Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap for this second Sunday of Advent. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led, but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the whole service from our Facebook page. Below that, you’ll see the video of the sermon alone.
Our liturgy is written by worship director Justin Shaffer in collaboration with worship directors at other Sojourn churches.
This Sunday Pastor Jonah Sage preached Galatians 5:13-23 as part of our Galatians sermon series. To learn more about Sojourn Church, click here.
Away in a Manger – Ryan Marsh
CALL TO WORSHIP
Good morning, and welcome to Sojourn! Today, the 2nd Sunday of Advent, we join Christians around the world in lighting the candle of PEACE. Let us remember and rejoice that our God took the first step in establishing true peace for us by sending his son as our mediator. His servant Zechariah celebrated the coming of the Christ, as we read from the book of Luke:
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
(Let’s read this together)
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
-Luke 1:68-69, 74-75 ESV (Song of Zechariah)
God orchestrated this great plan of salvation… and he has also gathered us today to sing and proclaim the good news- let’s sing.
Joy to the World -Ryan Marsh
CONFESSION
Here, we see things darkly, our hopes are obscured by the suffering that surrounds us and by the sinful longings of our own hearts. We depart from God’s desires and our hopes and desires are distorted.
Give us a hunger for Christ and open our eyes to enjoy true freedom in him. May we can find satisfaction in the Gospel and cling to Christ alone, as we navigate this scary, messy world and long for Christ’s return. Amen.
Take a moment to silently confess your sins. Ask the Lord to shine his light into your heart, showing you places where sin has deep roots, and needs his grace to uproot.
[SILENCE]
Let’s sing together, and make this song our prayer.
Shine into Our Night -Kristen Gilles
ASSURANCE/GIVING
Zechariah foretold the peace that Jesus would soon usher in with vivid imagery. Hear the word of the Lord:
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.” -Luke 1:78-80 (NLT)
Christ, the morning light, has come and brought us out of darkness – defeating death – and is guiding us in the path to peace. This is good news for us friends… we need a savior, a guide, a LORD, and his name is JESUS!
Amen! Let’s pray aloud together as we prepare our tithes and offerings:
Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions—signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us—Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
May we sing and give as an outpouring of gratitude for the gift of our Savior.
He Who is Mighty – Kristen Gilles
PEACE
Hear the word of the Lord:
…suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” -Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)
Let’s greet one another as a celebration, a proclamation, a declaration 😉 of the peace a baby in a manger has brought us 🙂
[Sermon]
[Communion]
There is a Peace -Kristen Gilles
[Walburn Missionary Commissioning]
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing -Ryan Marsh
BENEDICTION
2 [Your] help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
5 The Lord watches over you—
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. -Psalm 121:2-3, 5a, 7-8