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 Sunday Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Genesis 38, the story of Tamar, in our Mothers Of Jesus series. In this short Advent/Christmas series, we are learning about the character and plans of God that He reveals in Jesus ancestry (particularly, the five women listed in Jesus’ genealogy). Learn more about Sojourn Community Church here.
2017 Advent week 1 – Mothers of Jesus from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
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… and we also begin our new sermon series, tracing Jesus’ story through the lives of his mothers and grandmothers.
Today, we begin Advent with the lighting of the HOPE candle to symbolize that when Jesus came to earth, He was the dawn of 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 All Ye Faithful
CONFESSION
Advent is not only a season to look back on Christ’s birth-His first coming. It’s a time to look forward with great anticipation for His return. We acknowledge all of the tragedies and heartache that surround us and cry out to the Lord for His return to make all things new.
O Come O Come Emmanuel
ASSURANCE
Our greatest need has been taken care of 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
We’ve been made right with God so we can come to Him boldly knowing He has made the way. We are free to give out of the freedom we have in Christ! As the giving buckets pass, let’s continue to sing.
GIVING (Bobby)
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Jesus, the son of God has come and he is our salvation! Whoever he sets free is free from sin indeed. Through Jesus, we are not only made free and adopted into God’s family, but we are free to love one another as well. Let’s take a moment and greet each other as family this morning by saying, “Peace be with you.
[Sermon]
[Communion]
Glory Be
This is the Christ
BENEDICTION
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
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.
-Romans 15:12-13