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 we hosted our annual 11pm Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Learn more about Sojourn Community Church here.
2017 Christmas Eve Candlelight service from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.
Song Baby Son
CANDLE OF HOPE
Merry Christmas, Sojourn! What a blessing it is to worship together again, 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: Hear this word
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
Song Glory Be
CANDLE OF PEACE
And he (Jesus) 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
Song Amen, Amen
CANDLE OF JOY/GIVING
The Lord has sent this message to every land:
“Tell the people of Israel,
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
They will be called “The Holy People”
and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”
And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”
- Isaiah 62:11-12 NLT
When we are radically changed by the Savior’s coming, we recognize that his greatest reward is HIMSELF, and we find overwhelming joy in giving sacrificially. Then God doubles our joy by using the money we give back to him for the sake of His kingdom. Let’s read this aloud:
Father, you gave us the greatest reward
when you sent your Son, our savior.
Now we offer the firstfruits of our money to you,
as a sign of our love and gratitude.
Song Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
CANDLE OF LOVE
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
Amen! Let’s extend that love as we fellowship for a moment
Homily (Jonah)
Song O Holy Night
CHRIST CANDLE LIGHTING
Reading of Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 2:1-20
-Candle Lighting setup…
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.
Song Silent Night (Candlelight)
BENEDICTION
Church, just as the angels spoke to the shepherds, Christ has come! May we go now remembering the greatest story ever told and proclaim it to the world! Go on this Christmas in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you!