Prepare (October 23, 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.
REDEEMER VISION - The Gospel
SERMON
Gary Aston will be kicking off our Redeemer Vision sermon series by beginning with the Gospel. The Gospel shapes everything we do and so where better to start. He'll be taking us to 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 to help us think through why our boast should only be in Jesus.
LITURGY
COMMITMENT READING
Father God, we pray that by your Spirit you would help us to be a church always centered around the Gospel. Help us to only preach Christ and Him crucified.
Protect us from disunity and grumbling, that we would always strive to build one another up and challenge one another in the Gospel. May our only boast be in Jesus Christ and his finished work for us on the cross. Amen.
MUSIC
Rock of Ages (Dustin Kensrue): A wonderful reminder that God is our rock and refuge, we can hide ourselves in him and find safety.
- Be Thou My Vision (Ascend the Hill): A plea that God would be our vision in all of life's circumstances, that he would be our everything and our delight.
Reflect (October 16, 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
ENCOUNTERS - Death
CALL TO WORSHIP
Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; Splendour and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling-place.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’ Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures for ever.
(Based on 1 Chronicles 16:23-34)
Song: Come Praise and Glorify our God
Song: Fountain of Goodness
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Merciful God, our Saviour, our Redeemer, we confess before you our brokenness and sin. Even in our great need we have forgotten your provision. We have looked to other things to satisfy our hunger and thirst, we have doubted your power to protect us, failing to put our trust in you.
Forgive our lack of faith; have mercy on our weakness. Restore in us trust and love that we may walk in your ways and delight in doing your will. May we seek refuge in the merciful arms of Jesus, our High Priest. Amen.
Song: You Alone Can Rescue
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Gary Aston preached the final sermon in our Encounters series. He helped to show us the authority Jesus has over death in the encounter with Jairus' Daughter in Mark 5:21-43. 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: When I Survey
Song: In Christ Alone
COMMITMENT READING
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above,
not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in
God.
Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord
Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his
control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
(Colossians 3:1-4, Philippians 3:20)
Song: New Again
BENEDICTION
Go, trusting in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.
Prepare (October 16, 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.
ENCOUNTERS - Death
SERMON
This week Gary Aston will be preaching the final sermon in our ENCOUNTERS series, which is all about meeting the real Jesus. He'll be showing us the authority Jesus has over death in the final encounter with the dying girl in Mark 5:21-43.
LITURGY
COMMITMENT READING
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
(Colossians 3:1-4, Philippians 3:20)
MUSIC
Come Praise and Glorify our God (Sovereign Grace): A call to praise and glorify the God who has shown His grace to us in Christ.
- 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!