1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

advent, week 3
14 december 2014
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Reflection
“It’s a long and sometimes painful journey out of Egypt, the place of fear, enslavement and distrust. I know - I’ve
been there and still visit on occasion.”
• Steve Brown
Preparation
Use the time before the service as an opportunity to prepare for worship, quiet your heart, and receive Christ. Feel free
to read the reflections above. As a courtesy, please turn off your cell phone, beeper, iPod, or other noisemaker at this time.
Welcome
The ancient Celts believed that there were “thin places” on this earth; places where you could experience the
very presence of God. Worship is a “thin place” between heaven and earth where we meet with God. When we gather
for congregational worship we enter into the very presence of the Living God. No matter who you are or what you have
done, God, by his grace, is able to change your life forever. Meet with him at this “thin place”: worship.
Credits
All Scripture references taken from the New International Version (NIV), unless otherwise noted.
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Call to Worship
Based on Philippians 4:4-5
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.
We rejoice in the hope of Christ’s coming.
Let us worship God!
Prayer of Invocation
“Joy To The World” *
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The Call to Worship is an
invitation into the unique activity of
worship. Our primary activity in
the worship service is to participate
in the gift exchange of worship
itself, by hearing God’s Word, by
offering prayers and praise, and by
receiving spiritual nourishment
offered at the Lord’s table.
The term invocation implies that
the congregation invokes, or “calls
upon,” God. In it, we express our
longing for God as well as deep
dependence
VERSE 1
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
VERSE 3
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as far as the curse is found
VERSE 2
Joy to the earth the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
VERSE 4
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love
And wonders of his love
And wonders and wonders of his love
• Words: Isaac Watts (1719)
• Music: George F. Handel (1741)
*Indicates congregation standing
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“Come To Save Us” *
VERSE 1
You have come to save us
You have come to save us
You have come to save us Lord
VERSE 3
You are light and fire
You are our desire
You have come to save us Lord
VERSE 2
You have made a way here
You have made the way clear
You have come to save us Lord
VERSE 4
You’re the hope among us
You’re peace that binds us
You have come to save us Lord
CHORUS
Jesus you’re the one who saves us
You’re the one who saves us
King above all other kings on earth
Why do we sing in church? As
God's people gather for worship, we
focus our attention on God and
away from ourselves by singing
together. We respond with
thanksgiving to God, because we
have hope. And we sing because it is
the best and most complete
response that we can utter.
King of all kings
Lord of all lords
Light of the world you shine
• Words + Music: Leslie Jordan and David Leonard (2011)
First Reading *
Matthew 2:13-23 (ESV)
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Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to
Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to
Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the
child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by
night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I
called my son.”
As the Bible is the primary means
by which God speaks to and edifies
his people, we read and listen to
the Scriptures together in worship.
In ancient Israel and the early
church, services of worship were
organized for the public reading of
scripture – a practice vital to
building up the community of faith.
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Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all
the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that
he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
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“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
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But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take
the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose
and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning
over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the
district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might
be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
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Call to Confession
Isaiah 30:15, 18
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your
strength, but you would have none of it. Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to
you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is God of justice. Blessed
are all who wait for him!
Corporate Confession
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Because sin is so pervasive in both
our corporate and individual lives,
Christians and non-Christians are
called to come before the Father
with honesty and transparency,
confessing our brokenness and
asking for both forgiveness and
healing through Jesus Christ…
…we confess corporately to show
our unity even in our brokenness.
Merciful God,
always with us, always coming:
We confess that we do not know
how to prepare for your Advent.
We have forgotten how to hope in miracles;
we have ignored the promise of your kingdom;
we get distracted by all the busyness of this season.
Forgive us, God.
Grant us the simple wonder of the shepherds,
the intelligent courage of the Magi,
and the patient faith of Mary and Joseph, that we may journey with them to Bethlehem
and find the good news of a child born for us.
Now, in the quiet of our hearts,
we ask you to make us ready for his coming. Private Confession
Assurance of Forgiveness
Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive
all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.
We confess individually in order
to own our failing toward God and
toward humankind in thought,
word and deed.
Christ has given the Church
authority to declare forgiveness
of sins in his name. Because of
this, when the liturgist proclaims
that your sins are forgiven, you can
know that Christ agrees.
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“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” *
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear
CHORUS
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come thou Dayspring come and cheer, our spirits by thy advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight
O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid thou our sad divisions cease and be thyself our King of Peace
• Words: 12th Century (Veni, veni Emanuel); translated from Latin to English by John Neale, Mediaeval Hymns (1851)
• Music: Veni Emmanuel (from a 15th Century French hymn); arranged by Thomas Helmore (1856)
Prayers of the People
The Lord's Prayer Based on Matthew 6:9-13
In response to God's having
gathered us in worship, we offer
our petitions to him for the
church, the nation, the world, the
city and those who are suffering.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are
yours now and for ever. Amen.
