The Lords Day Worship Service

February 3, 2013 ~ 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

Christ the King finds easy entrance to any heart that is sorry for its sin.
~ Phillip Ryken, pastor & author, Luke Vol. 1

When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said, Repent, He meant that the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
~ Martin Luther, #1 of 95 Thesis nailed to the Wittenburg Castle Door on Oct. 31, 1517

Repenance is one of the Christians highest privileges. A repentant Christian focuses on Gods mercy and Gods grace. Any moment in our lives when we bask in Gods mercy and grace is our highest moment. Higher than when we feel snug in our decent performance and cannot think of anything we need to confess.
~ Mutua Mahiaini, leader of The Navigators Ministry in Kenya, Africa (qtd. in Jerry Bridges The Discipline of Grace)

"I found grace, it's all that I found And I can breathe, breathe now."
~ U2, "Breathe" from No Line on the Horizon

 God Calls Us To Worship Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6
The Call to Worship Leader: People: ~ based on Isaiah 12:2-6

Sing praises, for the Lord has done great things. Let this be known in all the earth. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, For the Lord God is my strength and my song, And He has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, Make known His deeds among the peoples Proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done great things. Let this be known in all the earth.

Leader: Unison:

Leader:

Hymns of Praise & Worship Shout to the North Men of faith rise up and sing Of the great and glorious King You are strong when you feel weak In your brokenness complete chorus Shout to the North and the South Sing to the East and the West Jesus is Saviour to all Lord of heaven and earth Rise up women of the truth Stand and sing to broken hearts Who can know the healing power Of our awesome King of love (repeat chorus) We've been through fire We've been through rain We've been refined by the power of His name We've fallen deeper in love with you You've burned the truth on our lips (repeat chorus) Rise up church with broken wings Fill this place with songs again Of our God who reigns on high By His grace again we'll fly

Ten Thousand Reasons chorus Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul Worship His holy name Sing like never before, O my soul I'll worship Your holy name Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find (repeat chorus) And on that day when my strength is failing The end draws near and my time has come Still my soul will sing Your praise unending Ten thousand years and then forevermore (repeat chorus) Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name Lord, I'll worship Your holy name Sing like never before, O my soul I'll worship Your holy name Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning It's time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass, & whatever lies before me Let me be singing when the evening comes (repeat chorus) You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger Your name is great, and Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

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: ~ Jeremiah 17:9

The Lord has spoken through the prophet Jeremiah saying, The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind.

Prayer of Confession Leader: Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. ~ Silent confession and reflection. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. ~ Silent confession and reflection. Set us free from a past we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed. ~ Silent confession and reflection. Leader: And grant us grace to grow more and more in Your likeness and image; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Words of the Gospel Leader:

~ based on 1 John 1:8-2:1

While it is true that we have sinned, it is a greater truth that God offers forgiveness to all who turn to the Lord Jesus Christ seeking His grace and pardon. He is the Righteous Oneour Advocate, who speaks in our defense. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and for the sins of the world. To all who humbly seek the mercy of God, I say to you, that in Christ Jesus your sins are forgiven!

The Sacrament of Covenant Baptism ~ Bethany Anne Fletcher ~ Daughter of David & Christine Fletcher Song of Response Before the Throne of God Above Before the throne of God above I have a strong, a perfect plea A great High Priest whose name is Love Who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, My name is written on His heart, I know that while in Heavn He stands No tongue can bid me thence depart No tongue can bid me thence depart When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of the guilt within Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died My sinful soul is counted free For God, the Just, is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me To look on Him and pardon me Behold Him there! The risen Lamb My perfect, spotless Righteousness The great unchangeable I Am The King of glory and of grace! One with Himself I cannot die My soul is purchased by His blood My life is hid with Christ on high With Christ, my Saviour and my God With Christ my Saviour and my God

God Gives Us His Words of Eternal Life 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: LUKE 3:1-14

