Corporate worship is a great thing. Of course, we can worship God on our own and with our families - and we should. But there is something special about the people of God coming together for worship (Hebrews 10:24-25). Thus, we hope that corporate worship is the highlight of your week. In an effort to help you get more out of it, we're posting a short preview of the upcoming worship service each week.

I'm writing this while trying to feed my daughter breakfast, so I'll be brief. This week we're excited to have Kurt Hannah speaking at New City. Kurt planted Missio Dei church in Asheville. He and his wife are Cincinnati natives and have recently moved back to the city to plant a new church here in Cincinnati. Kurt will be speaking from Colossians 1:1-14. To prepare for worship, read this passage and ask yourself what it is that Paul wants for believers to be experiencing in their lives.

We'll start worshipping by thanking God for a Sabbath day of rest and worship as we sing "O Day of Rest and Gladness." Then we'll confess our sins and ask for God's mercy as we sing "Help My Unbelief" and pray a corporate prayer of confession. Then we'll remember the good news of the gospel as we read it in Scripture and sin "How Deep the Father's Love For Us."

We'll pray together for our church as we start a new year, and for our own personal growth and transformation as well. After Kurt preaches, we'll come to the Lord's Supper and celebrate the work of Christ on our behalf. To prepare for communion, read Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.

See you on Sunday for our first worship service of 2011.