Community Updates
At this time children grades K-5th are dismissed for CityKids children's church.
Second Reading
Jeremiah 31:15-17, 31-40 (ESV)
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Thus says the Lord:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more.”
16 Thus says the Lord:
“Keep your voice from weeping,
and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
declares the Lord,
and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
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There is hope for your future,
declares the Lord,
and your children shall come back to their own country.”
31 “Behold,
the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the
house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to
bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.
33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my
law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no
longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin
no more.”
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Thus says the Lord,
who gives the sun for light by day
and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the Lord of hosts is his name:
36 “If this fixed order departs
from before me, declares the Lord,
then shall the offspring of Israel cease
from being a nation before me forever.”
37 Thus says the Lord:
“If the heavens above can be measured,
and the foundations of the earth below can be explored,
then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel
for all that they have done,
declares the Lord.”
38
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when the city shall be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of
Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39 And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then
turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to
the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be sacred to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or overthrown
anymore forever.”
Prayer of Illumination
The prayer of illumination
acknowledges the Spirit’s work in
this part of worship by requesting
God’s Spirit to act through the
reading and preaching of Scripture.
The prayer is offered for both the
preacher and the listener, for both
the speaking and the hearing of the
Word.
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Sermon
Advent: Jesus and the Prophets, Part 3
“Out of Egypt” – Jeremiah 31:15-17, 31-40 (ESV)
Rev. Brad Jones, Lead Pastor
Notes
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A sermon is not just teaching for
living; it is mainly a time when
Christ encounters his people
through his Word.
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Affirmation of Faith *
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
dead, and buried. He descended to the dead. The third day he rose again from
the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of God
the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the
dead.
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When we affirm our
faith together, it reminds us that
we are part of an ancient and
global faith. This basic creed of
Christian churches, as most
familiarly known, is called the
Apostles' Creed. It has received this
title because of its great antiquity;
it dates from very early times in the
Church, a half century or so from
the last writings of the New
Testament.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Invitation to the Table
Words of Institution
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
On the night on which Jesus was betrayed, he sat at supper with his disciples. While they were eating, he took a
piece of bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them with the words, “This is my body. It is broken for you.
Do this to remember me.” Later he took the cup, saying, “This cup is God’s covenant, sealed with my blood. Drink
from it, all of you, to remember me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
*The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Distribution of the Bread + Cup
CityChurch welcomes all baptized Christians – those who are trusting in Jesus
Christ for salvation and who are members of congregations that proclaim the
gospel – to receive the Holy Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper, or
the Eucharist) with us. We will be coming forward to receive Communion.
When you come forward, tear a piece of the bread, and then dip it into the
cup.
Please note that we use wine in Communion. If you cannot receive wine, nonalcoholic white grape juice is also available. If you are not able to receive The
Lord’s Supper, please use this time to meditate on one of the prayers below.
“The Eucharist is the definitive
action practiced in the Christian
community that keeps Jesus Christ
before us as the Savior of the world
and our Savior, and ourselves as
sinners in need of being saved. The
Eucharist is the sacramental act
that pulls us into actual material
participation with Christ (eating
and drinking bread and wine) as he
gives his very life “for us and for
our salvation” (cf., the Nicene
Creed)... The Eucharist puts Jesus
in his place: dying on the cross and
giving us that sacrificed life. And it
puts us in our place: opening our
hands and receiving the remission
of our sins, which is our salvation.”
• Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays
in Ten Thousand Places
Prayers of Meditation for Those Not Communing
Prayer for Those Searching for Truth
Prayer of Belief
Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and
the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost
of following you as I consider the reasons for doing
so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach
me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Give
me an understanding of you that is coherent,
convincing, and that leads to the life that you
promise. Amen.
Lord Jesus, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful
than I ever before believed, but through you I am
more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I
thank you for paying my debt, bearing my
punishment on the cross, and offering forgiveness
and new life. Knowing that you have been raised
from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you
as Savior and Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Those Overcome with Sin
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that I may see in you the
fulfillment of all my need and may turn from every
false satisfaction to feed on you, the true and living
bread. Enable me to lay aside the sin that clings so
closely and run with perseverance the race set before
me, looking to you, the pioneer and perfecter of my
faith. Amen.