Preparing the Way of the Lord

John Ferguson, Pastor

3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and 4

Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 10 And the crowds asked him, What then shall we do? 11 And he answered them, Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? 13 And he said to them, Collect no more than you are authorized to do. 14 Soldiers also asked him, And we, what shall we do? And he said to them, Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.
Leader: Unison: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
(notes)

 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 and 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 The Power of the Cross Oh, to see the dawn Of the darkest day: Christ on the road to Calvary Tried by sinful men Torn and beaten, then Nailed to a cross of wood chorus This, the power of the cross: Christ became sin for us Took the blame, bore the wrath We stand forgiven at the cross Oh, to see the pain Written on Your face Bearing the awesome weight of sin Every bitter thought Every evil deed Crowning Your bloodstained brow (repeat chorus) Now the daylight flees Now the ground beneath Quakes as its Maker bows His head Curtain torn in two Dead are raised to life "Finished!" the vict'ry cry (repeat chorus) Oh, to see my name Written in the wounds For through Your suffering I am free Death is crushed to death Life is mine to live Won through Your selfless love

chorus This, the power of the cross: Son of Godslain for us

What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross

I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene And wonder how He could love me A sinner, condemned, unclean. chorus How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be: How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me! Be Thou My Vision Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art Thou my best thought by day or by night Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord Thou my great Father, I Thy true son Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one Riches I heed not, nor mans empty praise Thou my inheritance, now and always Thou and Thou only, first in my heart High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art High King of heaven, my victory won May I reach heavens joys, O bright heavns Sun Heart of my own heart, whatever befall Still be my vision, O Ruler of all He took my sins and my sorrows He made them His very own And He bore the burden to Calvary And suffered and died alone When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see Twill be my joy through the ages To sing of His love for me

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: Unison: Let us pray

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

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 It Is Well With My Soul When peace, like a river, attendeth my way When sorrows like sea billows roll Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul. chorus It is well (echo) With my soul (echo) It is well, it is well with my soul Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come Let this blest assurance control That Christ has regarded my helpless estate And has shed His own blood for my soul (repeat chorus) My sinO the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not the part but the whole Is nailed to the Cross and I bear it no more Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul (repeat chorus) O Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight The clouds be rolled back as a scroll The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend Even soit is well with my soul (repeat chorus)

Our Confession of Faith

~ from 1 Corinthians 15:1-6;

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.

Matthew 16:16; Revelation 22:13; John 20:28 Leader: Unison: Let us together profess our faith by saying This is the good news which we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved, if we hold fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the Twelve, and then he appeared to over five hundred witnesses at one time. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; He is our Lord and our God. Amen.

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: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:13) . Amen.

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 lifechanging 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. Congratulations Bethany Fletcher on your Baptism! We are rejoicing with David & Christine Fletcher and Bethany too, as she makes her profession of faith public today and desires the sacrament of Baptism in accordance with the command of Jesus Christ. Many people have questions about Baptism. Therefore we would like to invite you to pick up some of the articles from New City Church on Baptism available on the Welcome Table in the foyer today. There you will learn about NCCs position on adult and infant baptism, as well as to the mode we employ. As always, if you have any questions or want further clarifications, please let Pastor John or Pastor Mike know. Potluck Today after the Service!

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Immediately after the service, well join together for a luncheon. Please stay around and get to deepen friendships and meet someone new! New City Junior High Girls Bible Study For young ladies grades 7-9. Our next meeting will be on Friday, February 8th at 7pm at Sharon Peters house (157 Rockbluff Close). Dont forget your journal, pen, & Bibl. All Junior High girls are welcome. For more information, contact Sharon Peters at 403-274-9200 or keirap@telus.net, or Lise Daumler at 403-3139480 or daumlerfamily@hotmail.com. Kids Club Is Coming Up: Mark Your Calendars! Kids aged 4-11 are welcome to join us for our next event on Saturday, February 9th from 4-6pm at the Centre. Please rsvp to Lori Blakeley if your kids will attend or if you are able to volunteer for this event by Feb. 3. Email Lori at 5blakeleys@gmail.com or call for more info 403 286-7088. Question #6: How can we glorify God? Answer: We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.

