Sunday Worship - November 9
Welcome! We’re glad you’re here.
Citylife strives to be a diverse community of grace that forms disciples of Jesus for the renewal of Boston and our neighbors.
“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God, it is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalms 100:2-3
Order of Worship
*Please stand as you are able
Welcome and Preparation
Call to Worship*
LEADER: In your wisdom, O God, you call us here to worship you.
PEOPLE: We gather, alive to the Word of God.
LEADER: You call us to be fully alive with your life abundant, ready to listen and respond with heart, soul, strength, and mind.
PEOPLE: We listen, alive to the Word of God.
LEADER: You call us to be always watchful for your Word of wisdom, sometimes startling and unexpected, sometimes still and quiet, but always dwelling among us.
ALL: We watch and wait for the Word of God.
-
by Matt Maher, David Crowder, and Ben Glover
Come out of sadness from wherever you've been
Come broken-hearted let rescue begin
Come find your mercy O sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't healChorus
(So) Lay down your burdens lay down your shame
All who are broken lift up your face
O wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt lay down your heart
Come as you areThere's hope for the hopeless
And all those who've strayed
Come sit at the table come taste the grace
There's rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't cureChorus
Come as you are
Fall in His arms
Come as you areThere's joy for the morning
O sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't healChorus
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are—
CCLI License No. 2051446
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by Charitie Bancroft (1863) and William Bradbury (1861)
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.
One in Himself I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by His Blood
My life is hid with Christ on High
With Christ my Savior and My God (x3)—
CCLI License No. 2051446
Corporate Confession
ALL: Awesome and compassionate God, you have loved us with unfailing, self-giving mercy, but we have not loved you. You constantly call us, but we do not listen. You ask us to love, but we walk away from neighbors in need, wrapped in our own concerns. We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed. God of grace, as you come to us in mercy, we repent in spirit and in truth, admit our sin, and gratefully receive your forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
Personal Confession
Receiving of Grace
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
Doxology*
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
-
by Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ross Ligertwood, Brett Steven Younker, Kristian Paul Stanfill
Amazing love, that welcomes me
The kindness of mercy
That bought with blood, wholeheartedly
My soul undeservingChorus
God, You're so good
God, You're so good
God, You're so good
You're so good to meBehold the cross, age to age
And hour by hour
The dead are raised, the sinner saved
The work of Your powerChorus
Bridge
I am blessed, I am called
I am healed, I am whole
I am saved in Jesus' name
Highly favored, anointed
Filled with Your power
For the glory of Jesus' name
I am blessed, I am called
I am healed, I am whole
I am saved in Jesus' name
Highly favored, anointed
Filled with Your power
For the glory of Jesus' nameAnd should this life bring suffering
Lord, I will remember
What Calvary has bought for me
Both now and foreverChorus
Bridge
—
CCLI License No. 2051446
Prayer of Intercession* (concluded by The Lord’s Prayer)
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 and ever. Amen.
Membership Installation
Mitchell Cloutier
Lu Esteban
Daniel Kang
Charis Kang
Jinny Lee
Iris Lee
Isabelle Song
Prayer for Children
Extending Peace
MINISTER: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
ALL: And also with you.
Announcements
Gospel Lesson
Scripture Reading*
9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
Esther 4:9-17, ESV
READER: This is the Word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
“For Such a Time As This”
Sermon Series: Trust and Courage - For Such A Time As This
Rev. Benjamin Bae
Prayers for Tithes and Offerings
ALL: Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us - our selves, our time, and our possessions - signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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by Aaron Keyes, Aaron Williams, Dee Wilson
For my waking breath, for my daily bread
I depend on You, I depend on You
For the sun to rise, for my sleep at night
I depend on You, I depend on YouYou’re the way, the truth, and the life
You’re the well that never runs dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abideWhere the Spirit leads, as I’m following
I depend on You, I depend on You
For the victories still in front of me
I depend on You, I depend on YouYou’re the way, the truth, and the life
You’re the well that never runs dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
Be my strength, my song in the night
Be my all, my treasure, my prize
I am Yours, forever You’re mine
Draw me close and teach me to abideWhen I pass through death, as enter rest
I depend on You, I depend on You
For eternal life, to be raised with Christ
I depend on You, I depend on YouBe my strength, my song in the night
Be my all, my treasure, my prize
I am Yours, forever You’re mine
Draw me close and teach me to abide—
CCLI License # 20514461
Benediction & Dismissal*
MINISTER: Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
ALL: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Citylife strives to be a diverse community of grace that forms disciples of Jesus for the renewal of Boston and our neighbors.
