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
CALL TO WORSHIP
Being a Christian is not about trying to be a better person
It isn’t about trying to live a life good enough life to please God
Christianity is about grace
About God’s undeserved loving kindness towards people just like us
It is about how he has come to seek and save the lost
It’s about his invite, through his Son Jesus, to enter into his family
To live under his kind, just and good kingship
So as we gather together as the church, we remember that we have a different king and we belong to a different kingdom
Let me invite you to stand with me as we join our voices together and declare that God is our King
Join with me in reading aloud anything you see that is underlined
You, O LORD Most High, are awesome, the great King over all the earth!
You are the King over all the earth and we will sing your praise.
You are the maker of heaven and earth, majesty and honour surround you.
You are the King over all the earth and we will sing your praise.
You reign over the nations; you are seated on your holy throne.
You are the King over all the earth and we will sing your praise.
(Based on Psalm 47 & 96)
SONG: ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING
SONG: MY ONE COMFORT
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Let me lead us in this prayer of confession
Father God as we are reminded of your glory and majesty, we confess that so often we forget how far we are from you. We are quick to build ourselves up and quick to look down on others. Forgive us for judging one another, thinking we are better than one another.
Remind us that all of us have sinned and fallen short of your standards. We are all
undeserving of your grace and yet you have lavishly poured it onto us. Amen.
Even though we deserved God's judgement, Jesus took the judgement that was ours on the cross so that we might be freed from the power of sin. God tells us in his word that if we repent and turn to Jesus, we find life. Hear these words of assurance about our great and perfect saviour now:
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds we have been healed."
(1 Peter 2:22-24)
SONG: FORGIVEN
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Jesus death and resurrection means our sins are forgiven and we have been made right with God. We can know peace with God and peace with one another because of this. One way we like to demonstrate this peace is by greeting those around us at this point in our gathering.
PASTORAL PRAYER
READING OF THE WORD
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.
PRE-COMMUNION READING
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: HERE IS LOVE
SONG: NEW AGAIN
COMMITMENT READING
Join me in reading the underlined parts of this prayer as we prepare to leave:
Father God, we ask that you would teach us what true treasure looks like in Jesus. Teach us to look beyond the lesser treasures we so easily settle for.
By your Spirit, give us eyes to see the riches that are ours in Christ Jesus and help us to share those riches with all those around us. AMEN
SONG: IT IS FINISHED
BENEDICTION
Hear this benediction as we close our gathering:
May you leave knowing Jesus as your true king. May you know the comfort of his presence with you. May you know the confidence of his rule over you. And may our lives reflect more and more the beauty of our King.
Peace be with you
And also with you.