ORDER OF MORNING WORSHIP August 30, 2015 We gather for worship because our souls hunger for God. He alone satisfies our deepest longings. We have only the choice between God and idolatry. When we say we have all we want, yet the all does not include God - we are in a terrible place. Only God knows He will satisfy us. The Lord s house is the place where God s name is exalted in songs of praise and the ministering of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Can you say with the Psalmist, Psalm 122:1, I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord? MEDITATION If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. GREETING and ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL to WORSHIP HYMN PRAYER of INVOCATION SONGS of PRAISE and WORSHIP (on screen) Why So Downcast 10,000 Reasons -2 Chronicles 7:14 #164 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing The Christian life is marked by the offering of one s self to God to be shaped, empowered, directed, and changed by God. In worship, God presents us with the costly self-offering of Jesus Christ. We are claimed by Christ and set free. In response to God s love in Jesus Christ we offer our lives, our gifts, our abilities, and our material goods, for God s service. CORPORATE CONFESSION (on screen) Heavenly Father, You are the sovereign Lord of the nations raising up rulers and putting others down. Our future is in Your hands and not in those who govern us or them who make the decisions that profoundly affect our lives. For this reason we seek Your face and favor. We need the liberation of our soul far more than any other temporal freedom or blessing. Forgive us for seeing our lives primarily in how our daily desires are fulfilled. Forgive us for how we shrink our world down to our desires and satisfactions and not pleasing You and caring for the needs of others. Our joy and fulfillment is not achieved in isolation but together in solidarity with your people as we live in our community and nation. Grant to us the grace to examine and humble ourselves, seeking your face that we might proclaim the jubilee of God s mercy and forgiveness that will heal the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to captives and rebuild our land through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Amen
The Lord s Prayer SONGS of PRAISE and WORSHIP (on screen) Man of Sorrows Redeemed, Restored, Forgiven COVENANT of DISCIPLESHIP CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER OFFERING DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav nly host: Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 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. - Matthew 6:9-13 GREETING SPECIAL MUSIC Jubilee -Steve Marple SCRIPTURE Leviticus 25:1-23 SERMON Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land: The Year of Jubilee Pastor Douglas Kittredge When I remember that I am not my own, I offer up my heart, presented as a sacrifice to the Lord. - John Calvin HYMN #311 Hail to the Lord s Anointed BENEDICTION Pastor Sean Whitenack
NOTES Lord s Day August 30, 2015 Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land: The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25:1-23 On September 2, 1945, seventy years ago this week Victory in Japan was declared and World War II ended. Sirens proclaimed the release of captives throughout the world who had been enslaved by the amoral governments resulting in the deaths of 80 million people. On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall that imprisoned the people of East Berlin collapsed. The collapse of Soviet oppression climaxed with the resignation of President Mikael Gorbachev on December 25, 1991 signaling the collapse of the Soviet Union. To see the joy of those freed from amoral relativistic governments in which the state determined what was lawful and punished those who out of conscience disobeyed the state is to understand and visualize the triumph of liberty throughout the land. In the history of the USA, the Declaration of Independence declared that the Creator had given the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Liberty Bell rang out, Proclaim liberty throughout the land. For the first time government was held responsible for protecting the life and conscience of the individual before Almighty God. The individual person made in the image of God was of more value than the state! I. The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25:8-11 A. The Sabbath year 1. Observed every seventh year freed slaves declaring economic freedom 2. The Sabbath year was a year of rest B. The Year of Jubilee was a second Sabbath year celebrated every 50 th year 1. The year began with the blowing of the Shofar at the end of the Day of Atonement Leviticus 25:9 2. Families were reunited who had been separated by economic hardship or wastefulness 3. Economically families could begin again C. The Year of Jubilee recognizes 1. We are all stewards never owners Leviticus 25:23,28 2. The focus is on care for others Leviticus 25:35-38 II. Liberty Lost A. The loss of liberty 1. Is viewed by some as rooted in social structures that oppress certain segments of society 2. Others see the loss of liberty in the oppression by governments of their people B. Psalm 12:1-8 acknowledges the roots of oppression in the boasts of the ungodly both on the part of business leaders and government leaders. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy! Now I will arise, says the Lord; I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. Psalm 12:5 III. Jesus Fulfills the Year of Jubilee A. The Messiah would usher in the Year of Jubilee Isaiah 61:1-4 1. Jesus fulfills the Year of Jubilee Luke 4:18-19 2. The prisoners go free Isaiah 49:8-9 B. The greatest slavery is to be under the dread sway of sin John 8:34-36 1. Do not be deceived into thinking that your happiness is in the hands of others - either business or government 2. The greatest blight on our nation is to interpret the pursuit of happiness as the indulgence of one s desires 2 Peter 2:18-19 3. Self-indulgence results in bondage, 1 Peter 2:11-12. Lust wars against your soul.
