CHRIST CHURCH VENTURA

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1 The Celtic Cross is an ancient Christian symbol. The cross proper recalls the death of Christ for the sins of his people, while the circle is a historic symbol of God s eternal nature. Jesus name is at the center, depicted by the Greek letters Ιης and is surrounded by the vine and branches, representing our relationship to Him. At the bottom, CHRISTUS VICTOR, Christ is Victorious, testifies to his triumph over sin and death on the cross. This Celtic cross is used by permission of Saint Paul s Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. Each of the five panels represents a significant event in Christ s life. Exalting Christ through Worship, Renewal, Community, and Partnership $ HIS REIGN The wounded lamb as Christ reclining on the book of seven seals is a historic symbol of the reigning Christ. The three-rayed nimbus is an ancient symbol of deity. (Revelation 5:9-12) HIS RESURRECTION Lilies traditionally represent the resurrection; the trumpet heralds Christ s certain and triumphal return. (1 Corinthians 15:54; Matthew 24:31; Luke 12:27) $ $ HIS ATONEMENT The crown of thorns and nails testify to Christ s sacrificial death on the cross. (Hebrews 2:17; John 19:2; 20:27)! HIS BAPTISM The dove and tongues of fire symbolically portray the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:10; Acts 2:3) $ CHRIST CHURCH VENTURA HIS INCARNATION The open Bible is the Word of God. The double lighted candlesticks represent the dual nature of Christ his deity and his humanity. (John 1:1-14) PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA To all who are spiritually weary and seek rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all who struggle and desire hope; to all who sin and need a Savior; to all who are strangers and yearn for home; to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness; and to whoever will come; this church offers a genuine welcome in the name of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

2 WHAT IS OUR MESSAGE? The great good news is that God has taken it upon Himself to do something for us that we are powerless to do for ourselves. The Gospel is simply this: sinners are forgiven and accepted by God because of the work of Jesus Christ. Trust in Christ s finished work is not just the beginning of the Christian life, but the means and end as well. The Gospel is what must be applied more and more deeply in order to live as a Christian. The power of the Gospel is not merely about forgiveness and improvement, but renewal and wholeness. A GOSPEL-SHAPED MINISTRY The Gospel changes people Through the continual application of the Gospel we become more like Christ. The Gospel produces joy Grace frees us from both condemnation and self-righteousness to enjoy God fully. The Gospel defines community In union with Christ, we become God s sons and daughters His new people. WHAT DO WE BELIEVE? We embrace the historic Christian faith believing the timeless truths held in common by the church in all ages and places. We wholeheartedly affirm the classic doctrines defined by the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds. The Trinity There is only one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Incarnation The person Jesus Christ is the only Son of God who is both fully God and fully human. The Atonement Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead in order to redeem us from our sins. We also embrace the Reformed Christian faith believing the biblical teachings that were restated during the Protestant Reformation. This great renewal of the church in the 16 th century has given us a common heritage in the classic solas. The Gospel points outward Grace disengages approval seeking, engenders authenticity, and curbs pride. Scripture Alone The Bible is the one source of divine revelation and the only completely reliable guide for faith and life. The Gospel informs attitudes As Christians, we desire the peace and wellbeing of our communities and cities. The Gospel removes barriers Reconciliation humbles us so that we may become agents to reconcile others. Christ Alone Salvation is accomplished by the substitutionary atonement of the historical and sinless Christ alone. Grace Alone We are rescued from God s anger, freed from sin s bondage and lifted to new life by His grace alone. The Gospel renews culture All of life matters to God and we are to pursue all vocations with excellence. Faith Alone Christ s righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God s justice by faith alone. The Gospel builds momentum Church planting is the result of and the means to fulfilling the great commission God Alone The sole purpose of our creation and redemption is to enjoy God s presence and live for His glory.

3 CHRIST CHURCH VENTURA IS A CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA Empowered by the Gospel, we aim to experience God s pleasure in fostering true knowledge, holy affection, and faithful obedience through historic worship, gospel renewal, genuine community, and global partnership to the end that God s people are gathered and Christ s Kingdom is extended throughout Ventura County and beyond. CHURCH OFFICERS Teaching Elder Roy R. Bennett (ojairoyb@gmail.com) Ruling Elder David Sveiven (dsevend@yahoo.com) Ruling Elder David Blank (cosmos.psa19@rocketmail.com) Deacon Ernie Rivas (abodigital@mac.com) MINISTRY LEADERS Chief Musician Tilford Jackson Church Treasurer Tom Etchart Children s Director Michele Sveiven CONTACT INFORMATION PO Box 25 Ojai, CA (805) WORSHIP LOCATION Trinity Lutheran Church 196 N. Ashwood Avenue, Ventura at 4:00pm ANNOUNCEMENTS CHILDREN S ED (ages 2-18) Class Dismissed to resume in the Fall (see Michele Sveiven) CCV MEN S StUDY GROUP Class Dismissed to resume in the Fall (see Skip Chapin) CONGREGATIONAL STUDY Class Dismissed to resume in the Fall (see Roy Bennett) VENTURA COUNTY RESCUE MISSION 1 st & 3 rd Thurs. 6:45-7:45pm Meets at 234 E. 6th Street, Oxnard (see John Geb) All Music reproduction is by permission CCLI# Order for the Celebration and Worship of God Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: July 23, :00 pm * Congregation standing PRELUDE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS SILENT PREPARATION CALL TO WORSHIP Pianist Tilford Jackson Psalm 95:1-7 (ESV) INVITIATORY Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Let the peoples rejoice that God sent His Son into the world. We give thanks to the Father who has counted us worthy to share in the inheritance of the saints. Great is your power and goodness, O God. Come, let us adore Him! * HYMN OF PRAISE (Music on page 2) Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken * PRAYER OF ADORATION Unison: O God, you are the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy. Increase and multiply upon us your mercy that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 1

