Sunday Gathering

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What love could remember no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father, so tender, is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

What riches of kindness He lavished on us
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost
We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Our sins they are many, His mercy is mоre

Our Call to Worship today comes from Psalm 96:1-3:

"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."

We have suffered all kinds of grief
Tasted the bitter cup of defeat
Out of the bitter comes something sweet
Our faith more precious than gold

We have been tested by so many fires
Burned in the heat of what our hope requires
Find us here singing in a foolish choir
Our faith more precious than gold
Our faith more precious than gold

Though we don’t see you, we love you
When we don’t feel you, we still sing
We’ve got a reason to trust you
Jesus in everything

There is a secret we can only know
Walking through places we don’t want to go
Cause in the dark we learn the song of hope
Our faith more precious than gold
Our faith more precious than gold

And though we don’t see you, we love you
When we don’t feel you, we still sing
We’ve got a reason to trust you
Jesus in everything
Jesus in everything

Tears on the altar from all we’ve lost
Following you no matter what it cost
May be a whisper, may be a roar
This is the sound of those who love you Lord
This is the sound of those who love you Lord
Tears on the altar from all we’ve lost
Following you no matter what it cost
May be a whisper, may be a roar
This is the sound of those who love you Lord
This is the sound of those who love you Lord

Though we don’t see you, we love you
When we don’t feel you, we still sing
We’ve got a reason to trust you
Jesus in everything
Though we don’t see you, we love you
When we don’t feel you, we still sing
We’ve got a reason to trust you
Jesus in everything
Jesus in everything
Jesus in everything

All of your ways are peace
All of your ways are peace
Though we are pressed on ev'ry side
We trust that you are peace

All of your words are true
All of your words are true
Though we have heard so many lies
We trust your words are true

All of your ways are just
All of your ways are just
Though we may say it through our tears
We trust that you are just

All of your ways are peace
All of your ways are peace
All of your ways are peace
All of your ways are peace

Please join me in reading our Confession:

“Eternal God,

in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins,

and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts:

cleanse us from all our offenses,

and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires,

that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you,

confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son.”

And now hear this Assurance from John 5:24:

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."

At this time, we would like to take a few moments to pass the Peace of Christ. Please greet one another.

Elementary and Foundations are dismissed.

CONNECT CARDS

Whether you are new here, have questions about Gateway, are interested in signing up for a ministry, or simply need to update your contact information, we'd love to connect with you.

You'll find a 'Connect' card in the seat back in front of you. Simply fill it out and drop it in the black box at the back of the room on your way out.

PRAYER CARD

You'll also find a prayer card in the same location.

Fill out any prayer requests you have, and drop that off in the black box as well.

MARATHON

Next Sunday is the Des Moines Marathon, and some roads near Gateway will be closed. So we encourage you to leave a little early for church and avoid the Court Avenue district. We will send some additional information in our Gateway email newsletter, so look for that later this week.

LOVKN CONCERT

Lastly, we're hosting a concert at Gateway THIS Saturday at 7pm. LOVKN is a folk-pop singer-songwriter—and he's bringing his new album tour here. And our very own Allie Crummy is opening!

Get your tickets on our website this week. We know these musicians would love to see this room full, so we encourage you to come and bring a friend.

We are going to enter into a time of giving. If you would like to give at this time, there are a couple of ways available to you:

- Visit our website at thegatewaychurch.com to give online.

- Or you can grab an envelope and drop it in the black offering box at the back of the room.

Please join me in reading our generosity liturgy.

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Holy Father, there is nothing I have that You have not given me.

All I have and am belong to You, bought with the blood of Jesus.

To spend everything on myself, and to give without sacrifice,

is the way of the world that You cannot abide.

But generosity is the way of those who call Christ their Lord;

who love Him with free hearts and serve Him with renewed minds.

Who withstand the delusion of riches that chokes the word;

Whose hearts are in your kingdom and not in the systems of the world.

I am determined to increase in generosity until it can be said that there is no needy person among us.

I am determined to be trustworthy with such a little thing as money that You may trust me with true riches.

Above all, I am determined to be generous because You, Father, are generous.

It is the delight of Your daughters and sons to share Your traits, and to show what You are like to all the world.

Today's reading comes from Acts 2:22-24:

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

This is the word of the Lord

(All: Thanks be to God)

You may be seated

Communion is available in the baskets at the end of each row. Contains juice and wafer (gluten-free option available).

I hear the Savior say
"Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness, watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all"

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete
"Jesus died, my soul to save"
My lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
He washed it white as snow
He washed it white as snow

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died, to buy my pardon
An empty tomb is there to prove my Savior lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives

And then one day, I'll cross that river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death gives way to victory
I'll see the light of glory and I'll know that He reigns

And now, hear this Benediction:

"May the God who raised Jesus from the dead—loosing the pangs of death because it was impossible for the grave to hold Him—fill your hearts with assurance and gladness.

As you go from this place, remember that the promise of the Holy Spirit is for you, for your children, and for all who are far off. Go forth empowered by that same Spirit to proclaim the wonders of God.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Messiah, go in peace to love and serve the world. Amen."