Reflect (September 10, 2017)

Reflect.png

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


JAMES -  True Faith & Prayer

CALL TO WORSHIP

Our God is unchanging, he is the same yesterday, today and forever. In him there is no variation! Hear this call to worship about the God we gather to worship today.

Do you not know? Have you not understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He will not grow tired or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the weary and strength to the weak. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Song: Everlasting God

Song: Behold Our God

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Scripture always encourages us to open and reveal our hearts before God. We are told that he knows our needs, he is aware of where are hearts are. God tells us in his word to confess our sins to him and to one another. That's why every week at Redeemer we take time to confess to God together. Let's pray these words together now:

Father God, forgive us for doubting you and your character. We confess that we are quick to forget your goodness and grace shown to us in Jesus Christ. Help us to put our faith in you and remind us of your unchanging, unwavering character. Amen.

Song: A Mighty Fortress is Our God 

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

This week was the last gathering in our sermon series in the book of James. Oli Simmons preached to us this week from James 5:13-20, looking at true faith and prayer. 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: See His Love

COMMITMENT READING

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

(Hebrews 10:19-23)

Song: Come Thou Fount

BENEDICTION

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

(2 Thessalonians 3:5)

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 
Amen.

Prepare (September 10, 2017)

Prepare.png

This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing


JAMES - True Faith & Prayer

SERMON

This week we'll be finishing our summer sermon series in the book of James. Oli Simmons will be preaching to us on James 5:13-20, looking at true faith and prayer. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

(Hebrews 10:19-23)

MUSIC

  • Everlasting God: A song affirming the unchanging, unwavering nature of God. 

  • Come Thou Fount: A hymn of praise and worship to God, asking for God to tune our hearts to sing his praise. 

Reflect (September 3, 2017)

Reflect.png

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


JAMES -  True Faith & Oppression

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: Look What God Has Done 

Song: Jesus

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 around us. We confess that we are creatures of comfort, seeking our own pleasures above meeting the needs of others. Help us to love people as you have loved us, to serve people as Jesus has sacrificially served us and to live out the gospel both in our faith and in our works. Amen.

Song: Lead Us Back

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

John McPhilimey preached to us this week from James 5:1-12, looking at true faith and oppression. 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: Jesus Paid it All

Song: There is a Fountain 

COMMITMENT READING

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(Colossians 3:12-14)

Song: It Is Well

BENEDICTION

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 
Amen.

Prepare (September 3, 2017)

Prepare.png

This blog gives you a glimpse into the upcoming Sunday Gathering. It's an opportunity to read through the passage we'll be studying together, pray through some of the liturgy we'll be using, and listen to a selection of the songs we’ll be singing


JAMES - True Faith & Oppression

SERMON

This week John McPhilimey will be preaching to us on James 5:1-12, looking at true faith and oppression. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(Colossians 3:12-14)

MUSIC

  • Look What God Has Done (Ghost Ship): A call for us to look again at what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. To remind our hearts of the identity we have in the Gospel and to give God all the glory.

  • There is a Fountain (William Cowper): An older hymn that meditates on the saving power of the blood of Jesus and the redeeming love we can now know in Christ.