March 3, 2013 Worship Service

7/29/2019 March 3, 2013 Worship Service

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The Lords Day Worship ServiceMarch 3, 2013 ~ The Third Sunday of Lent ~ New City Church

WelcomeWe are glad you have joined us today. Whether you are a Christian seeking to grow in yourrelationship with Jesus Christ, or a skeptic looking for answers, or someone who is struggling to makesense of life and are looking for a caring community, you are warmly welcome here. Were glad youcame. There is a nursery available for kids aged 0-2 years. Kids are always welcome in the servicewith us too.

After the ServicePlease stay around for some refreshments after the service and meet someone new. If we haventmet you before, please come say Hello. Wed like to make that connection.

Pastors John Ferguson & Mike Ivancic

Reflections & Preparation for WorshipO 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 Yourfullness. Amen. ~ based on Ephesians 3:18-19

Like salvation, sin is a word that belongs to the traditional Christian vocabulary. I am nota sinner, people often say, b/c they seem to be associating sin with specific and rather

sensational misdeeds like murder, adultery, and theft. But sin has a much wider connotation than

that What the bible means by sin is primarily self-centeredness. For Gods 2 great commandments are

first that we love him with all our being and secondly that we love our neighbor as we love our self. Sin,then, is the reversal of this order. It is to put ourselves firstour neighbor next when it suits our

convenience, and God somewhere in the background.~ John Stott, the late Anglican minister & author

To concentrate on our rebellion, defection, and follyto say to the world I have some bad news and I have some bad news

is to forget that the center of the Christian religion is not our sin but our Savior.~ Cornelius Plantinga,Not the Way Its Supposed To Be

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

The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongueThy free grace alone, from the first to the last

Hath won my affection and bound my soul fast

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own

In the covenant love of Thy crucified Son

All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divineSeals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine

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~ John Stocker, published 1776

God Calls Us To WorshipLet everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6

The Call to Worship ~ from Psalm 135:1-3, 13

Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord,give praise, O servants of the Lord,

who stand in the house of the Lord,in the courts of the house of our God!

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;sing to His name, for it is pleasant.

Unison: Your name, O Lord, endures forever,Your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.

Hymns of Praise & WorshipCome Praise and Glorify

Come praise and glorify our GodThe Father of our Lord

In Christ He has in heavenly realmsHis blessings on us poured

For pure and blameless in His sightHe destined us to be

And now weve been adopted throughHis Son eternally

chorusTo the praise of Your glory

To the praise of Your mercy and graceTo the praise of Your glory

You are the God who saves

Come praise and glorify our GodWho gives His grace in Christ

In Him our sins are washed awayRedeemed through sacrifice

In Him God has made known to usThe mystry of His will

That Christ should be the head of allHis purpose to fulfill

(repeat chorus)

Come praise and glorify our GodFor weve believed the Word

And through our faith we have a sealThe Spirit of the Lord

The Spirit guarantees our hopeUntil redemptions done

Until we join in endless praiseTo God, the Three in One

O For a Thousand Tongues

O for a thousand tongues to singMy great Redeemers praise

The glories of my God and KingThe triumphs of His grace

My gracious Master and my GodAssist me to proclaim

To spread through all the earth abroad

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The honours of Thy name

Jesus, the name that charms our fearsThat bids our sorrows cease

Tis music in the sinners earsTis life and health and peace

He breaks the power of reigning sinHe sets the prisoner freeHis blood can make the foulest clean

His blood availed for me

He speaks and, listening to His voiceNew life the dead receive

The mournful, broken hearts rejoiceThe humble poor believe

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumbYour loosened tongues employYe blind, behold your Saviour come

And leap, ye lame, for joy

God Graciously Renews Us in ChristHave 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 ~ based on Hebrews 4:15-16 & Psalm 51:1-2

Leader: The Scriptures teach us that in every respect our Lord Jesus Christ He was tempted aswe are, yet He was without sin. Let us therefore cry out with the Psalmist,

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receivemercy and find grace to help in of need.

Song of ConfessionPsalm 51 (God Be Merciful To Me)

1. God be merciful to meOn Thy grace I rest my plea

Plenteous in compassion ThouBlot out my transgressions nowWash me, make me pure within

Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin

2. My transgressions I confessGrief and guilt my soul oppress

I have sinned against Thy graceAnd provoked Thee to Thy face

I confess Thy judgment justSpeechless I Thy mercy trust

3. I am evil, born in sinThou desirest truth withinThou alone my Saviour art

Teach Thy wisdom to my heart

Make me pure, Thy grace bestowWash me whiter than the snow4. Broken, humbled to the dustBy Thy wrath and judgment just

Let my contrite heart rejoiceAnd in gladness hear Thy voice

From my sins O hide Thy faceBlot them out in boundless grace

5. Gracious God, my heart renew,Make my spirit right and trueCast me not away from Thee

Let Thy Spirit dwell in meThy salvations joy impart

Steadfast make my willing heart.

