The Lords Day Worship Service

November 4, 2012 ~ New City Church

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. There is a nursery available for kids aged 0-2 years. Kids are always welcome in the service with us too. 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 It is the normal state of the human heart to try to build its identity around something besides God. Spiritual pride is the illusion that we are competent to run our own lives, achieve our own sense of selfworth and find a purpose big enough to give us meaning in life without God. ~ Tim Keller, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness I had always wanted, above all things, not to be interfered with. I had wanted (mad wish) to call my soul my own.You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. ~ CS Lewis, Surprised by Joy according to the Bible, religion saves nobody. God does. We are not saved because we are Christians and do all the Christian religious things. We are saved because God has acted, in Christ, to accomplish salvation for us, and then simply calls us to trust in him. Nothing religious that we do is the means or the cause of our salvation. Our Christianity is the response we make, in faith and life, to the saving acts of God. Salvation belongs to our God. ~ Christopher J.H. Wright, Salvation Belongs to our God After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. ~ Revelation 7:9-10 1

 God Calls Us To Worship Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6
The Call to Worship 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. Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. ~ from Psalm 135:1-3, 13

Unison:

Hymns of Praise & Worship "Everlasting God" Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our Strong Deliverer You are the everlasting God The everlasting God You do not faint You won't grow weary You're the defender of the weak You comfort those in need You lift us up on wings like eagles His Name is Jesus All hail the power of Jesus name Let angels prostrate fall Bring forth the royal diadem And crown Him Lord of all Bring forth the royal diadem And crown Him Lord of all Ye chosen seed of Israels race Ye ransomed from the fall Hail Him who saves us by His grace And crown Him Lord of all Hail Him who saves you by His grace And crown Him Lord of all chorus His name is Jesus Risen Lamb, for sinners slain His name is Jesus All creation sings the praise Of Jesus name Let every kindred, every tribe On this terrestrial ball To Him all majesty ascribe And crown Him Lord of all To Him all majesty ascribe And crown Him Lord of all

 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 ~ 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 as we 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 receive mercy and find grace to help in of need. Song of Confession Psalm 51 (God Be Merciful To Me) 1. God be merciful to me 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 2. My transgressions I confess 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 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 The Words of the Gospel Leader: 4. Broken, humbled to the dust 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 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 salvations joy impart Steadfast make my willing heart. 6. Sinners then shall learn from me 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 ~ based on Romans 5:8; 8:1; Acts 10:43

God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because, 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 are forgiven! Song of Response In Christ Alone In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song This cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My comforter, my All in all Here in the love of Christ I stand In Christ alone who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save Til on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again And as He stands in victory Sins curse has lost its grip on me For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From lifes first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand Til he returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ Ill stand

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: JONAH 1:11-2:10 The Surprising Sting of Gods Grace
John Ferguson, Lead Pastor

1:11 Then they said to him, What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us? For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you. 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you. 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; 4

all your waves and your billows passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple. 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head 6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; Yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. 7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those who pay regard to idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!
Leader: Unison: This is the Word of the Lord. 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 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, 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 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 Majesty of Heaven Majesty of heaven Your glory fills the skies Light of the world You are Lord of all Humbled by Your presence Amazed by Who You are Nothing compares You are Lord of all chorus To You the nations bow down To You creation cries out: Majesty All things You hold together Your Name will stand forever Majesty, You are majesty Merciful and mighty My heart is overwhelmed You stand alone You are Lord of all (repeat chorus) bridge Your name above all others High and exalted Your Kingdom shall reign forever High and exalted

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken 1. Jesus, I my cross have taken All to leave and follow Thee Destitute, despised, forsaken Thou from hence my all shall be Perish every fond ambition All Ive sought or hoped or known Yet how rich is my condition

God and heaven are still my own 2. Let the world despise and leave me They have left my Savior, too Human hearts and looks deceive me Thou art not, like them, untrue O while Thou dost smile upon me God of wisdom, love, and might Foes may hate and friends disown me Show Thy face and all is bright 3. Man may trouble and distress me Twill but drive me to Thy breast Life with trials hard may press me Heaven will bring me sweeter rest Oh, tis not in grief to harm me While Thy love is left to me Oh, twere not in joy to charm me Were that joy unmixed with Thee 4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure Come disaster, scorn and pain In Thy service, pain is pleasure Agnus Dei

With Thy favor, loss is gain I have called Thee Abba Father I have stayed my heart on Thee Storms may howl, and clouds may gather All must work for good to me 5. Soul, then know thy full salvation Rise oer sin and fear and care Joy to find in every station Something still to do or bear Think what Spirit dwells within thee Think what Fathers smiles are thine Think that Jesus died to win thee Child of heaven, canst thou repine 6. Haste thee on from grace to glory Armed by faith, and winged by prayer Heavens eternal days before thee Gods own hand shall guide us there Soon shall close thy earthly mission Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days Hope shall change to glad fruition Faith to sight, and prayer to praise

Alleluia, alleluia For our Lord God Almighty reigns Alleluia, alleluia For our Lord God Almighty reigns Alleluia Holy, Holy Are You Lord God Almighty Worthy is the Lamb Worthy is the Lamb You are Holy, Holy Are You Lord God Almighty Worthy is the Lamb Worthy is the Lamb Amen

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. If you are visiting with us, please feel no obligation to give. Hymn of Praise & Worship 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 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 wont 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 wont You reign in me again

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.

