Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
January 28, 2012
Welcome to Cityview Presbyterian Church
Community Life: After the Service
To Our Guests: Visiting a church can be an intimidating experience. We are glad that you are here, and we hope to remove as much of that awkwardness as we can from your visit to Cityview. Our worship service usually lasts about 75 minutes. This worship guide will help you navigate the service. There are short paragraphs on the next page to explain each part of the service. The service is designed to be accessible to you, whether you‟ve spent years in the church or you‟ve never been to a church service in your life. During the service, we will try to help you understand how the message of Jesus can apply to your life today. If you are new to Cityview or just visiting, we would love to know that you were here. We have clipboards next to each row: we call those our “Connection Cards”. Connection Cards are a way for you to let us know whatever information you might want us to know and to request any information from us that you might need. Pastor Dan Adamson
Each week, we linger for fellowship with one another. Please join us for refreshments in the cafeteria.
Community Groups In addition to weekly worship, we offer small groups (community groups, men‟s and women‟s bible studies, book studies) that meet throughout the week. We want all of our members and regular attenders to be intentional about building trusting and meaningful spiritual relationships. For a complete list of our small groups, please visit our website (www.cityviewchicago.org) or fill out one of our “connection cards” for more information.
(dadamson@cityviewchicago.org) is available to answer questions, as well.
For Children: Children of all ages are welcome in the worship service. Nursery is provided during the service for children 2 years of age and younger.
Cover Image:
Cross and Sun Rays
Children ages three through 5th grade are given the choice of attending Sunday school classes beginning during the greeting portion of the service.
by Elizabeth Steele Halstead. Reprinted by permission from Visuals for Worship, ©2006, Faith Alive Christian Resources
If you have any questions about children‟s ministry at Cityivew, please contact Children‟s Ministry Coordinator Hilary Clark (hilary.r.clark@gmail.com).
All songs used by permission CCLI License #11041992 Scripture reprinted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
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The Liturgy Preparing for Worship The goal of our time of gathering is to engage with God together, listening to him in his Word and speaking to him in prayer and song. Because we often enter this time tired, overwhelmed and distracted, we take a few moments at the beginning of our meeting to prepare to meet God in worship. Call to Worship We need to be “called” to come and worship God because we default to thinking the world revolves around our needs and agendas, and also because we struggle to believe that God truly wants us to draw near to him. The call to worship focuses our attention on God and prepares us to meet him. Confession of Sin The Scriptures declare that each of us has failed in the way we act toward God and each other. We confess our sin to be honest and transparent about this reality and to admit our ongoing dependence on the mercy of God through Jesus. We confess as a community to show our unity even in our brokenness. Assurance of Grace We confess our sins not just to admit what is true, but also to be reminded again of the truth that Jesus came into this world to save sinners; and all of our sin has been forgiven through him. Every week, following our confession, we hear God speak to us in Scripture of this forgiveness so that our faith might be strengthened. Worship Through Giving Because money is so powerfully tied to our hearts, this is a valuable expression of worship as we acknowledge that everything we have comes from God and belongs to him. If you are visiting with us, we are just glad you are here- please do not feel obligated to give. The Sermon Some view the Sermon as a way to get principles for “right” living. In reality, as we open the Scripture we corporately encounter Christ. Therefore, as you listen, pray to be open to the Spirit‟s leading, exhortation, encouragement, and healing. Communion Communion, also called the Lord‟s Supper or the Eucharist, is the family meal for Christians. We welcome all Christians - those who look to Christ alone for salvation, who are in good standing with His Church, and who seek strength to live more faithfully to their Savior - to join in this sacrament. The Benediction God always gets the last word in our encounter of worship. For Christians, it is always a word of blessing and sending to live our lives in the light of the reality of the Gospel of Christ.
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ORDER OF WORSHIP “Busyness is the enemy of spirituality. It is essentially laziness. It is doing the easy thing instead of the hard thing. It is filling our time with our own actions instead of paying attention to God‟s actions…It is an either/or situation. Busyness has nothing to do with activity, and spirituality is not the absence of activity. You either enter into what God is doing or you don‟t. A busy person is a lazy person because they are not doing what they are supposed to do.”
Eugene Peterson
“You were hardwired to live in two communities of love, with God and your neighbor. Only grace can make you willing and able.”
