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.