The Lords Day Worship Service

April 29, 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. 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

Not the labours of my hands Can fulfill Thy laws demands Could my zeal no respite know Could my tears forever flow All for sin could not atone Thou must save, and Thou alone Nothing in my hand I bring Simply to Thy Cross I cling Naked, come to Thee for dress Helpless, look to Thee for grace Foul, I to the Fountain fly Wash me, Saviour, or I die. ~ Augustus Toplady, Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me Believers do not base their hope on their obedience but in faith cling to what God has done for them in Christ. Such looking away from oneself to Christ is the work of the Spirit, and it cannot be produced by mere human willpower. The Holy Spirit transforms human beings so that they put their trust in Gods saving work instead of relying on themselves. ~ Thomas Schreiner, scholar & author 1

 God Calls Us To Worship Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6
The Call to Worship Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: Unison: This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it! Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens! ~ from Psalm 118:24; 113:1-4

Hymns of Praise & Worship Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven Praise, my soul, the King of heaven To His feet your tribute bring Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven Who, like me, His praise should sing? Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him Praise the everlasting King Praise Him for His grace and favor To our fathers in distress Praise Him, still the same forever Slow to chide and swift to bless Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him Glorious in His faithfulness Father-like, He tends and spares us Well our feeble frame He knows In His hands He gently bears us Rescues us from all our foes Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him Widely as His mercy goes Frail as summers flower we flourish Blows the wind and it is gone But while mortals rise and perish God endures unchanging on Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him Praise the High Eternal One Angels, help us to adore Him You behold Him face to face Sun and moon, bow down before Him

Dwellers all in time and space Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him Praise with us the God of grace Shout to the North Men of faith rise up and sing Of the great and glorious King You are strong when you feel weak In your brokenness complete chorus Shout to the North and the South Sing to the East and the West Jesus is Saviour to all Lord of heaven and earth Rise up women of the truth Stand and sing to broken hearts Who can know the healing power Of our awesome King of love (repeat chorus) We've been through fire We've been through rain We've been refined by the power of His name We've fallen deeper in love with you You've burned the truth on our lips (repeat chorus) Rise up church with broken wings Fill this place with songs again Of our God who reigns on high By His grace again we'll fly

Come Praise and Glorify Come praise and glorify our God The Father of our Lord In Christ He has in heavenly realms His blessings on us poured For pure and blameless in His sight He destined us to be And now weve been adopted through His Son eternally chorus To the praise of Your glory To the praise of Your mercy and grace To the praise of Your glory You are the God who saves Come praise and glorify our God Who gives His grace in Christ In Him our sins are washed away Redeemed through sacrifice In Him God has made known to us The mystry of His will That Christ should be the head of all His purpose to fulfill (repeat chorus) Come praise and glorify our God For weve believed the Word And through our faith we have a seal The Spirit of the Lord The Spirit guarantees our hope Until redemptions done Until we join in endless praise To God, the Three in One (repeat chorus)

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: ~ from Psalm 33:13-14

The Psalmist tells us, The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. ~ based on Psalm 51:1-12

Prayer of Confession Leader:

Merciful and holy God You pardon all who truly turn from their sins and look to You in faith. We humbly confess our sins and ask for Your mercy: we have not loved You with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with You, our God. ~ Silent confession & reflection Have mercy on us, O God. In Your loving-kindness and great compassion, Cleanse us from all our sins in thought, word, and deed. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.

Unison: Leader:

Do not cast us from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation and sustain us with a willing spirit, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. The Words of the Gospel Leader: ~ from 1 Timothy 1:15

Here are words that you may fully trust, words that deserve full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. To all who confess their sins and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, He says, Your sins are forgiven. He also says, Follow me.

