Reflect (August 7, 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.


Hebrews 12:1-2

CALL TO WORSHIP

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40: 28-31) 

Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

Song: Our God

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our sinfulness, our shortcomings, and our offenses against you. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are ashamed and sorry for all we have done to displease you. Forgive our sins, and help us to live in your light and walk in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen

(From The Worship Sourcebook)                  

Song: You Alone Can Rescue

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston preached from Hebrews 12:1-2, exploring how we are to run the race as Christians looking to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Unfortunately, there was a technical issue which means we will not have a recording for this 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: See His Love

COMMITMENT READING

 

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

 (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Song: Be Thou My Vision

BENEDICTION

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to the Gospel, to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ.

Peace be with you.
And also with you. 
Amen.

Reflect (July 31, 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.


Waiting & Future Hope

CALL TO WORSHIP

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Sing to him a new song; play skilfully, and shout for joy.

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.                       (Based on Psalm 33)

Song: Indescribable

Song: This Is Amazing Grace

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Even in light of God's glory and his greatness, we can still find ourselves weighed down by the effects of sin in this world. We are surrounded by the brokenness of creation and it is easy for us to forget the hope we have in the gospel. God tells us in his word that:

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

That is true of us today, even in the midst of the struggles and pain of life. Let's read these words of encouragement to us now about our identity in Christ: 

Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.                                                                         (Philippians 3:20-21)                                                                                  

Song: Grace Alone

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

Gary Aston finished up our series on Lament, looking at Psalm 130 and how lament helps us while we await the return of Jesus Christ. 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: Jesus Paid It All

Song: In Christ Alone

COMMITMENT READING

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

 “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

Song: New Again

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 Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

And also with you.
Amen.

Prepare (July 31, 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.


Waiting & Future Hope

SERMON

This week is the last in our series on Lament. Gary Aston will be preaching from Psalm 130, looking at how we lament while looking to the future hope we have in the gospel, that one day all things will be made new. 

Because this is the last sermon in the series, we'll have a Q&A time after the Gathering with the Elders to answer any questions you've had during the Lament series. 

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” 

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”          (Revelation 21:1-5)

MUSIC

  • New Again (Sojourn Music): A song looking forward to the future hope we have in the gospel. We look to the day when all pain and sorrow will be over and Christ will make all things new again!

  • It Is Finished (Dustin Kensrue): A joyous celebration of Christ's completed work on the cross.