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.

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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) 

Song: Christ 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.

Prepare (September 15, 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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ENCOUNTERS - Sin

SERMON

This week we'll be starting a new sermon series called ENCOUNTERS, which is all about meeting the real Jesus. During this short series we'll look at four encounters Jesus has with different people in Mark’s gospel. Our desire is that we would see a variety of people who encounter and are changed by Jesus as a reminder of the life changing power that any true encounter with Him brings. Gary Aston will be kicking off the first in our series, preaching from Mark 2:1-12. 

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

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)

MUSIC

• Nothing But the Blood: A song reminding us of the glorious truth that it is only by the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, that we can be cleansed from our sin. 

• Christ Is Risen: An assurance of the truth that Jesus has risen from the dead and so we can now be raised to new life ourselves. A reminder that death and sin have no hold on us anymore and we can rejoice in that truth together. 

Reflect (September 18, 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 - 6

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, don't forget all his benefits – he forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, he redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, he satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (Based on Psalm 103:1-8)

Song: Rejoice

Song: Look and See

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

God tells us in His word that "everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." Yet so often we diminish our sin, excuse it and forget that it cost Jesus his life to save us from it. Take a moment to reflect on that truth now. 

The same passage goes on to say: Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Let's read these words together: 

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:23-25) 

Jesus blood was shed so that we would be made right with God! Let's sing out in light of that glorious truth together now.

Song: You alone Can Rescue

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Tom Thrower preached our final sermon in Amos. He helped us to think through the reason for, and nature of, God's justice, as well as pointing us back to our hope in God's injustice seen on the cross. 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: Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Song: See His Love

COMMITMENT READING

Heavenly father, we thank you that you are a just and faithful God. Thank you that in Jesus, we see your justice revealed to us. He faced your judgement so that we would be freed and experienced your wrath so that we wouldn't have to. 

Help us, by your Spirit, to seek out and fight for justice in this world. To show love to those who are marginalised and in need, just as you have shown your love to us on the cross, always witnessing to the gospel at work in our lives. Amen.

Song: In Christ Alone

BENEDICTION

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves always seeking to share with the Lord’s people who are in need.

Peace be with you.

And also with you. 

Amen.

Prepare (September 18, 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 - 6

SERMON

Tom Thrower will be preaching from Amos 8 & 9, wrapping up our series in Amos. He'll be helping us see the nature of God's justice and how we can find hope in the midst of it. There will also be a Q & A time about this Sermon Series after the gathering on Sunday with Tom and Alex. 

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, don't forget all his benefits – he forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, he redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, he satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (Based on Psalm 103:1-8)

MUSIC

• Rejoice (Dustin Kensrue): A call to praise God and gaze upon His glory. A reminder that, even in the midst of our trials and suffering we still have reasons to rejoice in the Gospel. 

• See His Love (Tom Lockley): A reminder of the love God has shown to us on the cross of Christ. A call to look again at the cross and respond to Jesus' great sacrifice for us.