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
CAP TALK
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them he remains faithful for ever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The Lord reigns for ever, for all generations. Praise the Lord. Based on Psalm 146
Song: Everlasting God
Song: I Stand Amazed
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've already heard that our God is a God who cares for those in need, who feeds the hungry and upholds the cause of the oppressed. Yet we can be so ignorant to the needs of those around us. We can be so comfortable in our own lives that we're unwilling to serve sacrificially. Let's confess to God together now:
Father forgive us for being so focussed on ourselves that we fail to see the needs of those in our City. We confess that we are creatures of comfort, seeking our own pleasures above meeting the needs of others.
Help us to love the people of Leeds, as you have loved us, to serve them, as Jesus has sacrificially served us and to be a light in the City you have placed us. Amen.
Song: Shine into our Night
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ADVENT RESOURCES
Gary shared some helpful resources for preparing our hearts through the advent season. Here are the two books he talked about:
1. One True Light - Tim Chester Buy it here
2. Come, Let us Adore Him - Paul Tripp Buy it here
CAP TALK
This week, Laurence Crummay from Christians Against Poverty was with us to share about the work they are doing in Leeds and how we are partnering together as a church. Listen to that talk here:
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: Hallelujah What a Saviour
Song: I Stand Amazed
COMMITMENT READING
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
He was in the form of God, but did not count equality with God something to be grasped. He emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
(Based on Philippians 2:3-8)
Song: Saviour of the World
BENEDICTION
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.