The Lords Day Worship Service

March 4, 2012 ~ Second Sunday of Lent ~ New City Church

Welcome We are glad you have joined us today. Whether you are a Christian seeking to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, or a skeptic looking for answers, or someone who is struggling to make sense of life and are looking for a caring community, you are warmly welcome here. Were glad you came. There is a nursery available for kids aged 0-2 years. Kids are always welcome in the service with us too. After the Service Please stay around for some refreshments after the service and meet someone new. If we havent met you before, please come say Hello. Wed like to make that connection. Pastors John Ferguson & Mike Ivancic

Reflections & Preparation for Worship O God, by Your power may we, together with all the saints, comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that we may be filled with Your fullness. Amen. ~ based on Ephesians 3:18-19

Not until the law has bruised and smitten us will we admit our need of the gospel to bind up our wounds. Not until the law has arrested and imprisoned us will we pine for Christ to set us free. Not until the law has condemned and killed us will we call upon Christ for justification and life. Not until the law has driven us to despair of ourselves will we ever believe in Jesus. Not until the law has humbled us even to hell will we turn to the gospel to raise us to heaven. ~ John Stott The true use of the law is this, that I know that by the law I am being brought to an acknowledgment of sin and am being humbled, so that I may come to Christ and be justified by faith. ~ Martin Luther To see the Law by Christ fulfilled To hear His pardoning voice Changes a slave into a child And duty into choice. ~ William Cowper

 God Calls Us To Worship Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6
The Call to Worship Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to His name, for it is pleasant. Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. You are Holy (Prince of Peace) You are holy (echo) You are mighty (echo) You are worthy (echo) Worthy of praise (echo) I will follow (echo) I will listen (echo) I will love you (echo) All of my days (echo) Men: I will sing to And worship The King who Is worthy I will love Him Adore Him I will bow down Before Him I will sing to And worship The King who Is worthy I will love Him Adore Him I will bow down Before Him Women: You are the Lord of lords You are the King of kings You are mighty God Lord of everything Youre Emmanuel Youre the great I Am Youre the Prince of peace Who is the Lamb Youre the living God Youre my saving grace You will reign forever You are Ancient of Days You are Alpha Omega Beginning and End Youre my Saviour, Messiah Redeemer and Friend ~ from Psalm 135:1-3, 13

Unison:

Hymns of Praise & Worship

Unison: Youre my Prince of Peace And I will live my life for You

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Praise to the Lord, the Almighty The King of creation O my soul, praise Him For He is thy health and salvation All ye who hear Now to His temple draw near Join me in glad adoration Praise to the Lord who oer all things So wondrously reigneth Shelters thee under His wings Yes, so gently sustaineth Hast thou not seen How all thy longings have been Granted in what He ordaineth? Praise to the Lord who doth Prosper thy work and defend thee Surely His goodness and mercy Here daily attend thee Ponder anew what the Almighty can do If with His love He befriend thee. Praise to the Lord O let all that is in me adore Him All that hath life and breath Come now with praises before Him Let the Amen sound from His people again Gladly for aye we adore Him

We Will Glorify We will glorify the King of Kings We will glorify the Lamb We will glorify the Lord of lords Who is the great I AM Lord Jehovah reigns in majesty We will bow before His throne We will worship Him in righteousness We will worship Him alone He is Lord of heaven, Lord of earth He is Lord of all who live He is Lord above the universe All praise to Him we give Hallelujah to the King of kings Hallelujah to the Lamb Hallelujah to the Lord of lords Who is the great I AM

God Graciously Renews Us in Christ Have mercy on me, O God, in Your faithful love, in Your great tenderness wipe away my offenses; wash me thoroughly from my guilt, purify me from my sin. ~ Psalm 51:1-2
Call to Confession ~ based on Hebrews 4:15-16 & Psalm 51:1-2

Leader: The Scriptures teach us that in every respect our Lord Jesus Christ He was tempted as

we are, yet He was without sin. Let us therefore cry out with the Psalmist, Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in of need. Song of Confession Psalm 51 (God Be Merciful To Me) 1. God be merciful to me On Thy grace I rest my plea Plenteous in compassion Thou Blot out my transgressions now Wash me, make me pure within Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin 2. My transgressions I confess Grief and guilt my soul oppress I have sinned against Thy grace And provoked Thee to Thy face I confess Thy judgment just Speechless I Thy mercy trust 3. I am evil, born in sin Thou desirest truth within Thou alone my Saviour art Teach Thy wisdom to my heart Make me pure, Thy grace bestow Wash me whiter than the snow The Words of the Gospel Leader: 4. Broken, humbled to the dust By Thy wrath and judgment just Let my contrite heart rejoice And in gladness hear Thy voice From my sins O hide Thy face Blot them out in boundless grace 5. Gracious God, my heart renew, Make my spirit right and true Cast me not away from Thee Let Thy Spirit dwell in me Thy salvations joy impart Steadfast make my willing heart. 6. Sinners then shall learn from me And return, O God, to Thee Savior all my guilt remove And my tongue shall sing Thy love Touch my silent lips, O Lord And my mouth shall praise accord ~ based on Romans 5:8; 8:1; Acts 10:43

God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because, as all the prophets testify about Christ, everyone who believes in Him receives the forgiveness of sins through His name. To all who humbly seek the mercy of God, I say to you, that in Christ Jesus your sins are forgiven!

