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 video of our entire service, or check it out 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 week I preached on “How To Finish Strong,” from Acts 28. Learn more about Sojourn Community Church here.
April 2 from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.
Empty Me Out written by Josh White.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Welcome to Sojourn! I love the line of that song, “It’s not me, but You inside of me.” It’s a great reminder, because we don’t step into this gathering alone. No, we gather together with the Holy Spirit inside of us, and joining our hearts together as we sing and declare God’s word. Let’s read this from the psalmist as we begin…
Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
you who serve at night in the house of the Lord.
We lift our hands toward the sanctuary,
and praise the Lord.
May the Lord, who made heaven and earth,
bless us from Jerusalem. -Psalm 134
His promises are true and they are what we can look to as a strong rock in every season of life. Let’s sing his promises today.
Praise to the Lord, The Almighty written by Joachin Neander and Lobe den Herren.
LAMENT
This world is a beautiful place, but it’s also worn and weary from millennia under the curse. We look around and see many things are not as they should be, and we feel the reality that we are sojourners in a faulty home. This is a safe place to be honest… to grieve and lament. Let’s pray this excerpt from 2 Corinthians together:
We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.
While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us.
Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. -2 Corinthians 5:2-4
Amen!
All My Tears written by Julie Miller.
CELEBRATION OF ASSURANCE/GIVING
Although we suffer in this world, and we have heartache and pain. God has sent us glorious hope by sending his own son to be with us. Hear this good news…
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16
His mercy and grace sustains us in every way, even materially… he has promised to and God keeps his promises, amen?! Let’s pray aloud together:
God, in the presence of each other
We bring you this offering, thankful that you will sustain us until the end.
And now the giving baskets will be passed around, as we sing.
Song Nothing But the Blood written by Robert Lowry.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
It’s a joy to be gathered together today. As we anticipate Easter coming up soon, we remember that Jesus experienced turmoil and violence on the Cross so that we can experience peace. This peace we have with God is the same peace we can share with one another. Let’s welcome one another now in his peace.
[Sermon]
[Communion]
Song Only Jesus written by Rebecca Elliott and Brooks Ritter.
Song Beautiful Savior written by Stuart Townend.
BENEDICTION
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless with great joy before the presence of his glory, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. –Jude 24-25