Reflect (October 13, 2019)

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

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BELONGING - Belonging to One Another

CALL TO WORSHIP

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 

In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture. 

(Psalm 95:1-7)

Song: Behold our God

Song: How Great Thou Art

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

At this point in our gathering each week we have a time of confession. We do this because when we see God’s greatness and recognise his glory, we are faced with our own humanity and how short we fall of God’s requirements. 

So a time for confession reminds us of our right place before God, it reminds us of our sinfulness, our need for God’s grace and forgiveness and also of God’s provision of this grace through Jesus. 

As we've been in our belonging series, we've thought about what it means to belong to God together, how when we trust and follow Jesus we become part of his body, the church. So often though we fail to love the church as we should and treat one another as God asks us to. Take a moment to confess to God where you see that in yourself in the quiet of your own heart. 

Let's ask for God's help in this... 

Father God, help us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help us to bear with each other and forgive one another as we have been forgiven in Jesus. Amen. 

(Colossians 3:12-17)

Song: Shine into our Night

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached to us from God’s word this week from Colossians 3:12-17. 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: Look What God Has Done

TESTIMONIES & BAPTISMS

This Sunday we celebrated two baptisms as a church family. It was great to share with Joe and Livi as they told their stories of salvation and publicly affirmed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

Song: Revelation Song

BENEDICTION

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. (Colossians 3:15)

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (October 13, 2019)

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

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BELONGING - Belonging To One Another

SERMON

This Sunday Tom Thrower will be preaching from God’s word to us as we finish our Belonging series together. He’ll be preaching from Colossians 3:12-17.

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

Father God, help us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help us to bear with each other and forgive one another as we have been forgiven in Jesus. Amen.

(Colossians 3:12-17)

 MUSIC

• Shine into our Night (Sovereign Grace): A song of confession that sings of our rebellion and rejection of God and pleads with Jesus to shine his light into our darkened hearts.

• Look What God Has Done (Ghost Ship): A song of celebration that causes us to remember God’s faithfulness to us in Christ. A call to look again at the story of salvation that is true for us through Jesus.

Reflect (September 29, 2019)

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

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BELONGING - Belonging Together

CALL TO WORSHIP

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 

Once we were not a people, but now we are God's people; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. 

1 Peter 2:9-10

Song: Come thou Fount

Song: All Creatures of our God and King

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

In his word God tells us that the church is the body of Christ, with Jesus as the head. When the Bible uses this language, it tells us that all parts of the body are different and yet necessary in order for it to flourish and grow. God also tells us in his word that our sin, our rejection of him affects our relationships with one another so we fail to love and serve one another as we should. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to reflect on ways we fail to see our need for each other and how our sin affects our relationships with one another. 

Father God, we ask that you would help us in this. Thank you that in trusting in Jesus we are brought into your family. Thank you that we have a new identity as your people and as your church. Help us live out this calling as a response to the generosity you have shown to us in Christ. Amen. 

Song: Forgiven

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached from God’s word to us this week from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. 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: When I Survey

Song: Before the Throne of God Above

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, help us to grow in every way to be more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Remind us that he makes the whole body fit together perfectly. 

From him the whole body, joined and held together, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 

Thank you that we are not alone and you have promised to send your Spirit to help us in this. amen. 

(based on Ephesians 4:15-16)

Song: O For A Thousand Tongues

BENEDICTION

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (September 29, 2019)

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

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BELONGING - Belonging Together

SERMON

This Sunday Gary will be preaching to us from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 as we think about what it means to belong together.

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 

Once we were not a people, but now we are God's people; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. 

1 Peter 2:9-10

 MUSIC

• Before the Throne of God Above: A reminder that we have a new identity in Christ. We can now approach God with confidence because of what Jesus has done for us.

• Forgiven (Sovereign Grace): A song of confession and assurance that reminds us we are forgiven through the blood of Christ, despite the ways we fail God and fail one another.