C. Jesus Christ 1. Frees us from our sensual and temporal desires John 8:34-36 2. So that we might practice self-restraint and self-control Matthew 16:24-27 3. Freedom requires self-examination and repentance Matthew 4:17 4. Renewal of nations and of this world comes through repentance 2 Peter 3:9 The universe is a moral universe and is unaffected by modern unbelief that is exhibited by moral relativism. All such societies and government throughout history have failed who flaunt God s laws. There is nothing relative about justice, as there is nothing relative about conscience. Indeed justice is conscience, not merely personal conscience but the conscience of the whole of humanity. Alexander Solzhenitsyn A self-indulgent consumerist society will fail. Repentance begins with the house of God I Peter 4:17; 2 Chronicles 7:14. The Berlin Wall came down because of a regular 5 p.m. Monday prayer meeting at the Nicolae Church in Leipzig. Proclaim the Year of Jubilee! Live in Jesus Christ s Jubilee. Let the nations be glad and rejoice. Fall Sunday School Classes - Adults Covenant of Discipleship (Pastor Doug s office) Bible: Romans (fireside room) Christian Practice: Prayer (room 217) A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens (room 100) Our Presbyterian Heritage (room 219) NLIC GIVING General Fund Faith Promise Weekly Budget $12,626 $2,102 Giving last week 9,079 564 +/- for week -3,547-1,538 +/- fiscal year -6,750 +5,516 Next Week s Nursery Attendants - 9/6 10:00 am Dwayne and Jessica Peters Ruth and Megan de los Santos 6:00 pm Parker and Annie Page Prayer Chain - If you have a prayer request during the week, you can call the prayer chain. Contact either Krystal Dowell 786-4218 or Kathy Wilson 891-7235. Deacon on call this week: e-mail: nlicc@nlicc.org Michael Prevost 710-6011 (Next week: Larry Root 371-4686) Contact Information Senior Pastor Douglas Kittredge* 371-9254 nlicc@nlicc.org Associate Pastor Sean Whitenack* 379-5385 sean@nlicc.org Pastoral Intern Samuel Asirifi-Addo (919)594-8716 sammie@nlicc.org Elders: Sam Capitano* 373-0053 samcapfamily@gmail.com Dan Deaconson* 786-0389 deacd@verizon.net Chris Garcia* (757) 641-6242 chrisgarcia001@hotmail.com George Giddens* 891-5522 gggiddens@verizon.net Kim Lorei* 287-5778 kimlorei@verizon.net Bob McMichael** 825-2511 rmicah68@aol.com Parker Page* (803) 351-9817 parker.page@gmail.com Larry Plating* 412-9513 lplating@gmail.com Joe Plaia* 604-1854 jplaia@alumni.ufl.edu Bob Rumbaugh 376-7350 rerumbaugh@comcast.net Mark Shigley 898-3166 shigleym@aol.com Jay Storms* (571) 408-1043 bj_storms@comcast.net * denotes currently serving on session **denotes elder emeritus FOOD PANTRY IMMEDIATE NEEDS (8/4) Spaghetti sauce, cereal, microwave popcorn, tea bags, canned stew, pancake mix and syrup, tuna helper, pie crust mix, brownies, powdered detergent, and pickles.
