Reflect (March 12, 2017)
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
SERVE THE CITY - SPRING
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: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Song: Come Praise and Glorify our God
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Father forgive us for being so focussed on ourselves that we fail to see the needs of those around us. We confess that we are creatures of comfort, seeking our own pleasures above meeting the needs of others. Help us to love people as you have loved us, to serve people as Jesus has sacrificially served us and to live out the gospel both in our faith and in our works. Amen
Song: Grace Alone
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached to us on the parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching us what Jesus has to say about mercy. 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: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
Song: Saviour of the World
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: Man of Sorrows
BENEDICTION
To Him who is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.
Prepare (March 12, 2017)
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.
SERVE THE CITY - SPRING
SERMON
Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Luke 10:25-37 taking us through the parable of the Good Samaritan.
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 glorious reminder of the Saviour we worship, the salvation we can know in Him and the sacrifice he paid for us on the cross.
- 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) (Matt Redman): A song directing our hearts to God, reminding us of the endless reasons we have to give him all of our praise and worship.
Serve The City - Looking Back
At the end of November, the Redeemer church family rolled up their sleeves and put on their wellington boots for Serve The City (Autumn 2016). The weekend's emphasis on serving others was so timely.
As we enter the Advent season we pray that, through the various acts of service, those on the receiving end will encounter at least a bit of the love of Jesus as they’re shown that people care about them. As we served together many mentioned how much they enjoyed the fellowship and fun of spending time together as the Redeemer family.
Here are some facts and figures from the weekend:
- 25 doors painted
- 3 murals painted
- 30 hampers distributed
- £743 donated
- Abigail House cleaned
- Neighbour's hedge/trees felled
- Countless weeds pulled from a cold & icy allotment!