Reflect (April 14, 2019)

Reflect.png

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


Palm Sunday

CALL TO WORSHIP

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

(Based on Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:9)

Song: Jesus

Song: I Stand Amazed

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

Lord, today we remember your entrance into the city of Jerusalem. The very crowds that praised you would soon turn and demand your death. We confess that our wills are as rebellious as the crowd’s. Our faith is often more show than substance, our worship of you is often based more on our feelings than your glory. Our hearts are constantly dissatisfied, trusting in the things of this world to satisfy our needs, instead of following and trusting you, our Saviour.

Have mercy on us, O God. Help us to give to you all that we are and all that we have, trusting you to lead us to repentance, to forgive what is sinful and to heal what is broken. We confess our need for you, our Saviour, and trust in the work you accomplished for us on the Cross. Amen.

Song: Shine into our Night

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

This Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday together and Gary Aston preached to us from Matthew 21:1-11. Listen to that sermon here:

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: Hallelujah What a Saviour

COMMITMENT READING

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 death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

(Revelation 21:3-5)

Song: Be Thou My Vision

BENEDICTION

May you leave knowing Jesus as your true king. May you know the comfort of his presence with you. May you know the confidence of his rule over you. And may our lives reflect more and more the beauty of our King.

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (April 14, 2019)

Prepare.png

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


Palm Sunday

SERMON

This Sunday we will be celebrating Palm Sunday together and Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Matthew 21:1-11.

LITURGY

CALL TO WORSHIP

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

(Based on Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:9)

MUSIC

  • Jesus (Citizens): A song that celebrates our saviour Jesus, who sacrificed himself, giving up his crown to save us from our sin.

  • Be Thou My Vision : A hymn that asks for Jesus to be central for us in our every day life, that he would be our everything and our delight.

Reflect (April 7, 2019)

Reflect.png

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


ROMANS - Freedom

CALL TO WORSHIP

The LORD is the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them, he remains faithful for ever.

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets prisoners free and gives sight to the blind.

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down and loves the righteous.

The LORD reigns for ever.

(Based on Psalm 146:6-10)

Song: Look and See

Song: Come Praise and Glorify

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

We've already sung of the freedom we can know in Jesus. God tells us in his word that if we're Christians, we are no longer slaves to sin instead we can know real freedom. Yet so often we don't live as though this were true. Instead of living as free people, we live as though sin was still enslaving us. We choose to put on the chains that God has already freed us from. Take a moment to reflect on that now in the quiet of you own heart, to confess where you see that in your own life this afternoon...

The truth of the Gospel is that God's grace is sufficient for us, even in our weakness. Even when we turn from him to lesser things, his grace is sufficient. It is by his grace, shown to us in Jesus, that we can know true freedom from sin. Let's sing out in the truth of that together now!

Song: Grace Alone

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PREACHING OF THE WORD

This week Gary Aston preached to us from Romans 6:15-23 looking at the freedom we can know in 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 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: The Lion and the Lamb

COMMITMENT READING

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

(Romans 6:22)

Song: Man of Sorrows

BENEDICTION

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Go in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(Based on Galatians 5:1)

Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Prepare (April 7, 2019)

Prepare.png

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


ROMANS - Freedom

SERMON

This Sunday Gary Aston will be preaching to us from Romans 6:15-23, looking at what it means for us to be free from the slavery of sin.

LITURGY

COMMITMENT READING

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

(Romans 6:22)

MUSIC

  • Man of Sorrows (Hillsong): A song that celebrates our risen saviour Jesus who brings true freedom from sin.

  • Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone): A hymn that celebrates the grace that has been shown to us through Christ.