The Lords Day Worship Service

December 16, 2012 ~ The Third Sunday of Advent 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

The Season of Advent

The season of Advent (from the Latin adventus, meaning coming or arrival) is the four-week season of preparation for the celebration of Christmas, the day we mark the first coming of Christ to the earth. The great proclamation The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14) assures us that God has entered into human history through the incarnation of the Son. The season of Advent, a season of waiting, is designed to cultivate our awareness of Gods actionspast, present, and future. In Advent we hear the prophecies of the Messiahs coming as addressed to uspeople who wait for the second coming. In Advent we heighten our anticipation for the ultimate fulfillment of all Old Testament promises, when the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, and every tear will be wiped away. In this way Advent highlights for us the larger story of Gods redemptive plan. A deliberate tension must be built into our practice of the Advent season. Christ has come, and yet not all things have reached completion. While we remember Israels waiting and hoping and we give thanks for Christs birth, we also anticipate his second coming at the end of time. For this reason Advent began as a penitential season, a time for discipline and intentional repentance in the confident expectation and hope of Christs coming again (The Worship Sourcebook). During our Sunday morning services, well use the birth narrative of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke to guide and direct our thoughts. This Advent season also marks the launch of our study of the Gospel of Luke that well take with us through 2013.

God Calls Us To Worship Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6 1

The Call to Worship Leader:

~ from Revelation 15:3-4; Psalm 9:1-2

Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship You! We will give thanks to You, O Lord, with our whole heart; We will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. We will be glad and exult in You. We will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Angels, From the Realms of Glory

Unison:

Hymns of Praise & Worship 1. Angels, from the realms of glory Wing your flight oer all the earth Ye who sang creations story Now proclaim Messiahs birth Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King 2. Shepherds in the fields abiding Watching oer your flocks by night God with man is now residing Yonder shines the infant Light Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King 3. Sages, leave your contemplations Brighter visions beam afar Seek the great Desire of nations Ye have seen His natal star Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King 4. Saints before the altar bending Watching long in hope and fear Suddenly the Lord, descending In His temple shall appear Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King 5. All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son Evermore your voices raising To theternal Three in One Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King

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 Praise the Father, Praise the Son O sovreign God, O matchless King The saints adore, the angels sing And fall before the throne of grace To You belongs the highest praise These sufferings, this passing tide Under Your wings I will abide And every enemy shall flee You are my hope and victory chorus: Praise the Father, praise the Son Praise the Spirit, Three in One Clothed in power and in grace The name above all other names To the valley, for my soul Thy great descent has made me whole Your word my heart has welcomed home Now peace like water ever flows (repeat chorus) Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the power, Yours is the glory forever! (repeat) (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 the Prophet Isaiah 55:6-7

The Prophet Isaiah declared, Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Prayer of Confession Leader: Most holy and gracious Father, we acknowledge and confess before You that our sinful

natures are prone to evil and slow to do good. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from Your ways, in wasting Your gifts, and in forgetting Your love. We are ashamed and sorry of all the ways in which we have displeased You. ~ Silent confession & reflection Unison: Merciful Lord, teach us to hate our errors. Cleanse us from our wandering ways and forgive our sins through Jesus Christ our Savior. Grant us Your power that we might live in Your light and walk in Your ways, according to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen. The Words of the Gospel Leader: I declare this sure promise: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:8, 12).

Song of Response Majesty Here I am, humbled by Your majesty Covered by Your grace so free Here I am, knowing Im a sinful man Covered by the blood of the Lamb Now Ive found the greatest love of all is mine Since You laid down Your life The greatest sacrifice chorus Majesty, majesty Your grace has found me just as I am Empty handed but alive in Your hands Here I am, humbled by the love that You give Forgiven so that I can forgive Here I stand knowing that Im Your desire Sanctified by glory and fire Now Ive found the greatest love of all is mine Since You laid down Your life The greatest sacrifice Majesty, majesty Your grace has found me just as I am Empty handed but alive in Your hands Majesty, majesty Forever I am changed by Your love In the presence of Your majesty, majesty

