Bulletin 3/20/2016 - Grace Pasadena Church

PRELUDE: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Be Thou My Vision
OFFERING OF PEACE
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.
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.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my Light.
Leader
All
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 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.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true Son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
> At this time, children attending children’s church are dismissed.
Moms, Dads & Guardians today
It is our great joy that you and your family are with us today! We want you to know that
all children, no matter their age, are welcome in our worship service. However, some
may want to take advantage of Grace Pasadena’s Children’s Church or Nursery Care. If
you would like to have your child in Children’s Church, please make sure to sign them
in before leading them towards the back doors so that our Children’s Church leaders may
escort them.
Welcome Pads are located on the welcome table
Please take a moment to fill out your information on the visitor pads so that we can better
inform you of upcoming events and ministries at Grace Pasadena.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader
People
Leader
People
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that
the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory!
OPENING HYMN: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come Thou fount of every 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 Thy redeeming 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, wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood
Oh to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above
PRAYER OF ADORATION
READING OF JOHN 12
The Triumphal Entry
12
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him,
crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the
King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15
“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s
colt!”
16
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified,
then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been
done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of
the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason
why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So
the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the
world has gone after him.”
SONGS OF PRAISE: Sing To The Lord (Psalm 96)
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Sing to the Lord, all the earth
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Sing to the Lord, all the earth
For great is the Lord
Most worthy of praise
For great is our God
Most worthy of praise
Let the whole earth sing
To the Name above all names
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart;
High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
May the peace of the Lord be always with you!
And also with you.
OUR OFFERING
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead,
and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
SONG OF AFFIRMATION: Here Is Love Vast As The Ocean
Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.
Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free.
On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.
In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.
Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Hannah Mali Rose Lanfer
Covenant Child of Peter and Sarah Lanfer
QUESTIONS FOR BAPTISM
• Do you acknowledge Hannah’s need of Jesus and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?
• Do you claim God’s covenant promises on her behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord
Jesus Christ for her salvation, as you do your own?
• Do you promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before
Hannah a godly example, that you will pray with and for her, that you will teach her the
doctrines of our faith, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s provision, to bring
her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
To the Congregation
• Do you as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting these parents in the
Christian nurture of Hannah?
At Grace Pasadena, we do not pass a collection plate; rather we use this time of reflection
to consider all that we have and all that God may be asking us to give. Please take this time
to reflect on what God may be asking of you with regard to your financial gifts, personal
time and even vocational calling. For our regular attendees and those wishing to help
Grace Pasadena financially, there is a box located near the main entrance under the cross
in which you may place your offering after the worship service concludes or during the
time of communion. You may also mail your offering to our office address: 65 N. Raymond
Ave., Suite 260, Pasadena, CA 91103; text your gift amount to (626) 261-7222; or make an
online payment via our website (www.gracepasadena.org/give).
READING OF SCRIPTURE
John 15:1-17
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that
does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,
that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I
have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not
abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are
gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words
abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my
Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As
the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my
commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my
joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14
You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you
servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called
you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go
and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father
in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you
will love one another.
1
2
MORNING MESSAGE: Lives That Count
Rev. Charlie Drew
Lenten Series: Walk With Jesus - The Passion of Jesus
COMMUNION
Guidelines: The sacrament of Communion is also called the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. It
is the family meal of Christians. It is for all who are willing to forsake their sin and trust in
Jesus Christ for salvation. The invitation to take the bread and drink from the cup is from
Jesus Christ alone, not from this church or any minister. As such, to partake in this sacrament there is only one requirement: you must be able to call yourself a Christian. That is
all, nothing more.
Gluten Free: For those of you wishing to partake in Communion with gluten free bread, it
will be available in the small dish.
CLOSING SONG: Doxology
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen
BENEDICTION
Leader
All
Lenten Sermon Series: Walk with Jesus – The Passion of Jesus
Easter Sunday: Live with Jesus
Spring Series: 1st Samuel
FROM PHILIPPIANS 4:7
May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
G R A C E P A S A D E N A’ S V I S I O N S TAT E M E N T
Grace Pasadena exists to Experience & Extend the life-giving grace of God
• As we grow in the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ
• In every sphere of life
• For our neighborhoods, city and the world
G R A C E P A S A D E N A’ S C O R E VA L U E S
God Centered Worship – We seek to be transformed in worship as we
experience the wonder of God and respond appropriately
Gospel Driven Identity – We seek a personal experience of the gospel
that both humbles us, and assures us that we are more deeply valued and
loved by God than we can possibly imagine
Outward Facing Community – We seek the betterment of our city as we
extend God’s grace by loving our neighbors as ourselves
Kingdom Minded Movement – We seek to extend the Kingdom of Jesus
Christ by creating community and global partnerships that can reach and
serve those in need
C O N TA C T : W H O & H O W
Please use this section to meet and stay in contact with others, whether they are within our
church family or not. We want to help you build community that endures.
