Prepare (September 3, 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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JAMES - True Faith & Oppression

SERMON

This week John McPhilimey will be preaching to us on James 5:1-12, looking at true faith and oppression. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(Colossians 3:12-14)

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.

• There is a Fountain (William Cowper): An older hymn that meditates on the saving power of the blood of Jesus and the redeeming love we can now know in Christ. 

Reflect (August 27, 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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JAMES -  True Faith & Worldliness

CALL TO WORSHIP

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

Let’s hear that again, and join with me:

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

(Psalm 84:1-2)

Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

Song: Rejoice

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've already heard that God's dwelling place is lovely, yet so often we choose to make our home somewhere else. We make our home in the world, We let the world, not God, govern our thoughts, decisions and behaviour. But God tells us in his word not to be conformed to the pattern of this world, but instead transformed by the renewal of our minds. Take a moment to reflect on that now. To confess to God the sin in our hearts, and the ways we choose the world, over God.

Well, the Gospel story doesn't end there, hear these words of assurance for us now:

If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

(1 John 2)

Song: Before the Throne of God Above

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Alex Passmore preached to us this week from James 3, looking at how we turn from friendship with the World to friendship with God. 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: How Deep the Father's Love 

Song: In Christ Alone

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, we ask that you'd help our lips to overflow with praise of you and our tongues to sing of your word. Would no corrupting talk come out of our mouths. Instead help our words be gracious, seasoned with salt and good for building one another up. Amen.

(Based on Psalm 119:171-173; Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29)

Song: Cornerstone

BENEDICTION

Brothers and sisters, continue to walk by faith in the victory of Christ, who has empowered you with the Holy Spirit to overcome the world. Go therefore in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (August 27, 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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JAMES - True Faith & Worldliness

SERMON

This week Alex Passmore will be preaching to us on James 4, looking at true faith and worldliness. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Against such things there is no law.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

(Based on Galatians 5:16-25)

MUSIC

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

• Rejoice (Dustin Kensrue): A call to praise God and gaze upon His glory. A reminder that, even in the midst of our trials and suffering we still have reasons to rejoice in the Gospel.  

Reflect (August 20, 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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JAMES -  True Faith & Words

CALL TO WORSHIP

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; they are sweeter than honey. (Psalm 19:7-10)

Song: Come Praise and Glorify

Song: Fountain of Goodness

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

As we've seen so far in the book of James, our actions reveal where our heart lies. If we put our roots down in God and abide in Him, God tells us in his word, that we will produce good fruit. That our lives and actions will reflect this. This is true of our words too. In Matthew's gospel Jesus says that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." How we use our words, reveals our heart. So often we use our words to hurt others rather than to build one another up. We gossip and slander others, instead of encouraging or rebuking each other in love. Let's take a moment now to reflect on that, to confess to God the ways we use our words that do not honour him.

The truth of the Gospel is that even though we have sinned against God we can know forgiveness because of Jesus. His death and resurrection means that we are forgiven and can know the joy of knowing him.

Song: In Tenderness He Sought Me

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Oli Simmons preached to us this week from James 3, looking at how the gospel shapes our words. 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

Song: I Stand Amazed

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, we ask that you'd help our lips to overflow with praise of you and our tongues to sing of your word. Would no corrupting talk come out of our mouths. Instead help our words be gracious, seasoned with salt and good for building one another up. Amen.

(Based on Psalm 119:171-173; Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29)

Song: Be Thou My Vision

BENEDICTION

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.