Prepare (June 25, 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.

BAPTISM

SERMON

This week is our Baptismal service and Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Luke 19:1-10, looking at Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus. 

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

—Psalm 95:1-6

MUSIC

• Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone): An adapted version of the old hymn, celebrating the grace we have received from God and the freedom we can know in Christ. 

• New Again (Sojourn Music): A song looking forward to the future hope we have in the gospel. We look to the day when all pain and sorrow will be over and Christ will make all things new again!

Reflect (June 18, 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 - You Shall Not Bear False Witness

CALL TO WORSHIP

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord, and will glorify your name.

For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach us your way, O Lord, that we may walk in your truth.

We give thanks to you, O Lord our God, with our whole hearts, and will glorify your name for ever. For great is your steadfast love towards us. (Psalm 86:8-13)

Song: How Great Thou Art 

Song: Fountain of Goodness 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

God tells us in his word that even though we have known him, we haven't given him the glory and honour he deserves. Daily, we exchange the truth about God for a lie, worshipping and serving created things rather than Him, our creator God. Let's pray these words together as a corporate confession to God now:

Heavenly Father, forgive us for exchanging the truth about you for a lie. We ask that you would lead us back to the truth of the Gospel. Help us to abide in your word, knowing that the truth of your word is what sets us free. Amen.

(Based on Romans 1:21-25; John 8:31)

Song: Shine into our Night 

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Exodus 20:16, helping us to see what the Bible teaches on lying. 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: There is a Fountain

Song: See His Love

COMMITMENT READING

Do not lie to one another, instead put off the old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

(based on Colossians 3:8-10)

Song: Be Thou My Vision

BENEDICTION

Now 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.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (June 18, 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 - You Shall Not Bear False Witness

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 lying from Exodus 20:16. 

LITURGY

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Heavenly Father, forgive us for exchanging the truth about you for a lie. We ask that you would lead us back to the truth of the Gospel. Help us to abide in your word, knowing that the truth of your word is what sets us free. Amen. 

(Based on Romans 1:21-25; John 8:31)

MUSIC

• There is a Fountain : A new song to us at Redeemer. It's an old hymn that meditates on the saving power of the blood of Jesus and the redeeming love we can now know in Christ. 

• How Great Thou Art: A song of praise responding to God's glory and majesty seen in creation. 

Reflect (June 11, 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 - You Shall Not Steal

CALL TO WORSHIP

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power. For you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

(Based on Psalm 24:1-2; Revelation 4:11)

Song: Come Praise and Glorify our God 

Song: Look and See 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung that God is glorious and majestic, yet so often we don't give him the glory he deserves. We take the glory that is his and give it to so many other things, ourselves, our families, our work. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to think of the ways you give God's glory to other things. The truth of the Gospel is that even though we fail time and time again, God doesn't fail us. We can come again in repentance and find true forgiveness, true redemption.

Song: O For a Thousand Tongues

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Exodus 20:15, helping us to see what the Bible teaches about theft. 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: There is a Fountain

Song: Hallelujah What a Saviour

COMMITMENT READING

Thank you Father God that you are a generous God. Thank you that for our sake, you sent Jesus, to become poor, so that through his poverty we might become rich. Help us to be a generous people, who give you the glory and honour you deserve in all that we do. Amen.

(Based on 2 Corinthians 8:8-9)

Song: Revelation Song

BENEDICTION

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing! …To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be
blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.