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 Travis McGowan preached from James 1:1-12 in the first week of our James sermon series. Learn more about Sojourn Community Church here.
May 6, 2018 – James 1 – Travis McGowan from Sojourn Collective on Vimeo.
Song: Far Celestial Shore by Mavis Staples.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Spoken
Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!
3 Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
praise him with the lyre and harp!
4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with strings and flutes!
5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord! -Psalm 150 NLT
Spoken
Song Great Are You Lord written by James Ingram, Leslie Jordan, David Leonard.
LAMENT
As we come today, we not only need to be reminded of God’s greatness, but also of his goodness towards us. Our God is the powerful Creator who made us, but he’s also the gentle Spirit who is near to us in the peaks and valleys of our lives. Some of you come feeling weak and wounded today, and you wonder if God really cares for you. The Bible gives us words to cry out to him:
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
-Ps. 27:7-9,13-14
Sin and the brokenness of life cloud our vision of the beauty of our God. Even when it doesn’t feel like it, God is good, and inviting us to experience his goodness. Let’s sing.
Song: Bless the Lord Who Gives and Takes written by Kristen and Bobby Gilles.
ASSURANCE/GIVING
Every week as we meet we rehearse Gospel through the same movements of liturgy – It begins with a Call to Worship, we respond in adoration and then recognize our need for a savoir in light of God’s holiness… we confess and grieve over our sin and the suffering in the world. Things would be pretty bleak indeed if this was the end of the story, but a man ROSE FROM THE DEAD and this God man, Jesus Christ, freely offers us forgiveness and healing, freedom from sin, comfort in our suffering, and union with God. This is the Gospel, this rhythm is our story… the story of how our good God saved us – not just out of hell, but into life with him! 🙂 That’s why we celebrate it every week. Hear this assurance from God’s word.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35 & 37-39 NIV)
Spoken
God, in the presence of each other
We bring you this offering, praying for your wisdom
As we proclaim the Gospel to each other, our neighbors and the world
Song What a Friend is Jesus written by Robert Lowry and Jonatan Barahona.
PEACE
The Bible teaches that:
…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7(NIV)
This peace changes everything… let us enjoy this peace and unity now as we spend a moment getting to know each other a bit better. 🙂
[Sermon]
[Communion]
Song Steadfast written by Sandra McCracken.
Song Victory in Jesus written by E.M. Bartlett.
BENEDICTION
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word… -2 Th. 2:16-17