Prayer for Renewal
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Lord Jesus, you have called us to follow you in
baptism, to love God and neighbor, and to a life of
committed discipleship in your church. Grant that I
may take the necessary steps to be one with your
people, to pursue forgiveness, reconciliation, and
peace, and to live in the fullness of your Spirit. Amen.
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Communion Song – “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” *
Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed
CHORUS
My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God my savior has ransomed me
And like a flood his mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine
But God, who called me here below, will be forever mine
will be forever mine, you are forever mine
• Words: John Newton (1779)
• Additional words + Music: Chris Tomlin (2006)
“Nothing Holding Me Back” *
VERSE 1
Thank you for the cross that you have carried
Thank you for your blood that was shed
You took the wait of sin upon your shoulders
And sacrificed your life so I could live
CHORUS
Now nothing is holding me back from you
Redeemer of my soul
Now nothing can hold me back from you
Your love will never let me go
Jesus, you make all things new
Jesus, you make all things new
VEESE 3
Thank you that we're living in your Kingdom
Jesus you're the King upon the throne
Thank you for the way you always love me
Now I get to love you in return
Now I get to love you in return
VERSE 2
Thank you for your death and resurrection
Thank you for the power of your blood
And I am overwhelmed by your affection
The kindness and the greatness of your love
The kindness and the greatness of your love
• Words + Music: Bryan Torwalt and Katie Torwalt (2011)
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Gifts + Offerings
Christ calls us to give generously as a sign of gratitude for how much he has given us. Our response to his grace
enables us to give sacrificially of ourselves to one another and the work of Christ’s Kingdom. Your gift is an act
of personal worship to God in response to his grace in your life. The allocation of your time and money to God’s
service should be a byproduct of prayer and consultation with other Christians to whom you are accountable.
If you’re new to CityChurch, or are exploring Christianity, you’re under no obligation to give. However, if you call
CityChurch your “home church,” consider allocating a significant portion of your tithe and offering to the
community where you invest most of your time, and where others are investing in you.
The offering box is located on the table as you exit. For your convenience, one-time or recurring gifts can be
made online at: citychurchpb.com/giving (select account CityChurch Pompano Beach). You may also give via
text message by simply texting a dollar amount to 954.320.0092 and following the instructions.
Benediction *
2 Peter 3:13-15 (NRSV)
In accordance with his promise,
we wait for new heavens and a new earth,
where righteousness is at home.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things,
strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;
and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
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Just as we ordain new ministers
and send them into the world to
serve, in the Benediction, Christ
ordains you with a blessing that
equips you for service.
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VISION
THE VISION OF CITYCHURCH is the Spiritual, Social, and Cultural renewal of Pompano Beach.
MISSION
WE SEEK TO BE the very presence of Christ in Pompano Beach by cultivating a community of Faith, Hope + Love
VALUES
Faith
Hope
Love
Because we are a Community
of Faith we value:
Because we are a Community
of Hope we value:
Because we are a Community
of Love we value:
The Gospel. The Gospel is the only
hope for humankind. The message
of the Gospel is that Christ has done
what is necessary to bring us into a
relationship with God. We keep it at
the center of everything.
The City. Christianity has always
thrived in an urban context. We love
Pompano Beach, and want to live,
work, celebrate, raise our families,
enjoy, and serve this great city.
Life in Community. The Trinity is at
the core of Christian truth; namely
that God himself has always been in
community – the Father and Son
and Spirit all loving, giving and
sharing with one another. We
acknowledge that we need each
other, and that the life Jesus offers
works only in connection with a
community of faith.
Mission & Movement. Because God
is the one who initiates relationships,
and sent his Son to seek and save
people, we will pursue relationships
with people in hope that they will be
restored to their Father. CityChurch
does not exist as an end in itself –
we desire to be an incubator for
church planting throughout South
Florida, in that when we grow, we
will be very intentional about
spinning off and beginning new
congregations throughout our city.
Each of these churches will partner
with us in pursuing the goal of
spiritual, social, and cultural renewal.
Arts & Industries. We believe that
the good news of the Gospel is
about God’s redemption of this
fallen world and its cultural
expressions. We are a church that
welcomes, encourages, and equips
artists of every medium... and
therefore we will seek to offer artists
opportunities to show or perform
their work, providing
encouragement for them to grow
and develop as artists. We also
believe that the good news of the
Gospel impacts work and the
marketplace. We will encourage
men and women to use their
positions, talents, and gifts to the
best of their abilities, and to the
betterment of our city.
Social Healing. The Gospel is the
good news of Christ’s kingdom.
