CHRIST CHURCH VENTURA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

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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, Learning, Community, and Outreach HIS REIGN The wounded lamb as Christ reclining on the book of seven seals is a historic symbol of the reigning Christ. The threerayed 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) 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) CHRIST CHURCH VENTURA 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 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 Gospel changes people Through the continual application of the Gospel we become more like Christ. The Atonement Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead in order to redeem us from our sins. 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. The Gospel points outward The Gospel informs attitudes The Gospel removes barriers Grace disengages approval seeking, engenders authenticity, and curbs pride. As Christians, we desire the peace and well-being of our communities and cities. Reconciliation humbles us so that we may become agents to reconcile others. The Gospel renews culture All of life matters to God and we are to pursue all vocations with excellence. WHAT DO WE BELIEVE? The Gospel builds momentum Church planting is both the result of and means to fulfilling the great commission. 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. Scripture Alone The Bible is the one source of divine revelation and the only completely reliable guide for faith and life. 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. Faith Alone God Alone Christ s righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God s justice by faith 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, biblical learning, genuine community, and cultural outreach to the end that God s people are gathered and Christ s Kingdom is extended throughout Ventura County and beyond. OFFICERS Teaching Elder Roy R. Bennett (roy@ojaipca.org) Ruling Elder Robert Glass (rglass@raypak.com) Ruling Elder Eric Halvorson (prof.halvorson@gmail.com) Order for the Celebration and Worship of God Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: June 27, :00 P.M. PRELUDE Pianist Liz Selleck WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS SILENT PREPARATION CALL TO WORSHIP AND RESPONSE Psalm 96:1-6 STAFF Chief Musician Tilford Jackson Office Manager Debbie Glass CONTACT INFORMATION PO Box 25 Ojai, CA (805) / WORSHIP LOCATION Trinity Lutheran Church 196 N. Ashwood Avenue in Ventura at 4:00 PM ANNOUNCEMENTS EARLYBIRD BIBLE READING Wed. at 6:30 AM Revelation Coffee Bean and Tea 4360 Main St. in Ventura MISSION SPOTLIGHT January 10 th Dr. Samuel Ling China February 7 th Rev. Seima Aoyagi Japan March 14 th Rev. Joel Pelsue Hollywood April th Rev. Mike Malone Africa May 30 th Rev. Jim Bailey Cloudhaven July 25 th Cindy Hood PCA in Chile August 22 nd Michael Blank PCA in Peru Sept th Rev. Tom Patton World Missions VOLUNTEERS WANTED Worship greeters (contact Eric Halvorson) Training available Supper concierges (contact Robert Glass) 20 INVITIATORY Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Unison: Great is the Lord. He is holy and just. By his power he proves his love. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end! Great is the faithfulness of the Lord, our God! Come let us adore Him! * HYMN OF PRAISE (Music on page 2) O Father, You Are Sovereign * PRAYER OF ADORATION Unison: Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 1

4 O FATHER, YOU ARE SOVEREIGN CHURCH AND STATE Relations between church and state have been notoriously controversial throughout the Christian centuries. To oversimplify, four main models have been tried Erastianism: the state controls the church), Theocracy (the church controls the state), Constantianism (the compromise in which the state favors the church and the church accommodates the state in order to retain its favored status), Partnership (church and state recognize and encourage each other s distinct God-given responsibilities in a spirit of constructive collaboration) The fourth seems to accord best with Paul s teaching in Romans 13. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones 2 19

