Reflect (September 25, 2016)

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.


ENCOUNTERS - Sin

CALL TO WORSHIP

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! (Based on Psalm 32&25)

Song: Doxology

Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

Song: Made Alive

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung that we've been made alive in Jesus, that our sin has been erased, yet so often we live as though this weren't true. Daily we choose to live for other things, to find life in anything other than Christ and our sin feels like it enslaves us once again. Let's pray these words from the Psalms together, asking that God would cleanse us from our sin. 

Have mercy on us, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out our transgressions. Wash away all our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin. 

For we know our transgressions, and our sin are always before us. Against you and you only, have we sinned. Cleanse us and we shall be clean; wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow. Create in us pure hearts, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us. (Psalm 51:1-10)

Song: Nothing But The Blood

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached the first sermon in our Encounters series from Mark 2:1-12. Here we meet the paralysed man and witness his encounter with Jesus. 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: How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Song: Hallelujah What a Saviour

COMMITMENT READING

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning, so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 

We have been buried with Christ and so united with him in his death and resurrection. Our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Therefore, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Based on Romans 6:1-14) 

SongChrist is Risen

BENEDICTION

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 
Amen.