Reflect (November 17, 2019)

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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ROMANS - God & Israel: Restoration

CALL TO WORSHIP

The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. 

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. 

(Psalm 145:8-14)

Song: Everlasting God

Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Father God as we are reminded of your glory and majesty, we confess that so often we forget how far we are from you. We are quick to build ourselves up and quick to look down on others. Forgive us for judging one another, thinking we are better than one another. 

Remind us that all of us have sinned and fallen short of your standards. We are all undeserving of your grace and yet you have lavishly poured it onto us. Amen. 

Even though we deserved God's judgement, Jesus took the judgement that was ours on the cross so that we might be freed from the power of sin. God tells us in his word that if we repent and turn to Jesus, we find life. Hear these words of assurance about our great and perfect saviour now: 

"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds we have been healed." 

(1 Peter 2:22-24) 

Song: Jesus

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 11:11-36 this Sunday as we thought about restoration for God’s people. 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: Hallelujah What a Saviour

Song: Before the Throne

COMMITMENT READING

Heavenly Father help us to entrust ourselves to you with confidence in what Jesus has already done for us in his death and resurrection. 

Give us a deep assurance of our salvation as we trust your promises to us. May we find our identity in Jesus' finished work on the cross, not in our works or performance. Amen.

Song: It is Well

BENEDICTION

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Reflect (November 10, 2019)

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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ROMANS - God’s Sovereignty

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! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture.

(Psalm 95:1-7)

Song: Indescribable

Song: Fountain of Goodness

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've already heard and sung of God's unfailing and unchanging character, that he is faithful in all he promises. We've sung that he is the one who brings salvation, yet so often we are quick to forget this. We begin to believe that it is our work and merit that make us right with God. When we do that we take the cross for granted and fail to give God the glory and thanksgiving he deserves.

So take a moment in the quiet of your heart to confess that to God now. Of the ways this week you have resting on your own goodness and achievement One of the joys of gathering together as God's people is that when we forget God's truth, we can remind one another and encourage one another with it together. We can preach the gospel- the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus- again to one another So let's do that now as we read these words of assurance together:

For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that none of us can boast.

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

When we receive this gift of grace, we are welcomed into God's family, we are part of his people and our identity changes. Let's sing out in light of that truth together now.

Song: Made Alive

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 11:1-10 this Sunday as we thought about God’s Sovereignty. 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: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Song: Here is Love

COMMITMENT READING

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

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

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying:

“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

(Revelation 7:9-12)

Song: This I Believe

BENEDICTION

Go and celebrate the Father’s Love, Christ’s victory, and the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts as we share our hope with the rest of the world.

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (November 10, 2019)

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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ROMANS - God & Israel: The Remnant

SERMON

This Sunday we are continuing in our Romans sermon series and Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Romans 11:1-10.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 

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

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: 

“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” 

(Revelation 7:9-12)

 MUSIC

• Made Alive (Citizens): A song that celebrates the new identity we have in Christ. Once we were dead in our sin but now we have been made alive in Jesus.

• This I Believe (Hillsong): A song based on the Apostle’s creed that celebrates all that we believe as Christians.

Reflect (November 3, 2019)

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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ROMANS - God’s Sovereignty & Our Response

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting it is to praise him!

He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

Great is our LORD and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

Sing to the LORD and make music to our God with grateful praise!

(Based on Psalm 147:1-7)

Song: Rejoice

Song: Come Praise and Glorify

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

When we encounter the mighty power of God and his holy character, we are confronted with our sin. It's such a stark contrast to our Lord, the creator of all things who is always perfectly loving and giving. God tells us in his word that without him, none of us our righteous, none of us seek him and all of us have turned away from him. But we needn't stay that way. Hear this truth from God's word:

"If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." (James 5:15-16)

Let's take a few moments now, in the quietness of our own hearts, to respond to God's invitation to experience healing in Christ as we confess our sins. Through His death and resurrection Christ has made us right with God; he makes us pure and holy and frees us from the power of sin. Let's sing out together now, with thanksgiving, praising God for all he has done for us in Jesus.

Song: Lead us back

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 9:30-10:21 this Sunday as we thought about God’s Sovereignty and our response . 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: Nothing but the Blood

Song: Lamb of God

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, keep us from looking to the world for fulfilment. Instead, give us strength to continually look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.

By your Spirit’s work in our hearts, give us the faith and courage to hold onto the gospel above all else.

Remind us of your love and of your kingdom that we have been brought into.

May we go from this gathering and boldly live out our mission to proclaim Jesus as saviour, redeemer and king. Amen.

Song: Be Thou My Vision

BENEDICTION

Go and celebrate the Father’s Love, Christ’s victory, and the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts as we share our hope with the rest of the world.

Peace be with you.

And also with you.