Our Confession of Faith Leader: Unison:

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

Let us together profess our faith by saying 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 last the 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: People:

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). Amen.

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 lifechanging relevance, we hope that you will find New City Church a safe place to ask questions and to grow in your understanding of the person and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have any questions about New City Church, Christianity, or the uniqueness of Jesus of Nazareth, please dont hesitate to ask us. You can contact Pastor John at john@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.991.5555. If you work in the downtown area, touch base with Pastor Mike Ivancic who also works in downtown. You can contact Mike at mike@newcitychurch.ca

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or call 403.828.2241. Potluck Luncheon Today after the Service: Please Stay! On the first Sunday of every month, we celebrate a meal together after the service. We want to be intentional in building regular times in which our lives intersect as we seek to create authentic community at New City Church. So please stay & eat with us! International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church "Pray for us ..."This is the plea of persecuted Christians around the world. Today around the world more than 200 million are suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. Each year, Christians in more than 130 countries stand in prayer with our persecuted sisters and brothers through the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Join with us as Christians across Canada unite in prayer for our brothers and sisters who suffer because they declare their faith in Christ. Be sure to pick up 30 Days of Prayer 2012, a prayer guide put out by our missions agency, Mission to the World (MTW). This guide will give you direction in prayer during the month of November as we pray for the Church. For more info, see International Day of Prayer (www.idop.ca and www.idop.org) MTWs 30 Days of Prayer 2012 (http://www.mtw.org/Pages/RESOURCE_Devotionals.aspx) Voice of the Martyrs (http://www.persecution.net) and Open Doors www.onewiththem.com ESL Bible Study at the LeBlancs Lord Willing, there will be an ESL Bible Study starting this month at the LeBlanc house on Sunday, November 18th. We are just asking people to pray and informing people who are interested to contact us if they would like more information. All are welcome. Richard & Marie LeBlanc (home phone: 403-338-0707; email: richard_marie@shaw.ca) Ladies Young and Old: Christmas Tea We will be gathering together to enjoy fellowship and get into the Christmas Spirit from 1-3pm on Saturday, December 8th. This event is an opportunity to connect with our community and friends. In support of Servants Anonymous Foundation we are selling tickets to this event for $2; as well, there will be a display to further support SAF through donations or jewellery purchases. More information on ticket sales will follow. Attention Young Adults: Next Sunday at Dave & Gayles House Next Sunday, Nov. 11th, well continue our bi-monthly meetings going through our study of Christianity called, H20: A Journey of Faith. Whether you are a follower of Christ, skeptical, or just unsure of what you believe, this basic introduction to Jesus Christ who claimed to be able to quench our spiritual thirst may be just what you are looking for. So why not join up with other Young Adults for this study? Check online at NewCityChurch.ca (community tab young adults) for directions, or call Gayles cell 587-215-7257 or Dave's cell 403-477-0064. Junior High Girls Teaming up with Samaritans Purse & Operation Christmas Child The New City Church Junior High Girls will be packing shoe boxes on Friday, November 23 rd and need donations to fill as many shoe boxes as possible. Bring your donations of school supplies, small toys and gifts and hygiene items to church on Sunday, Nov. 4th, 11th and 18th. Operation Christmas Child provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on project of Samaritan's Purse that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas - Jesus Christ - God's greatest gift/ Operation Christmas Child was started in 1990. In 1993, Operation Christmas Child grew and was adopted by Samaritan's Purse, a Christian organization run by Franklin Graham. Downtown Study: Grace on the Bow Grace on Bow is a downtown weekly gathering of any and all who want to explore the key universal and spiritual issues from a Christian perspective in a non-threatening environment. We have begun a new series entitled ITS BEEN SAID. . . . (What an ancient faith REALLY has to say to a contemporary world and

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why it should matter). We meet in the foyer of the Bank of Montreal Head office located at 350 7th Avenue S.W. (the corners of 7th Avenue SW and 3rd Street). We meet in the lobby off of 3rd Street, in front of the information desk at 12:00 and end at 1:00 promptly. For more info contact Mike Ivancic at 403.828.2241. SkateLife Hockey Tournament & Fundraiser SkateLife is a local ministry that New City supports as our friend Jason Dueck seeks to minister to young people. On November 17th, SkateLife will be holding their main fundraiser, an annual floor hockey tournament. Last year New City Church successfully put a team together and we are hoping to do the same this year. If you would like to be a player, a coach, an organizer, or a cheerleader, please speak to Pete de Jong at (403) 818-7310 or thegratefuldad@gmail.com. If you are interested in donating some baking/cookies for the players, please let Shannon de Jong know. Helping Without Hurting Conference: Saturday, December 1, Sherwood Park Alliance Church, Edmonton Poverty. Its complicated. What are the root causes of poverty? What are appropriate solutions to eradicate poverty? Is there a wrong way to help others? Churches and individuals are called to care for the poor, but can our good intentions have unintended consequences? The Helping Without Hurting Conference dives into these questions and more. Pastor John wants to gather a group of folks who would be interested in attending this one day conference in Edmonton. Cost of the conference is $45. Well probably head up on Friday evening. Conference is Saturday from 8:30-4:30. Weekly Servants Schedule

Giving Update

*Non-NCC indicates funds raised outside the congregation of New City Church to aid in this church planting project

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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