God. ~ based on Luke 13:29
A Word About Participating in The Sacrament of The Lords Supper The Lords Supper is a special family meal that Christ gave to His Bride, the Church. For Christians, this meal is a time to receive these signs and seals of the New Covenant which Christ has established with them. Believers come to this Table to meet with their Lord and Saviour by faith, to be renewed by Him and strengthened in their callings and mission as they eat the bread and drink the wine. Therefore, all baptized Christians who trust in Christ alone as their Lord and Saviour, who are connected to a church that proclaims His Gospel are invited to come to the Table. If you are not yet a Christian, or if for whatever reason you are not prepared to share in this meal, we would encourage you to spend this time in prayer (perhaps using one of the prayers listed below). Consider the invitation of Jesus, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirstfor my Fathers will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:35, 40). We would ask that children who have not yet professed belief in the Lord Jesus also refrain from partaking until doing so. The pastor would be delighted to speak to families about what it means to participate in the Lords Supper. The Words of Institution

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The Sacrament of The Lords Supper Please come forward by rows to the center aisle and form a semi-circle in front of the Table to receive the bread and the wine. When finished, place your cup at the side tables and proceed to your seat via the outer isles. If you are unable to come forward we would be delighted to serve you at your seat. New City Church uses wine in serving the Lords Supper. We would encourage you to take of the wine since it is a symbol of joy and celebration in Scripture. However, juice is also provided if you cannot drink wine due to health reasons or issues of conscience.

Prayers for Those Not Communing A Prayer Searching for the Truth: Jesus, You claim to be the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except by You. If what You claim is true, please guide me and teach me. Open to me the reality of who You are. Grant that I might be undaunted in following You as I consider the reasons for doing so. Give me an understanding of You that is coherent, convincing, and leads to the eternal life that You promise. Amen. A Prayer of Trust in the Lord Jesus: Jesus, I confess that I am more broken, flawed, and sinful than I had ever before dared to admit. Yet you tell me that I am more loved than I ever dared to hope, and that You accept all who turn to You in simple faith. I am doing that right now. I thank You for taking the justice that my sins deserved when You died on the Cross. I eagerly trust You for the forgiveness for my sins, and I receive from You now the eternal life that You promise to all who come to You. Amen. A Prayer for Those Struggling with Sin: Lord Jesus, You know the battle that rages within my heart. Grant that in my battles with sin, I may see in You the fulfillment of all my needs. Give me strength to turn from every false satisfaction to find my ultimate joy in You. Enable me to lay aside the sin that clings so closely to me, and fill me with your Spirit to run with perseverance the race You have set before me, looking to You, the pioneer and champion of my faith. Amen. A Prayer for Children (who have yet to profess faith): Jesus, the Bible tells me that you blessed kids like me. Help me to know who You are and to understand what You have done for me. Amen. Communion Hymns Here I Am To Worship Light of the world You stepped down into darkness Open my eyes, let me see Beauty that made this heart adore You Hope of a life spent with You chorus Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that You're my God You're altogether lovely, All together worthy All together wonderful to me King of all days, oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above Humbly You came To the earth You created All for love's sake became poor I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross

Shout to the Lord My Jesus, my Saviour Lord there is none like You All of my days I want to praise The wonders of your mighty love My comfort, my shelter Tower of refuge and strength Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You Shout to the Lord all the earth Let us sing power and majesty Praise to the King Mountains bow down And the seas will roar At the sound of Your name I sing for joy at the work of Your hands Forever Ill love You, Forever Ill stand Nothing compares to the promise I have in You Jesus, All For Jesus Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have and ever hope to be Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have and ever hope to be All of my ambitions, hopes and plans I surrender these into Your hands All of my ambitions, hopes and plans I surrender these into Your hands For it's only in Your will that I am free For it's only in Your will that I am free Jesus, all for Jesus All I am and have and ever hope to be

God Receives Our Offerings lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~
Jesus, in Matthew 6:20-21

The Prayers of the People Leader: Let us pray

(The leader prays for specific requests as the assembly prays along with him).

Unison:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts As we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, Now and forever. Amen.

The Presentation of our Tithes and Offerings This collection of our tithes and offerings is for those who consider New City Church their church family and regularly benefit from her ministry and want to invest in her mission. If you are visiting with us, please feel no obligation to give. Hymn of Praise & Worship My Faith Has Found a Resting Place My faith has found a resting place Not in device nor creed I trust the Ever-living One His wounds for me shall plead chorus I need no other argument I need no other plea It is enough that Jesus died And that He died for me Enough for me that Jesus saves This ends my fear and doubt A sinful soul I come to Him He'll never cast me out (repeat chorus) My heart is leaning on the Word The written Word of God Salvation by my Savior's name Salvation through His blood My great Physician heals the sick The lost He came to save For me His precious blood He shed For me His life He gave Our Confession of Faith

Colossians 1:15-20

The language of debt/debtor is not to be understood primarily in a financial sense but in the moral/ theological sense of our indebtedness due to our sins against God and others, or the sins others may have committed against us.

Leader: Unison:

Let us confess our faith Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.

God Sends Us Out Into The World With His Blessing God has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ~ from Micah 6:8
Leader: People: Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). Amen!

