City Reformed Presbyterian Church

City Reformed
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Sunday Worship Service
September 27, 2015
Welcome to City Reformed Presbyterian Church
We are glad to have you join us for worship today. We expect that many people who are with us may not be
familiar with the way our worship service is structured. We have attempted to explain as much as possible in
the bulletin. More information is available on our website: www.cityreformed.org.
1.) What kind of Church is City Reformed? (See more at www.cityreformed.org)
- We believe that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God. Its message centers on the good news (“gospel”) of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The gospel compels us to engage the city around us, it calls us to renew our minds, it draws us together to be the family of God, and it directs our worship to the living God.
- We are linked to the historic Protestant church (“Evangelical”) and to other Christians throughout the world.
- We are a part of a denomination called the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). www.pcanet.org
2.) What happens on Sunday mornings?
From September through April, we have two worship services on Sunday mornings, & Sunday school.
9:15 am
Worship Service
10:00 am Sunday School (all ages)
10:45 am
Coffee and Fellowship
11:15 am Worship Service (Children’s Church for kids 4-7) 12:45 pm
Food and Fellowship 3.) Are there programs for my children?
Nursery for children 0-4 is offered during both services and Sunday School. We have a full Sunday School Program for children of all ages at 10:00 am. Families that go to the 9:15 am service have the option to dismiss their children to attend Sunday School during the sermon. During the 11:15
service children 4-7 have the option to be dismissed to attend Children’s Church. Please talk to an usher or greeter if you have any questions about the nursery.
4.) Where can I park my car?
On Sunday mornings, the metered parking is free and there are usually many open spots on the street. 5.) How do I connect?
We would love to get to know you! Please join us for a time of fellowship and refreshments after the worship services. If you would like to contact a pastor please send us an email: rob@cityreformed.org. The best way to meet other members of our congregation is to visit one of our community groups (listed on page 9.) The groups are always open for visitors, and brand new groups form throughout the year. Finally, be sure to stop by the welcome table to sign up to be placed on our churchwide email list, and find more information about upcoming events and activities.
In Christ, Matt Koerber, Sr. Pastor
City Reformed
Presbyterian Church
Sunday Morning Worship
September 27, 2015
I believe in God the Father almighty
Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ
His only begotten Son, our Lord
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
He was crucified and dead and buried
And I believe that what I believe
Is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not
The invention of any man
-Rich Mullins, Creed
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Worship Service
Presider: Elder Jim Partridge (9:15)
Elder David Snoke (11:15)
Please stand for the call to worship if you are able.
Christ Is Able
Call to Worship: John 1:1-2, 4, 9-14, 16-17
Come ye sinners poor and needy
Come ye wounded, weak and worn.
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity joined with pow’r.
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
People: He was in the beginning with God…
Come ye needy, come and welcome
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Ev’ry grace that brings you nigh.
Leader: In him was life, and the life was the light of
men…
People: The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.
Chorus
He is able. He is able.
Christ is able doubt no more.
Come ye sinners poor and needy,
Christ is able still to save.
Leader: He was in the world, and the world was
made through him, yet the world did not know him.
People: He came to his own, and his own people
did not receive him.
Come ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better
You will never come at all.
Leader: But to all who did receive him, who believed
in his name, he gave the right to become children of
God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of
the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Chorus
People: And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of
the only Son from the Father, full of grace and
truth…
Come ye ransomed and forgiven.
Come ye rescued from the grave,
Rise and worship Christ our Savior,
For the glory of His name.
Leader: And from his fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace.
Chorus (2x)
People: For the law was given through Moses;
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Prayer of Invocation
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O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Call to Confession: Ephesians 2:4-7
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with
which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been
saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming
ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
Psalm 77:1-3
Congregation can sing parts simultaneously.
I cry aloud to God
And he will hear my call.
When troubles surround
I seek the Lord
My soul will not rest,
I seek God and moan;
And when I meditate
My spirit faints.
*As you are seated, we request that you move as much
toward the middle of your row as you can in order to
free chairs on the end and help the ushers seat people.
Thanks!*
Prayer of Confession:
Heavenly Father, we confess that we struggle to believe. We
struggle to trust that you are for us and not against us. We
feel weighed down by life; by pain and sorrow, by worries
and wants, and by our sin. And rather than turning to you
and to your son and trusting and resting in your goodness
and grace, we often grumble and complain, we throw up
our hands, and we turn for comfort to the idols of our
hearts. Lord, forgive us for our lack of faith. Help us to
find our hope and rest in you who did not spare your own
son and who graciously gives us all that we need in both
life and in death.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon: Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this
is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of
works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.
