The Lords Day Worship Service

January 15, 2012 ~ New City Church Calgary

Welcome We are glad you have joined us today. Whether you are a Christian seeking to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, or a skeptic looking for answers, or someone who is struggling to make sense of life and are looking for a caring community, you are warmly welcome here. Were glad you came. After the Service Please stay around for some refreshments after the service and meet someone new. If we havent met you before, please come say Hello. Wed like to make that connection. Pastors John Ferguson & Mike Ivancic

Reflections & Preparation for Worship O God, by your power may we, together with all the saints, comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that we may be filled with your fullness. Amen. ~ based on Ephesians 3:18-19 The gospel is not good advice to men, but good news about Christ; not an invitation to us to do anything, but a declaration of what God has done; not a demand, but an offer. ~ John Stott The Christian life exists where my identity established by my efforts has been extinguished. Thus, Paul declares that we have beingstatus and stature and standing before Godon the basis of Christs life. His life substitutes for my life on an ongoing, daily basis. ~ Bryan Chapell Sanctification [i.e., growth in the Christian life] can be ours only by means of the resources of Christ brought to us through the Holy Spirit as he takes what is Christs, reveals it to us, and thus conforms us more and more into his likeness, from one degree of glory to another, as we gaze on the glory of the Lord. ~ Sinclair Ferguson we never get beyond the gospel in our Christian life to something more advanced. The gospel is not the first step in a stairway of truths, rather, it is more like the hub in a wheel of truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-Cs but the A to Z of Christianity. ~ Tim Keller The Gospel story rewrites our stories. Through union with Christ, you are righteous (having been justified), new (regenerated), and holy (definitively sanctified). In this unbreakable union with Christ we are given a new history, a new identity, a new destiny. ~ Brian Hedges

 God Calls Us To Worship Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6
The Call to Worship Leader: Unison: ~ based on Psalm 84:1-2, 10-12

Show us Your steadfast love, O God, and grant us Your salvation. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! Our souls long, yes, faint for the courts of the Lord. Our hearts and our flesh will sing for joy to the living God, for a single day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! For the Lord God is our Light and our Shield; the Lord bestows favor and honour. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord Almighty, blessed are those who trust in You! Sing Alleluia All creatures of our God and King Lift up your voice and with us sing Sun, moon, and stars rejoice on high Praise to the Lord of light divine chorus

Leader: Unison:

Hymns of Praise & Worship

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia Praise the Father above Sing alleluia

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia For His infinite love Sing alleluia

Praise to the Giver of good things Merciful Father, Holy King Join with the angels sing out loud Praise Him who reigns above the clouds (repeat chorus) Women: O praise Him Alleluia O praise Him Alleluia O praise Him Alleluia Men: when the morning comes for the rising sun when the day is done praise the Lord of love alleluia alleluia

All creatures of our God and King Lift up your voice and with us sing (repeat chorus)

Better is One Day How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty My soul longs and even faints for You For here my heart is satisfied Within Your presence I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings chorus: Better is one day in Your courts Better is one day in Your house Better is one day in Your courts Than thousands elsewhere (repeat) One thing I ask and I would seek To see Your beauty To find You in the place Your glory dwells (repeat chorus) My heart and flesh cry out For You, the living God Your Spirits water for my soul Ive tasted and Ive seen Come once again to me I will draw near to You I will draw near to You 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 Graciously Renews Us in Christ Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love, in your great tenderness wipe away my offenses; wash me thoroughly from my guilt, purify me from my sin. ~ Psalm 51:1-2
Call to Confession Leader: Listen to the testimony of the psalmist, When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, I will confess my rebellion to the LORD. And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Prayer of Confession ~ Silent confession and reflection. The Words of the Gospel Leader: Hear the Good News: The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just To forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Songs 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 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 ~ Psalm 145:14; based on 1 John 1:8-9 ~ based on Psalm 32:3-4, NLT

Shine your light and let the whole world see We're singing for the glory of the risen KingJesus! Shine your light and let the whole world see Were singing for the glory of the risen King 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 KingJesus! Shine your light and let the whole world see Were singing for the glory of the risen King 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.

God Gives Us His Words of Eternal Life Lord Jesus, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! Let your word dwell in us richly, that whatever we do, in word or deed, we may do everything in Your name, giving thanks to the Father through You. ~ based on John 6:68, Colossians 3:16-17

Todays Scripture Lesson:

The Gospel & the Spirit

John Ferguson, Lead Pastor GALATIANS 3:1-5

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vainif indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
Leader: Unison: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

Main Idea: Since God gives us His Spirit & brings us into relationship with himself by our simple trust in Jesus Christ, we must root ourselves deeply in the message of the Gospel lest we forget it.

(notes)

 God Feeds Us His Covenant Meal From the east and the west, from the north and the south, people will come and take their places at the banquet in the Kingdom of God. ~ based on Luke 13:29
A Word About Participating in The Sacrament of The Lords Supper The Lords Supper is a special family meal that Christ gave to His Bride, the Church. For Christians, this meal is a time to receive these signs and seals of the New Covenant which Christ has established with them. Believers come to this Table to meet with their Lord and Saviour by faith, to be renewed by Him and strengthened in their callings and mission as they eat the bread and drink the wine. Therefore, all baptized Christians who trust in Christ alone as their Lord and Saviour and who are connected to a church that proclaims his Gospel are invited to come to the Table. If you are not yet a Christian, or if for whatever reason you are not prepared to share in this meal, we would encourage you to spend this time in prayer (perhaps using one of the prayers listed below). Consider the invitation of Jesus, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirstfor my Fathers will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:35, 40). We would ask that children who have not yet professed belief in the Lord Jesus also refrain from partaking until doing so. The pastor would be delighted to speak to families about what it means to participate in the Lords Supper. The Words of Institution

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The Sacrament of The Lords Supper Please come forward by rows to the center aisle and form a semi-circle in front of the Table to receive the bread and the wine. When finished, place your cup at the side tables and proceed to your seat via the outer isles. If you are unable to come forward we would be delighted to serve you at your seat. New City Church uses wine in serving the Lords Supper. We would encourage you to take of the wine since it is a symbol of joy and celebration in Scripture. However, juice is also provided if you cannot drink wine due to health reasons or issues of conscience.

