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 Facebook page. Our liturgy is written by worship director Justin Shaffer in collaboration with worship directors at other Sojourn churches. This year’s Christmas Eve sermon on Luke 1:1-7 comes from Pastor Jonah Sage. Learn more about our church here.
What Child is This (Kristen Leads)
CALL TO WORSHIP (Hope/Prophecy Candle)
(Justin)
Merry Christmas, Sojourn! What a blessing it is to worship together, on the day we celebrate the dawn of our Salvation, the birth of Christ. God’s Word tells us about this night, over 2,000 years ago:
(Kristen)
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
(we read together) “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased!” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” —Luke 2:8-15, NLT
(Justin)
(________ lights the candle) As we light the Advent candles tonight, we begin with the candle of HOPE. We join with the angels in celebrating this joyous day, when God’s love arrived to us in the face of His Son, Jesus, born to us as one of us, God with us, and our only HOPE for salvation. Let’s sing!
Angels We Have Heard on High (Kristen Leads)
PRAYER OF PREPARATION/CANDLE OF PEACE (Justin)
As we light the 2nd candle, let’s make this our prayer tonight and for our days to come.
All glory to you, great God,
for the gift of your Son, light in darkness and hope of the world.
Open our eyes to Christ’s presence in the shadows of our world
so that we might praise your name and tell the earth his story,
that all may believe, rejoice, and bow down, acknowledging your love
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Song O Come All Ye Faithful (Justin Leads)
ASSURANCE/CANDLE OF JOY/GIVING (Kristen)
As we light the candle of joy, hear God’s word:
From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. -John 1:16-18
We have received blessing upon blessing from God, and now we return to Him our gifts. The giving baskets will be passed around as we sing.
Song Come Thou Fount (Justin Leads)
Candle of Love & Passing of the Peace
Let us remember Christ’s love as we light the candle of love. Hear the word of the Lord from John:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. -John 3:16-17
The birth of Christ brought salvation and peace with God. Let’s extend this peace to one another right now.
[HOMILY]
Song O Holy Night (Kristen Leads)
Song Joy to the World (Justin Leads)
CHRIST CANDLE LIGHTING
(Justin)
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. -Colossians 1:15-20
The good news of this Advent season is forgiveness of sin and new life. Let us commit our lives to Christ’s way of hope and peace. Thanks be to the God who has come and will come again, setting us free to love and serve.
-Candle Lighting setup (Kristen)
Tonight, all over the world, Christians will remember the birth of Jesus, lighting candles to visualize the light that came into the world at Christmas. So let’s do that now – remember the light that came to the world long ago. Remember when that light entered into your own life. Remember that we’re called to announce it to the waiting world, and remember that he will come again. (Light with the Christ candle…)
Silent Night (Kristen Leads… Candlelight)
BENEDICTION (Bobby)
Church, just like the angels spoke to the shepherds, Christ has come! May we go now remembering and living into the Good News!! Go now in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Peace be with you!