City Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City

10/25/2021

For those who follow us who have not yet heard the news, City Pres has merged with New Song Pres to form New City Salt Lake! Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/NewCitySaltLake/

10/03/2021

Come join us for our final City Pres service today at 2:00 at Missio Dei (520 W 200 N). City Pres is merging with New Song Pres and forming New City Salt Lake! We will keep you posted as the new church is launched.

08/26/2021

Another joint worship service with New Song Presbyterian Church (PCA) this Sunday! Come join us at 10:00 AM at 2139 S. Foothill Dr.

07/24/2021

Joint worship service with New Song Presbyterian Church (PCA) tomorrow! It’s going to be great! Join us at 10:00 AM at 2139 S. Foothill Dr.

01/17/2021

Join us for our livestream worship service today at 2:00 PM!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzRoz8Bg1gTQWePDberqk1Q

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
-Psalm 126 (ESV)

Thy Mercy, My God

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
-by John Stocker

Old Testament Reading
Joel 2:21-27
“Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.
24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.
26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame. (ESV)

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Doxology

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.

Children’s Sermon

Be Thou my Vision

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.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

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.
-6th Century Irish Hymn

Confession of Sin

Holy Father, you have called blessed the one who does not walk in step with the wicked,
yet there we walk.
Help us to walk in step with your will.
You have called blessed the one who does not stand on the path of sinners,
yet there we stand.
Help us to stand on the promises of your word.
You have called blessed the one who does not sit in the company of mockers,
yet there we sit.
Help us to find our joy sitting in the company of saints at your feet.
Teach us to delight in your law and to meditate on it so that we may stand like a tree planted by the water, yielding fruit and prospering in your will.
-from Psalm 1

Assurance of Pardon

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (ESV)

Instrument of Peace

Chorus:
Lord, make me an instrument of peace,
An instrument of peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of peace,
An instrument of peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is darkness, let me sow light.
For in the giving, we shall receive,
And in the dying, we’re given life.

Chorus

Where there is sorrow, let me sow hope.
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith.
Where there is injury, Your pardon give,
Your consolation to those in pain.

Chorus
-By: Isaac Wrdell, Liz Vice, Jessica Fox, Orlando Palmer, Paul Zach

Sermon
Mark 4:1-20
Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that
“‘they may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

(ESV)

Confession of Faith
Heidelberg Catechism Q & A 1
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong—
body and soul, in life and in death—
to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven;
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Offering
To give financially to City Presbyterian, you can make donations online at www.citypresbyterian.org.
Click on the tab at the top that says “Partner with us.

In the Fields of the Lord

In the fields of the Lord our work is rest.
He is moving in our hands and feet to bless.
In the fields of the Lord
In the fields of the Lord
In the fields of the Lord our work is rest

In the vineyards of the Lord our work is light.
He is tending every leaf and every vine
In the vineyards of the Lord
In the vineyards of the Lord
In the vineyards of the Lord our work is light.

In the garden of the Lord our work is sound
He is weaving every thorn into a crown
In the garden of the Lord
In the garden of the Lord
In the garden of the Lord our work is sound

At the harvest of the Lord the fields are white.
He is wiping ‘way the tears from ev’ry eye.
At the harvest of the Lord
At the harvest of the Lord
At the harvest of the Lord the fields are white.
-by: Audrey Assad and Isaac Wardell

Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours forever.
Amen.

Sending of the Community

Benediction

We Will Make No Peace with Oppression

We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,
We will make no peace, no peace.
We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,
We will make no peace, no peace.
Those who live by the sword will die by the sword
We will stand against violence of every form
We will march in the street, “No justice, no peace
arm in arm with our neighbor till we all stand free.
Almighty God, help us not to be afraid
Almighty God, give us your strength.

We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,
we will make no peace, no peace.
We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,
We will make no peace, no peace.
We won’t turn away from the pain of our brother
cries of our sisters, grieving of our mothers
We won’t turn away from destructive politicians
our overflowing prisons, corruption in our systems.
Almighty God, help us not to be afraid
almighty God, give us your strength.
By Porter’s Gate

A special thanks to Missio Dei for their hospitality!

City Groups
City Men’s Groups
This group meets at 8 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at of every month.
Contact Danny Maland for more info at [email protected]

Women’s Group
Contact McKenna DeWyn at [email protected] for more information.

Northside Group
Northside Group is meeting on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month at 1:30pm at the home of Rebecca Ludwig. We are currently going through a study on the book of Revelation. Please email Rebecca Ku**er at [email protected] for info or to RSVP!

YRC Service
We have a group that regularly serves meals at the Homeless Youth Resource Center. If you would like to help, contact Mitch Thomas.

Membership Class
In mid-January, the session of City Pres will be offering an online membership class. The class is intended to communicate who we are as a church and what official membership is and isn't, especially in the context of the vows made between new members and the existing church community. Whether you are a member already, interested in membership, or just want to know more about City Pres, you are invited. We will be sending out more info in January. In the meantime, let Danny, Justin, or Mark know if you are interested.

