Prepare (February 10, 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

---

ROMANS - The sinfulness of people

SERMON

This Sunday Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Romans 3:9-20 looking at the sinfulness of people.

LITURGY

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)

MUSIC

• Grace Alone (Dustin Kensrue): A song that reminds us of our status before we were saved. We were lost and in need of a saviour. A celebration that it is by grace we are saved!

• Saviour of the World (Ben Cantelon): A song that celebrates Jesus, our perfect saviour who came to seek and save the lost.

Reflect (February 3, 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

---

ROMANS - The Faithfulness of God

CALL TO WORSHIP

I will sing of the LORD’s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm for ever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? Who is like you, LORD God Almighty?

You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

Psalm 89:1-8

Song: Rock of Ages

Song: Everlasting God

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Awesome and compassionate God, you have loved us with unfailing, self-giving mercy, but we have not loved you. You are a faithful God, yet we are unfaithful, time and time again.

Forgive us for running after other things to find joy and satisfaction, remind us that in doing this we take the cross for granted. Show us, once again, that it cost Jesus his life to save us from our sin.

As you come to us in mercy, we repent in spirit and in truth, admit our sin, and gratefully receive your forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.

(Adapted from the Worship Sourcebook)

Song: O God of Mercy Hear our Plea

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us on the faithfulness of God from Romans 3:1-8. 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: There is a Fountain

Song: Christ is Risen

COMMITMENT READING

We have been united with Jesus in death and our old self was crucified with him. We are no longer 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. Don't let sin reign in your body but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.

Sin is no longer our master because we are not under the law but under grace.

(Based on Romans 6:1-14)

Song: In Christ Alone

BENEDICTION

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thess 5:23)

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (February 3, 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

---

ROMANS - The faithfulness of God

SERMON

This Sunday Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Romans 3:1-8 looking at the faithfulness of God.

LITURGY

CONFESSION

I will sing of the LORD’s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm for ever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? 

You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

Psalm 89:1-8.

MUSIC

• Rock of Ages (Dustin Kensrue): A song of praise to God our rock and refuge. A reminder that we bring nothing for our salvation and instead cling to the cross of Christ.

• O God of Mercy Hear Our Plea (Sovereign Grace): A song that cries out to God for him to hear us. A call for him to be our strength and hope in the midst of this broken world.

Reflect (January 27, 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

---

ROMANS - Inside out

CALL TO WORSHIP

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name.

The LORD reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.

The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Sing praises to the LORD who reigns. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.

(Based on Psalm 9:1-11)

Song: Behold our God

Song: Look What God Has Done

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've just sung that God is worthy of all the glory and praise and yet so often our hearts don't match our words. Hear these words from Isaiah that speak of this:

“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)

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. Let's take a moment to ask God to turn our hearts towards him, showing us where we might be resisting him.

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.

Song: I Stand Amazed

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached to us this week from Romans 2:17-29 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: Before the Throne of God Above

Song: Cornerstone

COMMITMENT READING

We are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

In him we also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Based on Ephesians 2:19-22

Song: Mighty to Save

BENEDICTION

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20)

Peace be with you.

And also with you.