CALENDAR of EVENTS TODAY 9:00 am Children School Classes - Promotion Sunday (all children, youth and teachers meet in sanctuary) 9:00 am Adult Sunday School Classes 10:00 am Worship Service - Pastor Douglas Kittredge preaching 11:45 am All-Church Picnic on the grounds following the AM Service 6:00 pm NO Evening Service 7:00 pm NO Open House THIS WEEK Monday 12:30 pm Men s Prayer Lunch Tuesday Thursday 7:00 pm Financial Peace Class (room 100) 7:00 pm Session Meeting (room 217) Friday 7:00 pm Deacons Meeting (room 215) 7:00 pm Prayer for expecting Mothers at Auker home Saturday 9:00 am AM Praise Team rehearsal NEXT SUNDAY Celebration of the Lord s Supper 9:00 am Children and Adult Sunday School Classes 10:00 am Worship Service - Pastor Doug Kittredge preaching 4:30 pm Care Group Leaders Meeting (room 219) 6:00 pm Evening Service 7:00 pm Open House - McConnell home (2616 Patriot Lane, 22408) FUTURE September 7 Labor Day - church office closed September 8 7:15 pm Adult Choir begins - no audition (Music Room) September 9 7:00 pm 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Day of Prayer and Repentance: seeking God for our nation - until 9pm (room 100) September 11-12 Michael Card Conference (register at michaelcard.com) for scholarship contact church September 12 7:00 pm Michael Card Concert (tickets at michaelcard.com or at the door) September 13 11:45 am Luncheon for Spanish Speakers (Fireside Room) September 13 1:00 pm Young Adult Potluck at Allison home September 14 New Care Groups Begin September 15 9:30 am Women s Study The Lamb of God begins (room 217) September 15 Children s Vocal / Bell Choirs and Drama begin September 16 Pioneer Girls / Christian Service (Boy s) Brigade begin (4:00pm / 7:00pm) September 18 7:30 pm Creation Club (Fireside Room) September 19 8:00 am Men s Breakfast September 25 7:00 pm Adult Improv Night with New Life drama September 25-26 Junior High Retreat at Shenandoah Springs September 26 Christmas Cantata Rehearsals (9 am- Choir/Noon - Orchestra) October 22-24 Men s Retreat (register today) This week s Fighter Verses (memorization): John 8:31-32 (fighterverses.com) Library Hours: Sundays 8 :50-9 :10/ /9 :45-10/11 :30 - Noon KOREAN AGAPE CHURCH SERVICES Sunday 7:00 am Prayer (room 203) 1:00 pm Worship (sanctuary) Wednesday 8:00 pm Midweek Service (room 203) Friday 8:00 pm Prayer Service (room 203) Saturday 6:30 pm Young Adults meet (room 203) Daily 6:00 am Prayer (M-S) (room 203)
Prayer and Praise Praise God for those confessing their faith in the Covenant of Discipleship this morning: David and Felicia Baffour, Eric and Amber Forcey, Jessica Hinson and Liz Stevens. Pray that our covenant children would grow in their love for Jesus. Promotion Sunday is this morning. Please have your children and youth join us for Sunday School in the main sanctuary at 9am for introduction to their new classes. Praise God for our Sunday School teachers and for Laurie Burrows and Cynthia Perez organizing this ministry. Praise God for George and Nanette Giddens 50th Anniversary on September 3rd. Praise God for Bill and Connie Both s 34th Anniversary yesterday. The flowers are from Bill to his wife Connie. Pray for the Michael Card Biblical Imagination Seminar on the Gospel of John and the concert Saturday evening, September 11 & 12. This is an excellent opportunity to develop Bible study skills. We still have scholarships available; contact the church office if you would like one. Pray that we as a congregation would seek the Lord and repent on September 9, so that God might heal our nation. (7:00pm, room 100) Praise God for James Noah Antosh born to Stephen and Erin Antosh on August 14. James is Mike and Mardi Antosh s grandson. Praise God for Jan Horn arriving home and being under