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 eternality. 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.
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.
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 (robert@ojaipca.org) Ruling Elder Eric Halvorson (eric@@ojaipca.org) Ruling Elder Roger Phelps (rogerp@ojaipca.org) STAFF Chief Musician Tilford Jackson Office Manager Debbie Glass CONTACT INFORMATION PO Box 25 Ojai, CA 93024 (805) 646-5101 / 452-3354 www.christchurchventura.org WORSHIP LOCATION Trinity Lutheran Church 196 N. Ashwood Avenue in Ventura at 4:00 PM ANNOUNCEMENTS EARLYBIRD BIBLE READING Thurs. at 6:30 AM Gospel of John Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf @ 4360 Main St. in Ventura 644-6000 OJAI COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY Mon. 7 8 PM The Patriarchal Blessing "Dust to Glory" A Teaching Series of R.C. Sproul led by Roger Phelps Golden Oaks Mobile Estates Clubhouse @ 1273 S. Rice Rd. in Ojai 304-6493 HYMN FEST WITH TRINITY LUTHERAN October 5, Sunday at 7:00 PM VENTURA COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY Oct. 13, Wed. 7 8:30 PM Galatians "Living in Line with the Truth of the Gospel" led by Eric Halvorson & Roy Bennett Hoot and Donna Bennett s Home @ 397 Palomares Ave. in Ventura 644-4668 16 Order for the Celebration and Worship of God PRELUDE Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost: October 5, 2008, 4:00 P.M. WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS SILENT PREPARATION Pianist Tilford Jackson CALL TO WORSHIP Hosea 6:1-3 INVITIATORY Minister: Lord, open our lips. People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Unison: Great is your mercy and grace, O Lord. You restore the peoples of the earth for your own glory. Minister: Dwell among us in your Son and be glorified in your Church. People: Come let us adore Him! * HYMN OF PRAISE (Music on page 2) Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty * PRAYER OF ADORATION Unison: Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Westminster Confession VI.1-6 Unison: Being seduced by the subtle and cunning temptation of Satan, our first parents sinned by eating the fruit forbidden by God. Pleased according to his wise and holy counsel, God permitted their sin having ordered it to his own glory. Through this sin they lost their original righteousness and fellowship with God. They became spiritually dead in sin, being entirely defiled in every dimension of soul and body. 1
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY Verses 1 As when a shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice; So when you call your fam ly Lord, we follow and rejoice. Refrain 2 With joyful lips we sing to you our praise and gratitude that you should count us worthy, Lord, to share this heav nly food. Refrain 3 Is not the cup we bless and share the blood of Christ outpoured? Do not one cup, one loaf, declare our oneness in the Lord? Refrain 4 You give yourself to us, O Lord; then selfless let us be, To serve each other in your name in truth and charity. Refrain COMMUNION MUSIC (See Insert) Alas and Did My Savior Bleed * 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 Numbers 6:24-26 Minister: The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up the light of his countenance and give you peace. * DISMISSAL HYMN Shalom Shalom, my friends, shalom, my friends, shalom, shalom. May peace be with you, God s peace be with you, shalom, shalom. May blessings attend you, angels defend, shalom, shalom. God s mercies befriend you unto the end, shalom, shalom. 2 Minister: People: POSTLUDE Go in peace to love and serve the risen Lord Jesus. Thanks be to God! Pianist Tilford Jackson
Their consequential spiritual death in sin and their corrupt nature were united with their humanness. Being the ancestral source all humanity, the guilt of this sinfulness was imputed and conveyed to all their natural born descendants. Our own acts of disobedience before God find their source in this original corruption. This inheritance turns us away from the good, disables us and gives us to a way of thinking that opposes God. The corruption of human nature remains throughout life, including those whom the Holy Spirit has regenerated. Sin s reality and its impulses stay with us, though through Christ our old self has died and we have been declared innocent. All sin, both our inherited disposition and our actual rebellious behavior, contrarily breaks God s righteous law. By its own nature, sin brings guilt on the sinner. This guilt consigns the sinner to God s wrath and the Law s condemnation of us. Being guilty of sin we are subject to death with all its spiritual miseries both in time and eternity. * NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Romans 1:18-32 (ESV) THE LORD'S SUPPER Minister: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. People: Therefore, let us keep the feast! Minister: The gifts of God for the people of God. People: 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 MUSIC You Satisfy the Hungry Heart Music by Robert Kreutz, Arrangement by Linda Cable Shute REFRIAN: You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up 3
natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. THE AMEN Minister: People: The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! * HYMN OF TRUST (Music on page 5) Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Unison: Our Great God and Father, we, your adopted children, whom you have redeemed with the most precious blood of your Son Jesus Christ, come to you clothed in his righteousness. Remember not our offenses, and reward us not according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, and preserve your people, for the sake of Him who lay down in the grave and rose again, and has opened the way for us into your holy presence. Amen. AGNUS DEI John 1:29 Minister: I, poor sinner, confess to you, eternal, merciful God and Father, that I have sinned in many ways against you and your commands. People: I confess that I have not believed in you, my one God and Father, but have put my faith and trust more in creatures than in you, my God and Creator, because I have feared them more than you. And for their benefit and pleasure, I have done and left undone many things in disobedience to you and your commandments. Minister: I confess that I have taken your name in vain. I have sworn falsely and lightly by the same. I have not always professed it nor kept it holy as I ought; but even more, I have slandered it often and grossly with all my life, words and deeds. 13
