SUNDAY GATHERING
DATE: 22/03/20
SERMON: Help In Times of Trouble [Psalm 121]
Today is the first time we are not meeting as a church due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Our plan each Sunday is to provide you with a liturgy that you can use at home.
You can use it in a number of ways: on your own, with your family, or with others from our church community via video calls.
Our suggestion is that you take time to slowly move through each of the sections below. Take time to listen to the songs, to read and reflect on the liturgy & hear the word preached exactly as you would do on a Sunday.
As you move through it why not talk with others or, if you are on your own, message someone from your City Group or DNA Group to share something that really struck you?
As you do this remember that we are still the church even when we can’t gather together as the church.
CALL TO WORSHIP
It is good to start today by remembering that God is worthy of praise all the time. Sundays are normally a wonderful opportunity for us to gather as the church to praise & worship God. But worship isn’t something that only happens on a Sunday as we sing. Even when we can’t gather we can still worship because worship is about every part of our lives. It includes eating & drinking, working & sleeping. Through Jesus, the whole of life is about worship. So take the encouragement of this Psalm as a call to worship the God who is both good and great.
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture.
[Psalm 95:1-7]
SONG:
O God of our Salvation (The Village Church): A song of praise to our great God who has saved us and a call to give him the glory and praise he deserves.
CCLI Song # 5564684
Matt Boswell | Michael Bleecker
© 2009 Curb Dayspring Music (Admin. by / Small Stone Media BV, Holland (Admin. in the UK/Eire by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org))
Bleecker Publishing (Admin. by Michael Bleecker)
SONG:
Rock of Ages (Dustin Kensrue): A reminder that God is the rock and refuge who cleanses us from our sin.
CCLI Song # 7004664
Augustus Montague Toplady | Dustin Kensrue
© 2013 Dead Bird Theology (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
It's All About Jesus Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
We Are Younger We Are Faster Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
It is very easy at times like this to let fear crowd out truth. To let panic overwhelm us and blur our sight of God. But the bible encourages us to cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you [1 Pt 5:7]
So take a moment to speak to God about the fears and anxieties that you are feeling at the moment. As you do that remember the truth that he sees your heart, so be honest as you pray.
As we name our fears to God we need to hear the encouragement of the bible that we can rest in God & put our fears and anxieties before him because he is a Father who loves us.
Hear the reassurance of Jesus:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
[Mt 6:25-27]
SONG:
Cornerstone (Hillsong): A song reflecting on the wonderful truth of Christ as our Cornerstone. A reminder that our hope and trust should always be built on Jesus and His saving work on the cross.
CCLI Song # 6158927
Edward Mote | Eric Liljero | Jonas Myrin | Reuben Morgan | William Batchelder Bradbury
© 2011 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Hillsong Music Publishing UK)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Because of Christ's work on the cross, his death and resurrection, we have been brought back into communion with our God and have been made righteous. We have peace with our creator, our heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit unties us together in Jesus.
We normally express that peace with one another in our gatherings by greeting those around us. In this time where we can’t do that take a moment to pray for someone who is part of our church family instead.
READING: Psalm 121
Take time to read the bible passage and pray that God would let you hear him speak in his Word.
SERMON Help In Times of Trouble [Psalm 121]
RESPONSE
Take a few minutes to reflect on how God was speaking to you from his Word. Ask that the Holy Spirit would take the truth and use it to change and transform you.
SONG:
New Again (Sojourn): A song looking forward to the future hope we have in the gospel. We look to the day when all pain and sorrow will be over and Christ will make all things new again!
CCLI Song # 7037768
Brooks Ritter | Mike Cosper
© 2013 Sojourn Community Church
SONG:
Defender (Kings Kaleidoscope): A song which reminds us that when we cry out to God, he hears us, and that we need not fear because we can place our hope in him.
CCLI Song # 7032881
Chad Gardner | Zach Bolen
© 2014 Asaphs Arrows (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
Moms Like Us Too (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
Remaining portion is unaffiliated
COMMITMENT READING
In times where we feel afraid and uncertain we need to remember that God is Sovereign and that, somehow, he uses all things as part of his great plan. Read this wonderful truth from [Eph 1:11]
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
[Eph 1:11]
SONG:
It is Well: A hymn that speaks of the true joy and peace we can know in Christ, regardless of circumstance or situation.
CCLI Song # 5875665
Ben Fielding | Horatio Gates Spafford | Philip Paul Bliss | Reuben Morgan
© 2011 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Hillsong Music Publishing UK)
BENEDICTION
May you remember that even when the world seems upside down, when all that we know quakes and trembles, God is holding all things together.
Peace be with you.
[Based on Psalm 75:3]