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
THE CHURCH - Fed by the Word
CALL TO WORSHIP
Oh, how we love your law! We meditate on it all day long. How sweet are your words to our taste, sweeter than honey to our mouths!
Accept, LORD, the willing praise of our mouths, and teach us your laws. Your statutes are our heritage for ever; they are the joy of our hearts.
Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Based on Psalm 119:97-111)
Song: How Great Thou Art
Song: Behold our God
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
God tells us in his word that:
Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.
(Psalm 1:1-3)
In John's Gospel Jesus tells us that he is the true vine from which all life flows. Yet time and time again we go to other sources to find life. Instead of being rooted in Christ, we pour our time, energy and resources into lesser things, believing that they will bring us true joy, true life. Take a moment in the quiet of your hearts to confess these ways to God this afternoon. Hear Jesus' call again this afternoon to remain in Him, to root yourself in Him.
"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
(John 15: 4-5)
Song: Come Ye Sinners
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached to us from 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2 looking at the church being fed by the Word of God. Click here to listen to that sermon (Unfortunately the first part of the sermon did not record this week).
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: When I Survey
Song: In Christ Alone
COMMITMENT READING
We've already heard that God speaks to us in His word, so we must continue rooted in it. Hear these words as we close now:
Brothers and Sisters, continue, rooted in the word, asking that God would fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
(Based on Colossians 1:9-10)
Song: Revelation Song
BENEDICTION
Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.