Hospice Care. Pray for healing for Nancy Mangus who is recovering at home (6001 Bush Ct., 22407). Announcements and Events A new Covenant of Discipleship Class starts September 6 during the 9:00 am Sunday School hour in Pastor Doug s office. The class is for those considering joining this particular congregation. New Life s Arts Ministry will begin Tuesday, September 15. Register your child(ren) for Vocal/Bell Choir and Drama online at: http://www.nlicc.org/musicdrama/ or contact Veronica Allison. Adult Choir begins September 8, 7:15-8:30pm. Nursery Help Needed. Volunteers are needed in the infant and toddler rooms during morning worship hour. We have been blessed with many new babies and would like extra warm arms and hearts to care for them! Contact Karsta Toscano at toscanok@yahoo.com if you can help. Men, sign up for the 2015 Men s Retreat. The Man of Influence retreat will be held at the Lost River Retreat Center in West Virginia from Thursday, October 22 through Saturday, October 24, 2015. You can register today with Alan Dowell or George Giddens. Today is the last day for the early registration discount. Bridal Shower for Erin Storms on Sunday, September 20 from 3:00pm to 5:30pm at Lucinda Lorei s home. See Women s Newsletter for more details. To subscribe to the newsletter contact Amy Auker at amy.auker@gmail.com. Bulletin folding assistance is needed on Friday, September 4. Sign up on the tear-off sheet. Prayer Request and Praise Date: This request is for Pastors and Elders only To Sign Up Would like to help in Nursery on Sundays 9:00 am 10:00 am 6:00 pm Would like to be a Greeter Sunday morning Help fold bulletins on September 4 Would like to place flowers at the altar on I will provide the flowers myself Occasion: Date: For:_ Name: Phone: (PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY) Please turn off or silence your cell phones when entering the Worship Service. Sermons and Bulletins are posted on the church website weekly at: www.nlicc.org
We Are Glad You re Here! Thank you for worshiping with us today. Please let us know of your presence. May God richly bless you! Date First and Last Name First and Last Name Family Members (Children) Email: Street/Apt City/State/Zip Telephone - Residence/Cell 1st visit? 2nd visit? 3rd visit? Permanent residence/here until Desire a local church home Home church What brought you to our church? Update directory information Comments Please check appropriate groups: Pre-K/K Grades1-3 Grades4-6 Jr High Sr High Age18-24 25-40 41-55 Over 55 I D LIKE INFORMATION OR INTERESTED IN: Care Group Sunday School Youth Group Missions Young Adult/College New Members Class Women s Ministry Baptism Men s Ministry Call me Music Ministry Appointment with Boys Brigade Pastor or Elder Pioneer Girls Church Membership Would like to be added to church mailing list New Life in Christ Church Sunday Service Times: Adult & Children s Sunday School 9:00 am Worship Service 10:00 am Evening Service 6:00 pm Korean Worship Service 1:00 pm Our Address: 11925 Burgess Lane Fredericksburg, VA 22407 (Behind the Spotsylvania Towne Center Mall) Office Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday-Friday Ministry Team: Douglas Kittredge, Senior Pastor Sean Whitenack, Associate Pastor Samuel Asirifi-Addo, Church Planting Intern Jonathan Allison, Music Director, Office Administrator Christine Fulcrod, Assistant to Sr. Pastor, Ass t Admin. Veronica Allison, Assistant Music Director Dayra Rumbaugh, Office Assistant Marcia Vastine, Bookkeeping Pam Lopes, Biblical Counseling: hopeforchangeva@gmail.com Office 786-4848 - After Hours 786-3346 Fax 540-785-0756 Email: nlicc@nlicc.org Visit us at our website for information and times of events. Sermon archives are accessible. www.nlicc.org