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
LOVE, JOY & PEACE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts and of Your faithfulness.
We speak of the glorious splendour of Your majesty—and we will meditate on Your wonderful works. We tell of the power of Your awesome works—and we will proclaim Your great deeds. We will join with all generations as we celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
Based on Psalm 145:3-7
Song: Look and See
Song: In Tenderness He Sought Me
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've experienced the love of God, yet so often we find it difficult to love him and others in the way we should. Instead of loving others, for their good, we love them for what we'll get out of it. We seek our good instead of theirs. Every week, at this point in our gathering, we take a moment to confess our sin before God. It's a time to admit our failing to him and celebrate the forgiveness we can know in Christ. Let's take a moment, in the quiet of our hearts to do that together now. Let's read these words of assurance and encouragement about our God who has shown us what perfect love looks like:
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loves us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God we ask that as a response to this love, you would help us to love one another with this kind of love, knowing that if we love one another, you abide in us and your love is perfected in us.
(Based on 1 John 4:7-12)
Song: Saviour of the World
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached to us this week from Galatians 5:16-26 looking at the first three characteristics: love, joy and peace. 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: Here is Love
Song: Man of Sorrows (Oh the Rugged Cross)
COMMITMENT READING
Let's read these words together as we go now, addressing each other as we do, asking that God would help us in this, but that we would spur one another along in this too.
Finally, brothers and sisters, would we rejoice and aim for restoration. Let us comfort one another, agree with one another and live in peace; knowing that the God of love and peace will be with us.
(2 Corinthians 13:11)
Song: It is Well
BENEDICTION
Every week we close our gathering with a benediction. A benediction is another word for a blessing. This reminds us of all the promises that we have heard, sung and prayed together during the gathering. It isn’t just a conclusion but it’s a sending with a call to remember the gospel and to go forth with Jesus in our mission. That’s why we close with the words ‘peace be with you’ and you respond with ‘and also with you’. As we say this we’re reminding one another of the peace that we now have with Jesus. That we don’t leave alone. That this week, by the Spirit, Christ’s peace will be with us in all that we do in our lives. So hear this benediction as we go now:
May the grace of Christ give us rest in the midst of turmoil, and may the love of God being us peace in times of suffering, and may the power of the Holy Spirit enable us to have hope in the Gospel and to live for the glory of the Almighty God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.