Designed to be used by individuals, families, & churches to learn the basic beliefs of Christianity. Check it out: http://www.newcitycatechism.com or http://newcitychurch.ca resources Be Ready: Reasonable Faith in an Uncertain World March 8 & 9, 2013 As ambassadors for Christ, Christians are called not only to communicate the Gospel to others, but also to be ready to answer questions that others may ask us about the hope that we have. This conference is an excellent opportunity to become better equipped for just such a task. New City Church is teaming up with Faith Beyond Belief, Centre Street Church, and Biola University to sponsor a conference bringing in some of the top Christian thinkers of our era to help equip you to articulate and defend the faith. William Lane Craig, Sean McDowell, JP Moreland, Clay Jones and Craig Hazen will all be speaking at this first of its kind conference in Calgary. Our own Pete de Jong is chairing the Faith Beyond Belief committee organizing this conference, and Pastor John Ferguson will be teaching a break-out session. For more details or to register, go to www.BeReadyCalgary.ca. New Ministry Coordinator: Gayle Eng! With new growth at NCC comes new challenges, not the least of which is organization and coordination. Gayle Eng has volunteered to act as a ministry coordinator. This role will no doubt evolve, but basically it will be designed to ensure all aspects of our church are coordinated to work effectively. Servant Team Leaders can go to Gayle with ideas, questions, or concerns. Gayle will keep a calendar to coordinate the various happenings in our community of faith Gayles oversight on the board of elders is Don Kitchener Gayles contact info: gayle.eng@live.ca / 587.215.7257 Documentary Showing Nefarious: Merchants of Souls As many of you already know, there are 27 MILLION people currently enslaved around the world and are exploited through means of forced labor, domestic servitude, and sex slavery. Servants Anonymous Foundation invites you to come and learn about the issues of human trafficking through a screening of one of the most powerful, compelling, and transformational documentaries ever made. Monday, February 11, 7:15 @ Renfrew Baptist Church (1204 Renfrew Drive). For more info or to RSVP to

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Lise Daumler (lise@safoundation.com). Because of the subject matter of this documentary, an adult or older teen audience is recommended. www.nefariousdocumentary.com New City Church Online. Visit us NCC online at www.NewCityChurch.ca. Here, you can find our sermons & sermon notes posted. You can also subscribe to our sermons via iTunes. Just search for New City Church Calgary and you can find us on iTunes. Were also on Facebook & have a blog for those who are not on Facebook as well. All is accessible via www.NewCityChurch.ca. ESL Bible Study At The LeBlancs House Every third Sunday of the month at 2:30 at the LeBlancs house. All are welcome. For more information, contact Richard or Marie (richard_marie@shaw.ca). All songs used by permission. CCLI license # 273300. Parts of the worship service are adapted from or reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, c. 2004, CRC Publications. Weekly Servants Schedule

The Season of Lent 2013 Like many other Christian communities around the world, the season of Lent is one of two seasons that we note here at New City Church (the other being Advent the four weeks leading up to Christmas). The name Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten which simply means spring. The season of Lent spans the 40 days prior Easter (not counting the six Sundays of Lent and is characterized by a special focus upon seeking God through repentance. Spring is a fitting illustration as we see the physical world awake from the deadness of winter to new life and beauty. At NCC, well mark this season by a special series of studies both on Sunday mornings and evenings. During our worship times on Sunday mornings, well be studying the issue of spiritual renewal, especially as we see it lived out for us in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (as Jesus taught) and in the life and poetry of King David expressed in Psalm 51. On Sunday evenings, well watch and discuss RC Sprouls excellent video series, The Holiness of God. Well kick off these series in two weeks on the first Sunday of Lent, February 17. Be sure to pick up our pamphlet, The Season of Lent, for more info about this season, as well as some recommendations on how to focus upon spiritual renewal and awakening in Christ Jesus. Available on the table in the foyer and also online at www.NewCityChurch.ca worship info the season of Lent.

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