There are many opportunities to serve your church family. If you are interested in ministry opportunities, please email Rebecca Ku**er ([email protected]) or find her after service.

If you would like to add an announcement to next week’s bulletin, please send your announcement to Justin Smith by Thursday: [email protected]

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

01/10/2021

Join us today for our livestream worship service. Here is the link to our YouTube page where you can find the livestream:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzRoz8Bg1gTQWePDberqk1Q

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
-Isaiah 60:1-6 (ESV)

Come Praise and Glorify

Come praise and glorify our God
The Father of our Lord
In Christ He has in heav’nly realms
His blessings on us poured
For pure and blameless in His sight
He destined us to be
And now we’ve been adopted through
His Son eternally

Chorus:
We sing praise of Your glory
We sing praise of Your mercy and grace
We sing 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 myst’ry of His will
That Christ should be the head of all
His purpose to fulfill

Chorus

Come praise and glorify our God
For we’ve believed the Word
And through our faith we have a seal
The Spirit of the Lord
The Spirit guarantees our hope
Until redemption’s done
Until we join in endless praise
To God, the Three in One

Chorus
- Songwriter(s): Bob Kauflin, Tim Chester

Old Testament Reading
Psalm 71:1-14
Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
5 May they fear you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
7 In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
9 May desert tribes bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust!
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him!
12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.
(ESV)

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Doxology

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.

Children’s Sermon

Jesus Shall Reign

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
with every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.

Blessings abound where'er he reigns:
the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring
the highest honors to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud amen.
-Author: Isaac Watts (1719)
-Music: Lowell Mason

Confession of Sin

Almighty and merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against you
and one another in both our actions
and our inactions.
We recognize that in Jesus our light
has come,
Yet often we choose to walk in the shadows
and ignore the light.
Gracious God, forgive our sins
And remove from us the veil of darkness
which shrouds our lives.
Illumine us by your Word
So we may shine with the radiance
of Christ's glory. Amen.
From reformedworship.org

Assurance of Pardon

and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
-Ephesians 3:9-12 (ESV)

In Christ there is no East or West

In Christ there is no East or West,
in Him no North or South;
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

In Him shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord,
close binding humankind.

Chorus:
Join hands, then, members of the faith,
whate'er your race may be;
who serves my Father as His child
is surely kin to me.

In Him those walls shall tumble down,
that bear hostility,
and the whole family of God
shall dwell in unity.

In Christ now meet both East and West;
in Him meet North and South:
all Christlike souls are one in Him
throughout the whole wide earth.

Chorus
-Words by William A. Dunkerley & J. Littlepage
-Music by J. & M. Littlepage

Sermon
Matthew 2:1-12
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
(ESV)

Confession of Faith
Heidelberg Catechism Q & A 1
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong—
body and soul, in life and in death—
to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven;
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Offering
To give financially to City Presbyterian, you can make donations online at www.citypresbyterian.org.
Click on the tab at the top that says “Partner with us.”

Soon and Very Soon

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we're going to see the King

No more crying there, we are going to see the King
No more crying there, we are going to see the King
No more crying there, we are going to see the King
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we're going to see the King

No more dying there, we are going to see the King
No more dying there, we are going to see the King
No more dying there, we are going to see the King
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we're going to see the King

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we're going to see the King
-by Andraé Crouch

Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours forever.
Amen.

Sending of the Community

Benediction

We Will Make No Peace with Oppression

We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,
We will make no peace, no peace.
We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,
We will make no peace, no peace.
Those who live by the sword will die by the sword
We will stand against violence of every form
We will march in the street, “No justice, no peace
arm in arm with our neighbor till we all stand free.
Almighty God, help us not to be afraid
Almighty God, give us your strength.

We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,
we will make no peace, no peace.
We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,
We will make no peace, no peace.
We won’t turn away from the pain of our brother
cries of our sisters, grieving of our mothers
We won’t turn away from destructive politicians
our overflowing prisons, corruption in our systems.
Almighty God, help us not to be afraid
almighty God, give us your strength.
By Porter’s Gate

A special thanks to Missio Dei for their hospitality!

City Groups

City Men’s Groups
This group meets at 8 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at of every month.
Contact Danny Maland for more info at [email protected]

Women’s Group
Talk to McKenna DeWyn for more information.

Northside Group
Northside Group is meeting on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month at 1:30pm at the home of Rebecca Ludwig. We are currently going through a study on the book of Revelation. Please email Rebecca Ku**er at [email protected] for info or to RSVP!

YRC Service
We have a group that regularly serves meals at the Homeless Youth Resource Center. If you would like to help, contact Mitch Thomas.

Membership Class
In mid-January, the session of City Pres will be offering an online membership class. The class is intended to communicate who we are as a church and what official membership is and isn't, especially in the context of the vows made between new members and the existing church community. Whether you are a member already, interested in membership, or just want to know more about City Pres, you are invited. We will be sending out more info in January. In the meantime, let Danny, Justin, or Mark know if you are interested.