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Song of Renewal
Additional Scripture
During this song we will pass offering bags through the
congregation. We ask that our members and regular attendees
will thoughtfully consider their contribution as an act of worship a response to God’s grace in our lives. Those who are not a regular
part of our church are not expected to participate in the offering.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to
you about our common salvation, I found it necessary
to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that
was once for all delivered to the saints.
Satisfied
Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I
am with you always, to the end of the age.”
All my life long I had panted
For a drink from some clear spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
Chorus
Hallelujah! He has found me.
The one my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies all my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.
John 8:58-59 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to
you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up
stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went
out of the temple.
Feeding on the filth around me,
Till my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.
Chorus
Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.
Chorus
Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.
Chorus (2x)
Through His blood I now am saved.
Corporate & Pastoral Prayer
*At this time, children ages 4-7 may be dismissed for children’s
church. The leaders will take the children to children’s church and
then back to the worship service after the sermon. Children’s
Song of the Month: Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go.
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Sermon
The Apostles’ Creed
John 14:8-17
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me
has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and
the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells
in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account
of the works themselves.
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“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than
these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
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“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another
Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither
sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
15
“I believe in God”
- Reverend Matt Koerber
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Creedal Response: Westminster Shorter
Catechism
Additional Creedal Response: Westminster
Confession of Faith
Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
2.3 In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons,
of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.(1) The Father
is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son
is eternally begotten of the Father;(2) the Holy Ghost
eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.(3)
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby
we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation,
as he is offered to us in the gospel.
Additional Creedal Response: Heidelberg
Catechism:
Please stand for the final songs if you are able.
Q. 22. What, then, must a Christian believe?
Songs of Thanksgiving:
A. All that is promised us in the Gospel, which the
articles of our catholic and undoubted Christian
faith teach us in a summary.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father,
maker of heav’n and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, our Savior,
God’s own Son, of matchless worth;
By the Spirit was conceived of the virgin Mary born,
He in whom I have believed;
God Almighty three in one.
Q. 23. What are these articles?
A. I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator
of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His
only begotten Son, our Lord; He was conceived by
the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and
buried; He descended into hell; On the third
day He arose from the dead; He ascended into
heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father
almighty; from there He will come to judge the
living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit;
I believe a holy catholic Christian church, the
communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the
resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Suffered under Pontious Pilate,
crucified, for me he died.
Laid within the grave so silent,
gates of hell he opened wide;
For the stone-sealed tomb was empty;
on the third day he arose;
Into heaven made his entry;
mighty conquer’r of his foes.
At God’s right hand he is seated,
till his coming, as he said;
Final judgement will be meted to the living and the dead;
I confess the Holy Spirit,
who was sent through Christ the son
To apply salvations merit;
God, the Spirit Three in One.
Q. 24. How are these articles divided?
A. Into three parts: the first is about God the Father
and our creation; the second about God the Son
and our redemption; the third about God the Holy
Spirit and our sanctification.
Q. 25. Since there is only one God, why do you speak
of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
I believe the church of Jesus,
universal e’er remains;
We are one through all the ages in communion of the
saints.
I believe sins are forgiven,
that our bodies will be raised
To eternal life in glory,
ever let his name be praised.
A. Because God has so revealed Himself in His
Word that these three distinct persons are the one,
true, eternal God.
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Salvation Belongs To Our God
Prayer
Salvation belongs to our God,
Who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb,
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks,
Honor and power and strength.
Announcements
*At the beginning of announcements parents are dismissed to get
their children from nursery.
Benediction
Chorus
Be to our God forever and ever,
Be to our God forever and ever,
Be to our God forever and ever, amen.
And we, the redeemed, shall be strong,
In purpose and unity, declaring aloud,
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks,
Honor and power and strength.
Chorus (2x)
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Life Together
Announcements - Community - Ministries - Prayer
City Reformed Announcements
Welcome Lunch: October 4th
Welcome to the Twentieth Century Club!
