The Lord’s Day Worship Service

February 13 ~ 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.
We’re glad you came.

After the Service

Please stay around for some refreshments after the service and meet someone new. If we
haven’t met you before, please come say “Hello.” We’d 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

“You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first
things first.” “Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first
and we lose both first and second things.” “When first things are put first, second things are not
suppressed but increased.”
~ CS Lewis

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac…He considered that God was able
even to raise him from the dead.”
~Hebrews 11:17, 19

“He who has God and everything has no more than he who has God only.”
~ CS Lewis

“Is God demonstrating his willingness to match Abraham in offering up his only and beloved
Son by swearing this oath? This is the theological time bomb in the Abraham stories. Is God
committing himself to do whatever it takes, to pay any price, to bring his redemptive plan to
fruition? This is the revolutionary twist to the Abraham narrative….Already we hear the gospel
‘in advance’: God is not a God who demands sacrifice but a God who makes sacrifice. Our
salvation lies not in the sacrifices we make but in the sacrifice we trust.”
~ Philip Greenslade, A Passion for God’s Story

“Whereas Abraham’s obedience would lead to a renewal of the [promise] of blessing [every
nation on the planet], Jesus’ obedience would mean embracing the curse. He had to drink the
cup of God’s wrath to the dregs, if the promise of blessing to Abraham and his descendents was
to become a reality.”
~ Ian Duguid, Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality
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  God Calls Us To Worship 
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6

The Call to Worship ~ from Revelation 15:3-4; Psalm 9:1-2

Leader: 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!

Unison: 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.

Hymns of Praise & Worship

“Holy, Holy, Holy”

Holy, holy, holy

Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity

Holy, holy, holy

All the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be

Holy, holy, holy

Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy, There is none beside Thee
Perfect in pow’r in love & purity

Holy, holy, holy

Lord God Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity

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 “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

Come, thou fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, mount of God’s unchanging love

Here I raise my Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I’m come

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wand’ring from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood

Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed me white as snow

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be

Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wand’ring heart to Thee
Prone to wander—Lord I feel it—prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above

“Be Unto Your Name”

We are a moment, You are forever

Lord of all ages, God before time
We are a vapor, You are eternal
Love everlasting reigning on high

Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name

We are the broken, You are the healer

Jesus Redeemer, mighty to save
You are the love song we’ll sing forever
Bowing before You blessing your name

Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name


The word “Ebenezer” means “stone of help” and comes from a story found in 1 Samuel 7, where the prophet
Samuel erected a stone memorial to commemorate the Lord’s protection & blessing in the life of God’s people.
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  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 ~ from the Prophet Isaiah 55:6-7

Leader: 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).

People: Amen!

Song of Response

“Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder”

Let us love and sing and wonder

Let us praise the Saviour’s name
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame

He has washed us with His blood

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 He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has brought us nigh to God

Let us love the Lord who bought us

Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He presents our souls to God

Let us sing though fierce temptation

Threatens hard to bear us down
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqu’ror’s crown
He who washed us with His blood
He who washed us with His blood
He who washed us with His blood
Soon will bring us home to God

Let us wonder grace and justice

Join and point to mercy’s store
When through grace in Christ our trust is
Justice smiles and asks no more
He who washed us with His blood
He who washed us with His blood
He who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God

Let us praise and join the chorus

Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted Him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou are worthy, Lamb of God

 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

Today’s Scripture Lesson: “Redemption: Blessing Every Nation on the Planet (Part 4)”
John Ferguson, Lead Pastor
Genesis 22

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22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He
said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him
there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in
the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut
the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third
day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men,
“Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And
Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire
and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!”
And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a
burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”
So they went both of them together.

22:9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the
wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham
reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him
from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your
hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld
your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind
him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as
a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will
provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

22:15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I
have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only
son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the
sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your
offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So
Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived
at Beersheba.

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

(notes)

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  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 Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s 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 thirst…
for my Father’s 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 Lord’s Supper.

The Words of Institution

“The Lord Jesus, on the night we 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 Lord’s death until he
comes.
~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

The Sacrament of The Lord’s 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 Lord’s 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.

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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

“Behold the Lamb”

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, slain for us, and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith find forgiveness at the cross
So we share in this bread of life, and we drink of his sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace, around the table of the King

The body of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, torn for you: eat and remember
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life
Paid the price to make us one
So we share in this bread of life and we drink of his sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love around the table of the king

The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, shed for you: drink and remember
He drank death’s cup that all may enter in to receive the life of God
So we share in this bread of life and we drank of his sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of grace around the table of the king

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise to respond and to remember

Our call to follow in the steps of Christ as His body here on earth
As we share in His suffering, we proclaim: Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven around the table of the King.

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 “I Will Rise”

There's a peace I've come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

chorus:
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise, I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near

When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

(repeat chorus)

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,

"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
(repeat)

(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 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.
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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 won’t 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 won’t You reign in me again

(repeat chorus)

 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: “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).

People: Amen!

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  Community Life 

Today after the service: We will continue our Newcomer’s class where you can learn more
about New City Church. This class will introduce you to the vision and distinctives of New City
Church, our hopes and dreams, and your part to play in it all. There will also be an opportunity
to explore what membership at New City Church means with its privileges and responsibilities.
All are invited to attend this classes that will be held for 45 minutes immediately after the
worship service. Nursery will be provided.

Potluck Dinner Tonight: We invite you to come back out tonight for a potluck meal at the
Confederation Park Activity Centre from 6-7:30. This is an opportunity to meet new people,
renew old friendships, and to catch up with one another. We’ll also let you know about a
couple of upcoming events in the life of New City Church as well. If you are able, please bring
enough food for yourself/ family plus 5 others.

Author David Fitch will be speaking at Ambrose University, Feb. 16 & 17 at 7pm, on “The
Future of Evangelicalism.” His website is www.reclaimingthemission.com. No cost.

The Easter Experience: Christians around the world and throughout history have often used
the 40 days leading up to Easter as an opportunity for deeper reflection (1) on the meaning of
the death of Jesus Christ (2) our own need for spiritual growth. Some traditions call this period
of time, “Lent” (from the middle-English word for Spring). At New City Church, we want to mark
this season with a 6 week study called, “The Easter Experience.” This study is based on a
DVD series. So make plans now to carve out the evenings on the 6 Sundays before Easter to
come together as a community of faith to reflect more deeply upon the necessity of the death of
the Saviour and to explore more deeply its meaning for our own spiritual lives. (Dates: March
13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, & 17. Easter is one Sunday, April 24th.

Downtown Bible Study forming: If you work in the downtown core, or have access to it during
the week, and would be interested in becoming a part of a small group Bible study, let Asst.
Pastor Mike Ivancic know (mike@newcitychurch.ca / 403.282.3454).

Coffee with a Pastor? If you have any questions about Christianity, or would simply like to get
together and talk about the issues of life, pastors John and Mike are available to you. Coffee is
on them! You can contact him at john@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.991.5555. If you work in
the downtown area, touch base with asst. pastor Mike Ivancic who also works in downtown.
You can contact him at mike@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.828.2241.

New City Church Online. Visit us NCC online at www.NewCityChurch.ca. Here, you can find
our sermons & sermon notes posted. You can also subscribe to our sermons via iTunes. Just
search for “New City Church Calgary” and you can find us on iTunes. We’re also on Facebook
& have a blog for those who are not on Facebook as well. All is accessible via
www.NewCityChurch.ca.

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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Report on Giving:

Weekly Servants:

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