6. Sinners then shall learn from meAnd return, O God, to Thee

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Savior all my guilt removeAnd my tongue shall sing Thy love

Touch my silent lips, O LordAnd my mouth shall praise accord

The Words of the Gospel ~ based on Romans 5:8; 8:1; Acts 10:43

Leader: God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died forus. There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesusbecause, as all the prophets testify about Christ, everyone who believes in Him receives

the forgiveness of sins through His name.

To all who humbly seek the mercy of God, I say to you, that in Christ Jesus your sins areforgiven!

Song of ResponseThe Fathers Love

How has the sinner been forgivenHow has the rebel been made cleanOr blinded eyes been made to see

How have the orphans been adopted

Who hated Your love and ran from graceDespised and rejected all Your ways

chorusHow wonderful the Fathers love

The Fathers love for usThat He would send His only Son

To come and rescue usHe has saved us, called us blameless

Guides us now and will sustain usOh how wonderful the Fathers love

Your mercy floods our lives with kindnessYour grace has colored all we see

And You have promised not to leaveYou freely give Your Spirit to us

So we can be sure were sons of GodAnd rest in the hope of whats to come

(repeat chorus)

bridgeThough sufferings may fill our lives

Were confident were heirs with ChristAnd so we cry, Abba, Father

(repeat chorus)

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 Fatherthrough You. ~ based on John 6:68, Colossians 3:16-17

Todays Scripture Lesson: A Severe MercyJohn Ferguson, Lead Pastor

PSALM 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God,according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

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and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be

clean;wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your

righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I wouldgive it; you will not be pleased with a burnt

offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will

not despise.

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;build up the walls of Jerusalem;

19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and whole burntofferings; then bulls will be offered on your

altar.

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.Unison: Thanks be to God!

(notes)

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God Feeds Us His Covenant MealFrom 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. ForChristians, this meal is a time to receive these signs and seals of the New Covenant which Christhas established with them. Believers come to this Table to meet with their Lord and Saviour byfaith, to be renewed by Him and strengthened in their callings and mission as they eat the breadand drink the wine.

Therefore, all baptized Christians who trust in Christ alone as their Lord and Saviour, who areconnected 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 listedbelow). Consider the invitation of Jesus, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall nothunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirstfor my Fathers will is that everyone wholooks 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 childrenwho have not yet professed beliefin the Lord Jesus also refrain frompartaking until doing so. The pastor would be delighted to speak to families about what it means toparticipate 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 wayalso 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 toyour seat via the outer isles. If you are unable to come forward, we would be delighted to serve youat your seat.

New City Church uses wine in serving the Lords Supper. We would encourage you to take ofthe wine since it is a symbol of joy and celebration in Scripture. However,juice is also provided ifyou cannot drink wine due to health reasons or issues of conscience.

Prayers for Those Not Communing

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A Prayer Searching for the Truth: Jesus, You claim to be the way, the truth, and the life, and thatno one comes to the Father except by You. If what you claim is true, please guide me and teachme. Open to me the reality of who You are. Grant that I might be undaunted in following You as Iconsider 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 sinfulthan I had ever before dared to admit. Yet You tell me that I am more loved than I ever dared tohope, and that You accept all who turn to You in simple faith. I am doing that right now. I thankYou for taking the justice that my sins deserved when You died on the Cross. I eagerly trust Youfor the forgiveness for my sins, and I receive from You now the eternal life that You promise to allwho come to You. Amen.

A Prayer for Those Struggling with Sin: Lord Jesus, You know the battle that rages within myheart. Grant that in my battles with sin, I may see in You the fulfillment of all my needs. Give mestrength to turn from every false satisfaction to find my ultimate joy in You. Enable me to lay asidethe sin that clings so closely to me, and fill me with your Spirit to run with perseverance the race youhave 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 Youblessed kids like me. Help me to know who You are and to understand what You have done forme. Amen.

Communion HymnsJust As I Am

Just as I am, without one pleaBut that Thy blood was shed for me

And that Thou bidst me come to TheeO Lamb of God, I come, I come

Oh Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, and waiting notTo rid my soul of one dark blot

To Thee Whose blood can cleanse each spotO Lamb of God, I come, I comeO Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, though tossed aboutWith many a conflict, many a doubtFightings and fears within, without

O Lamb of God, I come, I comeO Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind

Sight, riches, healing of the mindYea, all I need in Thee to findO Lamb of God, I come, I comeO Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am Thou wilt receiveWilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve

Because Thy promise I believeOh Lamb of God, I come, I comeOh Lamb of God, I come, I come

Name Above All Names

From the brightness of His gloryJesus, the Son of God descendsTakes on the nature of a servant

Jesus, obedient to deathThe Father willed to crush Him

As a sacrifice for sinHe satisfied Gods justice

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And in victry rose again

chorusYou are highly exaltedName above all names

Worthy of all praise

You are reigning in gloryJesus, Youre the King over everythingExalted to the highest place

