Reflect (May 19, 2019)
Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.
*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering
IMPACT - The Call to Impact
CALL TO WORSHIP
The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:8-14)
Song: Look What God Has Done
Song: This is Amazing Grace
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've already heard that our God is a God of compassion and mercy. In light of his mercy and compassion, we are reminded how we can be so ignorant to the needs of those around us. We can be so comfortable in our own lives that we're unwilling to serve others sacrificially or extend compassion and mercy to those in need. Let's take a moment to confess this to God together now:
Father forgive us for being so focused on ourselves that we fail to see the needs of those around us. We confess that we are creatures of comfort, seeking our own pleasures above meeting the needs of others. Help us to love people as you have loved us, to serve people as Jesus has sacrificially served us and to live out the gospel both in our faith and in our works. Amen
Song: In Tenderness He Sought Me
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
This Sunday Tom Thrower preached to on the call to impact from Isaiah 58. Listen to that sermon here.
COMMUNION
Every week we want to respond to what God has done for us in Jesus. One of the great ways he has provided for us to remember the truth of the gospel is giving us communion. As we take the bread and wine we remember what Jesus has done for us.
POST COMMUNION READING
Jesus’ death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.
We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.
With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.
We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.
Song: There is A Fountain
Song: Before the Throne of God Above
COMMITMENT READING
Heavenly Father we ask that you would help us to bring your light into our homes, work places, families and friendships. Help us, by your Spirit, to impact the brokenness we see in the world around us. We pray that as your gospel goes out, we would see lives, communities and structures transformed by Jesus. Amen.
Song: Mighty to Save
BENEDICTION
Therefore, brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Prepare (May 19, 2019)
This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing
IMPACT - The Call to Impact
SERMON
This Sunday we will be continuing to look at the IMPACT part of our vision. Tom Thrower will be preaching to us as from Isaiah 58 as we look at the call to impact.
LITURGY
CALL TO WORSHIP
The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
(Psalm 145:8-14)
MUSIC
In Tenderness He Sought Me (Citizens): A song that reminds us of the love and grace that has been poured into our hearts in Jesus and his blood that has redeemed us.
There is a Fountain: A song that reflects on the lengths Jesus was willing to go to save us from our sin, the blood that was shed on our behalf.
Reflect (May 12, 2019)
Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.
*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering
IMPACT - Generosity
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord, my soul all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103: 1-12)
Song: How Great is Our God
Song: Behold our God
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've already heard of the generous God we have. He is the giver of good gifts, yet so often we are ungrateful for his gifts and use them for selfish gain. We are selfish creatures, selfish with our time, money, resources and yet God has been generous towards us. Take a moment to confess to God the ways in which you can be selfish with the gifts God has given you and to reflect on his generosity shown to us in Christ... Jesus himself tells us:
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
God has been generous to us in giving his son to free us and save us from our sin. We are only able to serve others and demonstrate generosity because of the way we have already been served by Christ. Let's ask for God's help in this as we sing this next song together.
Song: Lead us Back
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
This Sunday Tom Thrower preached to on generosity as we continue in our IMPACT series. Listen to that sermon here.
COMMUNION
Every week we want to respond to what God has done for us in Jesus. One of the great ways he has provided for us to remember the truth of the gospel is giving us communion. As we take the bread and wine we remember what Jesus has done for us.
POST COMMUNION READING
Jesus’ death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.
We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.
With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.
We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.
Song: How Deep the Father’s Love
Song: Lamb of God
COMMITMENT READING
God has showed his love among us by sending Jesus into this world to lay down his life for us.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
Dear friends, since God so loves us, let us love one another and be generous towards one another.
(Based on 1 John 4:9-11, Ephesians 1:7-9)
Song: Jesus
BENEDICTION
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.