I got to know ___________________________________________________________________
How am I going to follow up with them? ____________________________________________
GIVING & BUDGET
OFFERINGS & CONTRIBUTIONS JAN-FEB
MAR 2016
$60,285
$13,909
as of 3/12/2016
Mailing/Office Address:
65 N. Raymond Ave., Suite 260
Pasadena, CA 91103
(888) 909-7218 (voicemail only) | info@gracepasadena.org | www.gracepasadena.org
Music lyrics printed by permission: CCLI #2816052
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version
© 2001 Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Friday, March 25 - Good Friday Service, 6-7 pm
Note: Children will worship in the service with their families.
Sunday, March 27 - Easter Service: Grace in the Park, 10 am
Our Easter service will be held outside in Memorial Park’s Levitt Pavilion. Bring a blanket and/
or a chair to enjoy a potluck picnic together after the service.
Sign up to bring something to share for our Easter picnic! Visit the Welcome Table to see the list
of items we need. If you’re in a City Group, you’ll receive instructions from your group leader.
Elder - Wise Counselor - Deacon Nominations
As the church continues to grow, so does our need for elders, wise counselors and deacons.
We are now accepting nominations for these servant leaders. You may submit your nominations
by April 24th. Pick up a nomination form at the welcome table, complete it and place it in the
offering box after any worship service. Or, download one from our weekly newsletter and send
it back to info@gracepasadena.org. Please be sure to include your name when you submit the
form. Nominations without your name will not be considered.
Children’s Ministry
March Monthly Newsletter
Be sure to pick up a copy of the March Newsletter at the children’s check-in desk or find a
copy in our weekly newsletter. This issue includes a description of changes that are happening
in the 4-9 yr old classrooms, ways to include your children in worship and a review on the
new Kutless CD and Zootopia movie. Fun new apps are highlighted that you may enjoy with
your kids as well.
Road to Resurrection
As the culminating event to the Lent devotionals, Grace children and their
families will journey to the cross in an interactive reenactment of God’s
greatest love story ever! Together we will walk The Road to Resurrection
and hear the shouts of Hosanna; we will listen to the guards as they jeer
and jest Jesus; we will see the tomb and mourn Jesus’ death; and then
we will be met on the road with great news!!! This hands on experience
is a beautiful culmination to the love themes we will have studied and
reflected upon during Lent. The Road to Resurrection begins at 8am
on March 27 and the walk lasts one hour. Groups will depart every 15
minutes until 9am. Immediately following The Road to Resurrection is our annual Easter
celebration service in the park at 10am. You can register for your time slot at the children’s
check-in desk, or via the link found in our weekly e-newsletter.
Mercy Ministry
If you are in need of financial, career, relational or other help, please contact Cori Page at
mercy@gracepasadena.org. All requests are shared with the Deaconate and are confidential.
Loving Our Muslim Neighbors
Church Office, Sunday’s 4/10- 5/29, 1:30-2:30 pm
This eight-week class looks at how Christians can approach and understand other religious
traditions while remaining faithful to the Gospel and maintaining a receptive posture towards
other religions. Each class will look at one aspect of the relationship between Muslims and
Christians and suggest various ways to better love our Muslim neighbors. This class is open
to all of Grace Pasadena. For more information, contact the instructor, Alex at alexmassad@
gmail.com.
Global Church Monthly Meetings
You’re invited and welcome to participate in the Global Church Mercy Meetings held once a
month at 5 pm at the church office. This month’s meeting will be held on Sunday, March 20,
65 N Raymond Ave., Ste. 260 in Pasadena. We hope to see you there!
Don Carson in his commentary on Matthew notices
that Jesus is riding an unbroken animal. You can’t ride
an animal before it is broken. Especially a baby donkey
riding through a yelling crowd! Humanly speaking no
rider could do this. “In the midst of all of this an unbroken
young animal remains totally calm under the hands of the
Messiah who controls nature, and stills the storm. This
even points to the peace of the consummated kingdom.
Jesus is the Lord of all and under his hand nothing but
harmony and peace comes about. The animal knows and
loves his true master for who he is. This is a foreshadowing
of the healing and completion of all nature as found in
Isaiah 11, the wolf shall live with the lamb…”
“Think, for a moment, what Mark’s record would convey
to those who read it first – the Christians in Rome. No
doubt many of them had seen generals enter Rome in
triumph to receive the accolades of victory. How stark
the contrast between Roman glory and Jesus’ humility
must have seemed. How mighty and powerful the sword
and political power by contrast with King Jesus! Yet we
know that his kingdom was established, while the glory
that was Rome disappeared into oblivion. We know that
what Jesus did in Jerusalem established a kingdom which
would outlast all the kingdoms of this world and break
in pieces every man-centered kingdom which sets itself
against it. Jesus had come to taken his throne – but had
committed himself to begin his reign from a cross.”
SINCLAIR FERGUSON
Safety at Grace
Due to our public urban location and desire to welcome the larger community, we strongly
recommend that parents watch children in the hallways and that church members direct
requests for help and transportation to the Mercy Ministry Director.
City Groups
If you are interested in joining a City Group, contact our City Groups Director, Ben Ewen, at
citygroups@gracepasadena.org or visit the Connect table on Sunday mornings to obtain a list
of our current groups.
MARCH 20, 2016
PA L M S U N D AY