Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led, but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. And if you’d like to see how we incorporate liturgical art and lead the responsive readings, watch the embedded Facebook Live video of our entire service, originally streamed on the Sojourn New Albany page. Our liturgy is written by worship director Justin Shaffer in collaboration with worship directors at other Sojourn churches. This week’s sermon on Acts 13:32-39 comes from deacon Neill Phelps. Learn more about our church here.
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus written by Charles Wesley.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Welcome to Sojourn! Today is the first Sunday in Advent, the season when we celebrate Christ’s arrival on earth to show God’s love to all of humanity. Today, we begin Advent with the lighting of the HOPE candle. When Jesus came to earth, it was the dawn of a true Hope for salvation. Isaiah, the prophet of Israel, foretold this Hope, as we read:
This time of darkness and despair will not go on forever.
There will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles will be filled with glory.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
You will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
—Isaiah 9:1,2,4,7
Praise God that His love has come to us, in the face of Christ. Let’s join together to praise our King Jesus!
O Come, O Come Emmanuel anonymous 12th century Latin hymn.
CONFESSION
Amen! We do cry out with the Saints throughout the generations, “O Come to us, Emmanuel, Lord Jesus. Save us from the depths of hell, give us your victory over the grave!” We long for Christ to return, for Christ to set all things right. This season of Advent is the season of “waiting,” and we learn from the scriptures what it means to wait on God with HOPE:
O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever?
How long will You look the other way?
How long must I struggle with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
But I trust in Your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because You have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me. —Psalm 13:1-2,5-6 NLT
We wait on God’s salvation because we cannot save ourselves.
We long for God’s coming because He is the only real HOPE we have.
Let’s sing this prayer together, asking God to come to us, to dwell with us, and to save us.
Abide With Me written by Henry Lyte and Justin Smith.
Assurance/Giving Our greatest need has been fulfilled by Jesus. Let’s declare this together:
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. – 2 Corinthians 5:21
This is the good news of the advent season! God had a plan long before the foundations of the earth, to become flesh and dwell with his people, atoning for their sins.
We are secure today…because Jesus took our punishment.
We have life today…because of his wounds.
We are free today…he took our transgressions.
Hallelujah! Let’s rejoice in this great gift as we take a moment to pray over this week’s offering. Let’s pray aloud together:
Merciful Father, in the presence of each other, we offer with hope and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions—signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us—Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
If you’re a visitor this morning, don’t feel obligated to give. This service is our gift to you. The giving baskets will go around, as we sing.
Come and See written by Whitney Bozarth
PASSING OF THE PEACE Hear the Word of the Lord…
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.” – Col. 3:12-15a (ESV)
Church, we are a united body through Christ. And in this unity we are called to live at peace with one another. Turn to your neighbor and extend this peace in love.
[Sermon]
[Communion]
Behold the Christ written by Whitney Bozarth
Glory Be written by Mike Cosper
BENEDICTION May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Go in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Peace be with you all. -Romans 15:13