Exalting Christ through Worship, Renewal, Community, and Partnership ! 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, 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) 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 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. OFFICERS Teaching Elder Roy R. Bennett (ojairoyb@gmail.com) Ruling Elder David Sveiven (dsevend@yahoo.com) STAFF Chief Musician Tilford Jackson Pastoral Assistant Skip Chapin Church Treasurer Tom Etchart Children s Director Michele Sveiven CONTACT INFORMATION PO Box 25 Ojai, CA (805) WORSHIP TIME AND LOCATION Trinity Lutheran Church 196 N. Ashwood Avenue Ventura at 4:00 PM ANNOUNCEMENTS CHILDREN S EDUCATION (ages 2-18) Summer break until fall start up in Sept. CCV MEN S STUDY GROUP Summer break until fall start up in Sept. CONGREGATIONAL STUDY Summer break until fall start up in Sept. VENTURA COUNTY RESCUE MISSION 1 st & 3 rd Tues. 6:45-7:45pm Meets at 234 E. 6th Street, Oxnard (see John Geb) All music reproduction is by permission CCLI# Deacon's Fund will be received today 20 Order for the Celebration and Worship of God Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: August 7, :00 pm * Congregation standing PRELUDE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS SILENT PREPARATION CALL TO WORSHIP Pianist Tilford Jackson Psalm 133:1-3 (ESV) INVITIATORY Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let your glory be over all the earth. The Lord our God reigns, His throne is established forever! Come let us adore Him! * HYMN OF PRAISE (Music on page 2) We Are God's People * PRAYER OF ADORATION Unison: Grant to us, Lord, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Belgic Confession: Article 9 Article 9: The Scriptural Witness on the Trinity All these things we know from the testimonies of Holy Scripture as well as from the effects of the persons, especially from those we feel within ourselves. The testimonies of the Holy Scriptures, which teach us to believe in this Holy Trinity, are written in many places of the Old Testament, which need not be enumerated but only chosen with discretion. 1

4 $ WE ARE GOD S PEOPLE AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY Americans are good at forming clubs and gathering crowds. But clubs and crowds, even when especially when they are religious clubs and crowds, are not communities. The formation of community is the intricate, patient, painful work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot buy or make community; we can only offer ourselves to become community. Eugene Peterson A PRAYER OF DEPENDENCE No more shall we wander, delighting in shame; Revive us, O Lord, we will call on thy name. O Lord God of Hosts, us restore to thy grace; And then shall we live in the light of thy face. Psalm 80 Associate Reformed Presbyterian Psalter 2 19

5 SERVANTS AND FRIENDS Although the servant of the Lord was an honored position in the Old Testament, Jesus introduced a whole new category of relationship. In John 15:15, he explicitly rejects the term servants for his disciples and replaces it with friends. For all those who follow Christ this describes a new and fuller relationship with him. At the same time, the response of the apostle Paul is to continue to recognize that he is a slave of Christ. Thus the Christian, elevated by Jesus to a new relationship, willingly submits to the discipleship to which God calls believers. Christ s promise of his presence to his disciples resembles God s promise to Joshua. It forms the basis for sending his disciples on their worldwide mission. Richard S. Hess GOD S ASSEMBLY The New Testament does not envisage solitary religion; some kind of regular assembly for worship and instruction is everywhere taken for granted in the Epistles. So we must be regular practicing members of the Church. Of course we differ in temperament. Some find it more natural to approach God in solitude, but we must go to church as well. For the Church is not a human society of people united by their natural affinities but the Body of Christ, in which all members, however different must share the common life, contemplating and helping one another precisely by their differences. C. S. Lewis 18 In the book of Genesis God says, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness. So God created humankind in his image indeed, male and female he created them. See, the man has become like one of us. It appears from this that there is a plurality of persons within the Deity, when God says, Let us make humankind in our image and afterward God indicates the unity in saying, God created. It is true that God does not say here how many persons there are but what is somewhat obscure to us in the Old Testament is very clear in the New. For when our Lord was baptized in the Jordan, the voice of the Father was heard saying, This is my Son, the Beloved; the Son was seen in the water; and the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove. So, in the baptism of all believers this form was prescribed by Christ: Baptize all people in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel according to Luke the angel Gabriel says to Mary, the mother of our Lord: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And in another place it says: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. In all these passages we are fully taught that there are three persons in the one and only divine essence. And although this doctrine surpasses human understanding, we nevertheless believe it now, through the Word, waiting to know and enjoy it fully in heaven. Furthermore, we must note the particular works and activities of these three persons in relation to us. The Father is called our Creator, by reason of his power. The Son is our Savior and Redeemer, by his blood. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier, by living in our hearts. This doctrine of the holy Trinity has always been maintained in the true church, from the time of the apostles until the present, against Jews, Muslims, and certain false Christians and heretics, such as Marcion, Mani, Praxeas, Sabellius, Paul of Samosata, Arius, and others like them, who were rightly condemned by the holy fathers. And so, in this matter we willingly accept the three ecumenical creeds the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian as well as what the ancient fathers decided in agreement with them. 3

