The Lord’s Day Worship Service

January 9, 2010 ~ 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.
We’re glad you came.

After the Service

Please stay around for some refreshments after the service and meet someone new. If we
haven’t met you before, please come say “Hello.” We’d 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

“Maybe redemption has stories to tell / Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself? / Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go? / Salvation is here.”
~ Switchfoot, “Dare You To Move”

"My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got
this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a
straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?"
~ CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

“I used to think that wrath was unworthy of God. Isn't God love? Shouldn't divine love be beyond
wrath? God is love, and God loves every person and every creature. That's exactly why God is
wrathful against some of them. My last resistance to the idea of God's wrath was a casualty of
the war in the form Yugoslavia, the region from which I come. According to some estimates,
200,000 people were killed and over 3,000,000 were displaced. My villages and cities were
destroyed, my people shelled day in and day out, some of them brutalized beyond imagination,
and I could not imagine God not being angry. Or think of Rwanda in the last decade of the past
century, where 800,000 people were hacked to death in one hundred days! How did God react
to the carnage? By doting on the perpetrators in a grandfatherly fashion? By refusing to
condemn the bloodbath but instead affirming the perpetrators' basic goodness? Wasn't God
fiercely angry with them? Though I used to complain about the indecency of the idea of God's
wrath, I came to think that I would have to rebel against a God who wasn't wrathful at the sight
of the world's evil. God isn't wrathful in spite of being love. God is wrathful because God is love.”
~ Miraslov Volf, Free of Charge
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  God Calls Us To Worship 
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6

The Call to Worship based on Psalm 95

Leader: 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.

Unison: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Hymns of Praise & Worship

“Come Christians Join To Sing”

Come Christians join to sing, Alleluia! Amen

Loud praise to Christ our King, Alleluia! Amen
Let all with heart and voice, before His throne rejoice
Praise is His gracious choice, Alleluia! Amen

Come lift your hearts on high, Alleluia! Amen

Let praises fill the sky, Alleluia! Amen
He is our Guide and Friend, to us He’ll condescend
His love shall never end, Alleluia! Amen

Praise yet our Christ again, Alleluia! Amen

Life shall not end the strain, Alleluia! Amen
On heaven’s blissful shore, His goodness we’ll adore
Singing forevermore, “Alleluia! Amen!”

“All Creatures of our God and King”

1. All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along
O praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
O praise Him, O praise Him
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
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 3. Thou flowing water, pure and clear
Make music for thy Lord to hear
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright
That givest man both warmth and light
O praise Him, O praise Him
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

4. And all ye men of tender heart

Forgiving others take your part
O sing ye, Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear
Praise God and on Him cast your care
O praise Him, O praise Him
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

5. Let all things their Creator bless

And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father
Praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, alleluia, 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 ~ Psalm 139:23-24

Leader: “Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends You,
And lead me in the path of everlasting life”

Prayer of Confession
“Lord, Have Mercy”

Jesus I’ve forgotten the words that You have spoken

Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim
With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom
Forgive me for my unbelief renew the fire again

chorus
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
(repeat)

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 I have built an altar where I’ve worshipped things of man
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You
Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgressions, help me love You again

(repeat chorus)

I have longed to know You and all Your tender mercies

Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end
So I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence
Your grace forever shining like a beacon in the night

(repeat chorus)

The Words of the Gospel ~ based on 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Peter 2:24

Leader: Hear the Good News:

This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross,
That we might be dead to sin and alive to all that is good.

Hearing these comforting words, if you sincerely turn from your sins
by turning in trust to the Lord Jesus Christ who came to save sinners,
I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ that you are indeed forgiven!

Song of Response

“Thy Mercy, My God”

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song

The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last
Hath won my affection and bound my soul fast

Without Thy sweet mercy, I could not live here

Sin would reduce me to utter despair
But through Thy free goodness, my spirit's revived
And He that first made me still keeps me alive

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart

Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground
And weep for the praise of the mercy I've found

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own

In the covenant love of Thy crucified Son
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine

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  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

Today’s Scripture Lesson John Ferguson, Lead Pastor

Sermon Series: “The Renewal of All Things”

“Redemption: Preserving the Earth for God’s Future (Part 1)”

Genesis 6:5-7:24

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his
heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to
his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals
and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the
eyes of the Lord.

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with
God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and
behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have
determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them
with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with
pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30
cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with
lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in
which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant
with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 And of
every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall
be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every
creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive.
21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.”
22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

7:1 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous
before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of
the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and
female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty
days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And
Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his
wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of
animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and
female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood
came upon the earth.

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all
the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell upon the
earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and
Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, 14 they and every beast, according to its kind,
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and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind,
and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of
all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God
had commanded him. And the Lord shut him in.

