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
THE CHURCH - Created to Worship
CALL TO WORSHIP
Our gatherings aren't a time when worship suddenly begins, not a time when we're brought into the presence of God. God is present with us in all our of days and Sundays are a time when we gather as worshippers to continue our worship of God together. It’s a place where we focus on the practices that should fill our days worshiping the Lord, confessing our sins, remembering the Gospel, listening to God’s Word. Every week we gather and we hear a call to worship. We can easily fool ourselves into thinking that worship is something that we’ve started – that our songs are a way of getting God’s attention. But the call to Worship is a reminder that God is the one who has spoken, God has gathered us and invites us to see him and respond with joy and with song.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will tell of Your works to another; they speak of Your mighty acts and proclaim Your faithfulness.
Together, we celebrate 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. (Psalm 145:3-7)
Song: Look and See
Song: This is Amazing Grace
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Even though we've experienced God's saving power in our lives we still choose to love other things before Him. We exchange the glory of God for worldly things. We orientate our lives around possessions, status, security. We love ourselves instead of God and centre lives on our pleasures and reputation. God tells us in his word that we've exchanged the truth about God for a lie, we've worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator. We love so many other things before God, the one who has given us everything.
Take a moment to reflect on that, to reflect on what you love and what you centre your life on. To confess your sin before God and seek his forgiveness.
Whilst we were still sinners, Jesus died for us, he took the wrath of God upon him for our sin, for our rebellion and yet we can now know freedom and salvation because of him. Let's sing out with joy now in light of that truth.
Song: You Alone Can Rescue
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached to us from various passages of scripture this week as we looked at the idea that the church was created to worship. 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: There is a Fountain
Song: Nothing but the Blood
COMMITMENT READING
Every week at Redeemer we have a time of commitment, it's a way for us to respond to God's word preached to us with a commitment to live out the invitation of the gospel. It's a sending into the world, a declaration, a commitment to deeper faith, a call to mission with Jesus. A time to be reminded of and re-state our faith in Jesus. Hear this call to go scatter as worshippers:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
Song: Christ is Risen
BENEDICTION
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.