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION JESUS! WHAT A FRIEND FOR SINNERS 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, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink of his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. 12 5
People: I confess that I have not kept your Sabbath holy, that I have not heard your holy Word with earnestness nor lived according to the same; moreover I have not yielded myself fully to your divine hand, nor rejoiced in your work done in me and in others, but have grumbled against it stoutly and have been impatient. THE SANCTUS Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 118:26 Minister: I confess that I have not honored my father and mother, that I have been disobedient to all whom I justly owe obedience, such as my superiors, and all who have tried to guide and teach me faithfully. People: I confess that I have taken life in that I have offended my neighbor often and grossly by word and deed, caused him harm, grown angry over him, borne envy and hatred toward him, deprived him of his honor and the like. Minister: I confess that I have not been pure. I acknowledge my sins of the flesh and all the excess and extravagance of my whole life in eating, drinking, clothing and other things; my intemperance in seeing, hearing, and speaking. People: I confess that I have stolen. I acknowledge my greed. I admit that in the use of my worldly goods I have set myself against you and your holy laws. Greedily and against charity have I grasped them, and scarcely, if at all, have I given of them when the need of my neighbor required it. Minister: I confess that I have borne false witness. I have been untrue and unfaithful toward my neighbor. I have lied to him, I have told lies about him, and I have failed to defend his reputation as my own. People: And finally I confess that I have coveted the possessions and advantages of others. I acknowledge in summary that my whole life is tainted by sin and inclined toward evil. All: Wherefore in all honesty and humility, I ask you, O heavenly Father, that you would graciously forgive me these and all my sins. Keep and preserve me from this time forward that I may walk only in your ways and live according to your will; and all of this through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, our Savior. Amen. 11
ASSURANCE OF PARDON John 1:10 2:2 Minister: If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this that you may not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Minister: The Lord be with you! People: And also with you! Minister: Lift up your hearts! People: We lift them up to the Lord! Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord! People: It is good and right so to do. Minister: 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 * HYMN OF GRACE (Music on pages 9) Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat * OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 1 Samuel 2:11-36 (ESV) 11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest. 12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw. 16 And if the man said to him, Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish, he would say, No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt. 18 Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD. So then they would return to their home. 21 Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the young man Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD. 22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 And he said to them, Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. 25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him? But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death. 26 Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man. 27 And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, Thus the LORD has said, Did I indeed reveal myself to the house 7
of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh? 28 Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. 29 Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel? 30 Therefore the LORD the God of Israel declares: I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever, but now the LORD declares: Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men. 34 And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. 35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. 36 And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, Please put me in one of the priests places, that I may eat a morsel of bread. Minister: People: The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! * PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION AFTERNOON SERMON PASTORAL PRAYER OFFERTORY Eli s Corrupt House 8 Reverend Roy R. Bennett APPROACH, MY SOUL, THE MERCY SEAT * DOXOLOGY 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. * PRAYER OF DEDICATION CONFESSION OF SIN Psalm 51:1-3, 10 Unison: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to your loving kindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquities, and cleanse us from our sins, for we acknowledge our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us: through Jesus Christ our Lord. 9