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 6:1-5 as part of our Galatians sermon series. To learn more about Sojourn Church, click here.
This was also our annual “Children’s Choir & Cocoa” Sunday. A choir of SojournKids (ages 4 through 5th grade) joined us for the first half of the worship service.
God is With Us written by Jeremy Quillo and Dustin Neeley.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. As Christmas day approaches, we celebrate that Christ has come into our dark world and His light shines IN and THROUGH His children. Let’s enjoy God’s presence together, this 3rd Sunday of Advent… let’s hear God’s word and remember that God has done great things for us.
(First Candle)
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
– Isaiah 9:2 NIV
(own and paraphrase this) …today, as has become our tradition, we have our children’s choir joining us – remember – not every kid is a complete ham and it can be a little nerve wracking being in front of a few hundred grown-ups for the first time, so let’s smile with joy and clap our hands with our kiddos as we worship our King together.
(Second Candle – Kara reads as the kids make their way to the stage)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
– John 1:1-5 NIV
Angels We have Heard on High traditional carol.
CONFESSION/LAMENT
The love, generosity and wonder of God our Father is seen in lives of our children. All of us were once children, and as we have gotten older, we have seen more and more the fallen nature of the world. This season can magnify this dichotomy. Some of us find it easy to celebrate the Advent season with joy and bliss. But for some of us, this season serves to amplify the despair we may feel. In a season where we are “supposed” to feel joy and happiness we may feel even further disappointed in our circumstances. God knows this and wants you to be comforted by others who have felt this way. Hear the words of the Psalmist:
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
- Psalm 26:16,17 (NIV)
Being able to be honest about our own afflictions and then empathize with one another is our posture as Christians as we carry the good news of the Gospel to our children and family, our neighbors and friends, our jobs and schools, to France, the Horn of Africa, and Mexico.
(Third Candle)
He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:6 NLT
Go Tell it On The Mountain traditional.
ASSURANCE/GIVING
God, in his mercy, sent us reconciliation through Christ. This reconciliation means that we can have a relationship with God. It also means that we can reconcile differences among one another. Christ brings us peace that heals our deepest relational wounds. Because of Christ, we can seek peace with those who have hurt us the most- the friends and family members who have done and said the unforgivable. We can also approach those whom we have hurt, and seek forgiveness and mending. This peace is what Christ calls us to:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
- Colossians 3:14-17 NIV
Christian, you are made right with God through this Savior who was born, Jesus. Friend, you can be made right also! That’s why we can come, even in our weakness and our longing, because God took on flesh and weakness in Jesus so we can be made strong. Let’s celebrate the joy of that reality as we continue to sing.
(Brief but punchy giving shpiel)
Hosanna And The Highest written by Jeremy Quillo.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
As we sang last week, God and sinners are reconciled through the birth of Jesus. That means we can reach out to one another with a spirit of love and welcome one another as brothers and sisters, living into the “ministry of reconciliation” God has called us to. Let’s greet each other now
[Sermon]
[Communion]
Prepare Him Room written by Rebecca Elliott and David Fournier.
READING:
Hear the word of the Lord:
God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. -From 2 Cor 5:19-21
This is the Christ written by Martin Luther and Sandra McCracken.
BENEDICTION
May the God, who loved you enough to send His Son into this world, grant you peace as you await his return and prepare for an eternity shouting his praise. Go now in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.