Connect with Citylife. We’re happy you’re here! If you are new, the easiest way to get in touch with us is by filling out the Connect Card HERE.
Meeting Location
Location change for the month of November. Citylife's English service and all programming is on the 6th floor of The Revere Hotel for the month of November. CCC will remain on the Mezzanine.
Citylife is Moving! December 7th will be Citylife’s final Sunday Service in Liberty Hall at The Revere Hotel. On 12/14, we will begin holding our 10:30 service at Josiah Quincy Elementary School at 885 Washington St. in Chinatown. Please use the entrance at the corner of Shawmut Ave. and Marginal Rd. (Click here for a Google map pin.) Parking information to come. If you have any questions, feel free to contact office@citylifeboston.org.
Community
Harbor Christian Counseling Training. TODAY after service, please join us for a training led by Harbor Christian Counseling (HCC) and Rev. Dr. Bryan Loney, who is leading the Church Mental Health Partnership (CMHP) initiative at HCC. Building on last year's training on how different mental health challenges can show up in a church context, we will learn more about how to come alongside those in the midst of these challenges. This training is open to anyone who is interested, but is specifically intended for Citylife leadership, Healing Cohort leaders, and other lay leaders who are called on to care for others in the church.
Missions
Called to Mercy: Living the Gospel with the Most Vulnerable - A discussion with Romanian Christian Enterprises. Please join us 1:00 pm after service next Sunday 11/16 for a workshop and discussion hosted by Allie Taylor from Romanian Christian Enterprises (RCE), one of Citylife's cross-cultural missions partners. Allie will use RCE's work to share about how the Gospel speaks to the most marginalized among us—and how the whole Church can respond with Christlike compassion, with especial focus on engaging with disability. We'll have a chance for reflection, questions, and discussion. Please grab a quick lunch and meet in one of the classrooms. Bring a friend or two!
University Ministry
Citylife is one church made up of college students from multiple campuses across our city. We gather monthly at City Night Fellowship to develop meaningful relationships with students across campuses. Invite your friends and join us for our next monthly large group gathering Thursday 11/13 at Ruggles Baptist Church.
Kids & Youth
Parents, please fill our our annual Liability Form for you child(ren) TODAY to keep your child updated in our system. Reach out to cecily@citylifeboston.org with any questions.
Next Saturday Youth Group meets 11/15
Next Youth Sunday School meets 11/23
Justice & Mercy
Volunteers are needed to serve dinner at Pine St Inn Sat 11/15 4:30-6 pm. Please sign up here.
Catie's Closet Christmas Coat Drive. Pledge and donate coats for our 5th annual Christmas Coat Drive and Match for Catie's Closet now through Sunday 12/21! Citylife will MATCH the total number of coats donated. More info HERE.
Get more involved with Justice & Mercy Ministries. An important part of Citylife's vision is to be for the flourishing of Boston and our neighbors. Will you join us? If you would like to be more involved in the ways Citylife serves the most vulnerable in our communities, please fill out this form. Please make sure each CG is represented!
We are at Somerville Homeless Coalition on the 1st Saturday of the month, L Street MIssion on the 2nd Saturday, and Pine Street Inn on the 3rd Saturday. Sign up to purchase for and assemble hygiene kits every 3rd Sunday.