Prepare (February 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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ROMANS - Saving Faith pt. 1

SERMON

This Sunday Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Romans 4:1-8, helping us look at justification through saving faith.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Once you were alienated from God and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

Help us Lord to continue in our faith, established and firm, not moving from the hope of the gospel we have heard and which has been proclaimed in all creation. Amen.

(Based on Colossians 1:21-23)

MUSIC

• This I Believe (Hillsong): A song based on the Apostles’ Creed that affirms our faith and celebrates the truths we believe as Christians.

• You Alone Can Rescue (Matt Redman): A song that affirms Jesus as our saviour and rescuer. A reminder that it is only through his death and resurrection that we can be saved.

Reflect (February 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 - Righteousness

CALL TO WORSHIP

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have shown his saving power.

The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to his people; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

(Psalm 98:1-3)

Song: Doxology

Song: A Mighty Fortress

Song: All Praise to Him

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous.

He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.

We are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ and we are justified by his gift of grace.

(Based on Romans 3:22-26)

Song: Come Ye Sinners

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

This week Tom Thrower preached to us from Romans 3:21-31 on righteousness. 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: Jesus Paid it All

Song: Jesus

COMMITMENT READING

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on the day of his return and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

(2 Timothy 4:8)

Song: It is Well

BENEDICTION

God has made you alive through the death of His son. He has declared you to be righteous. Go with confidence and faith today that He is able to keep and sustain you.

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (February 17, 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 - Righteousness

SERMON

This Sunday Tom Thrower will be preaching to us from Romans 3:21-31 on righteousness.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on the day of his return and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

(2 Timothy 4:8)

MUSIC

• A Mighty Fortress (Heartsong): A hymn that celebrates God as our shield and fortress.

• Jesus (Citizens and Saints): A song that celebrates our saviour Jesus who is to be highly exalted above every other name.

Reflect (February 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 - The Sinfulness of People

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits

Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

(Psalm 103: 1-12)

Song: How Great is Our God

Song: O God of Our Salvation

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.

Song: It is Finished

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 3:9-20 looking at the sinfulness of 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: Amazing Grace

Song: Saviour of the World

COMMITMENT READING

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(2 Corinthians 5:17 & 21)

Song: Grace Alone

BENEDICTION

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

Peace be with you.

And also with you.