1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

lenten sunday
22 february 2015
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Reflection
“If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if
rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death.” • Pythagoras
“Rather he consoled himself with the fact that, in the real world, when he looked closely into the
darkness he might find the presence of a light, damaged and bruised, but a little light all the same.” • Colum McCann, Let the Great World Spin
Preparation
Use the time before the service as an opportunity to prepare for worship, quiet your heart, and
receive Christ. Feel free to read the reflections above. As a courtesy, please turn off your cell
phone, beeper, iPod, or other noisemaker at this time.
Welcome
The ancient Celts believed that there were “thin places” on this earth; places where you could
experience the very presence of God. Worship is a “thin place” between heaven and earth
where we meet with God. When we gather for congregational worship we enter into the very
presence of the Living God. No matter who you are or what you have done, God, by his grace, is
able to change your life forever. Meet with him at this “thin place”: worship.
Credits
All Scripture references taken from the New International Version (NIV), unless otherwise noted
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Call to Worship
Psalm 96:1-2
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Prayer of Invocation
“Sing His Love” *
Father, long before creation, thou hadst chosen us in love
And that love so deep, so moving, draws us close to Christ above
Still it keeps us, still it keeps us, firmly fixed in Christ alone
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The Call to Worship is an
invitation into the unique
activity of worship. Our
primary activity in the worship
service is to participate in the
gift exchange of worship itself,
by hearing God’s Word, by
offering prayers and praise,
and by receiving spiritual
nourishment offered at the
Lord’s table.
The term invocation implies
that the congregation invokes,
or “calls upon,” God. In it,
we express our longing for God
as well as deep dependence
and humility.
CHORUS
And the world will sing his love
The world will sing his love
And we'll all join hands, every woman, every man
We'll sing his love
Though the world may change its fashion, yet our God is ever the same;
His compassion and his covenant, through all ages will remain
God's own children, God's own children, must forever praise his name
God so loved us, God so loved us
That his only son he gave
God's compassion is my story, is my boasting all the day;
Mercy free and never failing, moves my will, directs my way
• Words: Based on an ancient Chinese hymn text
• Music: Andrew Osenga (2006)
*Please rise in body or in spirit
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“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” *
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow, of turning with thee
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been, thou forever will be
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars, in their courses above
Join with all nature, in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
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Why do we sing in church?
As God's people gather for
worship, we focus our attention
on God and away from
ourselves by singing together.
We respond with thanksgiving
to God, because we have hope.
And we sing because it is the
best and most complete
response that we can utter.
CHORUS
Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence, to cheer and to guide
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside
• Words: Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)
• Music: Fernando Ortega (2006)
First Reading *
Proverbs 20:5-12
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As the Bible is the primary
means by which God speaks to
and edifies his people, we read
and listen to the Scriptures
together in worship. In ancient
Israel and the early church,
services of worship were
organized for the public
reading of scripture – a
practice vital to building up the
community of faith.
The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of
understanding draws them out. 6 Many a man claims to have
unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? 7 The righteous
man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil
with his eyes. 9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am
clean and without sin"? 10 Differing weights and differing
measures-- the LORD detests them both. 11 Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his
conduct is pure and right. 12 Ears that hear and eyes that see-- the LORD has made them both.
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Call to Confession
Based on Romans 8:39
We know that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God
in Jesus Christ. Let us in freedom confess the wrong we have done.
Corporate Confession
O God, you have shown us the way of life
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
We confess with shame our slowness to learn of him,
our failure to follow him,
and our reluctance to bear the cross. Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.
We confess the poverty of our worship,
our neglect of fellowship and of the means of grace,
our hesitating witness for Christ,
our evasion of responsibilities in our service,
our imperfect stewardship of your gifts.
Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.
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Because sin is so pervasive in
both our corporate and
individual lives, Christians and
non-Christians are called to
come before the Father with
honesty and transparency,
confessing our brokenness
and asking for both forgiveness
and healing through Jesus
Christ…
…we confess corporately to
show our unity even in our
brokenness.
Private Confession
We confess individually in
order to own our failing toward
God and toward humankind in
thought, word and deed.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Christ has given the Church
authority to declare
forgiveness of sins in his
name. Because of this, when
the liturgist proclaims that your
sins are forgiven, you can know
that Christ agrees.
