Prepare (March 5, 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 - The Hard Road

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 15-18. 

LITURGY

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Father we confess that in light of your glory we are reminded how far we fall short of you, we take you for granted and find satisfaction in so many other places, instead of in you

Forgive us for our tendency to grumble, to be ungrateful for the grace you have shown to us in Christ. Produce hearts of thankfulness in us, we ask, by your Spirit. Amen.

MUSIC

• Man of Sorrows (Hillsong): A glorious reminder of the Saviour we worship, the salvation we can know in Him and the sacrifice he paid for us on the cross. 

• Look and See (The Village Church): A call to lift our eyes and gaze on the beauty and glory of Christ. 

Reflect (February 26, 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 - Crossing from Death to Life

CALL TO WORSHIP

I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love.

Even when God's people betrayed him, rebelled against him and grieved His Holy Spirit, he became their Saviour. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.

I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love. Based on

Isaiah 63:7-14

Song: Look What God Has Done

Song: I Stand Amazed 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Just like the people of Israel, we have seen God's redemption in our own lives yet we fail to trust God's leading. We question God's wisdom believing we know better. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess the ways in which you fail to trust God and his goodness. God tells us in his word that if we choose to follow Christ, we are led by the Spirit of God. Hear these words from Paul to us now:

All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.

Song: This is Amazing Grace

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached to us from Exodus 13&14 helping us to remember the story of the Gospel. 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: Before the Throne of God Above

Song: See His Love

COMMITMENT READING

Father God we ask that you would help us to remember. Help us to remember the story of Salvation worked through Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. Would we know you leading us and since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Amen.

(Based on Galatians 5:25)

Song: Be Thou My Vision (Ascend the Hill arrangement)

BENEDICTION

Go, knowing that God is present with you by His Spirit, that he is leading you and that he fights for your salvation.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (February 26, 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 - Crossing from Death to Life

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 13 and 14. 

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love.

Even when God's people betrayed him, rebelled against him and grieved His Holy Spirit, he became their Saviour. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.

I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love.

Based on Isaiah 63:7-14

MUSIC

• Look What God Has Done (Ghost Ship): A call for us to look again at what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. To remind our hearts of the identity we have in the Gospel and to give God all the glory. 

• Be Thou My Vision (Ascend the Hill Arrangement): A plea that Christ would be our everything, in all circumstances and all situations. 

Reflect (February 19, 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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JONATHAN GILMORE

CALL TO WORSHIP

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous works among all the peoples!

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!

(Psalm 72:17-19, 96:1-3)

Song: All Creatures of our God and King

Song: Fountain of Goodness 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Heavenly father, every time we are reminded of your greatness, we see how far we are from you. We remember how quick we are to turn away from you and forget the grace shown to us in Christ. Remind us that we were once far from you, but now, by the blood of Jesus, have been brought back into the people of God. Amen. Hear these words of assurance to us from Ephesians 2:

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: Made Alive

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Jonathan Gilmore joined us for our gathering and preached to us from Matthew 9:36-38, sharing about the work he is involved in within Acts 29 Italy. Listen to that sermon here:

Continue to pray for the work of the Jonathan and Annette and for the following areas: 

1. Church planters and existing young church plants
2. Training and Coaching
3. The Albania Project
4. Setting of Gospel DNA/Culture 

For more information about the work of the Gospel in Italy click here. 

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: Mighty to Save

COMMITMENT READING

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice,

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever
and ever! Amen.”

(Revelation 7:9-12)

Song: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

BENEDICTION

Go in the peace of knowing that one day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.