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
CHURCH PLANTING: What is the Church?
The bible starts with God as the beginning of everything and so each of our Sunday gatherings begins with God too.
At the start of the bible we see that God rejoiced in the world he created and that he made people to share in the joy of what he made.
Let's join with the Psalmist to declare our praise of the God who made all things:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
(Psalm 19:1-6)
Let's raise our voices as we sing together in praise of our great creator.
Song: Come Praise and Glorify
Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
God calls his church to be a living picture of what he is like. To demonstrate to a watching world what the love of Jesus looks like. So Jesus calls the church to be a people deeply united. But the truth is that we so often fail to love one another as we should. We are driven by our own selfish desires and agendas. We don't serve and love one another as we are called to.
In this time of confession bring before God how you have failed to love others as you have been loved.
But even as we confess our failure to do this we have the assurance that Jesus is working to produce that unity between us. He prays for that kind of unity in his church.
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."
John 17:20-23
Let's sing with the assurance that the Holy Spirit is at work amongst us.
Song: Rock of Ages
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached from God’s word to us this Sunday as we began a new series on church planting. 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 Fathers Love for Us
Song: Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
COMMITMENT READING
Through what Jesus has done for us we have a new and wonderful identity. As the church gathered together let's declare who we are:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
[1 Pt 2:9]
Song: All Glory be to Christ
BENEDICTION
May we enter this New Year knowing the security that comes from being in Christ. The deep joy that comes from being a child of God. And the certainty of knowing God's presence with us through the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.