Paul Tripp
God Calls Us
Preparing for Worship Leader:
O God, we joyously come together to worship, realizing we need not summon you into our midst, for you are here. We need not call you into the secret places of our hearts, for you are there. We need our eyes of faith to be opened, that we may see you; our ears to be unstopped, that we may hear you; our minds to be sensitive, that we may know you; our hearts to be tender, that we may receive you. Grant each one a blessing, O Lord, as each has needin the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Call to Worship Leader:
The eternal Father, who loved us and set us free from our sins, who loves us still with that love that will not let us go, and who will love us forever, calls us to worship him today as the only true lover of our souls.
All:
The Lord stoops to receive the love of our poor hearts. He calls us to remember the depth of his love for us in Christ. God seeks our love!
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Hymn of Praise
Come, O Spirit
Words and Music: Isaac Wardell
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Hymn of Praise
O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
Words: Samuel Trevor Francis Music: Traditional Welsh Melody 6
God Cleanses Us Confession of Sin Leader:
Merciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God. Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin.
All:
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Silent Confession Hymn of Confession
I Asked the Lord
1. I asked the Lord that I might grow In faith and love and every grace Might more of His salvation know And seek more earnestly His face
5. Yea more with His own hand He seemed Intent to aggravate my woe Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, Cast out my feelings, laid me low
2. Twas He who taught me thus to pray And He I trust has answered prayer But it has been in such a way As almost drove me to despair
6. Lord why is this, I trembling cried Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death? "Tis in this way" The Lord replied "I answer prayer for grace and faith"
3. I hoped that in some favored hour At once He'd answer my request And by His love's constraining power Subdue my sins and give me rest
7. "These inward trials I employ From self and pride to set thee free And break thy schemes of earthly joy That thou mayest seek thy all in me, That thou mayest seek thy all in me."
4. Instead of this He made me feel The hidden evils of my heart And let the angry powers of Hell Assault my soul in every part
Words: John Newton Music: Laura Taylor 7
Assurance of Grace Leader:
While it is true that we have sinned, It is a greater truth that we are forgiven through God‟s love in Jesus Christ. To all who humbly seek the mercy of God I say, in Jesus Christ your sin is forgiven.
All:
Thanks be to God.
Leader:
Brothers and Sisters, you have heard God‟s holy demands and have confessed your sins to him. Do you believe that Jesus Christ, by his perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection has atoned for your sins and satisfied the wrath of God for you?
All:
We do.
Hymn of Assurance
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
When the fields are dry, and the winter is long Blessed are the meek, the hungry, the poor When my soul is downcast, and my voice has no song For mercy, for comfort, I wait on the Lord
In the harvest feast or the fallow ground, My certain hope is in Jesus found My lot, my cup, my portion sure Whatever comes, we shall endure Whatever comes, we shall endure On a cross of wood, His blood was outpoured He rose from the ground, like a bird to the sky Bringing peace to our violence, and crushing death‟s door Our Maker incarnate, our God who provides. When the earth beneath me crumbles and quakes Not a sparrow falls, nor a hair from my head Without His hand to guide me, my shield and my strength In joy or in sorrow, in life or in death
Words and Music: Sandra McCracken
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Opportunities and Concerns
Passing of the Peace - from John 13:34 Leader:
Hear the teaching of Christ: “A new command I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you.” The peace of Christ be with you all.
All:
And also with you!
Worship Through Giving
God Speaks To Us Sermon Text – Mark 12: 28-34 28
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, „Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.‟ 31 The second is this: „You shall love your neighbor as yourself.‟ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Leader: All:
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
Sermon The Priorities of the Kingdom Reverend Dan Adamson
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God Strengthens Us Confession of Faith – from the Church of South India Leader: All: Leader:
I believe in one God, who creates, loves, cares and corrects all people, who acts in history, and who promises never to leave us alone. I believe in Jesus of Nazareth,
All:
who is Lord, Christ and Redeemer, who wants not to be idealized, but to be followed.
Leader: All:
I believe that we live in the presence of the Holy Spirit without whom we are nothing; filled with the Holy Spirit we are able to become creative, free, and full of life.
Leader: All:
I believe in the church of God in Jesus Christ, a community where we find companions and courage for the struggles of life, where we grow in the understanding of our faith through worship, fellowship and acts of liberation.
