Sunday Gathering

Digital Connection Card - Tell us about yourself & get connected!

Be thou my vision
O Lord of my heart
Not be all else to me
Save that Thou art
Thou my best thought
By day or by night
Waking or sleeping
Thy presence my light

Riches I heed not
Nor man's empty praise
Thou my inheritance
Now and always
Thou and Thou only
Are first in my heart
High King of Heaven
My treasure thou art

Great God of Heaven
My victory won
May I reach Heaven's joy
O bright Heaven's Sun
Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my vision
O Ruler of all

Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my vision
O Ruler of all 

Hear this call to worship:

“We gather together in the name of the One who bids us come.

We gather together to hear the words of the One who is Love.

We gather together to sing praises of the One who teaches peace.

Come, let us worship!

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

Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
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

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 more

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavn'ly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing.
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

See him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise.
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

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, inspired by Ephesians 2:

“God, who is rich in mercy,

loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ.

By grace we have been saved and our sins forgiven.

Almighty God strengthen us with power through the Holy Spirit,

that Christ may live in our hearts.

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.

BUILDING UPDATE

Lastly, an update on our building project. First, our new large exterior sign will be installed in January, making Gateway much more visible from the street. So look for that soon! And second, Gateway received a generous $35K gift this week—representing the full principal of the building project loan we were scheduled to begin repaying on April 1 of next year. That means you all have raised $82,725 toward our $100K goal, putting us in the final phase of fundraising for our building project.

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.

Please stand with me for the reading of God’s word. Our passage today is Colossians 3:15:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace…”

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).

You hold the reins on the sun and the moon
Like horses driven by kings
You cover the mountains, the valleys below
With the breadth of Your mighty wings

All treasures of wisdom and things to be known
Are hidden inside Your hand
And in this fortunate turn of events
You ask me to be Your friend
You ask me to be Your friend

And You,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past

And You,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past

The constellations are swimming inside
The breadth of Your desire
Where could I run, where could I hide
From Your heart's jealous fire

All treasures of wisdom and things to be known
Are hidden inside Your hand
And in this fortunate turn of events
You ask me to be Your friend
You ask me to be Your friend

And You,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past

And You,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past

You are the beginning and the end
You are the beginning and the end
You are the beginning and the end

And You,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past

And You,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past

And You,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past

What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary.

Hear this benediction inspired by Isaiah 2:

“Go forth and walk the path of the Lord. Go forth and live as one instructed in the ways of God.
Take the weapons of your life and turn them into instruments of peace and justice. Praise be to Christ Jesus, who shows us the way!”

Grace and Peace.