17 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the
earth. 18 The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters.
19 And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were
covered. 20 The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. 21 And all flesh died that
moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind.
22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that
was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out
from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed on the
earth 150 days.

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

(notes)

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  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 Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s 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 thirst…
for my Father’s 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 Lord’s Supper.

The Words of Institution

“The Lord Jesus, on the night we 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 Lord’s death until he
comes.
~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper

Please come forward by rows to the center isle 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 Lord’s 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.

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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

“Great is Thy Faithfulness”

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

(repeat refrain)

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

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 Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

“How Great Is Our God”

The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice, Let all the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide

And trembles at His voice, and trembles at His voice

chorus
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands, and time is in His hands

Beginning and the end, beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One: Father, Spirit, Son

The Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb

(repeat chorus)

Name above all names, worthy of all praise

My heart will sing how great is our God

 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 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.
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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

“Salvation Belongs to our God”

Salvation belongs to our God

Who sits upon the throne
And unto the Lamb
Praise and glory
Wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength

Be to our God forever and ever

Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever
Amen!

And we, the redeemed, shall be strong

In purpose and unity
Declaring aloud praise and glory
Wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength

Be to our God forever and ever

Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever
Amen!

Our Confession of Faith The Apostle’s Creed1

Leader: Christians, in whom do you believe?

Unison: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And we believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.2
1
The Apostle’s Creed is an ancient creed (that is, statement of faith) of the Church and historically has been widely used and
cherished by believers. Although it was not written by the Apostles, we believe it to be a concise summary of their teachings. It
may have originated as a baptismal formula around the 2nd century, and developed into its present form by the 6th or 7th century.
2
Jesus’ descent into hell consisted in His priestly act of offering Himself up as a sacrifice for sins, undergoing the judicial wrath
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 the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and is seated
at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit

The holy catholic church,3 the communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. 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: “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).
People: Amen!

of God on the Cross, and remaining under the power of death for three days before being vindicated in His resurrection.
3
The term “catholic” means “universal” and hence does not refer to any one particular church, but to Christ’s universal
Church, wherever she may be found gathering in Christ’s name.
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  Community Life 

Sermon Series: over the next months, we’ll continue in our series, “The Renewal of All Things.” Here
are some of the upcoming studies.
• Redemption: Preserving the Earth for God’s Future
• Redemption: Blessing Every Nation on the Planet
• Redemption: Calling a People For His Own Glory
• Redemption: Crowning His Son King
• Redemption: Changing His People from the Inside Out
• Redemption: Fulfilling All His Promises in the Son
Community Groups: We are be going through a series looking at the gospel and Christianity unpacking
how the good news addresses every sphere of our lives.

• Wednesdays 7:15-9pm @ Teresa Bravo's (led by Mike Ivancic)

• Thursdays 7-9pm @ Calvin & Suzanne Van Hill's (led by John Ferguson)
Check www.NewCityChurch.ca for more details & directions

Ladies Bible Study: Come join the ladies of New City as we learn how our individual stories fit within
God's larger story. We will be studying the Scripture through a study entitled Living Story: Learning
God's Story of Grace.

• Tuesdays 9:30-11:30am at Henrietta Vanhuigenbos (led by Heather Ferguson)

Check www.NewCityChurch.ca for more details & directions.

Attention Twenty-Something’s: You are invited to John & Heather’s house for a Taco Feast, Sunday,
January 23, for lunch. Let us know if you can make it. Also, interested in forming a community group
with other 20-somethings? Please let pastor John know. We are looking to form one in the New Year.

Upcoming Mustard Seed Ministry Opportunities: Every month, New City Church sends a team of 4-5
people to help serve meals to people in need in Calgary. Our next dates are: January 29, February 19,
and March 19. Would you consider serving our city in this way? For more info, contact Annie Arguile
(i_have_2_kids@hotmail.com).

Newcomer’s Class: Beginning Sunday, January 23rd, New City Church will be offering a Newcomer’s
class. This 4-week class will introduce you to the vision and distinctives of New City Church, our hopes
and dreams, and your part to play in it all. There will also be an opportunity to explore what membership
at New City Church means with its privileges and responsibilities. All are invited to attend this classes
that will be held for 45 minutes immediately after the worship service. For more info, talk to Pastors John
Ferguson or Mike Ivancic.

Next Week’s Servants:

Setu Greete Greeter Nurser Nurser Helpe Helpe Coffe Coffee
p r1 2 y1 y2 r1 r2 e1 2
Jan Geza Joseph Catherin Lori Michael Marcel Hanna Gayle Annie
16 e a I. o h
Jan Matt Matt Heather Lana Nicole Milo James Ina Holly
23 V
* If you would like to find a place to serve, please contact Twyla (twyla@newcitychurch.ca /
403.247.8332

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