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: LUKE 1:26-38

Hail the Coming King

John Ferguson, Pastor

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. 34 And Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin? 35 And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holythe Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God. 38 And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
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 5

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 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 King of Glory Lift up your gaze, be lifted up Tell everyone 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)

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 everything There is one King, He is Jesus King of glory, 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

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

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 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 Agnus Dei

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 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heavens all-gracious King The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled And still their heavenly music floats oer all the weary world Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing And ever oer its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing And ye, beneath lifes crushing load, whose forms are bending low Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing For lo, the days are hastning on, by prophet bards foretold When with the ever-circling years comes round the age of gold When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing

Our Confession of Faith Leader: Unison: Let us confess our faith together

~ Philippians 2:5-11

We believe in our hearts and confess with our lips that Christ Jesus, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to deatheven death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

God Sends Us Out Into The World With His Blessing 9

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:

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever (Hebrews 13:20-21). Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

People:

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 or call 403.828.2241. Kids Sunday School: Special Edition Today Today the children from Toddlers to Grade 5 will gather in our Sunday School room for snacks and to sing Christmas carols. Feel free to join in! ESL Bible Study at the LeBlancs The LeBlancs are hosting another ESL Bible Study today, December 16th at 2:30. The LeBlancs are 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) Christmas Eve Service, 3-4pm This year, well continue our tradition of gathering on Christmas Eve for A Celebration in Lessons & Carols. Make plans to attend and invite your friends. Premise: A Christianity Worth Thinking About At New City Church, we want to help equip you to be an effective ambassador for Jesus Christ. We believe that Christianity is to be commended, but often times Christians feel inadequate and unequipped to be effective. To that end, we are initiating a series of meetings called Premise. On Sunday evening, December 30th, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Bruce Gordon to New City Church. Dr. Gordon has taught at the University of Calgary, Northwestern University, the University of Notre Dame, Baylor University, and currently is a professor in History & Philosophy of Science. A leading proponent in the Intelligent Design movement having worked with William Dembski & The Discovery Institute in Seattle, Dr. Gordon will give a lecture called, Life, The Universe, & Everything: How the Natural Universe Points to the Supernatural. Q&A to follow. Make plans now to attend and invite your friends. Have Your Picked Up Your Copy of NCCs Prayer Book, Seeking Gods Face?

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New City Church is encouraging all of its participants to pick up a copy of Seeking Gods Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year. This devotional is a easy way to read Scripture every day. The book actually begins readings with the season of Advent. Each day offers an verse inviting us into the presence of God by faith; it has a Bible reading from the Psalms and another from another portion of Scripture. It also includes suggestions for prayer as well as a prayer shaped from the reading and one of the Reformed confessions of faith. Each devotional concludes with a verse of blessing. This book is an easy way to read Scripture along with other participants at NCC. Together, we trust God to make His Word to dwell in us richly. The devotional can easily be read & prayed within 10 minutes, and it is short enough to be used in conjunction with other Bible reading & Bible study plans. Why not pick up a copy and read and pray along with your friends at NCC? New Resource: The New City Catechism Our friends at the Gospel Coalition have put together a new catechism nicely called, The New City Catechism. What is a catechism? It is a statement of the Christian faith in the form of Questions & Answers. Some well-known catechisms are the Westminster Catechism (107 questions) & the Heidelberg Catechism (129 questions). The New City Catechism is comprised of only 52 questions and answers. There is therefore only one question and answer for each week of the year, making it simple to fit into church calendars and achievable even for people with demanding schedules. Part 1 has 20 questions (God, creation and fall, law); Part 2 has 15 questions (Christ, redemption, grace); and Part 3 (Spirit, restoration, growing in grace). Think of it as an introduction to Christian beliefs, and a gateway to exploring the longer catechisms. This new catechism is web based and also has a nifty app (& the catechism can be downloaded as well). Each question has a Bible verse, a short commentary & prayer taken from the writings of Christians from the past, a link to suggested readings, as well as a short video commentary.

Check it out: http://www.newcitycatechism.com

Weekly Servants Schedule

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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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