CHRIST CHURCH

ANN ARBOR

SEEK THE GOOD OF THE CITY

M a y 2 8 , 2 0 1 7
 GATHERING
• GREETING
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

Let us worship the Triune God.

• CALL TO WORSHIP
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;

in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;

I have sworn to David my servant:

‘I will establish your offspring forever,

and build your throne for all generations.’ ”

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,

your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?

Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord. (Psalm 89:1–6)

• OPENING PRAYER
Gracious God, we confess that we have longed too much for the comforts of this world. We have
loved the gifts more than the Giver. In your mercy, help us to see that all the things we pine for are
shadows, but you are the Substance; that they are quicksands, but you are the Rock; that they are
changing tides, but you are the Anchor.
Amen.

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For the Beauty of the Earth
For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Refrain: Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour,

Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light. (Refrain)

For Thyself, best Gift Divine.

To our race so freely given,
For that great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth and joy in Heaven. (Refrain)

Public Domain.
Words: Folliott Pierpoint, 1864.
Music: Conrad Kocher, 1838

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Trisagion
Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy, have mercy on us.

Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy, have mercy on us.

Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy, have mercy,
Have mercy, have mercy on us.

©2011 Word Entertainment.

Words: Ancient Prayer, before the 5th century.
Music: Fernando Ortega, 2011.

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• CONFESSION
(Confess your sins silently before the Lord.)

He Will Hold Me Fast

When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast.
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path,
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.
For my life he bled and died;
Christ will hold me fast.
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with him to endless life;
He will hold me fast.
Till our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last. (Chorus)

Chorus: He will hold me fast,

He will hold me fast, Public Domain. v. 1-2, Ada Habershon (1861-1918).
© 2013 Getty Music & Matthew Merker Music.
For my Savior loves me so; Words: Alt words v.1-2, new words v.3, Matt Merker, 2013.
He will hold me fast. Music: Matt Merker, 2013.

Those he saves are his delight;

Christ will hold me fast.
Precious in his holy sight;
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by him at such a cost;
He will hold me fast. (Chorus)

• PARDON
Hear the good news!
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against
whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1–2)

Amen

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• THE PEACE (Children 9 and under dismissed for children’s church)
Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
you all. And also with you.

• PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

God of mercy, you promised never to break your covenant with us. Amid all the changing words
of our generation, speak your eternal Word that does not change. Then may we respond to
your gracious promises with faithful and obedient lives; through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

• OLD TESTAMENT READING : Isaiah 65:13–16

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold,
my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be
put to shame; behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain
of heart and shall wail for breaking of spirit. You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse,
and the Lord God will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name, so that he
who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath
in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are
hidden from my eyes.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

• NEW TESTAMENT READING : 1 John 4:7–9

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been
born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because
God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his
only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

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Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven,
Feed me now and evermore;
Bread of heaven,
Feed me now and evermore.

Open now the crystal fountain,

Whence the healing waters flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
Strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,

Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee;
Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee.

©2002 Music (ASCAP) admin. by The Loving Company.

Words: William Williams (alt. Jeremy Casella), 1745.
Music: Jeremy Casella, 2002.

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• SERMON : Psalm 4, Ephesians 4:26-27 Rev. Kevin Chen

Ephesians 4 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on
your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

Psalm 4 1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

7 You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

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• AFFIRMATION OF FAITH : The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father
and he will come again 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
*“catholic” in this context means “universal”; the creed is stating that we believe in global unity of the church—“one Lord, one faith,
one baptism” (Eph. 4:5).

• OFFERING
Let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth.
“Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8b)

• THE LORD’S SUPPER

All those who have been baptized and believe in the Triune God, who are members in good standing in
any church, and who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are welcome to partake according to your
conscience.

(Please proceed down the center aisle and return to your seats via the outside aisles. Hold onto both
elements and we will partake together. We offer red wine and white grape juice.)

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IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLORIOUS CROSS
In the shadow of the glorious cross
Compelled by grace to cast my lot,
Iʼll discard the loss and bare your name,
Forsaking all for your own fame.

Your hymn of grace sung over me

Abounding forth in glorious streams,
My thirst is quenched by you, my Lord.
Sustained am I, redeemed restored.
Sustained am I, redeemed restored.

Chorus: Hallelujah, Hallelujah

When deathʼs dark shadowʼs at my feet,

When I am plagued by unbelief,
You place my hands into your side,
By precious blood identified,
By precious blood identified. (Chorus)

These crowns Iʼve clenched with fisted hands

I cast them down before the throne.
Of Christ my God the worthy Lamb,
Christ crucified, the Great I AM. (Chorus 3x)

©2007 Sojourn Community Church.

Words and Music: Brooks Ritter & Rebecca Elliot, 2007.

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 SENDING
• CHARGE AND BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to
you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24–26)

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

Amen.

Join us again next week at 11:15 a.m.―

929 Barton Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

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• CONTACT US
Will Shurtliff, Senior Pastor, pastorwill@christchurchA2.org
Kevin Chen, Associate Pastor, kevin@christchurchA2.org
Tim Wilson, Pastoral Assistant, tim@christchurchA2.org
James Jensen, Young Adult Ministry, james@christchurchA2.org

Elders: Ryan Arnold, Alvin Cabansag, Michael Deering, David Wiggin

Nursery care available downstairs during the worship service.

• GROW AND CONNECT

Community Groups:
Monday at 7:00 pm: No Young Adults group this week because of Memorial Day.
Thursday at 6:30 pm: The Thursday night group will be meeting at the Wingfield’s in Ypsilanti. Contact Tim
Wilson for more information.
Friday at 7:00 pm: The Friday night group is taking the summer off.

Used By Permission. CCLI License #11111328

Youth WhirlyBall
Calling all Christ Church teenagers! The young adult would like to take you to WhirlyBall on Sat. June 17th
from 4-6 pm for an afternoon of fun! It'll be $10 per person. Contact James Jensen if you have any
questions.

From Doctrine to Doxology

Adult Sunday school meets weekly before the worship service at 10:15 downstairs in the basement. Contact
Tim Wilson for more information.

Church Volunteers
We continue to look for volunteers to help out in various areas. If you want to help please talk with one of
our pastors.

Contact Info & Prayer Request

Stay in touch with the church! Tear off and drop in the offering plate.
Name: ___________________________

Email: ____________________________

Phone: ___________________________

Prayer Requests: _________________________________________________________________