Prepare (January 28, 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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THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

SERMON

This Sunday is the second gathering in our Fruit of the Spirit sermon series. Gary will be giving an introduction to all the fruit, preaching to us from Galatians 5:16-26.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)

MUSIC

• Oceans (Hillsong): A new song to us at Redeemer that reminds us of God's leading and the Spirit's guiding, even when we are fearful and life feels uncertain. 

• New Again (Sojourn): A celebration of our future hope in the Gospel that one day we will be fully renewed and restored. 

Reflect (January 21, 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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THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

CALL TO WORSHIP

Our gatherings are our opportunity to hear and remember together Who our God is: We raise our voices, to sing to rejoice in that truth together. We love to declare together- by reading parts of the bible- the truth & beauty of God. Let's join with the psalmist in praise of our God together now, join in the underlined sections.

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.

They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

(Psalm 19:1-6)

Song: Indescribable

Song: Fountain of Goodness

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

In John's Gospel Jesus tells us that he is the true vine from which all life flows. Yet time and time again we go to other sources to find life. Instead of being rooted in Christ, we pour our time, energy and resources into lesser things, believing that they will bring us true joy, true life. Take a moment in the quiet of your hearts to confess these ways to God this
afternoon. Hear Jesus' call again this afternoon to remain in Him, to root yourself in
Him.

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

(John 15: 4-5)

Song: Lead us Back

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

This week we started our new sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit. Gary Aston preached to us from Galatians 5:16-26. 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: Revelation Song

COMMITMENT READING

Let's read these words, with full assurance that God is growing us by his Spirit.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his image from one degree of glory to another. And this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

(2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

Song: In Christ Alone

BENEDICTION

Brothers and Sisters, continue, rooted in the word, asking that God would fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (January 21, 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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THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

SERMON

This Sunday we'll be starting our sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit. Gary Aston will be introducing this series and preaching to us from Galatians 5:16-25.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his image from one degree of glory to another. And this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

(2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

MUSIC

• Fountain of Goodness (Olly Knight): A song of praise, celebrating our God who is the fount of all that is good. 

• Lead us Back (Sojourn): A song of confession, calling our hearts back to God, the one in whom we find life. 

Reflect (January 14, 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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SABBATICAL REFLECTIONS

CALL TO WORSHIP

The World can seem like a frightening place. So much changes & so quickly. There's much that is uncertain & seems so fragile. So our call to worship reminds us of God's stability. His beautiful strength.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and the mountains quake.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, and the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
 

(Based on Psalm 46:1-7)

Song: Jesus is the Lord of All

Song: Behold our God 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

When we look around at the world in which we live, the presence of evil and suffering is sometimes too much for us to bear. When sin entered the world, all of creation was broken, sin shattered the good and perfect creation God had made and we still live in that reality now. God wants us to bring our suffering to Him though, we can make a case before Him,
laying our emotion and frustration before Him. Let's do that together now as we pray these words, join with me in the underlined portions.

Father God, in light of a world that is filled with sin and hate, we confess our own weakness, the sin in our heart, and our need for a Saviour.

We lament and mourn the effects of sin in our lives and in our world. In our confession and lament, lead us to repentance, remind us of the grace that You have given us through the work of Jesus Christ.

Cause us to trust, rest in, and join with Your Spirit’s reconciling and restoring work through the Gospel of Jesus in our world and in our hearts. Amen.

Even though we see the effects of sin in this world, God is still good, Christ has taken our sin upon him and dealt with it so that we have a future hope where there will be no more pain or suffering. The hope of the gospel is that not only has our sin been dealt with but God meets us in our struggles now. Let's sing out in light of that truth now.

Song: O God

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

In Summer 2017, Gary and the Aston family had an extended period of Sabbatical. Gary shared some of what God had been teaching him during this time in our gathering from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. 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: Hallelujah What a Saviour

Song: See the Lamb of God 

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, we thank you that you care for us in the midst of our pain and suffering. Thank you that Jesus came down into our broken world, suffering for our sake, that we might be healed.

Help us to know, in the midst of our troubles, that because Jesus suffered, he is able to empathize with our sufferings. By you Spirit, help us to comfort one another with the comfort that only comes through Christ. Amen.

BENEDICTION

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.