Prepare (September 11, 2016)

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.

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The Lion Roars - 5

SERMON

Alex Passmore will be preaching from Amos 7, looking at what it means that God listens to us and how we are called to live as witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

LITURGY

ASSURANCE

If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2: 1-2)

MUSIC

• Saviour of the World (Ben Cantelon): A song of praise about Jesus, our great Saviour, who gave his life for us, the lost and broken in this world.

• Before the Throne of God Above: A reflection on our standing before God, in Christ. and about the assurance we have in the gospel, that we can boldly approach God’s throne knowing that, in Christ, we are perfected and made clean.

Reflect (September 4, 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.

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The Lion Roars - 4

CALL TO WORSHIP

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all our iniquity, who heals all our diseases, who redeems our lives from the pit, who crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies us with good so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Adapted from Psalm 103)

Song: Behold Our God

Song: I Stand Amazed

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Sovereign Lord, you have been so gracious with us in revealing to us your glory and generously giving us so many gifts. We confess that, in response, we are greedy and selfish with the things that you have given to us. We know that all of these, including money, time, and gifts, are given to us that we may glorify you. Yet so often we use them all for our own gain. 

Forgive us for our sin and by Your Holy Spirit, empower us to surrender all we are to You and to use all we have for Your glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Song: Grace Alone

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached on Amos 6, looking at materialism and how Christians should respond to it. 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 the 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: Here Is Love

Song: Nothing But The blood

COMMITMENT READING

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-20)

Song: Be Thou My Vision

BENEDICTION

God 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 (September 4, 2016)

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.

---

The Lion Roars - 4

SERMON

Tom Thrower will be preaching from Amos 6, looking at materialism.

LITURGY

CONFESSION & ASSURANCE

Sovereign Lord, you have been so gracious with us in revealing to us your glory and generously giving us so many gifts. We confess that, in response, we are greedy and selfish with the things that you have given to us. We know that all of these, including money, time, and gifts, are given to us that we may glorify you. Yet so often we use them all for our own gain.

Forgive us for our sin and by Your Holy Spirit, empower us to surrender all we are to You and to use all we have for Your glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

MUSIC

• Be Thou My Vision (Ascend the Hill): A prayer for God to be our vision, our delight, and our everything as week seek to live our lives as Christians. 

• Behold Our God (Sovereign Grace): A song declaring the beauty and glory of God, calling us to look and behold Him. 

Reflect (August 28, 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.

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The Lion Roars - 3

CALL TO WORSHIP

The Lord is our light and our salvation so why should we be afraid? The Lord is our fortress, protecting us from danger, so why should we tremble? Though a mighty army may surround us, we will not be afraid. Even if we are attacked, we can remain confident. 

The one thing I ask of the Lord, the thing I seek most, is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach, high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:1-5, NLT)

Song: Come Thou Fount

Song: Fountain of Goodness

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Heavenly Father, we confess to you that so often we say we love you with our mouths, but our hearts and our lives tell a different story. Our actions often deny you and we live as though we don't know you.

Thank you that in Jesus we see what you are like. When Peter denied Him, Jesus was kind, tender and gracious in his response of forgiveness. Thank you that because of the cross, you respond to us in the same way.

Song: Come Ye Sinners Poor & Needy

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Alex Passmore preached to us from Amos 5, on what it means to seek God and live. 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 the 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: Jesus Paid It All

COMMITMENT READING

Thank you Jesus that because you have sought us, we can know and experience relationship with the Father. Help us, heavenly Father, by your Spirit, to look to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Would you help us to know what it looks like to seek good and not evil, leaning wholly on the Spirit for His help.

Song: This I Believe

BENEDICTION

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.