From 1 John 1:5, 7
This is the message we have heard from God and proclaim to you,
that God is light and in God there is no darkness at all. If we walk in
the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
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“How Long” *
How long, O Lord, shall I complain, like one that seeks his God in vain?
Canst thou thy face for ever hide, and I still pray, and be denied?
Shall I for ever be forgot, as one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thine absence mourn, and still despair of thy return?
CHORUS
But I have trusted in thy grace
And shall again behold thy face
Behold thy face
How long shall my poor troubled breast, be with these anxious thoughts oppressed?
And Satan, my malicious foe, rejoice to see me sunk so low?
Whatever my fears or foes suggest, thou art my hope, my joy, my rest;
My heart shall feel thy love, and raise, my cheerful voice to songs of praise
• Words: Isaac Watts (1719)
• Music: Karl Digerness (2008)
Prayers of the People
After each petition of the prayer, there will be a time to pray silently.
Please join us in the following refrain:
Leader: Lord, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
In response to God's having
gathered us in worship, we
offer our petitions to him for
the church, the nation, the
world, the city and those who
are suffering.
The Lord's Prayer Based on Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth
as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have
forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For the
kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
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Passing the Peace
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
CityChurch Update
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Passing the peace is a
tradition rooted in Scripture
that embodies our identity as
peacemakers (Matt. 5:9; 2 Cor.
5:20) and trains ours hearts,
hands, and tongues in the ways
of peace.
Second Reading
1 John 1-2:2
1:1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of
life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life,
which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and
heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with
his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
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This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no
darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do
not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
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If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If
we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
2:1
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an
advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,
and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Prayer of Illumination
The prayer of illumination
acknowledges the Spirit’s work
in this part of worship by
requesting God’s Spirit to act
through the reading and
preaching of Scripture. The
prayer is offered for both the
preacher and the listener, for
both the speaking and the
hearing of the Word.
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Sermon
1 John: Darkness and Light, Week 1
“The Word of Life” – 1 John 1-2:2
Rev. Phil Letizia, Lead Pastor
Notes
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A sermon is not just teaching
for living; it is mainly a time
when Christ encounters his
people through his Word.
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Affirmation of Faith *
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and
earth;
and 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 buried. He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into
heaven, and is seated on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the
dead.
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When we affirm our
faith together, it reminds us
that we are part of an ancient
and global faith. This basic
creed of Christian churches, as
most familiarly known, is called
the Apostles' Creed. It has
received this title because of its
great antiquity; it dates from
very early times in the Church,
a half century or so from the
last writings of the New
Testament.
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.
Invitation to the Table
Words of Institution
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
On the night on which Jesus was betrayed, he sat at supper with his disciples. While they were
eating, he took a piece of bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them with the words,
“This is my body. It is broken for you. Do this to remember me.” Later he took the cup, saying,
“This cup is God’s covenant, sealed with my blood. Drink from it, all of you, to remember me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he
comes.
*The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Distribution of the Bread + Cup
CityChurch welcomes all baptized Christians – those who are
trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation and who are members of
congregations that proclaim the gospel – to receive the Holy
Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist)
with us. We will be coming forward to receive Communion.
When you come forward, tear a piece of the bread, and then
dip it into the cup.
Please note that we use wine in Communion. If you cannot
receive wine, non-alcoholic white grape juice is also available. If you
are not able to receive The Lord’s Supper, please use this time
to meditate on one of the prayers below.
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“The Eucharist is the definitive
action practiced in the Christian
community that keeps Jesus
Christ before us as the Savior of
the world and our Savior, and
ourselves as sinners in need of
being saved. The Eucharist is
the sacramental act that pulls
us into actual material
participation with Christ
(eating and drinking bread and
wine) as he gives his very life
“for us and for our
salvation” (cf., the Nicene
Creed)... The Eucharist puts
Jesus in his place: dying on the
cross and giving us that
sacrificed life. And it puts us in
our place: opening our hands
and receiving the remission of
our sins, which is our
salvation.”
• Eugene Peterson, Christ
Prayers of Meditation for Those Not Communing
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Prayer for Those Searching for Truth
Prayer of Belief
Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth,
and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by
the cost of following you as I consider the
reasons for doing so. 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.
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 Overcome with Sin
Lord Jesus Christ, 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 run with perseverance
the race set before me, looking to you, the
pioneer and perfecter of my faith. Amen.