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 Community Life
Thanks for visiting New City Church! Were delighted to have had you with us today. If you are looking for a place to explore Christianity and its life-changing relevance, we hope that you will find New City Church a safe place to ask questions and to grow in your understanding of the person and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have any questions about New City Church, Christianity, or the uniqueness of Jesus of Nazareth, please dont hesitate to ask us. You can contact Pastor John at john@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.991.5555. If you work in the downtown area, touch base with Pastor Mike Ivancic who also works in downtown. You can contact Mike at mike@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.828.2241. Tonight at New City Church: A Concert of Prayer ~ 7:00pm As Christians we experience prayer on many meaningful levels: through personal devotions, in small Bible study groups, at Sunday school, before meals, during worship. But the level of concerted prayer envisioned here differs from the rest (though every level of prayer is richly enhanced by it). That is why we give it the distinguishing name "Concerts of Prayer". "Concert" (from the same root as "concerted") means that people are united in sustained commitment to the Lord, to one another and to the answers they seek until God grants "fullness" (spiritual awakening in his Church) and "fulfillment" (world missions and evangelization). God's desire for the glory of His Son and the advancement of His Kingdom, as revealed in His Word, provide the principle source of our prayers. Teenagers to Seniors are invited to New City Churchs Concert of Prayer. Come join your brothers and sisters in rejoicing, repenting and making request as we intercede in harmony with all God has promised His Church and for His world. Intro to New City Church Class: Next Saturday from 9am-2pm Do you want to learn more about Christianity? Do you want a clearer idea of the beliefs & mission of New City Church? Are you interested in potentially joining NCC? Then join us for this class exploring who we NCC is as a community of faith. Come, join others & bring your questions. The next class will be held on Saturday, September 15th from 9:00-2:00pm. Lunch & snacks are provided. Childcare is available if needed. Be sure to sign up online at www.NewCityChurch.ca ASAP Speak to Pastor John for more details. New City Junior High Girls 2012-2013 All girls attending New City Church and in grades 7 - 9 for the 2012-13 school year are invited to join us for a time of Bible Study and fellowship every second Friday evening from 7-9pm. Sharon Peters and Lise Daumler will be leading this group through a study of godly characteristics for young women. Each girl will need to fill out a registration form, sign-up to provide snack once, provide her own journal and Bible and commit to doing her best to attend regularly, giving at least 3 days notice when unable to attend. Our goal is to come alongside parents, reinforcing biblical values being taught at home. Parents are encouraged to use the suggested resources from the handout the girls will bring after each meeting. For more information, contact Sharon Peters at 403-274-9200 or keirap@telus.net or Lise Daumler at 403-313-9480 or daumlerfamily@hotmail.com. Kids Club News The fall season is right around the corner and Kids Club needs help planning events this year. If you are interested in helping out behind the scenes please let Lori know as soon as possible. (403-2867088 or 5blakeleys@gmail.com). Fall Sunday School

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New City Church would like to offer Sunday School for toddlers to Gr. 6 this fall. We are still looking for 2 more teachers and 2 more helpers in order to run all the classes. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry please contact Lana Bottomley ASAP. Also, if you haven't registered your children for Sunday school please let Lana know at 403-208-9354 or the-bottomleys@shaw.ca Attention Young Adults (Pre-, College & Career) Beginning this Fall, New City Church will be hosting a community group just for you. Well be working through a video discussion called H20: A Journey of Faith. Whether you are a follower of Christ, skeptical, or just unsure of what you believe, this basic introduction to Jesus Christ who claimed to be able to quench our spiritual thirst may be just what you are looking for. So why not join up with other Young Adults for this study? For more info, please touch base with Pastor John or Gayle & Dave Eng. New City Youth Group Worldview Training: Grades 10-12 Were launching a youth ministry designed to ground our senior high youth in a biblical world & life view. Led by Glen & Annette Torhjelm & Heather Ferguson, the focus of this youth group will be to understand that Christianity is worth thinking about, literally. There are good reasons for our faith that can satisfy the mind and interact with and answer the questions that are put forth to it. Real life. Real questions. Real answers. There will be an orientation for parents & youth at a BBQ cookout at the Torhjelms on Wednesday September 26th at 6:30 pm. RSVP Heather (hferguson10@gmail.com) so well be able to prepare enough food. The plan is for the youth group to meet twice a month to study, build friendships, & be challenged to grow in their understanding of the gospel. New City Dinner Clubs: September 28 & 29th Looking for a way to connect with others at New City Church? Wanting to deepen friendships? Then what better way than to participate in New City Dinner Clubs? Our monthly New City Dinner Clubs are groups of up to 8 adults who enjoy a meal & evening together. The host provides the main meal & the participants bring the sides. You can sign up to be a host or a participant. The dinner clubs change monthly, so no two dinner clubs are the same or are with the same people. The next New City Dinner Clubs will be held on Friday September 28th & Saturday September 29th, so sign-up online at NewCityChurch.ca community dinner clubs. Deadline to sign up is Sunday, September 23th. Weekly Servants Schedule

Giving Update

*Non-NCC indicates funds raised outside the congregation of New City Church to aid in this church planting project

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