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
EZEKIEL - A New Heart & Spirit
CALL TO WORSHIP
We will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with our mouths we will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
Your love, O Lord, stands firm forever. You have established Your faithfulness in heaven itself.
Who is like You, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and Your faithfulness surrounds You.
(Psalm 89:1-2, 8)
Song: Look and See
Song: Behold our God
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've just sung that nothing can compare to God and yet so often our hearts don't match our words. Hear these words from Isaiah that speak of this:
“These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules."
(Isaiah 29:13)
So often our mouths say one thing, yet our hearts tell a different story. We say we love God, but the desires of our heart are so far from him. God doesn't want our empty words, he wants our hearts. Let's take a moment to ask God to turn our hearts towards him, showing us where we might be resisting him.
Even though we turn from God and our hearts can be far from him, he doesn't turn away from us. Jesus came down into this world so that sin could no longer separate us from God. If we trust in Jesus' death and resurrection we can know forgiveness from sin and relationship with God. Let's sing out in celebration of that truth together now!
Song: You Alone Can Rescue
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached to us on the hope of having a new heart and spirit from Ezekiel 36. Click here to listen to that sermon.
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: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
Song: See the Lamb of God
COMMITMENT READING
We can't achieve any of this without Jesus. Before him we are helpless to change ourselves, yet in him we can experience a new heart and a new spirit. Let's read these words together, rejoicing in that truth:
If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
Song: Be Thou My Vision
BENEDICTION
May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23)
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.