Prepare (March 19, 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 10 Commandments

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 introducing us to the 10 Commandments from Exodus 19-20:17.

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day
they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them
are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than
honey.

(Psalm 19:1-10)

MUSIC

• A Mighty Fortress is our God: A song reflecting on God as our refuge and fortress in whom we find help. 

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

Reflect (March 12, 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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SERVE THE CITY - SPRING

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: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

Song: Come Praise and Glorify our God

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Father forgive us for being so focussed on ourselves that we fail to see the needs of those around us. We confess that we are creatures of comfort,  seeking  our own pleasures above meeting the needs of others. Help us to love people as you have loved us, to serve people as Jesus has sacrificially served us and to live out the gospel both in our faith and in our works. Amen

Song: Grace Alone

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us on the parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching us what Jesus has to say about mercy. Listen to that sermon 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: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Song: Saviour of the World

COMMITMENT READING

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

He was in the form of God, but did not count equality with God something to be grasped. He emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

(Based on Philippians 2:3-8)

Song: Man of Sorrows

BENEDICTION

To Him who is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (March 12, 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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SERVE THE CITY - SPRING

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Luke 10:25-37 taking us through the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

He was in the form of God, but did not count equality with God something to be grasped. He emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

(Based on Philippians 2:3-8)

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. 

• 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) (Matt Redman): A song directing our hearts to God, reminding us of the endless reasons we have to give him all of our praise and worship.    

Reflect (March 5, 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 - The Hard Road

CALL TO WORSHIP

As a church we're currently in a series in the book of Exodus and Exodus is all about rescue. God is a God who rescues his people, he rescued the Israelites out of Egypt and he has rescued us from our sin.

Exodus 15 tells us that when the people of Israel have been brought through the red sea, they sing this song to the Lord:

"I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."

Today, we sing because he has triumphed gloriously, because of God's great salvation, we are still people who sing. Let's read these words from that same song together now as we start our gathering:

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them. “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

Exodus 15:11-13

Song: Come Thou Fount 

Song: Look and See

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.

Song: You Alone Can Rescue

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Exodus 15-17 challenging us on our grumbling hearts. 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: Here is Love

Song: Man of Sorrows

COMMITMENT READING

Heavenly father we ask that you would help us to trust in your goodness and wisdom. Help us to be a church satisfied in Christ, knowing that all of our needs are met in him. Would we truly believe that Jesus is the bread of life, that if we come to him, we will not go hungry, if we believe in him, we will never thirst. Amen.

(based on John 6:35)

Song: Cornerstone

BENEDICTION

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.