Prepare (December 8, 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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ADVENT: WAITING - Simeon

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching from God’s word to us this Sunday as we continue in the season of Advent. He will be preaching from Luke 2:25-35.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Father God, help us to see our need for a rescuer. As we are reminded of our sin help us to receive your gift of grace with thankfulness. And would we know the deep joy of Jesus' rescue this Advent. Amen.

MUSIC

• O Come O Come Emmanuel: 

• O Come All Ye Faithful:

Prepare (December 1, 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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HOG ROAST & CAROLS

This Sunday we have our Hog Roast and Carols service at Left Bank Leeds, Cardigan Rd Leeds LS6 1LJ.

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching a short message to us from the gospel of Luke 2:8-20.

LITURGY

READING

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:2;6)

MUSIC

• O Come All Ye Faithful: A call to come and remember Jesus’ coming into this world, to behold the incarnate God and praise his majesty!

• Hark the Herald Angels Sing: A celebration of Christ and all that he came to do on earth. A reminder that he brings light and life into this world and that he is worthy of all of our praise.

Reflect (November 24, 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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SERVE THE CITY: John 13

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: O For a Thousand Tongues

Song: All Praise to Him

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've already heard of the generous and compassionate God we have. Bible tells us that He is the giver of every good gift He showers those good gifts down on the world he has made Yet so often we are ungrateful for his gifts We assume that they are things we deserve and have a right to have And instead of using them to love God & love other people. We use them for selfish gain. We are selfish with our time, money, resources and yet God has been so generous towards us. Take a moment to confess to God the ways in which you can be selfish with the gifts God has given you and to reflect on his generosity shown to us in Christ.

Jesus himself tells us:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

God has been generous to us in giving his son to free us and save us from our sin. We are only able to serve others and demonstrate generosity because of the way we have already been served by Christ.

Song: Forgiven

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached from God’s word to us this Sunday as part of our Serve the City gathering from John 13:1-17. Listen to the sermon audio 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: When I Survey

Song: Man of Sorrows (Oh the Rugged Cross)

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: Christ is Risen

BENEDICTION

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (November 24, 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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SERVE THE CITY

SERMON

This Sunday is our Serve the City gathering where we’ll hear about different the projects our city groups have been involved in over the weekend. Tom Thrower will be preaching to us on Jesus’ example of service from John 13:1-17.

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 song that focuses on the cross of Christ and on his death and resurrection which is where our salvation was achieved.

• Forgiven (Sovereign Grace): A song of confession that speaks of the selfish ways we can misuse the gifts God has given us and yet the forgiveness that we can know in Christ.