5 THE QUESTION CONCERNING TRIBUTE TO CAESAR In Christ God is reclaiming his own coinage: humanity made in God s image. So we spend ourselves as God s own currency for that which is incomparably valuable. Christian intercession for the health of the state does not depend upon receiving any temporal benefits from the state. The people of God continue guilelessly to intercede for the peace of the society. Unlike the inert and unresponsive physical image of a ruler on a coin, redeemed humans bear the lively image of the living God to whom they belong. One freely gives to God precisely what one must withhold from political authorities: * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Westminster Confession XXIII:1-2, 4 Unison: God, the supreme Lord and King of the whole world, has ordained civil authorities to be over the people under Him for His own glory and the public good. For this purpose He has armed civil authorities with the power of the sword to defend and encourage those who are good and to punish wrongdoers. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute offices of civil authority when that is their calling. In the administration of such offices they should take care to support true religion, justice and peace, according to the beneficial laws of each government, and in so doing they may lawfully under the New Testament wage war on just and necessary conditions. It is people s duty to pray for those in authority, to honor them, to pay them taxes and whatever is owed them, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to them for conscience sake. Unbelief or different religious views on the part of civil authorities does not mean that they are to be disobeyed by believers, including clergymen, in the legitimate pursuit of their duties. oneself, one s conscience, one s soul. As God freely paid for our freedom THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Romans 13:1-7 (ESV) from the slavery of sin, so we are called to receive the new life of freedom he gives us, valuing temporal things according to their limited proportional value. When Jesus adversaries feigned respect while plotting to trap him, he at once broke directly through their deceptions. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Thomas C. Oden and Christopher A. Hall 13 :1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 18 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

6 * HYMN OF PRAISE Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING POSTLUDE Go in peace to love and serve the risen Lord Jesus. Thanks be to God! Pianist Liz Selleck * Congregation standing 4 17

7 * PRAYER OF COMMITMENT Unison: Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And, O Lord, grant us this other benefit: that you will never allow us to forget these things; but having them imprinted on our hearts, may we grow and increase daily in the faith which is at work in every good deed. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (The congregation is encouraged to participate both verbally and in silence.) Unison: Almighty God, to whose glory we celebrate the life of this local church: we give you thanks for the fellowship of those who have come to worship in this place, and we pray that all who seek you here may find you, and be filled with your joy and peace. Attend to the prayers of your people for we ask in the name of your Son our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. We pray for the Church of Jesus Christ, for all who fear God and believe in Christ, that our divisions may cease, and that all may be one as the Father and the Son. * BENEDICTION 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. * DISMISSAL HYMN (Music on page 17) How Can I Keep from Singing 16 Lord, hear our prayers. We pray for all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, that you might extend your grace, give them courage and hope in their troubles, and cause them to rejoice in your salvation. Lord, hear our prayers. We pray for our children and future generations which will be born to them and ask that through them the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth. Lord, hear our prayers. We pray for those in positions of public trust that they may live with integrity, serve justice, and promote dignity and freedom, so that we may live and proclaim the truth in peace. Lord, hear our prayers. We pray for the community of Ventura that you may be pleased to cause the gospel to spread rapidly, draw many to Christ, and send workers to build the church. Lord, hear our prayers. 5

8 THE LORD'S PRAYER Matthew 6:9-13 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, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. O HEART BEREAVED AND LONELY HYMN OF FAITH (Music on page 7) In Christ Alone * GOSPEL LESSON Mark 12:13-17 (ESV) 13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not? 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, Whose likeness and inscription is this? They said to him, Caesar s. 17 Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God the things that are God s. And they marveled at him. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! Thanks be to the Lord! PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION AFTERNOON SERMON PASTORAL PRAYER OFFERTORY Christ on Caesar Reverend Geoff Shaw 6 15

9 YOU ARE MINE IN CHRIST ALONE 14 7

10 SERMON NOTES AGNUS DEI John 1:29 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! (People are encouraged to come forward to receive the sacrament and to repent and rejoice as the sacrament is observed. The wafer is to be dipped into the wine.) COMMUNION HYMN (Music on page 14) COMMUNION SONG (Music on page 15) You Are Mine David Hass 1991 O Heart Bereaved and Lonely Christopher Miner

11 PRAYER OF CONSECRATION * DOXOLOGY WORDS OF INSTITUTION 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION 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. * PRAYER OF DEDICATION AMEN 12 9

12 CONFESSION OF SIN Unison: O God, our Master and King, we are imperfect subjects of your realm and stumble in unbelief and fear. We so easily forget the scope of your love displayed for us in Jesus Christ. Teach us to know that grace precedes, accompanies, and follows our salvation. Help us to remember the great privileges of our redemption in him. Without him we are strangers and outcasts, in him children and friends. Without him our lips are sealed in guilt and shame, in him there is confidence and praise. Without him our horizon is dark and foreboding, in him the expectation of light, knowledge, and glory. THE SANCTUS Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 118:26 ASSURANCE OF PARDON Jeremiah 31:33-34 This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord, I will put my law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they will be my people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, declares the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. 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 11