There are many opportunities to serve your church family. If you are interested in ministry opportunities, please email Rebecca Ku**er ([email protected]) or find her after service.

If you would like to add an announcement to next week’s bulletin, please send your announcement to Justin Smith by Thursday: [email protected]

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

01/03/2021

Join us for our livestream worship service as we continue to celebrate Jesus coming into the world. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzRoz8Bg1gTQWePDberqk1Q

Also, the order of worship is below.

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.
Praise the Lord!
-Psalm 147:12-20 (ESV)

All Creatures of our God and King

All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam,

Refrain:
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rushing morn in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening find a voice,

Refrain

All ye men of tender heart
Forgiving others take your part
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care

Refrain

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness.
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, Three in One

Refrain
-Paraphrased: William H. Draper;
-Author: St. Francis of Assisi

Old Testament Reading
Jeremiah 31:7-14
7 For thus says the Lord:
“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘O Lord, save your people,
the remnant of Israel.’
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
9 With weeping they shall come,
and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,
I will make them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble,
for I am a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
10 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’
11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall be like a watered garden,
and they shall languish no more.
13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
14 I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,
and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,
declares the Lord.” (ESV)

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Doxology

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.

Children’s Sermon

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The King of Love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me;
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing brought me.

In death’s dark vale, I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thine unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth.

And so through all the length of days,
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
-H. W. Baker

Confession of Sin

Lord of grace and truth,
we confess our unworthiness
to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

The Virgin Mary accepted your call
to be the mother of Jesus.
Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

Your Son our Savior
was born in poverty in a manger.
Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

The shepherds left their flocks
to go to Bethlehem.
Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

The wise men followed the star
to find Jesus the King.
Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
From oremus.org

Assurance of Pardon

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
-Ephesians 1:3-14 (ESV)

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

Come behold the wondrous mystery
In the dawning of the king
He the theme of heaven's praises
Robed in frail humanity
In our longing, in our darkness
Now the light of life has come
Look to Christ, who condescended
Took on flesh to ransom us

Come behold the wondrous mystery
He the perfect Son of Man
In his living, in his suffering
Neither trace nor stain of sin
See the true and better Adam
Come to save the hell-bound man
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law; in Him we stand

Come behold the wondrous mystery
Christ the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the Lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption
See the Father's plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured, love untold

Come behold the wondrous mystery
Slain by death the God of life
But no grave could e'er restrain Him
Praise the Lord; He is alive!
What a foretaste of deliverance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when he comes
- By: Matt Pap, Matt Boswell and Michael Bleecker

Sermon
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 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. (ESV)

Confession of Faith
Heidelberg Catechism Q & A 1
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong—
body and soul, in life and in death—
to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven;
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Offering
To give financially to City Presbyterian, you can make donations online at www.citypresbyterian.org.
Click on the tab at the top that says “Partner with us.”

Welcome to Our World

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking,
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised,
we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child,
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that You don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home,
Please make Yourself at home.

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world,
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born,
unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us Holy
Perfect Son of God,
Welcome to our world
-by: Chris Rice

Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours forever.
Amen.
Sending of the Community

Benediction

Father Let Your Kingdom Come

Chorus:
Hallelu, hallelujah,
Father, let Your kingdom come.
Hallelu, hallelujah,
Father, let Your kingdom come.

May the works of my hands bring You joy. (x4)

Chorus

May the words from my mouth speak Your peace. (x4)

Chorus

You make all things new
You make all things new
In places we don’t choose
You make all things new

Chorus (x2)

By Ben Cooper, Latifah Alattas, Liz Vice, Paul Zach, Madison Cunningham, Orlando Palmer, and Isaac Wardell

A special thanks to Missio Dei for their hospitality!

City Groups
City Men’s Groups
This group meets at 8 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at of every month.
Contact Danny Maland for more info at [email protected]

Women’s Group
Talk to McKenna DeWyn for more information.

Northside Group
Northside Group is meeting on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month at 1:30pm at the home of Rebecca Ludwig. We are currently going through a study on the book of Revelation. Please email Rebecca Ku**er at [email protected] for info or to RSVP!

YRC Service
We have a group that regularly serves meals at the Homeless Youth Resource Center. If you would like to help, contact Mitch Thomas.

Membership Class
In mid-January, the session of City Pres will be offering an online membership class. The class is intended to communicate who we are as a church and what official membership is and isn't, especially in the context of the vows made between new members and the existing church community. Whether you are a member already, interested in membership, or just want to know more about City Pres, you are invited. We will be sending out more info in January. In the meantime, let Danny, Justin, or Mark know if you are interested.

There are many opportunities to serve your church family. If you are interested in ministry opportunities, please email Rebecca Ku**er ([email protected]) or find her after service.

If you would like to add an announcement to next week’s bulletin, please send your announcement to Justin Smith by Thursday: [email protected]

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