Given the name above all other names

The tomb is empty, Christ has risenJesus, the Lamb once crucified

The angels never cease to worshipJesus, in heaven glorifiedTo Him belongs the power

The wisdom, might and strengthAll glory and dominion

To the Lord of every age

(repeat chorus)

Our knees will bow, our tongues proclaimThat You are Lord of all

Our knees will bow, our tongues proclaimThat You are Lord of all

Mighty to Save

Everyone needs compassionA love thats never failingLet mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgivenessThe kindness of a Saviour

The Hope of Nations

chorusSaviour, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to saveHe is mighty to save

Forever, Author of SalvationHe rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the graveSo take me as You find meAll my fears and failures

Fill my life againI give my life to followEverything I believe in

Now I surrender

Shine your light and let the world seeWere sining for the glory of the risen King

Jesus!Shine your light and let the whole world seeWere singing for the glory of the risen King

God Receives Our Offeringslay 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 churchfamily and regularly benefit from her ministry. If you are visiting with us, please feel no obligation togive.

Hymn of Praise & Worship

Thy Mercy, My God

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my songThe joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue

Thy free grace alone, from the first to the lastHath won my affection and bound my soul fast

Without Thy sweet mercy, I could not live hereSin would reduce me to utter despair

But through Thy free goodness, my spirit's revivedAnd He that first made me still keeps me alive

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heartWhich wonders to feel its own hardness depart

Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the groundAnd weep for the praise of the mercy I've found

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I ownIn the covenant love of Thy crucified Son

All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine

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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Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine

Our Confession of Faith ~ from 1 Corinthians 15:1-6;Matthew 16:16; Revelation 22:13; John 20:28

Leader: Let us together profess our faith by saying

Unison: 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.Jesus Christ is the first and the lastthe 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: 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).

People: Amen.

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Community Life

Thanks for visiting New City Church!

Were delighted to have had you with us today. If you are looking for a place to explore Christianity and its life-changing relevance, we hope that you will find New City Church a safe place to ask questions and to grow inyour understanding of the person and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have any questions about NewCity Church, Christianity, or the uniqueness of Jesus of Nazareth, please dont hesitate to ask us. You cancontact Pastor John at [email protected] or call 403.991.5555. If you work in the downtown area, touchbase with Pastor Mike Ivancic who also works in downtown. You can contact Mike at [email protected] call 403.828.2241.

Join us Sunday evenings for the life changing video series by well-known author & speaker, RC Sproul

As a part of our focus on spiritual growth and renewal during the season of Lent,

we are embarking on a 6 week study of he video series, The Holiness of God, byDr. RC Sproul. Pastor John has this to say:

This video series and book by Dr. RC Sproul greatly enlarged my vision of our holy

God and revolutionized my spiritual life by giving me a deeper understanding of the

Cross of Jesus Christ. I have literally not been the same since I encountered this as auniversity student. I cannot commend it highly enough.

Sunday evenings from 6-7pm @ New City Church

Each video is approximately 30 minutes long; discussion to follow

Childcare provided from toddler to age 10

Question # 10 : What does God require in the fourth and fifthcommandments?

Answer: Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and

private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord

and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and mother,

submitting to their godly discipline and direction.

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

Kid's Club Easter Celebration: Saturday, March 16, 4-6pm @ New City ChurchChildren ages 4-11 are invited to join us in celebrating what Jesus has done for us. Parent's are asked tobring an Easter snack to share. New friends welcome! For more information or to register your kid(s) with Lorior to sign up to volunteer at [email protected].

Western Canada Presbytery RetreatThere will be retreat in Canmore from May 2 - 4 this spring. The retreat is being organized by Presbytery butis for church members from all of the Western Canadian churches. The speaker is Jerram Barrs who is a

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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faculty member at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis. The retreat theme is "Learning Evangelism from Jesus".More information, be sure to pick up a brochure in the foyer, or speak to Don Kitchener([email protected]).For those wishing to attend you need to register for the retreat separately from booking your stay in the hotel.The deadline for the reduced early bird rate for the retreat registration is March 1. The hotel booking shouldbe made before April 1.

Intro to New City ChurchDo you want to learn more about Christianity? Do you want aclearer idea of the beliefs & mission of New City Church? Areyou interested in potentially joining NCC? Then join us for thisclass exploring who NCC is as a community of faith. Come, joinothers & bring your questions. The next class will be held onSaturday, April 15th from 9:00-2:00pm. Lunch & snacks areprovided. Be sure to sign up online at www.NewCityChurch.ca.Speak to Pastor John for more details.

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 ([email protected]).

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. Justsearch for New City Church Calgary and you can find us on iTunes. Were also onFacebook & have a blog for those who are not on Facebook as well. All is accessiblevia www.NewCityChurch.ca.

Weekly Servants Schedule

All songs used by permission.CCLI license # 273300. Parts of the worship service are adapted from or reprinted by permission from TheWorship Sourcebook, c. 2004, CRC Publications.

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Documents

March 3, 2013 Worship Service