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 “” 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

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.

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)

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?

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.

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 16th century has given us a common heritage in the classic “solas”.

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.

The Gospel points outward — Grace disengages approval seeking,

engenders authenticity, and curbs pride.

The Gospel informs attitudes — As Christians, we desire the peace and well-being of our communities and cities.

The Gospel removes barriers — 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.

The Gospel builds momentum — Church planting is both the result of and

means to fulfilling the great commission.

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.

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 — Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us as the only

possible satisfaction of God’s justice by faith alone.

God 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, 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 Office Manager — Michele Sveiven

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 4:00pm

ANNOUNCEMENTS CHILDREN’S EDUCATION (ages 2-8)—Cancelled until fall start up in September CCV MEN’S GROUP — Sunday at 3:00pm (see Skip Chapin) CCV WOMEN’S STUDY — To be announced — Cancelled until further notice ADULT STUDY — Westminster Confession of Faith — Cancelled until further notice VENTURA COUNTY RESCUE MISSION— 1st & 3rd Tues. 6:45-7:45pm (see John Geb)

All music reproduction is by permission CCLI# 2200400

20

Order for the Celebration and Worship of God

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: August 17, 2014 4:00 pm PRELUDE Pianist Tilford Jackson WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS SILENT PREPARATION CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 18:3-6 (ESV)

INVITIATORY Minister: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer! People: The Most High thundered his voice and shook the heavens! Minister: He rescued me from my foes and drew me out of many waters. People: The LORD lives and blessed be the rock and may the God

of my salvation be exalted. Surely we are your servants. Minister: 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.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Belgic Confession (1561), Article 21 Unison: We believe that Jesus Christ was confirmed by an oath to be a High Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. He presented Himself in our place before His Father, appeasing God’s wrath by His full satisfaction, offering Himself on the tree of the cross, where He poured out His precious blood to purge away our sins, as the prophets had foretold. For it is written, Upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole and with His stripes we are healed.

1

GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN

2

THE MEASURE OF TIME

Time is told by death, who doubts it? But time is always halved—for all we

know, it is halved—by the eye blink, the synapse, the immeasurable moment

of the present. Time is only the past and maybe the future; the present

moment, dividing and connecting them, is eternal. The time of the past is

there, somewhat, but only somewhat to be remembered and examined. We

believe that the future is there too, for it keeps arriving, though we know

nothing about it. But try to stop the present for your patient scrutiny, or to

measure its length with your most advanced chronometer. It exists, so far as

I can tell, only as a leak in time, through which, if we are quiet enough,

eternity falls upon us and makes its claim. And here I am, an old man,

traveling as a child among the dead.

We measure time by its deaths, yes, and by its births. For time is also told by

life. As some depart, others come. The hand opened in farewell remains

open in welcome. I, who once had grandparents and parents, now have

children and grandchildren. Like the flowing river that is yet always present,

time that is always going is always coming. And time that is told by death

and birth is held and redeemed by love, which is always present. Time, then,

is told by love’s losses, and by the coming of love, and love continuing in

gratitude for what is lost. It is folded and enfolded and unfolded forever and

ever, the love by which the dead are alive and the unborn welcomed into the

womb. The great question for the old and the dying, I think, is not if they

have loved and been loved enough, but if they have been grateful enough

for love received and given, however much. No one who has gratitude is the

onliest one. Let us pray to be grateful to the last.

— Wendell Berry—

Andy Catlett: Early Travels

19

LONGINGS AFTER GOD MY DEAR LORD, I can but tell thee that thou knowest

I long for nothing but thyself, nothing but holiness, nothing but union with thy will.

Thou hast given me these desires, and thou alone canst give me the thing desired.

My soul longs for communion with thee, for mortification of indwelling corruption,

especially spiritual pride. How precious it is to have a tender sense and clear apprehension

of the mystery of godliness, of true holiness!

What a blessedness to be like thee as much as it is possible for a creature to be like its creator!

Lord, give me more of thy likeness; Enlarge my soul to contain fullness of holiness; Engage me to live more for thee. Help me to be less pleased with my spiritual experiences,

and when I feel at ease after sweet communings, teach me it is far too little I know and do.

Blessed Lord, let me climb up neat to thee, and love, and long, and plead, and wrestle with thee, and pant for deliverance from the body of sin, for my heart is wandering and lifeless, and my soul mourns to think it should ever lose sight of its beloved.

