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 church planting?
CALL TO WORSHIP
We all know that the world we live in has much that is dark. But the wonderful truth of the bible is that God is light and that he has shone his light into the darkness. From the moment that sin entered the world God has been working out his plans to roll back the darkness.
Hear this call to worship that reminds us that it is through Jesus that God has shone his light into the world.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[John 1:1-5]
SONG: HOW GREAT THOU ART
SONG: INDESCRIBABLE
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
God is light and as followers of Jesus he calls us as the church to walk in the light. But the truth is that all of us fail to live in the light of Jesus. We too often continue in the darkness that God warns us of:
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
[1 John 1:5-6]
Confession is a moment in our gathering where we speak openly to God and own our sin. So in this moment of quiet, let me invite you to confess the ways that you have failed to walk in the light of God this week.
But Jesus came to defeat the darkness. Through his life, death and resurrection he defeated sin. So hear this assurance:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[1 Jhn 1:7-9]
SONG: OH GOD
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached from God’s word to us this Sunday as we continued in our series on church planting. Click here to listen to that sermon.
COMMUNION
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: LEAD US BACK
SONG: OCEANS (WHERE FEET MAY FAIL)
COMMITMENT READING
Heavenly Father we ask that you would help us to bring your light into our homes, work places, families and friendships. Would our relationships be life-giving rather than joy- sapping.
Help us to be a blessing to those around us and boldly share the gospel with the people you have put in our lives. Equip us as we seek to act against injustice and oppression in our city, living lives that demonstrate the gospel to a watching world. Amen.
SONG: BE THOU MY VISION
BENEDICTION
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, 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.
And also with you.