Prepare (March 15, 2020)

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.

---

ROMANS: Unity & Mission [Romans 15:1-13].

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching from Romans 15:1-13 to us continuing our series in Romans.

LITURGY

We've experienced the love of God, yet so often we find it difficult to love him and others in the way we should. Instead of loving others, for their good, we love them for what we'll get out of it. We seek our good instead of theirs.
Every week, at this point in our gathering, we take a moment to confess our sin before God. It's a time to admit our failing to him and celebrate the forgiveness we can know in Christ. Let's take a moment, in the quiet of our hearts to confession our lack of love for God and for others.

Let's read these words of assurance and encouragement about our God who has shown us what perfect love looks like:

C: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

L: This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 

C: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loves us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

(Based on 1 John 4:7-12)

MUSIC

All I Have is Christ (Sovereign Grace Music): We will be singing a new song on Sunday which you can listen to and familiarise yourself with below!

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Zach Sprowls): A new take on the old hymn, reminding us of the hope we have in the Gospel, that one day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory.

Reflect (March 08, 2020)

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

---

New relationships: To the weak & strong. ROMANS 14:1-23

CALL TO WORSHIP

As we gather today we acknowledge that God is great and glorious
- Christianity starts with God- with a worshipping of him in his glory
- But not only that he is our glorious creator, but also that he our Redeemer 

- That in Jesus he draws close to us
- He reveals his love and his nearness to us
- So our call to worship this week reminds us that God is our creator & our redeemer 

God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people.

No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

You are the true God; the living God, the eternal King. 

(based on Jeremiah 10:6-12; Psalm 77:13-15)

God is worthy of all our praise so let’s raise our voices as we sing together

SONG: LOOK AND SEE

SONG: MIGHTY TO SAVE

 CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

God is worthy of all the glory and praise and yet so often our hearts don't match our words.
Too often we are like God’s people in the bible.
Hear these words from Isaiah:

"These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules."

(Isaiah 29:13)

Isn’t that true of us?
So often our mouths say one thing, yet our hearts tell a different story.
We say we love God, but the desires of our heart are so far from him.
God doesn't want our empty words, he wants our hearts.
So in a moment of silence, let's take time to ask God to turn our hearts towards him
Ask God to reveal to you where your heart is far from him today.

Even though we turn from God and our hearts can be far from him, he doesn't turn away from us. Jesus came down into this world so that sin could no longer separate us from God. If we trust in Jesus' death and resurrection we can know forgiveness from sin and relationship with God.
Let's sing out in celebration of that truth together now!

SONG: IN TENDERNESS

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PASTORAL PRAYER

READING OF THE WORD

Romans 14:1-23

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 14:1-23 this Sunday as we continued our series in Romans for the final time. Click here to listen to that sermon.

PRE-COMMUNION READING

COMMUNION

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: BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE

COMMITMENT READING

Thank you heavenly father that through Jesus, we have been freed from our sin. Thank you that we are united with Christ in his death and raised to new life through his resurrection.

Thank you that sin is no longer our master and that we now have your Spirit at work within us. Remind us that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

(Based on Romans 6:14 & 2 Corinthians 3:17)

SONG: IT IS FINISHED

BENEDICTION

Peace be with you

 And also with you.

Prepare (March 08, 2020)

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.

---

ROMANS: New Relationships: To Weak & Strong [Romans 14:1-23].

SERMON

Gary Aston will be preaching from Romans 114:1-23 to us continuing our series in Romans.

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

As we gather today we acknowledge that God is great and glorious
- Christianity starts with God- with a worshipping of him in his glory
- But not only that he is our glorious creator, but also that he our Redeemer 

- That in Jesus he draws close to us
- He reveals his love and his nearness to us
- So our call to worship this week reminds us that God is our creator & our redeemer 

L: God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

C: You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people.

L: No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

C: You are the true God; the living God, the eternal King. 

(based on Jeremiah 10:6-12; Psalm 77:13-15)

MUSIC

Look and See (The Village Church): A song that helps us gaze upon Christ, to direct our praise and worship to him, the one who has redeemed us.

Before the Throne of God Above: A reminder that we have a new identity in Christ. We can now approach God with confidence because of what Jesus has done for us.

Reflect (March 01, 2020)

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

---

NEW RELATIONSHIPS: THE STATE. ROMANS 13:1-14

CALL TO WORSHIP

When we meet together as a church we want to focus on God’s greatness and glory
- It can be hard to remember, but as Christians we believe that God is in control
- That he is at work in every part of this world
- He rules over nations and governments and global events
- But he also is at work in the tiny details of our everyday lives
- So let’s start our gathering with a call to worship that reminds us that God is our great King

 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness.

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The LORD rules and reigns as King forever.

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. 

(based on Psalm 29:1-2,4,10-11)

SONG: ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

SONG: ALL PRAISE TO HIM

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Even though we believe God to be sovereign over all so often our hearts wander and desire to bow down to other masters. Rather than trusting God's sovereignty, we seek to become the kings and rulers of our own lives.
We don't give Jesus lordship over our lives, instead we let other things rule us and make them our priority instead. Why don't you take a moment to reflect on that now, confess to God where you see this in your own heart...

Join me in the underlined part of this prayer:
Father God, forgive us for failing to trust you and your sovereignty in our lives. Reveal the parts of our lives where we are slow to give you control.

Help us to see that your plans and purposes are greater than ours and would we know the peace that comes from trusting in you. Amen

The truth of the gospel is that there is forgiveness for us to be received through faith in Jesus. In putting our trust in him, we can know freedom from all our sin through his gift of grace.

SONG: LEAD US BACK

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PASTORAL PRAYER

READING OF THE WORD

Romans 13:1-14

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 13:1-14 this Sunday as we continued our series in Romans for the final time. Click here to listen to that sermon.

PRE-COMMUNION READING

COMMUNION

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: FORGIVEN

SONG: HERE IS LOVE

COMMITMENT READING

As we close our gathering let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, in a world filled with so much darkness, we pray that we might know the hope that comes with your light.
Jesus, thank you that you entered into the darkness & defeated its power; that you conquered sin & offer rescue to us all. We praise you that one day you will return to bring peace to reign.

Help us to live as good citizens who love you and love others. Help us to remember that we belong to an eternal kingdom that will never end.

Fill us with the hope and comfort that comes from knowing you as our true King.

Amen.

SONG: THE LION AND THE LAMB

BENEDICTION

Peace be with you

And also with you.