Wrap my life in divine love, and keep me ever desiring thee, always humble and resigned to thy will, more fixed on thyself. that I may be more fitted for doing and suffering.

Arthur Bennett — The Valley of Vision:

A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions 18

Like a lamb He was led to the slaughter. He was numbered with the transgressors, and condemned as a criminal by Pontius Pilate, though he had first declared Him innocent. He restored what He had not stolen. He died as the righteous for the unrighteous. He suffered in body and soul, feeling the horrible punishment caused by our sins, and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. Finally, He exclaimed, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? All this He endured for the forgiveness of our sins.

Therefore we justly say, with Paul, that we know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus our Lord. We find comfort in His wounds and have no need to seek or invent any other means of reconciliation with God than this only sacrifice, once offered, by which the believers are perfected for all times. This is also the reason why the angel of God called Him Jesus, that is, Savior, because He would save His people from their sins. THE EPISTLE 2 Corinthians 1:3-21 (ESV)

1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

3

12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Minister: The Word of the Lord! People: Thanks be to God! PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

(The congregation is encouraged to participate both verbally and in silence.)

Unison: O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, and we give you glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Minister: Father, we pray for your Church throughout the world;

People: May we be united in the gospel of grace.

Minister: Grant that all your people may truly and humbly serve you;

People: May your name may be glorified by all people.

4

* 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 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 upon you And give you peace. * DISMISSAL HYMN “May the Mind of Christ My Savior”

A. Cyril Barham-Gould © 1925

May the mind of Christ my Sav-ior live in me from day to day May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe, May His beau-ty rest up - on me as I seek the lost to win,

By his love and power con- troll-ling all I do and say. Looking on - ly un - to Je - sus as I on - ward go. And may they for - get the channel, seeing on - ly him.

Minister: Go in peace to love and serve the risen Lord Jesus. People: Thanks be to God! POSTLUDE Pianist Tilford Jackson

17

BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR

Minister: We pray for all pastors and church leaders; People: May they faithfully minister your Word and Sacraments. Minister: We pray for those in authority and who govern the nations; People: May there be justice and peace on the earth.

Minister: Give us grace to do your will in all things that we undertake; People: May the works of our hands bring you pleasure. Minister: Have mercy on those who suffer from any grief or trouble; People: May they be delivered from their distress. Minister: Let us pray for our own needs and those of others. People: May we find your grace sufficient in all things. 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”

* HYMN OF TRUST (Music on page 6 & 7) “O, Rejoice in the Lord”

5

O, REJOICE IN THE LORD

6

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

15

THE LORD'S SUPPER Minister: Christ our Passover, 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.)

* 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. COMMUNION MUSIC (Lyrics on page 15) “I Am the Bread of Life”

John Michael Talbot ©1990

COMMUNION MUSIC (Music on page 16) “Beautiful Savior”

Stuart Townend © 1998

14

O, REJOICE IN THE LORD—continued—

*NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Acts 20:1-12(ESV)

20:1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

7

7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

Minister: The Word of the Lord! People: Thanks be to God! * PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION AFTERNOON SERMON Reverend Roy R. Bennett

“Paul’s Ministry of Encouragement"

PASTORAL PRAYER 8

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION WORDS OF INSTITUTION 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Minister: 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. AGNUS DEI John 1:29

Mabel Wu © 1987

13

SANCTUS

12

SERMON NOTES

9

* DOXOLOGY

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION WORD OF EXHORTATION 1 Thessalonians 5:5-10 (ESV) Minister: 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

10

CONFESSION OF SIN Unison: O living God, you know us completely and see how we sorrow for the sins that carry us away from you. It is your tender mercy to afflict us that we may return to you and live. Our sin is to look upon our faults and be despairing or to look upon our good and become proud. Forgive us, dear Lord, and lift our heads in the wilderness that we may receive bread from heaven, water from the rock, light by day, and fire by night, so we may know your dwelling place and mercy seat in our risen Savior Jesus Christ. ASSURANCE OF PARDON Psalm 130:3-7 (ESV) Minister: “If you kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord, more than the watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem his people from their sins.”

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,

THE SANCTUS (Music on page 12) Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 118:26

P. Dobbing © 2001

11