Song of Response 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: GALATIANS 3:19-26

From the Law to the Gospel

John Ferguson, Pastor

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
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 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 (repeat chorus) Heal my heart and make it clean Open up 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 I see a near revival Stirring as we pray and seek Were on our knees Were on our knees

Come Praise and Glorify Come praise and glorify our God The Father of our Lord In Christ He has in heavnly 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

Thank You for the Blood Thank You, thank You For the blood that You shed Standing in its blessing we sing These freedom songs Thank You, thank You For the battle Youve won Standing in Your victry We sing salvation songs We sing salvations song

You have opened a way to the Father Where before we could Never have come Jesus, count us as Yours now forever As we sing these freedom songs We sing of all Youve done We sing of all Youve done We sing of all Youve done for us Won for us, paid for us
(repeat)

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.

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.

Hymn of Praise & Worship And Can It Be? 1. And can it be that I should gain An intrest in the Saviours blood? Died He for me who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be That Thou my God shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God shouldst die for me? 2. He left His Fathers throne above So free, so infinite His grace! Emptied Himself of all but love And bled for Adams helpless race Tis mercy all, immense and free For, O my God, it found out me Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God shouldst die for me? Our Confession of Faith Leader: Unison: 3. Long my imprisoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and natures night Thine eye diffused a quickning ray I woke, the dungeon flamed with light My chains fell off, my heart was free I rose, went forth, and followed Thee Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God shouldst die for me? 4. No condemnation now I dread Jesus, and all in Him is mine Alive in Him my living Head And clothed in righteousness divine Bold I approach th eternal throne And claim the crown through Christ my own Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God shouldst die for me? ~ from 1 Corinthians 15:1-6; Matthew 16:16; Revelation 22:13; John 20:28

Let us together profess our faith by saying This is the good news which we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved, if we hold fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the Twelve, and then he appeared to over five hundred witnesses at one time. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; He is our Lord and our God. Amen.

God Sends Us Out Into The World With His Blessing God has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ~ from Micah 6:8

Leader: People:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:13). Amen.

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 Community Life
Potluck Luncheon: Today after the Service On the first Sunday of every month, we celebrate a meal together after the service. We want to be intentional in building regular times in which our lives intersect as we seek to create authentic community at New City Church. Everyone is welcome to stay. Next Sunday New City Church Welcomes Rev. Frank Lanting The Rev. Frank Lanting will be our guest preacher on Sunday, March 11th. Pastor Frank is the minister at our sister church, Woodgreen Presbyterian, in south Calgary. Pastor John will be preaching at Woodgreen that morning. Newcomers Class New City Church is offering a class orienting you to the beliefs, values, & goals of the church. Open to everyone, this class will take place immediately after the worship service for about 45 minutes. The next class will be held on Sunday, March 18 th. Feel free to come with your questions & thoughts! If you are thinking of hitching your wagon to New City Church through membership, you wont want to miss this class. 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. Attn. Ladies: Mark your calendars for Story People Ladies, come join us each month for a time of connecting more deeply with one another as we share our stories of life together. We will meet the second Monday of each month at the home of Catherine Gordon, 3508 Varal Road, NW at 7pm . Our first get-together will be March 12. At this first meeting we will be sharing stories of "deepening" - a time when you learned something new or deeper about yourself or in your relationship with God and you were changed by it. There is no obligation to share - just to encourage and build up one another in the Lord. Please join us and bring a finger food to share. Contact Heather Ferguson for more information: 208-6644 or hferguson10@gmail.com. Mens Discipleship: Basic Training, March 15 The mens discipleship group will meet again on Thursday, March 15, 7-9pm in the Board Room here at the Confederation Park Activity Centre. Revamped for the home stretch, we are working through Journey in Prayer. Feel free to join us or stop by and check out what we are doing. Next Kids Club: Saturday, March 17 Our next Kids club is Saturday, March 17th. 4:00-5:30. Parents and volunteers- please be kind enough to take the time to RSVP BEFORE March 11th if your children will or will not be attending. Thanks so much! Email Lori at 5blakeleys@gmail.com. Make sure you mark your calender for April 21st when Woodgreen Church's Puppeteers Hearts and Hands Group will be returning for our special year in review event.

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Jr./Sr. High Retreat: April 13-15 A handful of sister churches in Alberta are combining for a retreat for students on April 13-15 at Gull Lake. Cost is $115 before March 22 & $125 after ($105 for siblings). Scholarships are available. See pastor John for more details. The Second Calgary Reformed Conference The date has been set for April 13-14, 2012 with Dr. Derek Thomas as our guest speaker. The theme will be When the Storm Breaks: Suffering the Christian Life (An overview of the book of Job) with one session on Friday evening and two on Saturday morning. The conference will be held at Woodgreen Presbyterian Church. See www.calgaryreformedconference.ca. 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. You can contact him 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 him at mike@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.828.2241. Weekly Servants Schedule

Giving Update

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

All songs used by permission CCLI license # 273300. Parts of the worship service are adapted from or reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, c. 2004, CRC Publications.

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