Gathering Liturgy | September 6
CALL TO WORSHIP
If any of you want to walk My path, you’re going to have to deny yourself. You’ll have to take up your cross every day and follow Me. If you try to avoid danger and risk, then you’ll lose everything. If you let go of your life and risk all for My sake, then your life will be rescued, healed, made whole and full. (Luke 9.23-24 | The Voice)
As we come to church this morning, we look around, we see these people, each so precious, each unique little ones, older ones, busy ones, tired ones each come to be part of something bigger than just ‘me.’ May this community draw us into you, loving God. As we come to church this morning, we look inward. We close our eyes, we rest a moment breathe in and out. You, O God, are within us, beneath us, above us and around in the motes of dust that float in the air in the stillness that rests under all the noise. In this place and in every place, draw us into you, loving God. Amen.
SONG | Friend of God
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Father, we come, not as those who are strong in faith, but those whose faith is feeble, weakened because we have trusted in ourselves—in our own abilities, in our own strength, in our own intellect—instead of trusting in you. We have awakened from our beds this morning, and partaken of meals, and moved our limbs, and used our senses with thankless hearts, ignoring you, the Sovereign Lord over every detail of our lives.
We confess that we have thought you to be a little God, and the people of the land to be like giants. We have feared men, rather than God. Father, we admit we have too often set our affections on the things of this world. We have prized possessions, and praised people, we’ve been captivated by books, and entertained by screens, and we have thought you, the God of the universe—who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist—to be boring. We have refused to come to Christ to be healed. Our souls thirst for you. But we have refused to come to Christ, the fountain of living waters, that we might drink and be satisfied.
Lord, we admit that we have failed to trust your testimony about yourself—that you are good, and all that you do is good. Lord, we confess that we have not followed the way of our Master. We have not imaged Jesus’ love and care for the sick. We have shut up our hearts and stayed away from those we have thought to be unclean. Forgive us for our false worship, as if mere words and mere works could please you, instead of worshiping you in spirit and in truth. Forgive us for trying to dress up our grumbling, and gossiping, and discontentment into prayer requests, as if you don’t search the heart and know the motives and intentions of it. If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities—if you would tally up the number of things we’ve preferred above you; if you would count the number of prideful thoughts, or lustful thoughts, or bitter thoughts, or envious thoughts that have accumulated in our hearts; if you would open the record and judge us for every empty or idle word we’ve spoken—O LORD, who could stand?! But with you there is forgiveness, through Christ Jesus, who was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and by whose wounds we are healed. It is in his name we pray. Amen.
SONG | Be Thou My Vision
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
What are you drawn to? What does this painting say about Christ?
On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:35-39)
SONG | King of My Heart
SCRIPTURE READING
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. (John 15:1-8)
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SERMON NOTES
Spiritual maturation must be (energized), (freed), and (guided) by the (Trinity).
God the (Son) provides the energy for spiritual growth.
John 15:1, 4; John 3:30
God the (Father) frees us for spiritual growth.
John 15:2; Hebrews 12:5-11
God the (Holy Spirit) is our guide for spiritual growth.
John 15:26; John 16:13; Romans 12:3; Romans 14:5-12
Our maturation is for God's (glory), the advancement of (the kingdom), and our (joy).
John 15:4, 7-8, 11
For further study:
Scripture: Psalm 1; Isaiah 61; Ezekiel 15; Matthew 3:8-10; 7:16-20; 12:33-35; 13:23
Resources: “The True Vine” by Andrew Murray
To prepare for next week: John 21:1-19; Guidance for Empty Nets
COMMUNION
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said,“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
(For the bread) “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.”
(For the juice) “This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.”
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
SONG | Cornerstone
ANNOUNCEMENTS & GIVING
Newcomers Coffee in the Courtyard.
Giving in the plate or on the app/website.
NCCKids class-specific zoom calls will began last week:
Purple Room (4th grade and up): Tuesdays at 7:30PM
Yellow Room (1st-3rd grade): Wednesdays 6:30PM
Green Room (pre-K & K): Tuesdays 7:00PM
Speak with Amy for more information.
Triads launch this week. Check the website for more information and details.
Examine this Saturday at 10am on Zoom.
6th Birthday Celebration is next Sunday! Cupcakes and Coffee on the Lawn. We are going to be having a photo and video collage during the Gathering. The collage can have a short video of you, your family, or people in your CG that would like to share what makes New Circle so special, something to celebrate, or just a word of encouragement. These all need to be submitted by September 8.
SONG | Great Are You Lord
BENEDICTION
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:1-3)
Peace be with you! And also with you!
