The Lord’s Day Worship Service

March 20, 2011 ~ The Second Sunday in the Season of Lent

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

“Give the King your justice, O God, / and your righteousness to the royal Son…!
May He have dominion from sea to sea / and from the River to the ends of the earth…!
May all kings fall down before Him, / all nations serve Him…!
May His name endure forever, / His fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in Him/ all nations call Him blessed!”
~King Solomon, Psalm 72

“Our society, in brief, is built on the presumption that the good society is that in which each
person gets to be his or her own tyrant.”
Stanley Hauerwas, Resident Aliens

“The kingdom of self is heavily defended territory. Post-Eden Adams and Eves are willing to
pay their respects to God, but they don’t want him invading their turf.”
~ Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor

“I’m still the king of me.”

~ Sheryl Crow

“Like some made charioteer, we now run our lives with more speed than direction. We become
off-track racers, amateurs who have lost sight of the finish line.”
~ Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be

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 God Calls Us To Worship 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6

The Call to Worship ~ from Revelation 15:3-4; Psalm 9:1-2

Leader: Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages.
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name?
For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship You!

Unison: We will give thanks to You, O Lord, with our whole heart;
We will tell of all Your wonderful deeds.
We will be glad and exult in You.
We will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Hymns of Praise & Worship

“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
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

“Lord Reign in Me”

Over all the earth

You reign on high
Every mountain stream
Every sunset sky
But my one request
Lord my only aim
Is that You reign in me again

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chorus
Lord reign in me
Reign in Your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord
Of all I am
So won’t You reign in me again

Over every thought

Over every word
May my life reflect
The beauty of the Lord
‘Cause You mean more to me
Than any earthly thing
So won’t You reign in me again

“You are Holy (Prince of Peace)”

You are holy (echo)

You are mighty (echo)
You are worthy (echo)
Worthy of praise (echo)

I will follow (echo)

I will listen (echo)
I will love you (echo)
All of my days (echo)

Men: Women:
I will sing to You are the Lord of lords
And worship You are the King of kings
The King who You are mighty God
Is worthy Lord of everything
I will love Him You’re Emmanuel
Adore Him You’re the great I Am
I will bow down You’re the Prince of peace
Before Him Who is the Lam

I will sing to You’re the living God

And worship You’re my saving grace
The King who You will reign forever
Is worthy You are Ancient of Days
I will love Him You are Alpha Omega
Adore Him Beginning and End
I will bow down You’re my Saviour, Messiah
Before Him Redeemer and Friend

Unison:
You’re my Prince of Peace / And I will live my life for You

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 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 ~ from the Prophet Isaiah 55:6-7

Leader: The Prophet Isaiah declared, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him
while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He
will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Prayer of Confession

Leader: Most holy and gracious Father, we acknowledge and confess before You that our
sinful natures are prone to evil and slow to do good. You alone know how often
we have sinned in wandering from Your ways, in wasting Your gifts, and in
forgetting Your love. We are ashamed and sorry of all the ways in which we have
displeased You.

~ Silent confession & reflection

Unison: Merciful Lord, teach us to hate our errors. Cleanse us from our wandering
ways and forgive our sins through Jesus Christ our Savior. Grant us Your
power that we might live in Your light and walk in Your ways, according to
the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

The Words of the Gospel

Leader: I declare this sure promise: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to
anger, abounding in love….For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so
great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far
has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:8, 12).

Song of Response
“Mighty to Save”

Everyone needs compassion

Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The Hope of nations

Saviour, He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
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So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Saviour, He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
(repeat)

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing for the glory of the risen King—Jesus!
Shine your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

 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: “Redemption: God is Committed to Crowning His Son King”
John Ferguson, Lead Pastor

2 Samuel 7:1-17

7:1 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding
enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God
dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with
you.”

4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says
the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought
up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the
judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a
house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts,
I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I
will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place
for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no
more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges
over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you
that the Lord will make you a house.

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12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after
you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my
name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be
to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the
sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away
from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your
throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all
this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

Unison: 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 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, and who are at peace with their fellow
believers, 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).

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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 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 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.

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.

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Communion Hymns

“Be Exalted”

I will give thanks to Thee

O lord, among the peoples
I will sing praises to Thee
Among the nations

For Thy steadfast love is great

Is great to the heavens
And Thy faithfulness
Thy faithfulness to the clouds

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens

Let Thy glory be over all the earth
(repeat)

“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

(repeat chorus)
 

 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 sins
As we also have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
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. If you are visiting with us, please feel
no obligation to give.

Hymn of Praise & Worship

“And Can It Be?”

1. And can it be that I should gain 3. Long my imprisoned spirit lay

An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou my God shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?