Prayers for Those Not Communing A Prayer Searching for the Truth: Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except by you. If what you claim is true, please guide me and teach me. Open to me the reality of who you are. Grant that I might be undaunted in following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and leads to the eternal life that you promise. Amen. A Prayer of Trust in the Lord Jesus: Jesus, I confess that I am more broken, flawed, and sinful than I had ever before dared to admit. Yet you tell me that I am more loved than I ever dared to hope, and that you accept all who turn to you in simple faith. I am doing that right now. I thank you for taking the justice that my sins deserved when you died on the Cross. I eagerly trust you for the forgiveness for my sins, and I receive from you now the eternal life that you promise to all who come to you. Amen. A Prayer for Those Struggling with Sin: Lord Jesus, you know the battle that rages within my heart. Grant that in my battles with sin, I may see in you the fulfillment of all my needs. Give me strength to turn from every false satisfaction to find my ultimate joy in you. Enable me to lay aside the sin that clings so closely to me, and fill me with your Spirit to run with perseverance the race you have set before me, looking to you, the pioneer and champion of my faith. Amen. A Prayer for Children (who have yet to profess faith): Jesus, the Bible tells me that you blessed kids like me. Help me to know who you are and to understand what you have done for me. Amen. Communion Hymns Here I Am To Worship Light of the world You stepped down into darkness Open my eyes, let me see Beauty that made this heart adore You Hope of a life spent with You chorus Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that You're my God You're altogether lovely All together worthy All together wonderful to me King of all days Oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above

Humbly You came To the earth You created All for love's sake became poor (repeat chorus) I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross (repeat) Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind, but now I see 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed chorus My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, amazing grace The Lord has promised good to me His word my hope secures He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures (repeat chorus) The earth shall soon dissolve like snow The sun forbear to shine But God, Who called me here below Will be forever mine / will be forever mine You are forever mine

God Receives Our Offerings lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where

thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
~ Jesus, in Matthew 6:20-21

The Prayers of the People Leader: Unison: Let us pray

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

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts As we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, Now and forever. Amen.

The Presentation of our Tithes and Offerings This collection of our tithes and offerings is for those who consider New City Church their church family and regularly benefit from her ministry and want to invest in her mission. If you are visiting with us, please feel no obligation to give. Hymn of Praise & Worship There is a Redeemer There is a Redeemer Jesus, Gods own Son Precious Lamb of God, Messiah Holy One chorus Thank You, O my Father For giving us Your Son And leaving Your Spirit Til the work on earth is done Jesus, my Redeemer Name above all names Precious Lamb of God, Messiah Hope for sinners slain (repeat chorus)

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.

When I stand in glory I will see His face And there Ill serve my King forever In that holy place (repeat chorus) Our Confession of Faith Leader: Unison: Heidelberg Catechism #1

Christian, what is your only comfort in life and in death? That I belongbody and soul, in life and in deathnot to myself but to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven, not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him!

God Sends Us Out Into The World With His Blessing God has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ~ from Micah 6:8
Leader: People: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13) . Amen.

Community Life
Congregational Meeting Today After Church The board of elders has approved the budget for 2012 & will present it to the congregation during a brief meeting immediately after church on January 15, 2011. Boring? We hope not. Though budgets can seem just about numbers, they are also a vision of how to spend money, and in our case, how we want to invest in the Kingdom of God during 2012. Mens Discipleship: Basic Training Starts Up This Week The mens discipleship group will resume its bi-monthly meetings on Thursday, January 19th, 7-9pm in the Board Room here at the Confederation Park Activity Centre. Revamped

for the home stretch, well begin working through Journey in Prayer by John Smed. You can pick up your copy today. Newcomers Class Beginning January 22nd, New City Church will offer a class orienting you to the beliefs, values, & goals of the church. Open to everyone, this class will take place immediately after the worship service for about 45 minutes. Feel free to come with your questions & thoughts! If you are thinking of hitching your wagon to New City Church through membership, you wont want to miss this class. Upcoming GraceFinder Resourcing Network Event Desert night with Bryan Clarke at Woodgreen Presbyterian Church on January 28 th, 2012 from 2:00 to 4:00pm. Also, Bryan will be teaching a two part mini-seminar on violence in the Old Testament on January 27th from 7:00 8:30pm and on the 28th from 12:30 1:30 pm with desert and food afterwards. Woodgreens Second Conference On Apologetics The conference has been scheduled for February 4, 2012from 6:00 9:00 pm with Dr. Andy Bannister of RZIM as our guest speaker. Topics will include the biblical mandate for apologetics, God, creation, and science and Jesus, history, and the resurrection. The Second Calgary Reformed Conference The date has been set for April 13-14, 2012 with Dr. Derek Thomas as our guest speaker. The theme will be When the Storm Breaks: Suffering the Christian Life (An overview of the book of Job) with one session on Friday evening and two on Saturday morning. The conference will be held at Woodgreen Presbyterian Church and further details will be published on www.calgaryreformedconference.ca as they become available. 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 Mike who also works in downtown. You can contact him at mike@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.828.2241. Weekly Servants Schedule

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.