The Lords Day Worship Service

September 4, 2011 ~ 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
And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ~ Jesus, in the Gospel of John 17:3 Knowing God is a relationship calculated thrill a man's heart. ~ JI Packer, Knowing God To be a true disciple of Christ means that Christ is at the centre. Christ is the Lord of my life, Christ is on the throne of my being; it means that I love him first before anyone and everything. None upon earth that I desire beside thee. Does He come first in our lives? Even before our loved ones and her nearest and dearest? Even before our work, before success, before business, before anything else while we are here on earth? He should be our supreme desire. ~ Maryn Lloyd Jones, Faith on Trial The saints look more at God than all that is GodsWhats joy without God? Whats glory without God? Whats all the furniture and riches, all the delicacies, yes even all the diadems of heaven, without the God of heaven? If God would say to the saints, Here is heaven. Take it for yourselves, but I will withdraw myself, how they would weep over heaven itself and make it a valley of tears. Heaven is not heaven unless we enjoy God there. It is the presence of God that makes heaven heaven. ~ Joseph Caryl, 1602-1673

 God Calls Us To Worship Him 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!

Leader:

Unison:

Hymns of Praise & Worship 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

King of Glory Lift up your gaze, be lifted up Tell evryone how great the love The love come down from heavens gate To kiss the earth with hope and grace Sing, Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty!
(repeat)

Lift up your hands, be lifted up Let the redeemed declare the love And we bow down at heavens gate To kiss the feet of hope and grace Sing, Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty!
(repeat)

There is one God, He is holy There is one Lord over evrything There is one King, He is Jesus King of glory, strong and mighty!
(repeat)

You are the King of glory The Lord, strong and mighty!
(repeat 4x)

Hosanna I see the King of glory Coming on the clouds with fire The whole earth shakes The whole earth shakes I see His love and mercy Washing over all our sin The people sing The people sing (chorus) Hosanna, hosanna Hosanna in the highest Hosanna, hosanna Hosanna in the highest I see a generation Rising up to take their place With selfless faith With selfless faith I see a near revival Stirring as we pray and seek Were on our knees Were on our knees (repeat chorus) Heal my heart and make it clean Open my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to love like You Have loved me Break my heart for what breaks Yours Everything I am for Your Kingdoms cause As I walk from earth into eternity (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: Listen to the testimony of the psalmist,

~ based on Psalm 32:3-4, NLT

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.

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 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

The Words of the Gospel Leader: Hear the Good News:

~ Psalm 145:14; based on 1 John 1:8-9

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. Unison: Amen.

Song of Response How High And How Wide No eye has seen And no ear has heard And no mind has ever conceived The glorious things That You have prepared for ev'ryone Who has believed You brought us near And You called us Your own And made us joint heirs With Your Son chorus: How high and how wide How deep and how long How sweet and how strong Is Your love How lavish Your grace How faithful Your ways How great is Your love O Lord Objects of mercy Who should have known wrath We're filled with unspeakable joy Riches of wisdom unsearchable wealth And the wonder of knowing Your voice You are our treasure And our great reward Our hope and our glorious King (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 Father through You. ~ based on John 6:68, Colossians 3:16-17

Todays Scripture Lesson: PSALM 73 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. 5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. 7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. 8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. 9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. 10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. 11 And they say, How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High? 12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. 13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. 15 If I had said, I will speak thus, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, Leader: Unison: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

Desiring God Above All Else

John Ferguson, Lead Pastor

it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, You despise them as phantoms 21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Main Idea: Because the Creator of the heavens and the earth graciously draws people 6

like us into relationship, we should treasure Him above all else.

(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 isle and form a semi-circle in front of the Table to receive the bread and the wine. When finished, place your cup at the side tables and proceed to your seat via the outer isles. If you are unable to come forward we would be delighted to serve you at your seat. New City Church uses wine in serving the 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 How Deep the Fathers Love For Us 1. How deep the Fathers love for us How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure 2. How great the pain of searing loss The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory 3. Behold the Man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers 4. It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished

5. I will not boast in anything No gifts, no powr, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection 6. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom

Shout to the Lord My Jesus, my Savior Lord there is none like You All of my days I want to praise The wonders of your mighty love My comfort, my shelter Tower of refuge and strength Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You Shout to the Lord all the earth Let us sing power and majesty Praise to the King Mountains bow down And the seas will roar At the sound of Your name I sing for joy at the work of Your hands Forever Ill love You Forever Ill stand Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

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 Blessed Be Your Name Blessed be Your name In the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name Blessed be your name When Im found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed be Your name Every blessing You pour out Ill turn back to praise When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say (chorus) Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name Blessed be Your name When the suns shining down on me When the worlds all as it should be Blessed be Your name Blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though theres pain in the offering Blessed be Your name Every blessing You pour out Ill turn back to praise

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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When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say (repeat chorus) You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord blessed be Your name (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: 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
Next Sunday Were beginning a new series in the New Testament book of Galatians written by the Apostle Paul to help establish his readers (and us!) in the Gospel of free grace. Kids Club Calling all kids ages 3-11 to join us for our first New City Church Kids Club on Sept 17 from

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4:00-6:00p.m. at the Confederation Park Activity Center. This is an opportunity to get to know Jesus through worship songs, puppet stories, sharing, memory verses, crafts and games. This will be a monthly event so invite your friends to share in the fun. For any adults or youth interested in planning or helping, please contact Lori or Lana ASAP. Mens Discipleship: BASIC TRAINING Information Meeting The mens ministry will be kicking off with an orientation / information meeting on Thursday, September 8 from 7-9pm in Classroom #1 here at the Confederation Park Activity Centre. This is a great opportunity to invest in your spiritual growth as a man. For more information, pick up a brochure at the back table. "The Excellent Wife" Book Study We will be continuing our study covering the second half of the book starting Saturday, September 17 at Catherine Gordon's home ( would you insert her address here). We will be meeting every second Saturday from 1-2: 30 for a total of seven Saturdays finishing December 10. This book is directed to women who want information about God's plan, pattern and purpose for marriage and is open to women of all ages regardless of marital status. Contact Joan Schmitt (403.935.4188/ gardeningjoan@yahoo.com) more information. Downtown Study Group: Grace on the Bow The Downtown Study Group meets every Thursday from 12-1pm. The theme of the current series is on Seeking God. Lunch is not provided (but feel free to bring your own). Feel free to come and observe or bring your own insights and questions. Location: Shell Center, 400 4th Ave S.W., Room 1147. Tom Dekker (403.807.6687) & Mike Ivancic (403.828.2241) will meet folks in the lobby to get passes to go up to the 11th floor together. Weekly Servants

Giving Report

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