2. He left His Father’s throne above 4. No condemnation now I dread

So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free
For, O my God, it found out me
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
Jesus, and all in Him is mine
Alive in Him my living Head
And clothed in righteousness divine
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne
And claim the crown through Christ my own
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?

Our Confession of Faith ~ Philippians 2:5-11

Leader: Let us confess our faith together…

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Unison: We believe in our hearts and confess with our lips that
Christ Jesus, “being in very nature God
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself

and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place

and gave Him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. 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 the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you
with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is
pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever”
(Hebrews 13:20-21).

People: Amen!

 Community Life 

Tonight - The Easter Experience

At New City Church, we’re marking the season of Lent (leading up to Easter) with a 6-week
DVD study called, “The Easter Experience.” Tonight is week #2, so make plans now to
carve out the upcoming Sunday evenings to come together as a community of faith to reflect
more deeply upon the necessity of the death of Jesus of Nazareth and its meaning for our
own spiritual lives. (Dates: March 20, 27; April 3, 10, & 17. Easter is on Sunday, April
24th). Coffee, tea & desserts will be provided.

Downtown Study Group

For this week only, the small group will meet on Tuesday instead of Thursday, from 12:00-
1:00pm, led by Pastor Mike. Location: The offices of New North Resources: Ste 885, 700
4th Ave SW (McFarlane Tower @ the NW corner of 6th St & 4th Ave). Ring the bell for
entrance. If you have any trouble accessing the office, call Brad Osborne at 403.803.3916.
For more info about the study group, contact pastor Mike at 403.828.2241.

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New 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. Starting date: Tuesday, March 22, 9:30-11:30am at
Henrietta VanHuigenbos’ home (43 Coach Gate Way SW). Contact: Joan Schmitt (403-
935-4188 / gardeningjoan@yahoo.com) for more details and to let her know if you require a
book.

New Book Study Forming – “The Excellent Wife”

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 will be 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 from 1-2:30 p.m. at Gayle Snyder's home. Books
will be handed out the week of March 20. We will meet the first time on April 2 to discuss the
assigned chapters." Contact Joan Schmitt (403-935-4188 / gardeningjoan@yahoo.com) for
more details and to let her know if you need a book.

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’ home (43 Coach Gate Way SW). Led by Heather Ferguson:
hferguson10@gmail.com/ 403.208.6644. Check out the calendar at www.NewCityChurch.ca
for more details.

Thursday Tuscany Community Group

We’re continuing our DVD series, “H2O: A Journey of Faith” examining the claims of Jesus.
Meets @ the Van Hills every Thurs from 7-9pm. Call for directions: 403-685-5853.

Volunteers Needed
We have need for volunteers to help serve in the kitchen as well as to operate the slides for
the worship service. Skills needed for the latter: attention to detail and an itchy trigger
finger. If you would like to help out in this important aspect of our service, please talk to
Pastor John or Twyla Wolfe.

The Marriage Course

We have plans to offer “The Marriage Course” in the near future. Previous to that, we need
to form a planning committee to work out the details of this service to New City Church and
outreach to our community. If you are interested, please speak to Twyla Wolfe or Pastor
John.

Service Opportunity / Mercy Ministry

New City Church takes a team once a month to team up with The Mustard Seed which
serves the basic needs of our cities most needy. Please take the opportunity to prepare &
serve meals on one of the upcoming dates: April 16, May 14 and June 11. For more info,
contact Annie Arguile (403.283.8322 / i_have_2_kids@hotmail.com).

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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 John 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 Mike 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.

Giving Report

Weekly Servants

Help for Japan

Today, at the end of the service, we will be taking up
a special collection to send to our missions agency,
Mission To the World in response to MTW’s Disaster
Response Appeal for Japan.

MTW has approximately 50 adult missionaries assigned to

Japan ministering on five different teams in the Tokyo and
Nagoya areas. Ministeries include church planting, theological
education, campus ministry, evangelism, and discipleship. And now, disaster relief. MTW has issued a
Disaster Response Appeal for Japan, and MTW is committed to making strong response both
immediately, and for the long term. MTW believes that God has placed her in a position of strength with
the depth of the team, their broad presence, and long ministry history in Japan.

Paul Kooistra, Coordinator of MTW, sent out a letter this week with the following prayer requests:
• Physical, emotional, and spiritual strength for our MTW missionaries, their churches, and the
many other organizations, churches, and missionaries with whom they work
• Comfort for grieving families, especially that they will come to know the love and comfort of Christ
• Safety from aftershocks and radiation released by nuclear reactors
• Shelter, food, and water for survivors
• Wisdom and clarity for MTW regarding our immediate and long-term response
• Restoration of power and communications
• Financial and prayer support to be raised up across the PCA

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