Prayer for Covenant Children (Not Yet
Confirmed)
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for placing me inside
your family, the church. Help me more and more
to know you, to love you and to follow you as
your faithful disciple. Amen.
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Gifts + Offerings
Christ calls us, to give generously as a sign of gratitude for how much he has given us. Our
response to his grace enables us to give sacrificially of ourselves to one another and the work
of Christ’s Kingdom. Your gift is an act of personal worship to God in response to his grace in
your life.
If you’re new to CityChurch, or are exploring Christianity, you’re under no obligation to give.
Consider allocating a significant portion of your tithe and offering to the community where you
invest most of your time, and where others are investing in you.
The offering box is located in the back. For your convenience, one-time or recurring gifts can be
made online. You may also give via text message by simply texting a dollar amount to
954.719.7992 and following the instructions. For more details, visit: citychurchwm.com/giving
Song of Response – “Satisfied” *
All my life long I had panted, for a drink from some cool spring
That I hoped would quench the burning, of the thirst I felt within
Feeding on the filth around me, until my strength was almost gone
Longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on
CHORUS
Hallelujah! He has found me
What my soul so long has craved
Jesus satisfies all my longings
Through his blood now I am saved!
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
Well of water, ever springing, Bread of Life so rich and free
Untold wealth that never faileth, my Redeemer is to me
•Words + Music: Clara T. Williams and Ralph E. Hudson (1875)
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Benediction *
Galatians 1:2-5
Grace and peace to you
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father,
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen
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Just as we ordain new
ministers and send them into
the world to serve, in the
Benediction, Christ ordains
you with a blessing that equips
you for service.
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VISION
THE VISION OF CITYCHURCH is the Spiritual, Social, and Cultural renewal of Wilton Manors.
MISSION
WE SEEK TO BE the very presence of Christ in Wilton Manors by cultivating a community of
Faith, Hope + Love
VALUES
The Gospel. The Gospel is the only hope for humankind. The message of the Gospel is that Christ
has done what is necessary to bring us into a relationship with God. We keep it at the center of
everything.
Mission & Movement. Because God is the one who initiates relationships, and sent his Son to
seek and save people, we will pursue relationships with people in hope that they will be restored
to their Father. CityChurch does not exist as an end in itself – we desire to be an incubator for
church planting throughout South Florida, in that when we grow, we will be very intentional
about spinning off and beginning new congregations throughout our city. Each of these
churches will partner with us in pursuing the goal of spiritual, social, and cultural renewal.
The City. Christianity has always thrived in an urban context. We love Wilton Manors, and want
to live, work, celebrate, raise our families, enjoy, and serve this great city.
Arts & Industries. We believe that the good news of the Gospel is about God’s redemption of
this fallen world and its cultural expressions. We are a church that welcomes, encourages, and
equips artists of every medium... and therefore we will seek to offer artists opportunities to show
or perform their work, providing encouragement for them to grow and develop as artists. We
also believe that the good news of the Gospel impacts work and the marketplace. We will
encourage men and women to use their positions, talents, and gifts to the best of their abilities,
and to the betterment of our city.
Life in Community. The Trinity is at the core of Christian truth; namely that God himself has
always been in community – the Father and Son and Spirit all loving, giving and sharing with one
another. We acknowledge that we need each other, and that the life Jesus offers works only in
connection with a community of faith.
Social Healing. The Gospel is the good news of Christ’s kingdom. CityChurch seeks to partner
with local social service agencies that assist the suffering in our own local community.
Furthermore, we will pray for sensitivity to the mercy needs of our community and will seek to
serve our neighbors out of Christ’s love.
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CityGroups
CityGroups are mid-week gatherings giving opportunity for
people to rehearse the Gospel together, live it out to one
another, and to be an extension of God’s love to our neighbors
while serving the community around us.
Mondays
7p - Led by Dan Franklin and Mary Gundlach
Hosted at the home of Dan Franklin (2832 NW 9 Ter, WM)
If you would like to be a part of this new CityGroup, contact Dan
Franklin (daniellfranklin@gmail.com) or Mary Gundlach
(mary.e.gundlach@gmail.com) for more information.
