During this time where our public gatherings are not able to meet, each Sunday we are providing you with a liturgy that you can use at home. You can use it in a number of ways: on your own, with your family, or with others from our church community via video conferencing. Our suggestion is that you take time to move through each of the sections below, listening to the songs, reflecting on the liturgy and hearing the word preached exactly as we do on a Sunday. As you move through it why not talk with others or, if you are on your own, message someone from your City Group or DNA Group to share something that really struck you.
As you do this remember that we are still the church even when we can’t gather together as the church.
CALL TO WORSHIP
All of us naturally praise the things that we love. We want to speak about the things that we are passionate for. When something captures our heart we don’t find praising that thing difficult or demanding- we want to do it. When the bible talks about worshipping God it calls us to the same thing. We aren’t simply to praise God because it is a cold duty or obligation but because we love him. Because the beauty and wonder of who he is has captured our hearts and we want to praise him. Use these words from [Psalm 103] to help stir your heart for God:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
[Psalm 103:1-5]
SONG: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) (Matt Redman): A song directing our hearts to God, reminding us of the endless reasons we have to offer all of our praise and worship to Him.
Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening come
Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
CCLI Song # 6016351
Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman
© 2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Atlas Mountain Songs (Admin. by SHOUT! Music Publishing UK)
SONG: How Great is our God (Chris Tomlin): A song of praise and worship to our God who is name above all other names and majestic in glory.
The splendor of the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps Himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
And trembles at His voice
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God
And age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the End
Beginning and the End
The Godhead three in one
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God
CCLI Song # 4348399
Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves
© 2004 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Wondrously Made Songs (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
When we follow Jesus we are called to leave sin. Time and time again God calls his people to leave sin and to come to him. In the New Testament John tells us that he writes his letter to Christians so that they ‘may not sin.’ [1 Jhn 2:1] But each day we find that we are people who, instead of leaving sin, seem to follow after it. So take some moments to confess your sin to God in prayer.
If the only message we had was to leave sin then we would be left crushed and in despair. We fail too often and sin too much. But thankfully Jesus offers us a greater hope. The rest of the verse in John tells us this:
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Jesus comes to us not only as King but as friend. Not only over us but next to us. Jesus draws near to us and speaks on our behalf. So let the comfort and truth of Jesus speaking on your behalf bring rest to your soul.
SONG: Never Alone (Emu Music): A song which reminds us that because of everything Jesus endured on the cross for our sakes, we can live secure in the knowledge that our God will never forsake us.
We're not alone for Christ is here
Immanuel our God come near
We're not alone for to our world
Jesus has come eternal Word
And as he speaks our souls laid bare
Naked ashamed sin is made clear
And yet he clothes us in his love
Never alone Christ is with us is with us
The longest walk earth's darkest day
The pressing crowd his mounting pain
A heavy load of grief and shame
Breathless that we should breathe again
Father forgive them comes his cry
Silence from God blackens the sky
A creeping dread in every heart
Lost in the world now God departs God departs
The dawn will come the sun will rise
Out of the grave we'll see hope's light
Tomb opened wide stone rolled away
Morning has come a brand new day
He isn't here the angel said
He is alive no longer dead
Our hearts are lifted souls raised high
Christ is with us Christ is our life he's our life
Never alone is now our cry
In joy in grief in lonely sin
Never alone for Christ is ours
He lives in us we live in him
And 'til we reach that final day
When fears are gone cast far away
We'll live secure trust in his love
Never alone Christ is with us he's with us
CCLI Song # 4928159
Philip Percival | Simone Richardson
© Words: 2006 Richardson, Simone
Music: Percival, Philip (Admin. by Philip Gordon Percival)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Because of Christ's work on the cross, his death and resurrection, we have been brought back into communion with our God and have been made righteous. We have peace with our creator, our heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit unites us together in Jesus.
We normally express that peace with one another in our gatherings by greeting those around us. In this time where we can’t do that take a moment to pray for someone who is part of our church family instead.
SERMON The Gospel of Mark- [Mk 3:22-30] Watch the pre-sermon message and then the sermon.
This week we’re continuing our series ‘The Gospel of Mark’. Click here where you will find this week’s sermon.
RESPONSE
Take a few minutes to reflect on how God was speaking to you from his Word. Ask that the Holy Spirit would take the truth and use it to change and transform you.
SONG: You Alone Can Rescue (Matt Redman): A reminder that it is Jesus who saves us from our sin, he came into this world to rescue the lost and is worthy of all of our praise.
Who O Lord could save themselves
Their own soul could heal
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still
(REPEAT)
And You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise
You O Lord have made a way
The great divide You healed
For when our hearts were far away
Your love went further still
Yes Your love goes further still
And You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone belongs the highest praise
You alone
We lift up our eyes
Lift up our eyes
You're the giver of life
We lift up our eyes
Lift up our eyes
You're the giver of life
(REPEAT 4X)
And You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone
CCLI Song # 5376377
Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman
© 2008 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Atlas Mountain Songs (Admin. by SHOUT! Music Publishing UK)
SONG: This I Believe (The Creed) (Hillsong): A song based on the Apostle’s creed that affirms the truths we believe as Christians.
Our Father everlasting
The all creating One
God Almighty
Through Your Holy Spirit
Conceiving Christ the Son
Jesus our Saviour
I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in One
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus
Our judge and our defender
Suffered and crucified
Forgiveness is in You
Descended into darkness
You rose in glorious life
Forever seated high
I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in One
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus
I believe in You
I believe You rose again
I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord
I believe in life eternal
I believe in the virgin birth
I believe in the saints' communion
And in Your holy Church
I believe in the resurrection
When Jesus comes again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus
I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in One
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus
CCLI Song # 7018338
Ben Fielding | Matt Crocker
© 2014 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Hillsong Music Publishing UK)
COMMITMENT READING
One of the things that we love to do as a church is affirm our faith and what we believe by reading the Apostle's Creed together. The Apostle's creed is a summary of what the church believes and teaches. As you say the Creed you join Christians past and present and from all over the world in proclaiming our common faith.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
SONG: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Zach Sprowls): A new take on the old hymn, reminding us of the hope we have in the Gospel, that one day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory.
CCLI Song # 863569
Charles Wesley | Thomas Jarman
© Words: Public Domain
Music: Public Domain
BENEDICTION
Close your time of worship with this 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.
[1 Thessalonians 3:12-13]
Peace be with you