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
ROMANS - Justification & Joy
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the LORD! Let us give thanks to the LORD with our whole heart, together as one body and voice, let us worship God! Great are the works of the LORD.
We remember and delight in the amazing things he has done! He is full of splendour and majesty and his righteousness endures forever.
The LORD is gracious and merciful. The works of his hands are faithful and just. He sent redemption to his people and has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name! Praise be to the LORD!
(Based on Psalm 111)
Song: How Great Thou Art
Song: Fountain of Goodness
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've just sung that our God is good and has shown such love to us. The greatest expression of God's love was shown to us in Jesus. It was in love that God sent his son to die for us that we might know life. Hear these words from our passage today that speak of this:
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess the sin that separates you from God and to thank him that he has shown his love to you in this way.
We're going to sing out in light of that truth together now.
Song: A God Who Saves
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
This week Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 5:1-11 on the joy we can know through justification. 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: How Deep the Father’s Love
Song: See His Love
COMMITMENT READING
Father God, help us to rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.
Thank you that you have poured your love into our hearts and that we have the Holy Spirit to help us. Help us to rejoice in the truth that we have been reconciled to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Based on Romans 5:3-5, 11)
Song: Before the Throne of God Above
BENEDICTION
Brothers and sisters, as you go, look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.