Reflect (May 21, 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

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EXODUS - Honour your Father and Mother

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them he remains faithful for ever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow.

Based on Psalm 146

Song: All Creatures of our God and King

Song: Indescribable 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

God tells us in his word that we were once far from Him, our sin separated us from Him and left a gulf too big for us to close. Take a moment to confess the sin that so easily separates you from him to God now.

The good news of the Gospel is that although we once were far from God, we have now been brought near to him by the blood of Christ. We are no longer strangers but have been welcomed into his family, we are citizens in the family of God. Christ's work on the cross means we can come to God just as we are and find acceptance.

Song: Made Alive

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Exodus 20:12, looking at what it means to honour your Father and Mother. 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: How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Song: Saviour of the World 

COMMITMENT READING

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22

Song: This I Believe

BENEDICTION

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy when our Lord Jesus comes again.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (May 21, 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.

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EXODUS - Honour your Father and Mother

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. We'll be slowing down a little now and taking a week to look at each of the 10 commandments. This week Gary Aston will be preaching to us on the fifth commandment from Exodus 20:12. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22

MUSIC

• Made Alive (Citizens and Saints): A song celebrating our new identity in Christ, that we are now no longer dead in sin but alive in Christ. 

• This I Believe (Hillsong): A song reminding us of the glorious truths we believe as Christians, uniting us to Christians past, present and future. 

Reflect (May 14, 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 - Keep the Sabbath

CALL TO WORSHIP

You have searched us, Lord, and you know us. You know when we sit and when we rise; you
perceive our thoughts from afar. You discern our going out and our lying down; you are familiar with all our ways.

Before a word is on our tongues you know it completely. You hem us in behind and before, and
you lay your hand upon us.

We cannot escape your presence nor can we flee your Spirit. If we go up to the heavens, you are there; if we make our bed in the depths you are there.

For you created our inmost beings; you knit us together in our mothers' wombs. We praise you
because we are fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.

(Based on Psalm 139:1-14)

Song: Rock of Ages

Song: Grace Alone

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Even though we are faced with God's glory and majesty, so often we can feel weighed down by our sin and burdens, feeling like there is no way out. Hear Jesus speak to this when he says:

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

The truth of the gospel is that Jesus' saving work on the cross means we can find rest in Him. In the midst of our troubles we can know his presence with us and find rest

Song: O God

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Exodus 20:8-11, looking at what the 10 commandments teach us about keeping the Sabbath. 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: Come Ye Sinners

Song: Jesus Paid it All

COMMITMENT READING

Heavenly Father, help us to trust in your goodness and provision. Help us to lean on you, rather
than on ourselves. Remind us of your sovereignty and humble us with the truth that you are
working, when we are not.

Would we truly believe that we serve you both in our work and in our rest, giving glory to Jesus in all that we do. Help us to look to you and only you, to find true rest. Amen.

Song: A Mighty Fortress is our God

BENEDICTION

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (May 14, 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 - Keep the Sabbath

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. We'll be slowing down a little now and taking a week to look at each of the 10 commandments. This week Gary Aston will be preaching to us on what it means to keep the Sabbath from Exodus 20:8-11. 

LITURGY

CONFESSION/ASSURANCE

Even though we are faced with God's glory and majesty, so often we can feel weighed down by our sin and burdens, feeling like there is no way out. Hear Jesus speak to this when he says:

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

The truth of the gospel is that Jesus' saving work on the cross means we can find rest in Him. In the midst of our troubles we can know his presence with us and find rest.

MUSIC

• Oh God (Dustin Kensrue): A song reflecting on the reality of God's presence and nearness to us in the midst of our troubles and burdens. 

• Come ye Sinners Poor and Needy (Sojourn Music): A call to come to God in our sin and weakness and find rest for our souls.