Third Sunday of Advent

December 11, 2011

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Community Life:

After the Service Each week, we linger for fellowship with one another. Please join us for refreshments in the

cafeteria.

Community Groups In addition to weekly worship, we offer small

groups (community groups, men’s and women’s

bible studies, book studies) that meet throughout the week. We want all of our members and

regular attenders to be intentional about building

trusting and meaningful spiritual relationships.

For a complete list of our small groups, please

visit our website (www.cityviewchicago.org) or

fill out one of our ―connection cards‖ for more

information.

Welcome to

Cityview Presbyterian Church

To Our Guests:

Visiting a church can be an intimidating experience. We are glad that you are here, and we

hope to remove as much of that awkwardness as we can from your visit to Cityview.

Our worship service usually lasts about 75 minutes. This worship guide will help you

navigate the service. There are short paragraphs on the next page to explain each part of

the service.

The service is designed to be accessible to you, whether you’ve spent years in the church

or you’ve never been to a church service in your life. During the service, we will try to

help you understand how the message of Jesus can apply to your life today.

If you are new to Cityview or just visiting, we would love to know that you were here. We have clipboards next to each row: we call those our ―Connection Cards‖. Connection

Cards are a way for you to let us know whatever information you might want us to know

and to request any information from us that you might need. Pastor Dan Adamson

(dadamson@cityviewchicago.org) is available to answer questions, as well.

For Children: Children of all ages are welcome in the worship service.

Nursery is provided during the service for children 2 years of age and younger.

Children ages three through 5th grade are given the choice of attending Sunday school

classes beginning during the greeting portion of the service.

If you have any questions about children’s ministry at Cityivew, please contact Children’s

Ministry Coordinator Hilary Clark (hilary.r.clark@gmail.com).

All songs used by permission

CCLI License #11041992

Scripture reprinted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of

Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

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The Liturgy

Preparing for Worship

The goal of our time of gathering is to engage with God together, listening to him in his Word and speaking to him

in prayer and song. Because we often enter this time tired, overwhelmed and distracted, we take a few moments

at the beginning of our meeting to prepare to meet God in worship.

Call to Worship

We need to be ―called‖ to come and worship God because we default to thinking the world revolves around our

needs and agendas, and also because we struggle to believe that God truly wants us to draw near to him. The call

to worship focuses our attention on God and prepares us to meet him.

Confession of Sin

The Scriptures declare that each of us has failed in the way we act toward God and each other. We confess our sin

to be honest and transparent about this reality and to admit our ongoing dependence on the mercy of God through

Jesus. We confess as a community to show our unity even in our brokenness.

Assurance of Grace

We confess our sins not just to admit what is true, but also to be reminded again of the truth that Jesus came into

this world to save sinners; and all of our sin has been forgiven through him. Every week, following our confession,

we hear God speak to us in Scripture of this forgiveness so that our faith might be strengthened.

Worship Through Giving

Because money is so powerfully tied to our hearts, this is a valuable expression of worship as we acknowledge

that everything we have comes from God and belongs to him. If you are visiting with us, we are just glad you are

here- please do not feel obligated to give.

The Sermon

Some view the Sermon as a way to get principles for ―right‖ living. In reality, as we open the Scripture we

corporately encounter Christ. Therefore, as you listen, pray to be open to the Spirit’s leading,

exhortation, encouragement, and healing.

Communion

Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, is the family meal for Christians. We welcome all

Christians - those who look to Christ alone for salvation, who are in good standing with His Church, and who seek

strength to live more faithfully to their Savior - to join in this sacrament.

The Benediction

God always gets the last word in our encounter of worship. For Christians, it is always a word of blessing and

sending to live our lives in the light of the reality of the Gospel of Christ.

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ORDER OF WORSHIP

He did not wait till the world was ready,

till men and nations were at peace.

He came when the Heavens were unsteady,

and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.

He came when the need was deep and great.

He dined with sinners in all their grime,

turned water into wine. He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy he came

to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame

he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made Flesh

the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,

for to share our grief, to touch our pain,

He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

— Madeleine L’Engle

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God Calls Us

Advent Reading – Isaiah 11:1-10

1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze;

their young shall lie down together;

and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy

in all my holy mountain;

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

10In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place

shall be glorious.

Call to Worship

Leader: We light the third candle of Advent to remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world. The light shines in the

darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

All: Thanks be to God!

Lighting of the Advent Candle

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Hymn of Praise O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Prayer of Adoration

Leader: O God, whose will is justice for the poor

and peace for the afflicted,

let your herald’s urgent voice pierce our hardened hearts

and announce the dawn of your kingdom.

Before the Advent of the one who baptizes with the fire of the Holy Spirit,

let our complacency give way to conversion,

oppression to justice,

and conflict to acceptance of one another in Christ.

We ask this through him whose coming is certain,

whose day draws near:

All: Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Words: Isaac Watts Music: William Croft

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Hymn of Advent Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Words: Charles Wesley Music: Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken

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God Cleanses Us

Call to Confession – Isaiah 55:6-7

Leader: Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the

unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for

he will abundantly pardon.