6 NEW TESTAMENT LESSON 1 Corinthians 12:4-20 (ESV) JERUSALEM 12 :4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God! 4 17

7 * PRAYER OF COMMITMENT Unison: Almighty God, you have redeemed us to yourself with the precious blood of your dear Son. Grant that his love may constrain us to live no longer for ourselves but for him who died for us and rose again. Teach us to rest in your fatherly care and look to you in faith that your Spirit may guide and rule our hearts. Strengthen us in every duty; defend us in every danger; enable us to overcome every temptation; make us brave and patient under every trial. Keep us evermore in the peace and joy of a holy life, that we may love and serve you always. Having confessed you upon the earth, grant that we may come at last to your eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns and is worshiped and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. * BENEDICTION Philippians 4:7-9 (ESV) "May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things and put them into practice, and the God of peace will be with you. * DISMISSAL HYMN (Music on page 17) Jerusalem Alejandro Moreno Morrison 2002 POSTLUDE Go in peace to love and serve the risen Lord Jesus. Thanks be to God! 16 Pianist Tilford Jackson PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (The congregation is encouraged to participate both verbally and in silence.) Unison: O God of all the nations of the earth, remember the multitudes of those who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that by the prayers and labors of your holy church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son. We pray for God s people throughout the world and for all ministers and missionaries. We ask that you may be pleased to refresh them with your grace and presence and to open doors of opportunity to spread the Gospel. Lord, hear our prayers. We pray for the Father to comfort all those beaten down by life and to strengthen all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit with any need or care. Give them courage and hope in their troubles and bring them the joy of Christ s salvation. Lord, hear our prayers. We pray for ourselves that we may excel in our various callings to make known the loveliness of Christ. 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 this Church that we may grow in wisdom and stature to bear much fruit for Christ. Compelled by his love and empowered by his Spirit, may this fellowship of believers be used by the Lord to advance his kingdom throughout the world. Lord, hear our prayers. 5

8 ! THE LORD'S PRAYER Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your 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 also 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. COME TO THE WATERS * HYMN OF HOPE (Music on page 7) What a Friend We Have in Jesus * OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Ecclesiastes 4:7-16 (ESV) 4 :7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure? This also is vanity an unhappy business. 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. 14 For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king s place. 16 There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God! * PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION SERMON Reverend Roy R. Bennett Embracing Cooperation and Companionship 15

9 $ $ MAY WE BE ONE WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS 14 7

10 PASTORAL PRAYER SERMON NOTES AGNUS DEI John 1:29 Christopher Walker 8 13

11 WORDS OF INSTITUTION 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Therefore we proclaim the faith! Unison: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. OFFERTORY * DOXOLOGY 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. AGNUS DEI (Music on page 13) John 1:29 Christopher Walker 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. SUPPER SONGS May We Be One (Music on page 14) Cooney/Daigle 1993 Come to the Waters" (Music on page 15) James Montgomery Boice 1995 " * PRAYER OF DEDICATION WORD OF EXHORTATION Philippians 2:3-5 (ESV) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." 9

12 CONFESSION OF SIN Unison: Our great God, we humble ourselves before you, acknowledging our misused faculties, neglected opportunities, ill-advised words, vain thoughts, broken resolutions, and untrue service. We confess our sins and repent of our foolish and inconsiderate ways. O God of all grace, cleanse us from our pollution and forgive our failures and transgressions. Blow away the ashes of unbelief and rekindle the fires of trust and devotion in our hearts. Inspire within us a deep sense of gratitude for your mercy and then send us out to serve you and make your excellencies known to others. THE SANCTUS Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 118:26 Christopher Walker ASSURANCE OF PARDON Ephesians 2:13-16 (ESV) "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility." HE 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 PRAYER OF CONSECRATION 11