The Lord’s Day Worship Service

March 6, 2011 ~ 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

“Christians sometimes try to assess how they or others are doing on the basis of such things as
how successfully they conquer a particular sin, how much prayer and Bible study they do, how
regularly they attend and give to church, and so forth. But rarely do we honestly ask the
question that Scripture places at the center of everything: Are we growing in our capacity to love
all people? Do we have an increasing love for our sisters and brothers in Christ as well as for
those for whom Christ died who are yet outside the church? Are we increasing in our capacity to
ascribe unsurpassable worth to people whom society judges to have no worth?”
~ Gregory Boyd

“When you become a Christian, Jesus will invade your life and make you into somebody he can
use to change the world. Through you, he will challenge racism. Through you, Jesus will attack
sexism, poverty, and militarism. That was never taught to me when I was growing up. I never
heard that I could be an instrument that God could use to change the world. All I was told was
that being a Christian meant I would go to heaven when I died. I was never told that the primary
reason Jesus saved me was to make me into somebody whom he could use to change the
world into the kind of world he willed for it to be when he created it.”
--Tony Campolo

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you
also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another.”
~ Jesus, in the Gospel of John 13:34-35

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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

“Forever”

Give thanks to the Lord, Our God and King

His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm

His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

chorus
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever and ever, forever (2X)

From the rising to the setting sun

His love endures forever
By the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

(repeat chorus)

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 “Thank You for the Blood”

Thank You, thank You

For the blood that You shed
Standing in its blessing we sing
These freedom songs

Thank You, thank You

For the battle You’ve won
Standing in Your vict’ry
We sing salvation songs
We sing salvation’s song

You have opened a way to the Father

Where before we could
Never have come
Jesus, count us as Yours now forever
As we sing these freedom songs

We sing of all You’ve done

We sing of all You’ve done
We sing of all You’ve done for us
Won for us, paid for us
(repeat)

 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

“Psalm 51 (God Be Merciful To Me)”

1. God be merciful to me 2. My transgressions I confess

On Thy grace I rest my plea
Plenteous in compassion Thou
Blot out my transgressions now
Wash me, make me pure within
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin
Grief and guilt my soul oppress
I have sinned against Thy grace
And provoked Thee to Thy face
I confess Thy judgment just
Speechless I Thy mercy trust

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 3. I am evil, born in sin
Thou desirest truth within
Thou alone my Saviour art
Teach Thy wisdom to my heart
Make me pure, Thy grace bestow
Wash me whiter than the snow
5. Gracious God, my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true
Cast me not away from Thee
Let Thy Spirit dwell in me
Thy salvation’s joy impart
Steadfast make my willing heart.

4. Broken, humbled to the dust 6. Sinners then shall learn from me

By Thy wrath and judgment just
Let my contrite heart rejoice
And in gladness hear Thy voice
From my sins O hide Thy face
Blot them out in boundless grace
And return, O God, to Thee
Savior all my guilt remove
And my tongue shall sing Thy love
Touch my silent lips, O Lord
And my mouth shall praise accord

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: “A Disciple: One Who Loves”

Rev. Frank Lanting, Guest Minister
Woodgreen Presbyterian Church, Calgary

1 John 4:7-21

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of
God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In
this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so
that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved
us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in
us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we
have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides
in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we
may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment,
and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If
anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother
whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have
from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

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

“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 Heav’n 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

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 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

“I Will Glory In My Redeemer”

I will glory in my Redeemer

Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sing that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Saviour before the Holy Judge
The Lamb who is my Righteousness
The Lamb who is my Righteousness

I will glory in my Redeemer

My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone
I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm held by His grace
My feet are firm held by His grace

I will glory in my Redeemer

Who carries me on eagle’s wings
He crowns my life with loving kindness
His triumph song I’ll ever sing
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold

 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

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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

“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 man’s 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 heaven’s joys, O bright heav’n’s Sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all

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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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
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!

 Community Life 

Special thanks to Pastor Frank Lanting for teaching from the Scriptures today. Rev. Lanting is
pastor of Woodgreen Presbyterian Church (PCA), our sister church in south Calgary.

The Easter Experience: Christians around the world and throughout history have often used
the 40 days leading up to Easter as an opportunity for deeper reflection (1) on the meaning of
the death of Jesus Christ (2) our own need for spiritual growth. Some traditions call this period
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
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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of time, “Lent” (from the middle-English word for Spring). At New City Church, we want to mark
this season with a 6 week study called, “The Easter Experience.” This study is based on a
DVD series. So make plans now to carve out the evenings on the 6 Sundays before Easter to
come together as a community of faith to reflect more deeply upon the necessity of the death of
the Saviour and to explore more deeply its meaning for our own spiritual lives. (Dates: March
13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, & 17. Easter is one Sunday, April 24th.

Downtown Bible Study forming: If you work in the downtown core, or have access to it during
the week, and would be interested in becoming a part of a small group Bible study, let Asst.
Pastor Mike Ivancic know (mike@newcitychurch.ca / 403.282.3454).

Women’s Bible Study: We are continuing our study learning how our individual stories fit
within God’s larger story using Living Story: Learning God’s Story of Grace. Tuesdays 9:30-
11:30 at Henrietta Vanhuigenbos (led by Heather Ferguson: hferguson10@gmail.com/
403.208.6644). Check out the calendar at www.NewCityChurch.ca for more details.

Thursday Community Group: We’re continuing our DVD series, “H2O: A Journey of Faith”
examining the claims of Jesus. Meets at the Van Hills every Thurs from 7-9pm. Led by Pastor
John (john@newcitychurch.ca). Call the Van Hill’s for directions: 403-685-5853

Women’s Bible Study forming: Would you like to learn what God has to say about your
particular situation? Do you desire to please God and know Him better or do you just have a lot
of questions? You are warmly invited to come out and study the book of Ephesians with us.
Time commitment consists of a weekly Tuesday morning meeting and approximately 10
minutes guided homework per day. Come prepared to learn about God’s love, freedom and
power towards us at a deeper level. Start date: Tuesday, March 22. Contact: Joan Schmitt
(gardeningjoan@yahoo.com / 403-935-4188).

“The Excellent Wife” Book Study: We are getting together to read and study The Excellent
Wife by Martha Peace. This is a book directed to women who want information about God’s
plan, pattern and purpose for marriage. Specific issues women face is also dealt with. This
study is relevant to all interested women and you are invited to join us and learn how by God’s
grace we can be changed. We will be meeting every second Saturday afternoon to discuss the
chapters of the previous weeks reading. Contact: Joan Schmitt (403-935-4188/
gardeningjoan@yahoo.com). This study will begin mid-March; exact date TBA.

Coffee with a Pastor? If you have any questions about Christianity, or would simply like to get
together and talk about the issues of life, pastors John and Mike are available to you. Coffee is
on them! You can contact him at john@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.991.5555. If you work in
the downtown area, touch base with asst. pastor Mike Ivancic who also works in downtown.
You can contact him at mike@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.828.2241.

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.

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