Leader:
I believe that God has called us
All:
Leader: All:
to a partnership for the continuance of his mission in this time and place, and that, though we live in the midst of confusion, turmoil, exploitation, oppression and in the grip of the forces of death, we are called to be instruments of peace and justice. I believe that God brings about change in people, in nature and in the whole cosmos, that God makes the whole creation a new heaven and a new earth of justice, peace, harmony and life in all its fullness.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration
Leader: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. Leader: Lift up your hearts. Communion All: Leader: All:
We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.
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Prayers for Reflection Prayer for those searching for truth Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. As I consider the reasons for doing so, grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the life that you promise. Amen. Prayer of belief Lord Jesus, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment on the cross, and offering forgiveness and new life. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as Savior and Lord. Amen.
Prayer for those struggling with sin Lord Jesus, grant that I may see in you the fulfillment of all my need, and may turn from every false satisfaction to feed on you, the true and living bread. Enable me to lay aside the sin that clings so closely, and faithfully follow you in life. Amen.
Prayer of commitment Lord Jesus, you have called us to follow you in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with your people, and live in the fullness of your Spirit. Amen.
Communion Prayer All:
Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal kingdom. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
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God Commissions Us Hymn of Benediction
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; To His feet thy tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Who like me His praise should sing? Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, Praise the everlasting King. 2. Praise Him for His grace and favor To our fathers in distress. Praise Him still the same forever, Slow to chide, and swift to bless. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, Glorious in His faithfulness. 3. Frail as summer’s flower we flourish Blows the wind and it is gone But while mortals rise and perish God endures unchanging on Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, Praise the high eternal One 4. Fatherlike He tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame He Knows. In His hands He gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, Widely as His mercy goes. 5. Angels help us to adore Him; Ye behold Him face to face; Sun and moon, bow down before Him, Dwellers all in time and space. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, Praise with us the God of grace. Tag: Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, Praise with us the God of grace. 12
Words : Henry Lyte Music: Chris Miner
Benediction Leader:
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
All:
Amen.
Dismissal Leader: All:
Let us go now to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!
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Around Cityview
Serving This Week Sound/ Set-Up
Evan Devries Jim and Peggy Adamson Charlynne Bowsher Potluck Kylene Young Not Meeting
Greeters Bread Snacks Nursery Sunday School
Serving Next Week Sound/ Set-Up Greeters Bread Snacks Nursery Sunday School
Josh Koonce Michael and Shannen Chin Kylene Young Potluck Danny Kim
Budgeted Monthly Giving:
Actual YTD Giving:
Budgeted 2011 Giving YTD: Difference:
Congregational Meeting/Potluck Lunch –Following the service today.
Lunch in the Loop- This Tuesday at noon. Join fellow Cityview folks for lunch at the Chase Tower (10 S. Dearborn St.- Ground Floor in the table area). Feel free to invite coworkers or classmates. Contact Danny at dannytkim@gmail.com; 773.875.0139.
Baby Bundles for the Women’s Treatment Center- „ Each Sunday in February we'll be collecting items for babies at TWTC in the West Loop. Each year TWTC serves more than 1200 women recovering from substance abuse and their children all who live on site. Combs, nail clippers, nasal aspirators, wash clothes, baby powder, slow flow nipples, and baby wash are all needed for 0-6 month olds. Look for a big drop off box at church next week and donate to a family in need.
Super Bowl Party- Next Sunday, Feb 5 th at 5pm at the Adamsons‟. Bring a snack to share and drinks.
Cityview Membership Seminar- February 18 Considering making Cityview your church home? Come learn more about the vision, values and community of our church. The seminar consists of ONE session. Saturday 5 to 9 p.m. RSVP to Dan.
Lynda Adamson
Contacts
December 2011 Congregational Giving*
Actual Monthly Giving:
CITYVIEWCHICAGO.ORG $ 18,411 $ 12,160 Difference: $ 6,251 $ 143,785 $145,920 $ (2,135)
*In addition to congregational giving, 20% of our overall operating budget is currently comprised of financial support from other churches and individuals. Our
budgeted congregational giving represents 80% of the overall operating budget.
Dan Adamson, Pastor dadamson@cityviewchicago.org Jenny Avila, Administrative Coordinator jenny.n.avila@gmail.com Herb Bowsher, Financial Administrator bowsher@comcast.net Hilary Clark, Children‟s Ministry Coordinator hilary.r.clark@gmail.com Carolyn Koonce, Social Coordinator carolyn.groenewold@gmail.com Paul Leo, Service & Outreach Coordinator contactpaulleo@gmail.com Paul-David Young, Music Coordinator music@cityviewchicago.org 16