Getting Ready for Sunday (May 1, 2011)

There is something special about the people of God coming together for worship (Hebrews 10:24-25). Thus, we hope that Sundays at New City are a highlight of your week. In an effort to help you get more out of it, we're posting a short preview of the upcoming Sunday gathering each week.

We're very pleased to have Walter Wood with us this Sunday. Walter is the lead pastor at North Cincinnati Community Church (our planting church) in Mason. Walter and his wife Becky planted NCCC in the mid-90's and have seen it grow into a healthy missional congregation on the north side of town. In addition to New City, NCCC has helped plant churches in Croatia, Middletown, Phoenix, and Huntsville. NCCC generously supports our work at New City and we are thrilled to have Walter visiting with us and teaching from the Word during our worship gathering. The message will be based on John 1:35-51. Walter will be helping us see and understand Jesus' strategy for planting churches. To prepare for worship, read the passage and reflect on how Jesus goes about his mission to the world.

We will call ourselves (and each other) to worship by singing In Your Name - a gospel-centered song that reminds us that we worship and do mission because God has sought us in Jesus Christ (listen to the song at the bottom of this post). We'll confess our sins together in prayer and by singing Out of the Depths. We'll go then to the cross to look for pardon as we reflect and sing In the Cross of Christ. With our sin confessed and our hope in Jesus, this frees us up to sing with joy Jesus Thou Joy of Loving Hearts.

After Walter's message we will celebrate the Lord's Supper together. To prepare your heart, read 1 Corinthians 11:23-32. We'll respond to God in worship singing My Jesus I Love Thee and Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior.

Pray for our gathering this Sunday - that God would be present, that he would meet us where we are, and that he would change us and transform us to be a people on mission for him. Invite some friends to come with you this week.

In Your Name - make this song your prayer as you prepare your heart for worship.

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