4 !! GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN * DISMISSAL HYMN How Can I Keep from Singing Robert Lowry 1861 POSTLUDE Go in peace to love and serve the risen Lord Jesus. Thanks be to God! Pianist Tilford Jackson 2 15

5 LAMB OF GOD Twila Paris 1985 Verse 1 Your only son no sin to hide, but You have sent Him from Your side, To walk upon this guilty sod and to become the Lamb of God. Verse 2 Your gift of love they crucified. They laughed and scorned Him as He died. The humble King they named a fraud and sacrificed the Lamb of God. Chorus: O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the Holy Lamb of God. O wash me in His precious blood, My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Verse 3 I was so lost I should have died, but You have brought me to Your side, To be led by Your staff and rod and to become a lamb of God Chorus: * PRAYER OF COMMITMENT Unison: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the sacrament of his body and blood. We give you thanks and rejoice in the gospel of our salvation. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. * BENEDICTION 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (ESV) Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God the Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. Amen. 14 * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Westminster Confession XXXIII.1-3 Unison: God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world, in righteousness, by Jesus Christ, to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father. In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil. The end of God's appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity: so will He have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. * OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Genesis 9:8-17 (ESV) 9 :8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 3

6 ! 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 And God said, This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. 17 God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth. ONE BREAD, ONE BODY The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God! PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (The congregation is encouraged to participate both verbally and in silence.) Unison: 0 God of unchanging power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church and by the providential and effectual working of your Holy Spirit, carry out the plan of salvation. Let the whole world see and know that things which were dead are being made alive, things which were cast down are being raised up, things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by Him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. O Creator God, we humbly ask that you would be pleased to make your ways known to people of every description and bring your saving grace to all nations. We especially pray for your Church that it may be guided and governed by your good and Holy Spirit. Hear our prayer, 0 Lord. 13

7 $ AGNUS DEI O Everlasting Lord, we pray for all who profess faith in Christ that they may be led continually in the way of truth, and hold the apostolic faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Hear our prayer, 0 Lord. O Heavenly Father, we commend to your goodness and care all those who are in any affliction or distress, in mind, body, or circumstance. We ask that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their need, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy result out of all their troubles. Hear our prayer, 0 Lord. O Gracious God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace. Grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be nurtured by the goodness of your creation. Hear our prayer, 0 Lord. THE LORD'S SUPPER Christ our Passover, sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast! The gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to the Lord! Believers who have publicly professed faith in Jesus Christ, have been baptized, and are members in good standing of an Evangelical church, are welcome to celebrate in the Lord s Supper with us. If these particular facts do not describe you, we respectfully ask you to refrain from participating in the sacrament. Please come forward to receive the sacrament; to repent, rest and rejoice as the Lord s Supper is observed. The wafer is to be dipped into the wine. Please leave room at the right hand rail for our musicians to receive the Lord s Supper first, before they return to lead our congregational communion songs. 12 O Sovereign King, as we anticipate your promised return to restore all things and to reign over the new heavens and earth, fill us with awe and joy to worship you and stir our souls with compassion for those who are lost and enslaved by sin. Hear our prayer, 0 Lord. THE LORD'S PRAYER Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Your kingdom come. Your 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 yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. * HYMN OF HOPE (Music on pages 6-7) O Love of God, How Strong and True 5

8 $ $ O LOVE OF GOD, HOW STRONG AND TRUE THE SANCTUS PRAYER OF CONSECRATION WORDS OF INSTITUTION 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Therefore, we proclaim the faith! Unison: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. PRAYER OF APPROACH Unison: We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord, whose nature is always to have mercy; grant us therefore, gracious Lord, that we may so partake of this bread and wine that our sinful bodies may be made clean by Christ s body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

9 $ CONFESSION OF SIN Psalm 32:1-7 (ESV) Unison: "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. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance." O LOVE OF GOD, HOW STRONG AND TRUE continued WORD OF EXHORTATION Psalm 103:8-12 (ESV) The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." THE GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you! And also with you! Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord! It is good and right so to do. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, that we should always give you thanks, O Lord; therefore, with the angels, we exalt and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you and singing. 10 7

10 * NEW TESTAMENT LESSON 2 Peter 3:1-13 (ESV) 3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation. 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. * PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION SERMON PASTORAL PRAYER OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY Reverend Geoff Shaw "The Significance of the Rainbow The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!! * PRAYER OF DEDICATION 8 9