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.
EZEKIEL - Serve the City
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, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The LORD reigns for ever, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Based on Psalm 146
Song: O For a Thousand Tongues
Song: Everlasting God
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've already heard that God is a compassionate God, we've just sung that he defends the weak and comforts those in need. When we're reminded of God's character, we realise how far short we fall from his standards. Instead of looking to serve those in need, we use our time, money and resources for selfish gain. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess these ways before God.
Father God, forgive us for using the good gifts you have given us to serve ourselves rather than others. Help us to see the needs of those around us and use all that we have to meet them. Remind us of your generosity, shown to us in Christ, when he gave himself up for us. Help us to show that generosity towards others in how we love and care for them. Amen.
Song: Forgiven
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
This week was our Serve the City gathering. Gary Aston preached to us from Ezekiel 18:1-9. 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
COMMITMENT READING
Our great hope for being generous people, is that we have a generous saviour. Jesus is our great and perfect example. Hear these words that speak of this now:
Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
(Philippians 2:6-8)
Father God, When we see your lavish generosity shown in Jesus, would we respond with generosity towards others. Help us to see our responsibility to the poor and to share what we have with those in need. Help us to look to Jesus, our true treasure. Amen
Song: In Christ Alone
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.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.