Songs of Response

The Fathers Love How has the sinner been forgiven How has the rebel been made clean Or blinded eyes been made to see How have the orphans been adopted Who hated Your love and ran from grace Despised and rejected all Your ways chorus How wonderful the Fathers love The Fathers love for us That He would send His only Son To come and rescue us He has saved us, called us blameless Guides us now and will sustain us Oh how wonderful the Fathers love Your mercy floods our lives with kindness Your grace has colored all we see And You have promised not to leave You freely give Your Spirit to us So we can be sure were sons of God And rest in the hope of whats to come (repeat chorus) bridge Though sufferings may fill our lives Were confident were heirs with Christ And so we cry, Abba, Father (repeat chorus) King of Grace We have come to a throne of grace Where our mighty Saviour perfects our praise

Where wrath and judgment have been put away Where not a trace of all our sins remains Youre the King of grace unending To Your open arms we run Youre the King of grace unending And we rest in Your unfailing love And we rest in Your unfailing love We have come to a throne of grace Where our Prince of Peace ever lives to pray For those His sacrifice has bought and saved Where saints and angels sing eternal praise Youre the King of grace unending To Your open arms we run Youre the King of grace unending And we rest in Your unfailing love And we rest in Your unfailing love

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: GALATIANS 5:1-6

The Only Thing That Counts

John Ferguson, Lead Pastor

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
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 O The Wonderful Cross When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride See from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down Did ever such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown
chorus

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all
(repeat chorus)

Revelation Song Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Holy, Holy, is He Sing a new song to Him who sits on Heaven's Mercy Seat (repeat) chorus Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty Who was, and is, and is to come With all creation I sing Praise to the King of Kings You are my everything And I will adore You Clothed in rainbows of living color Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder Blessing and honor, strength and Glory and power be To You the Only Wise King (repeat chorus) Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder At the mention of Your Name Jesus, Your Name is Power Breath, and Living Water Such a marvelous mystery (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

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 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

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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Here in the power of Christ Ill stand Our Confession of Faith Leader: Unison: ~ from Romans 8:1, 28, 38-39; 1 Timothy 1:17

Let us together profess our faith by saying We believe there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; for we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to Gods purpose. We are convinced that neither life, nor death nor angels, nor rulers nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Leader: Unison:

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: Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3:16). 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 life-changing 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 or call 403.828.2241. TODAY after the Service: Sunday School Interest Meeting Next Sunday after the church service, well have a brief meeting to ascertain interest in developing Sunday school classes for our kids & youth. Please make plans now to attend. Potluck Luncheon: Next Sunday after the Service On the first Sunday of every month, we celebrate a meal together after the service. Its potluck style so please bring enough food for your family plus a few others so we can invite our guests to

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stay. 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. Downtown Study: Grace on the Bow Grace on the Bow is a weekly gathering every Thursday for those in the downtown area exploring key and relevant areas to life from a Christian perspective and in a non-threatening environment. New location: We meet at the Bank of Montreal Head office located at 350 - 7th Avenue SW. We meet in the lobby off of 3rd Street, in front of the information desk at 12:00 and end at 1:00 promptly. As always, all are welcome. For more information please contact Mike Ivancic at 403.828.2241. Attention Ladies: Mark your calendars for StoryPeople. StoryPeople is a once a month get -together for the ladies of New City Church. Come and join us the second Monday of each month to share our stories as we seek to understand better how God is at work in each of our lives. We long to grow in our love for Him and one another as connect in deeper ways as the body of Christ. Our next meeting will be May 14, 7:30pm at the home of Catherine Gordon - 3508 Varal Road NW. Please bring a finger food to share. Contact Heather Ferguson for more information (hferguson10@gmail.com). Be a part of NCCs online directory! Many of you know that New City Church as a secure, online church directory where we post contact information and photos of each regular attendee of New City Church, should they wish to be included. It is a great way to ensure we continue to get connected to each other and is easily updatable online! You can get connected with the church directory a few ways: Go to newcitychurch.ca and click on community and then online directory you will be asked for a password. You can get the church directory password from Pastor John Ferguson or Gayle Eng. Here you access the contact info all of the regular attendees of new city church and their photos.

If you want to be added to the church directory or if you have contact information changes, after you click community, click update directory. Here new and changed contact information will be sent for update. You can also provide your contact information to Gayle Eng at church or email her at gayle.eng@live.ca Arrange a time when you/your family can have their photo taken at church by Gayle.

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. Weekly Servants Schedule

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Giving Update

*Non-NCC are funds generously given by Christians outside the congregation of New City Church to aid in this church planting project.

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