CityChurch seeks to partner with
local social service agencies that
assist the suffering in our own local
community. Furthermore, we will
pray for sensitivity to the mercy
needs of our community and will
seek to serve our neighbors out of
Christ’s love.
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CityGroups
CityGroups are mid-sized gatherings of 15-20 people who exist to rehearse
the Gospel together, live it out to one another, and to be an extension of
God's love to our neighbors while serving the community around us. Tuesdays
6p - Hosted by Brad and Mandi Jones (kid-friendly)
Meets in South Pompano Neighborhood
6p - Hosted by John and Vanessa Thompson (kid-friendly)
Meets in Central (Old) Pompano Neighborhood
Fridays
8:30p - Hosted by Nathan and Lauren Hable; Fabio and Michelle Dias
Meets in East Pompano Neighborhood
“We who follow Jesus are a sent
people, even as Jesus was sent into
the world by His Heavenly Father.
We are a community sent on a
mission together: to keep on doing
the ministry of Jesus so that all
people and all creation might
experience the reconciliation of
God. God has designed the church
of Jesus Christ to be a ‘missional’
fellowship. The word ‘mission’
comes from the Latin word ‘missio’,
which means ‘having been sent.’
Since we have been sent to do God's
work, we are a ‘missional’
community together.”
• Mark D. Roberts
For more information or to join a CityGroup, email: [email protected].
DNA Groups
DNA (Discipleship, Nurture, Accountability) groups usually consist of 3-4 people—men with men, women with women—
who meet together weekly to be known and to bring the gospel to bear on each others lives so that they grow in and
live out our identity in Christ. If you are interested in being a part of a DNA group, email [email protected].
CityKids Check-In System
Parents, please note that we have a new wristband check-in system for our CityKids ministry. Upon signing in your
child to CityKids, the child will receive a green numbered wristband and you will receive a tear off tab with the same
number. The tab is to be presented to the classroom leader during pick up. If the tab is misplaced, a photo ID from
the person who signed the child in must be presented. Thank you for your cooperation as we strive for a fun and safe
environment for our CityKids. For any questions, email us at [email protected].
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Upcoming Events (Mark Your Calendar!)
Tonight, 6p – Lessons + Carols Service
Second Presbyterian Church (1400 N Federal Hwy, FTL)
Join the Citychurch South Florida congregations as we
celebrate the Christmas story with music and spoken word.
For childcare, please RSVP with Amber Peavyhouse
([email protected]).
Weds, Dec 17, 12-12:30p – Faith + Work Lunch
Upper Room Art Gallery at Riverfront (300 SW 1 Ave #123, FTL)
If you work in downtown Fort Lauderdale, join us on your
lunch break for a brief time of teaching, discussion, and
community. Lunch provided. To RSVP, contact Brad Schmidt
([email protected]).
Weds, Dec 17, 4:30-7:30p – Christmas Dinner at Parkway
Parkway United Methodist Church (100 NE 44 St, Pompano Bch)
CityChurch will be serving at the Wednesday dinner for the
homeless and underserved in our community hosted by
Parkway United Methodist Church and the Fruitful Field
Community Garden. If you would like to help with cooking,
serving or clean-up, email: [email protected] or call:
954-543-1142.
Weds, Dec 17, 7:30-9p – Codex Christmas Event
The Letizias’ House (614 NE 26th St, WM)
Join us for the annual “A Night with
Dickens” Christmas Party with the Codex Book Club.
Enjoy tasty food, holiday drinks, and live reading
selections from Charles Dickens, including his famous
holiday classic A Christmas Carol.
Sat, Dec 20, 9-11a – Breakfast with Santa
Pompano Beach Civic Center (1801 NE 6th St)
CityChurch will be serving at this event for children
and families. If you are interested, call 954.543-1142
or email [email protected].
Weds, Dec 24, 5:30-6:30p – Christmas Eve Service
Pompano Beach Civic Center (1801 NE 6th St)
Join us for a family Christmas Eve service (kidfriendly) of carols and stories as we celebrate Christ’s
birth. Childcare will not be provided but a room will
be available if needed.
Visit Us Online Download next week's bulletin, get sermon audio, keep up-to-date with our events calendar, set up repeated giving,
and more on our website (citychurchpb.com). Get updates throughout the week on Twitter (@CityChurchPB) or by
joining our Facebook page (facebook.com/citychurchpompano).
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Office ✦ 441 NE 3 Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304 | Phone ✦ 954.543.1142
Web ✦ citychurchpb.com | Email ✦ [email protected]
CityChurch has no formal affiliation with the Pompano Beach Civic Center.
We are grateful to them for allowing us rental space at their facility.
CityChurch Pompano is a Baptist congregation affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention