Reflect (January 29, 2017)

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


EXODUS - Crushing Plagues

CALL TO WORSHIP

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counsellor?

All the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket to God. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.

He brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

(based on Isaiah 40 and Jeremiah 10:6)

Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

SongHow Great is Our God

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've already heard that there is no one like our God, we've sung of his glory and majesty, yet we are so quick to forget that. We daily choose so many other things above him and fail to give him the praise he deserves. Let's pray these words together, confessing our sin before God now:

Heavenly Father, forgive us for our pride, for rejecting your rule and refusing to recognise who you are and all that you have done for us. Help us to approach you with humility, knowing we have done nothing to deserve your grace. Amen.

God has generously given his grace to us in Jesus and that means we can come to God and know him just as we are.

Song: Come Ye Sinners

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached to us from Exodus 7-10 showing us the God who brings his people out of slavery. 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: Hallelujah What a Saviour

Song: Christ is Risen

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, thank you that you have brought us out of the slavery of sin, thank you that we are your people and we have the privilege of knowing you. Let's remind our hearts of this truth as we prepare to go now:

God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his Son. It is in Him, Jesus Christ, that we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Based on Colossians 1:13-14

Song: In Christ Alone 

BENEDICTION

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal
and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be
honour and might for ever. Amen. 

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 
Amen.

Prepare (January 29, 2017)

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.


EXODUS - Crushing Plagues

SERMON

As Exodus is a big book we won’t read all of the Bible text in our Sunday gathering. Each week we will give you the full section of Exodus here on the blog for you to read in your own time. This is a great way to prepare your heart to hear from God’s word on a Sunday. This week Tom Thrower will be preaching to us from Exodus 7-10. 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counsellor?

All the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket to God. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.

He brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

(based on Isaiah 40 and Jeremiah 10:6)

MUSIC

  • 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) : A song reminding our hearts of the endless reasons why our God is worthy of all of our praise and worship.

  • In Christ Alone (Stuart Townend) : A song of assurance declaring the life we find, only in Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection. 

Reflect (January 22, 2017)

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


EXODUS - I AM

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders;you have made known your might among the peoples.

(Based on Psalm 77 and 106)

Song: Behold our God

SongThis is Amazing Grace

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

So often we fail to worship God because we are too busy worshipping other things. We choose to please others over pleasing God and fail to believe his promises to us. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess to God your tendency to choose other things over him. Let's pray these words together:

Father God, forgive us when we fear others above you, choosing their approval over yours. Forgive us when we treat your word lightly and fail to believe your promises to us. Help us to know that your promises still stand and remind us of your mercy and grace shown towards us in Christ. Amen.

The truth of the gospel is that God stepped down into this world so that we could be raised up. Jesus gave up the glories of heaven so that we could be saved. Let's sing out now with full assurance in the God who has redeemed us.

Song: Saviour of the World

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Exodus 3 this week pointing us to the God who reveals. 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: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

SongO God of Our Salvation

COMMITMENT READING

Thank you Heavenly Father for your redemption shown to us in Jesus. Help us to receive this and respond in worship of you. Help us, by your Spirit, to offer our lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to you. Amen.

Song: Revelation Song

BENEDICTION

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 
Amen.

Prepare (January 22, 2017)

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.


EXODUS - I AM

SERMON

As Exodus is a big book we won’t read all of the Bible text in our Sunday gathering. Each week we will give you the full section of Exodus here on the blog for you to read in your own time. This is a great way to prepare your heart to hear from God’s word on a Sunday. This week Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Exodus 3-6. 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

So often we fail to worship God because we are too busy worshipping other things. We choose to please others over pleasing God and fail to believe his promises to us.

Father God, forgive us when we fear others above you, choosing their approval over yours. Forgive us when we treat your word lightly and fail to believe your promises to us. Help us to know that your promises still stand and remind us of your mercy and grace shown towards us in Christ. Amen.

The truth of the Gospel is that God stepped down into this world so that we could be raised up. Jesus gave up the glories of heaven so that we could be saved. 

MUSIC

  • Behold our God (Sovereign Grace): A song declaring the beauty and glory of God, calling us to look again and behold Him afresh. 

  • O God of Our Salvation (The Village Church): A glorious reminder of the triune God we gather to worship, a God like no other, worthy of all our praise and worship.