Reflect (June 10, 2018)

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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EZEKIEL - A New Heart & Spirit

CALL TO WORSHIP

We will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with our mouths we will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

Your love, O Lord, stands firm forever. You have established Your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Who is like You, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and Your faithfulness surrounds You.

(Psalm 89:1-2, 8)

Song: Look and See

Song: Behold our God 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung that nothing can compare to God and yet so often our hearts don't match our words. Hear these words from Isaiah that speak of this:

“These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules."

(Isaiah 29:13)

So often our mouths say one thing, yet our hearts tell a different story. We say we love God, but the desires of our heart are so far from him. God doesn't want our empty words, he wants our hearts. Let's take a moment to ask God to turn our hearts towards him, showing us where we might be resisting him.

Even though we turn from God and our hearts can be far from him, he doesn't turn away from us. Jesus came down into this world so that sin could no longer separate us from God. If we trust in Jesus' death and resurrection we can know forgiveness from sin and relationship with God. Let's sing out in celebration of that truth together now!

Song: You Alone Can  Rescue

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us on the hope of having a new heart and spirit from Ezekiel 36. 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)

Song: See the Lamb of God 

COMMITMENT READING

We can't achieve any of this without Jesus. Before him we are helpless to change ourselves, yet in him we can experience a new heart and a new spirit. Let's read these words together, rejoicing in that truth:

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Song: Be Thou My Vision

BENEDICTION

May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (June 10, 2018)

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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EZEKIEL - A New Heart & Spirit

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Ezekiel 36:16-38 on the promise of a new heart and spirit that only God can provide. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

MUSIC

• You Alone Can Rescue: A reminder that it is only God who can rescue us from our sin. Through Jesus our separation from God is healed and we can know relationship with him.

• Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone):  A song of celebration of the grace that saved us. A song that rejoices in the freedom that can be ours in Christ. 

Reflect (June 3, 2018)

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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EZEKIEL - A New Shepherd

CALL TO WORSHIP

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100)

(Based on Psalm 96:1-10)

Song: Rejoice

Song: Jesus is the Lord of All 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung that Jesus is the lord of all, and yet so often our hearts wander and desire to bow down to other masters. We seek the security of prosperity, the false comforts and the pleasures of this world. Christ speaks of this when he tells us:

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

Let’s take a moment to silently confess our false gods to the Lord.

Only by the blood of Christ can we be declared righteous in God's eyes. He raised us to new life, a life that is no longer ruled by sin but one that trusts in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Jesus tells us:

 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:10b-11)

Today we rejoice in a good Saviour, a master who loves his people so much, he has given his life for them. We have a king, who humbled himself to the point of death so that we might know new life.

Song: Before the Throne of God Above

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached to us on the promise of a new shepherd in Ezekiel 34. 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: Nothing but the Blood

Song: Man of Sorrows

COMMITMENT READING

As we come to the end of our gathering now, we're going to read Psalm 23 together. Psalm 23 is a beautiful reflection on God as our great shepherd. So if you feel able, join with me as we celebrate this truth together now:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

(Psalm 23)

Song: It is Well 

BENEDICTION

May the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (June 3, 2018)

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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EZEKIEL - A New Shepherd

SERMON

Tom Thrower will be preaching to us this week from Ezekiel 34. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

(Psalm 23)

MUSIC

• It is Well: A hymn that speaks of the peace that can be known in Christ, regardless of circumstance or situation. 

• Jesus is the Lord of All (Olly Knight):  A song that affirms Jesus as our ruler and king. A reminder that he is the Lord of all and has authority over all things.