The Lord’s Day Worship Service

February 27, 2011 ~ 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

"At Oxford - to my surprise - I discovered Christianity. It was the intellectually most exhilarating
and spiritually stimulating thing I could ever hope to describe - better than chemistry, a
wonderful subject that I had thought to be the love of my life and my future career. I went on to
gain a doctorate for research in molecular biophysics from Oxford, and found that immensely
exciting and satisfying. But I knew I had found something better - like the pearl of great price
that Jesus talks about in the Gospel, which is so beautiful and precious that it overshadows
everything. It was intellectually satisfying, imaginatively engaging, and aesthetically exciting."
~ Alister McGrath

What are we to make of Christ? There is no question of what we can make of Him; it is entirely
a question of what He intends to make of us.
~ C.S. Lewis

When Christians affirm, as they do, that Jesus is the way, the true and living way by whom we
come to the Father (John 16:4), they are not claiming to know everything. They are claiming to
be on the way, and inviting others to join them as they press forward toward the fullness of truth,
toward the day when we shall know as we have been known.
~ Lesslie Newbigin The Gospel in a Pluralist Society

"The more you know about Christ, the less you will be satisfied with superficial views of Him;
and the more deeply you study His transactions in the eternal covenant, His engagements on
your behalf as the eternal Surety, and the fullness of His grace which shines in all His offices,
the more truly will you see the King in His beauty. Be much in such outlooks. Long more and
more to see Jesus."
~ CH Spurgeon

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

The Call to Worship

Leader: We have gathered in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to
offer up a sacrifice of praise.
Unison: May His great Name be praised forever!

Leader: Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth. Psalm 100
People: Worship the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful songs.

Leader: Know that the LORD is God.

It is He who made us and we are His;
People: We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Leader: Enter His gates with thanksgiving

And His courts with praise;
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
Unison: For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Hymns of Praise & Worship

“Sing Alleluia”

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing
Sun, moon, and stars rejoice on high
Praise to the Lord of light divine

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia

Praise the Father above
Sing alleluia
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia
For His infinite love
Sing alleluia

Praise to the Giver of good things

Merciful Father, Holy King
Join with the angels sing out loud
Praise Him who reigns above the clouds

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia

Praise the Father above
Sing alleluia
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 Sing alleluia, sing alleluia
For His infinite love
Sing alleluia

Women: Men:
O praise Him when the morning comes
Alleluia for the rising sun
O praise Him when the day is done
Alleluia praise the Lord of love
O praise Him alleluia
Alleluia alleluia

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia

Praise the Father above
Sing alleluia
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia
For His infinite love
Sing alleluia

“Children of Light”

We are the children of Light,

We are the children of day
So let us worship Him
In whom we have our being
Until the coming of the Lord

We are the children of God,

Made in the image of Christ;
And on the day He comes,
We shall be made like Him
For we shall see Him as He is

chorus
Come, let us worship now;
Let us kneel,
Let us humbly bow down.
He is our God,
We are His people;
We are the flock in His care

We are the soldiers of Christ,

Dressed for the battle on high;
So let us call on Him
For he will fight the battle
And we will march with Him on that day.

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 We are the faithful of God.
We will endure ‘til the end;
So let us run the race
That He has set before us,
To win the crown of righteousness.

(repeat chorus)

Come, let us bow

 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: “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they
shall be like wool.” ~ Isaiah 1:18

Prayer of Confession

~ Silent Confession and Reflection

The Words of the Gospel ~ from Romans 8:1; 5:1

Leader: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus….
Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
Unison: Amen!

Song of Response

"Amazing Love (You Are My King)"

I'm forgiven because you were forsaken

I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well
Your spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again

chorus
Amazing love, how can it be?
That You, my King, would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
Its my joy to honor You
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 In all I do I’ll honor you

I'm forgiven because you were forsaken

I'm accepted, you were condemned
I'm alive and well
Your spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again

(repeat chorus)

You are my king

You are my king
Jesus, You are my king
Jesus, You are my king

(repeat chorus)

“A Shield About Me”

Thou, O Lord are a Shield about me

You’re my glory
You’re the lifter of my head
(repeat)

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You’re the lifter of my head

 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: Mike Ivancic, Assistant Pastor

“Who in the World are We? What on Earth Should We Be Doing?”

Matthew 5:1-16

5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
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 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you
falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no
longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in
heaven.

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

“O The Wonderful Cross”

When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown

chorus
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all

(repeat chorus)

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 “Jesus Messiah”

He became sin who knew no sin

That we might become His Righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

His body the bread

His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

(repeat chorus)

All our hope is in You

All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

(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

“Immortal, Invisible”

Immortal, invisible, God only wise

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise

Unresting, unhasting and silent as light

Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light

Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight
All praise we would render; O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth thee

 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: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and
be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you
peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).
People: Amen!

 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.

Next Week: Pastor John will be doing a “pulpit swap” with our sister church in south Calgary,
Woodgreen Presbyterian Church. Pastor Frank Lanting will be preaching at New City Church.

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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).

Women’s Bible Study: We are continuing our study learning how our individual stories fit
within God’s larger story using Living Story: Learning God’s Story of Grace. Tuesdays 9:30-
11:30 at Henrietta Vanhuigenbos (led by Heather Ferguson: hferguson10@gmail.com/
403.208.6644). Check out the calendar at www.NewCityChurch.ca for more details.

Thursday Community Group: We’re continuing our DVD series, “H2O: A Journey of Faith”
examining the claims of Jesus. Meets at the Van Hills every Thurs from 7-9pm. Led by Pastor
John (john@newcitychurch.ca). Call the Van Hill’s for directions: 403-685-5853

Women’s Bible Study forming: Would you like to learn what God has to say about your
particular situation? Do you desire to please God and know Him better or do you just have a lot
of questions? You are warmly invited to come out and study the book of Ephesians with us.
Time commitment consists of a weekly Tuesday morning meeting and approximately 10
minutes guided homework per day. Come prepared to learn about God’s love, freedom and
power towards us at a deeper level. Start date: Tuesday, March 22. Contact: Joan Schmitt
(gardeningjoan@yahoo.com / 403-935-4188).

“The Excellent Wife” Book Study: We are getting together to read and study The Excellent
Wife by Martha Peace. This is a book directed to women who want information about God’s
plan, pattern and purpose for marriage. Specific issues women face is also dealt with. This
study is relevant to all interested women and you are invited to join us and learn how by God’s
grace we can be changed. We will be meeting every second Saturday afternoon to discuss the
chapters of the previous weeks reading. Contact: Joan Schmitt (403-935-4188/
gardeningjoan@yahoo.com). This study will begin mid-March; exact date TBA.

Weekly Servants

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Report on Giving

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 John 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 Mike at mike@newcitychurch.ca or call 403.828.2241.

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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