Confession of Sin

Leader: Come and confess your sins to God:

All: Almighty God, we believe that your Son - our Lord Jesus Christ - is coming again in power to judge

the earth. We confess that we have not lived as those who daily expect your kingdom. We have

ignored your promised return by not loving you with our whole hearts or our neighbors as ourselves.

Have mercy upon us and forgive us for all our sin. In your tender kindness, embrace us with your

love, and fill our hearts with the joyful expectation of seeing Jesus soon, face to face. We offer our

prayers through him. Amen.

Silent Confession Hymn of Confession Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Words: From the Greek Music: French Melody

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Words of Assurance - based on Jeremiah 33:14-16

Leader: The days are surely coming, says the Lord,

when I will fulfill the promise I made

to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

In those days and at that time I will cause

a righteous Branch to spring up for David;

and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.

And this is the name by which it will be called:

―The Lord is our righteousness.‖

All: Jesus Christ, our Lord,

whose coming we announce in this season, is our righteousness.

In Christ, we are made right with God.

All: Thanks be to God!

Hymn of Assurance Rejoice, Rejoice Believers

Words: Lorenz Lorenzen, 1700

Music: Paul van der Bijl, 2011

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Opportunities and Concerns

Passing of the Peace - from John 13:34

Leader: Hear the teaching of Christ: ―A new command I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you.‖ The

peace of Christ be with you all.

All: And also with you!

Worship Through Giving

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God Speaks To Us

Sermon Text – Isaiah 40: 1-4, 8-11

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

3to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

8 For I the LORD love justice;

I hate robbery and wrong;

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9Their offspring shall be known among the nations,

and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;

all who see them shall acknowledge them,

that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,

so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise

to sprout up before all the nations.

Leader: This is the word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Sermon The Unexpected Dawn: God’s Restoration for the Broken Reverend Dan Adamson

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God Strengthens Us

Confession of Faith – The Nicene Creed

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration

Communion

Communion Hymn O Lord of Light

Leader: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Leader: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

All: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light

of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were

made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin

Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the

third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the

Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the

Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look

for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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Communion Prayer

All: Eternal God, for whom we wait,

you have fed us with the bread of eternal life:

keep us ever watchful, that we may be ready

to stand before the Son of man, Jesus Christ our Lord;

Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Doxology

Prayers for Reflection

Prayer for those searching for truth

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. As I consider the reasons for doing so, grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you. 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.

Prayer of belief 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 struggling with sin

Lord Jesus, 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 faithfully follow you in life. Amen.

Prayer of commitment

Lord Jesus, you have called us to follow you in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with your people, and live in the fullness of your Spirit. Amen.

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.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.

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God Commissions Us

Hymn of Benediction Hark! ‘Tis the Watchman’s Cry

Music: R.A. Smith, c.1828

Words: Anonymous, in The Revival Magazine, 1859

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Benediction

Leader: Isaiah says,

―The root of Jesse shall come,

the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;

in him the Gentiles shall hope.‖

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

All: Thanks be to God!

Dismissal

Leader: Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All: Thanks be to God!

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Around Cityview

Prayer for the Church- Join a group to pray for Cityview before the service each

Sunday at 9:30 am. Talk to Malissa Mackey or Megan Hohenstein for more info.

Tonight- Midnight Clear, the Chicago-area concert with sister churches, will take place at Covenant Presbyterian Church (2012 West Dickens) at 6 pm. Please bring a

dessert to share during a fellowship time afterwards if you are so inclined!

3rd Annual Citvview Christmas Party- Next Sunday, December 18th at the Adamson home (1538 W Jackson Blvd). Come anytime between 6 and 7. Please bring

an appetizer or dessert and drinks to share and a white elephant gift. For more

information please contact Dan.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service- December 24.

Serving This Week

Sound/ Set-Up Erica Oh

Greeters Malissa Mackey & Emily Adamson

Bread Hilary Clark

Snacks Christina Jenq

Nursery Nick Lake

Sunday School Carolyn Koonce

Serving Next Week

Sound/ Set-Up Joel Avila

Greeters Nick and Janelle Lake

Bread Carolyn Koonce

Snacks Jenny Avila

Nursery Joyce Park

Sunday School Monet Ball

November 2011

Congregational Giving*

Actual Monthly Giving: $ 8,546

Budgeted Monthly Giving: $ 12,160 Difference:

$ (3,614)

Actual YTD Giving: $125,373 Budgeted 2011 Giving YTD: $133,760

Difference: $ (8,387)

*In addition to congregational giving, 20% of our overall

operating budget is currently comprised of financial

support from other churches and individuals. Our budgeted congregational giving represents 80% of the overall operating budget.

Contacts

CITYVIEWCHICAGO.ORG

Dan Adamson, Pastor

dadamson@cityviewchicago.org

Jenny Avila, Administrative Coordinator jenny.n.avila@gmail.com

Herb Bowsher, Financial Administrator

bowsher@comcast.net

Hilary Clark, Children’s Ministry Coordinator

hilary.r.clark@gmail.com Carolyn Koonce, Social Coordinator

carolyn.groenewold@gmail.com

Paul Leo, Service & Outreach Coordinator

contactpaulleo@gmail.com

Paul-David Young, Music Coordinator music@cityviewchicago.org