Sunday Worship - May 10
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: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
PEOPLE: Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
LEADER: Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty!
PEOPLE: Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
LEADER: Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?
ALL: For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you!
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by Glenn Robertson and Brenton Brown
All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of His mercy
As deep cries out to deep, we singChorus
Come, Lord Jesus, come
Come, Lord Jesus, come(Repeat from the beginning)
Chorus
As deep cries out to deep
As deep cries out to deep
As deep cries out to deep, we singHoly Spirit, come
Holy Spirit, come
(Repeat)—
CCLI License No. 2051446
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by Helen H. Lemmel, George Romanacce, Nic Trout, and Kevin Winebarger
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and graceTurn your eyes to the hillside
Where justice and mercy embraced
There the Son of God gave His life for us
And our measureless debt was erasedChorus
Jesus, to You we lift our eyes
Jesus, our glory and our prize
We adore You, behold You
Our Savior ever true
Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to YouTurn your eyes to the morning
And see Christ the lion awake
What a glorious dawn, fear of death is gone
For we carry His life in our veinsChorus
Turn your eyes to the heavens
Our King will return for his own
Every knee will bow
Every tongue will shout
"All glory to Jesus alone!"Chorus (x2)
—
CCLI License No. 2051446
Corporate Confession
Eternal God, you do not change. You have revealed yourself to us in your Word. You call us to worship you in spirit and in truth. But we confess that we often worship not your true self but who we wish you to be. We too often ask you to bless what we do rather than seeking to do what you bless. Forgive us for seeking concessions when we should be seeking guidance. Forgive us when our worship shapes you into what we want instead of shaping us into what you want. Help us to meet you here, that we might bow before your unspeakable majesty and so live for you now and ever, in Christ. Amen.
Personal Confession
Receiving of Grace
The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
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.
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by Ed Cash and Jenn Johnson
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt beI love You Lord oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of GodChorus
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of GodI love Your voice You have led me through the fire
In darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a father
I've known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of GodChorus (x2)
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hands hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me—
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.
Infant Baptism
Henry Hekman and Teddy Hekman, sons of Irene and Ryan Hekman
Isaac Hilario, son of Celina and Benton Hilario
Mabel Vickers, daughter of Hannah and Jonathan Vickers
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*
5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, 6 saying:
“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. 8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.
10 “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. 12 Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ 13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, 14 shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.”
Ezra 9:5-15, ESV
READER: This is the Word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
“Ezra’s Prayer”
Sermon Series: Trust and Courage - Rebuilding What God Restores
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 Adoniram Judson Gordon, Nate Garvey, and W. Spencer Walton
In tenderness he sought me
Weary and sick with sin
And on His shoulders brought me
Back to His fold again
While angels in His presence sang
Until the courts of heaven rang
Chorus
Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold of God
He died for me while I was sinning
Needy and poor and blind
He whispered to assure me
"I've found thee; thou art Mine"
I never heard a sweeter voice
It made my aching heart rejoice
Chorus
Upon His grace I'll daily ponder
And sing anew His praise
With all adoring wonder
His blessings I retrace
It seems as if eternal days
Are far too short to sing His praise
Chorus (x2)—
CCLI License No. 2051446
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. We’re so glad you’ve joined us at Josiah Quincy Elementary School (JQES)! Click HERE to view logistical details related to our new church home. If you have any questions, feel free to contact office@citylifeboston.org.
Baptism and Membership
Our Summer Membership Cohort begins soon! If you are interested in being baptized and/or joining as a member of Citylife, we invite you to learn more about our vision, beliefs, and practice as a church. The next two-part membership class takes place on 5/31 and 6/7. Click HERE to register.
Kids & Youth
Join Cecily and our pastors at the New & Expectant Parents Breakfast next Sunday, May 17, 9:15–10:15am. We love to celebrate our growing families and want to give you a space to build community with each other. We will have a simple breakfast prepared for you in the Cafeteria; please RSVP HERE.
The next Saturday Youth Group is 5/16 and the next Youth Sunday School is 5/24 . Saturday Youth Group meets at Ruggles Baptist Church every 1st and 3rd Saturday from 6:30-8:30. Youth Sunday School meets here at Josiah Quincy Elementary School (JQES) every 2nd and 4th Sunday from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
University Ministry
Calling anyone interested in mentoring our University Students. If you are interested in mentoring the college students of our church as a volunteer, please come to our info session next Sunday May 17 in the Workout Room. Register HERE.
Justice & Mercy
Volunteers needed for our May service date at Pine Street Inn! On the third Saturday of each month, Citylife volunteers help to serve dinner to guests of the men's shelter. Please consider serving this need for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. Sign up HERE.
Citylife’s Justice and Mercy Ministry serves 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.
Community
You’re invited to Coffee Hour in the cafeteria immediately following today’s service. Many thanks to the Food and Fellowship Team for serving our community in this way.
The gym and playground are now open for use. Families are welcome to use the gym each Sunday until 1:00 p.m. The gym will be available from 1:00 - 3:00 for the following activities:
1st and 2nd Sunday: free play
3rd Sunday: Basketball (Primary contacts: Jenna Rao and Enjeh Liu)
4th Sunday: Pickleball (Primary contact: Ron Davis and Sam Y. Lee)
If you are interested in learning more about basketball. pickleball, or coordinating an organized activity, please contact office@citylifeboston.org. All adults and children using the gym or playground must have a signed Citylife Recreation Agreement. There is no food or drink allowed in the gym. We ask that all gym users return equipment to its proper storage space and refrain from using ping pong tables.