Please keep in mind the following:
1. Please do not enter the balcony in the ballroom.
2. Please stay on the first and second floors.
3. Please keep an eye out for our children.
Are you new to City Reformed? Join the leaders of the church
for lunch after the 11:15 service on Sunday, October 4th. The
lunch will take place at the TCC, in the Lecture Hall. For more
information please contact Sarah: sarah@cityreformed.org.
New to City Reformed?
On October 9th & 10th, we will be holding a membership class
at our office (3524 Blvd of the Allies.) It’s 7-9:30pm on Friday
evening & 9am-1pm on Saturday. Lunch on Saturday will be
provided. Please contact Rob Gray: rob@cityreformed.org, if you
are interested in attending or have any questions.
Fall Membership Class: Oct 9th &10th
Please stop by the Welcome Table in the lobby. We would love
to meet you and give you some information about our church,
our faith, and upcoming events.
Nursery Meeting: This Morning
Ravi Zacharias: October 15th
Nursery workers & parents please meet at 11am in the
nursery rooms. This is an opportunity hear about some pretty
important changes. Contact Chrissie: chrissiekoerber@gmail.
com
Ravi Zacharias, a world-renowned Christian Apologist, will be
speaking on “What does it mean to be human?” at Soliders &
Sailors on Thursday, October 15th at 7pm followed by a Q&A.
Tickets are $5.50 but free for college students. City has tickets
available. Contact Sarah: sarah@cityreformed.org to claim yours
today!
Women’s Dinner & Discussion: Tonight!
Join the women of City Reformed for a dinner at the TCC on
Sept. 27th from 6-8pm for a time of fellowship and discussion
about City Reformed’s ministry to Women In the Church
(WIC) & the specific role of the WIC council.
Annual Church Hayride: October 17th
Everyone is invited to join in on the fall fun! Come on out
Saturday, October 17th to Hozak Farm (488 Anderson-Hozak Rd.
Clinton, PA 15026) at 5:30pm for a hayride, bonfire, singing & fun
together. $5/person or $20/family. Sign-Ups and ride information
coming soon.
Baby Bottle Campaign
Today is the last day to drop you change or bills into the big
baby bottle for the Women’s Choice Network fundraiser. If you
prefer to donate online, now or in the future, you can go to
mypregnancycenter.org and click on “donate now”.
Women’s Informal Gathering: Oct 17th
Elaine Bean will be welcoming the women of CRPC to her home
on Saturday, October 17th from 10am-12pm. She will provide a
breakfast casserole and hot & cold beverages. Come enjoy a time
of fellowship. Bring something to share if you are able. Children
are welcome. 5914 Wellesley Ave, Rear Apt.,(15206). If you’d like
to host an informal gathering in the fall/winter, please contact Liz
Burns: lizhopwood@gmail.com.
40 Days for Life: October 3rd
40 Days for Life is a pro-life campaign of prayer, fasting, &
peaceful vigil. From 7am-7pm every day Sept 23rd-Nov 1st,
the local Pittsburgh chapter will have people keeping vigil
outside of Planned Parenthood downtown. City is signed up
for a 2hr prayer vigil on Saturday, Oct. 3rd from 9-11am. If
you would like to participate, either during our official time
slot or another time, please contact Meg Sateia: meg.sateia@
gmail.com.
A Night for Missons: October 18th
Please join the Mission Committee for dinner on Sunday, October
18th at 6pm at the TCC. We would love for people to bring a
culturally-themed dish according to their last name: A-H: side/
salad, I-P: main dish, Q-Z: dessert. Sign up at the Missions Table.
This will be opportunity hear about missionaries & ministries we
support.
Fundraising Dinner: October 3rd
City Reformed’s Mission Committee is partnering with
Motema Ministries on Saturday, Oct. 3rd, for a fundraising
event, A Taste of Congo, including Congolese food, fashion,
music & more. 6pm at Fourth Pres. (5450 Friendship Ave
15232). Tickets are $15 for Adults & Children 13+. Free for
kids under 12. To reserve tickets or for more information
please email: tickets@motemaminitries.org.
Pittsburgh Project Work Day: October 24th
8
Community Work Day with The Pittsburgh Project (2801 North
Charles Street). October 24th, 8am–5:30pm. The Pittsburgh
Project provides free home repairs to the elderly and disabled
residents of Pittsburgh. Middle School age to adults are all
welcome to participate. There is a $30 fee, $10 of which is due by
October 10th. See David Bacon (bacon1986@gmail.com) for info
and forms to fill out. Please sign up by Sunday, October 4th.