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“We who follow Jesus are a sent
people, even as Jesus was sent
into the world by His Heavenly
Father. We are a community
sent on a mission together: to
keep on doing the ministry of
Jesus so that all people and all
creation might experience the
reconciliation of God. God has
designed the church of Jesus
Christ to be a ‘missional’
fellowship. The word ‘mission’
comes from the Latin word
‘missio’, which means ‘having
been sent.’ Since we have been
sent to do God's work, we are a
‘missional’ community together.”
• Mark D. Roberts
Wednesdays
6p - Led by the Letizias
From 6-6:45pm, dinner will be on the table for everyone. Around 6:45 we'll have our time of
scripture reading and prayer. If you need to leave early after dinner, you're free to. If you can't
arrive until 7-7:30, there'll be food waiting for you and you can jump into the conversation at any
time! Whether you need to put kids to bed, get home earlier, or you get off work late, join us. We're
looking forward to our mid-week CityGroup being a place of wonderful fellowship.
For more information or to join a CityGroup, email us at: info@citychurchwm.com.
Text-to-Give Platform
We are excited to announce that you can now give via text message to CCWM. Simply send a text
message to 954.719.7992 with the amount you would like to give (i.e. 20). You will receive an
immediate response with a link to enter an email address and a credit/debit card number. Once you
enter this information, you will never have to enter it again, just save the number in your phone for
future giving. You can begin at anytime, and even give during our worship service! For more
information, contact us at info@citychurchwm.com.
Sermon Audio Available Online
If you’re interested in listening to sermons from CityChurch Wilton Manors, you can do so online
at citychurchwm.com/sermons. You can find sermons posted mid-week following each Sunday
as well as an archive of past sermons. 14.
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Upcoming Events (Mark Your Calendar!)
Online Lent Devotional
Throughout Lent checkout our weekly blog
featuring insights and meditations on this
season of self-examination and repentance from
various CityChurch South Florida contributors
at: CityChurchSFL.com/Lent
Sun, March 1, noon – Richardson House Party
With our worship facility move coming in March,
we want to celebrate our time at the Historic
Richardson House. Join us for a party immediately
following the service on March 1st. We’ll thank God
for his goodness to us, and celebrate the wonderful
place God gave to us these past two years. Mon, March 2, 7:30p – CityChurch Writers Group
Sip Java (638 N Federal Hwy, FTL)
Songwriters, poets, playwrights, authors: you are
invited to a monthly meeting of creative minds
in our community. For more information,
contact CityChurch Fort Lauderdale’s Artist-inResidence, Laura Creel (laura@citychurchftl.com).
Sun, March 8, 10:30a – Worship Location Change
Island City Park Preserve (823 NE 28th St, WM)
CityChurch Wilton Manors is moving into a new
worship facility! On March 8th, our Sunday
morning worship services will be held at the
Island City Park Preserve in Wilton Manors. Stay
tuned for more details!
Thu, March 12, 7:30p – Codex Book Club
Stork's Bakery & Cafe (2505 NE 15 Ave, WM)
Codex will next discuss Jayber Crow by
Wendell Berry. For more details and to get in
on the discussion, contact Phil Letizia
(phil@citychurchwm.com).
Fri, March 13, 7:30p – Susan Enan in Concert
As part of the Island City Series, CityChurch
Wilton Manors is excited to host British singersongwriter Susan Enan in concert. She has
traveled the world doing house concerts (over
200, multiple continents) and toured with
Damien Rice and Over the Rhine. Venue still to
be determined. For more details and tickets,
visit: CityChurchWM.com/IslandCitySeries.
Visit Us Online Keep up-to-date with our events calendar, set up
repeated giving, and more on our website
(citychurchwm.com). Get updates throughout the week
on Twitter (@CityChurchWM) or by joining our
Facebook page (facebook.com/citychurchwiltonmanors).
Ministry Team
Rev. Phil Letizia, Lead Pastor
Dan Franklin, Pastoral Apprentice
Jeff Schmidt, Media Director
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Office ✦ 441 NE 3 Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304 | Phone ✦ 754.300.7191
Web ✦ citychurchwm.com Email ✦ info@citychurchwm.com
CityChurch Wilton Manors has no formal affiliation with the Historic Richardson House.
We are grateful to the City of Wilton Manors allowing us rental space at this facility.
CityChurch Wilton Manors is a Presbyterian congregation affiliated with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church