Sunday Gathering

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How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts no power no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Hear this call to worship inspired by Isaiah 12:

We come to share together to celebrate the God who is present amongst us. The Lord our God is our strength and song, and is even now our salvation.

We come to share together to celebrate with all the world, that the Lord is God. With joy we gather around God’s fountain of grace to be refreshed and renewed.

We come to share together to celebrate with songs of praise and joy for the Lord our God’s eternal presence is forever amongst and with us, and all peoples.

We sing with joy: Thank the Lord, our Mighty God! Praise God’s holy name! Amen!”

How lovely is Your dwelling place
How wonderful Your presence, Lord
How my soul longs to see Your face
To come with joy into Your courts

How blessed is the little sparrow
Who makes a nest inside Your house
'Cause I can think of no place better
To make a home and sing out loud

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world could offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are

We will go from strength to strength
Even in the wilderness
You are turning tears to desert springs
Leaving gardens in our footsteps

How blessed is the longing pilgrim
Whose heart is set on Zion's hill
The one who knows there's no place better
To bring our sorrows and be filled

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world could offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are

One day with You is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You is better than silver or gold
I'd rather be a servant in Your house, O God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold

One day with You is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You is better than silver or gold
I'd rather be a servant in Your house, O God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world could offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are
Oh, there's no place better than where You are

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim thy holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in

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 hear our Assurance this morning from 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness..”

Thanks be to God!”

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.

COAT DRIVE

Gateway is partnering with Urban Bicycle Food Ministry, a local nonprofit serving those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Through the end of the year, we’re collecting blankets, sleeping bags, coats, and other winter clothing. Also, Dominic already dropped off over 70 items this past week, so great job!

CHRISTMAS EVE

Join us for a special Christmas Eve service on December 24th at 5pm! The evening will feature Christmas songs, scripture readings, candlelight, warm drinks, and a special project the kids are working on, so you won't want to miss it. We'd love to see you there.

NEW ATTENDERS LUNCH

If you’re new to Gateway or just starting to get connected, we’d love to invite you to our New Attenders Lunch on Sunday, January 18, right after the service. It’s an informal chance to meet some of our leaders, hear a bit of the story behind Gateway, and enjoy a good meal together. You can learn more and RSVP on our website.

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.

---

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.

Please stand with me for the reading of God's word. Our scripture reading today comes from Matthew 2:7-12.

”Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

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).

The tender mercy of our God still holds us when the light is gone
His guiding hand and guarding rod are with us as we wait for dawn
O-- though sorrow entered with the night
O-- yet even now we know his light

His love is steady as the stars, whose ancient light is burning still
He walks beside us in the dark, the emptiness within us fills
O-- though night is long he's with us now
O-- in mercy's everlasting hour

As every night will have its end, we know the sun will have to rise
Our loving lord will take our hands and wipe the tears from every eye
O-- for Christ has come, the day draws near
O-- and even now he meets us here

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

“And so, may we be people of hope. May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Grace and Peace.