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, or here below.
Our liturgy is written by worship director Justin Shaffer in collaboration with worship directors at other Sojourn churches.
This Sunday Pastor Travis Mcgowan preached Matthew 2:13-18 in our series from Matthew 1-2, A Crooked Tree: Finding Meaning In Messy Families. To learn more about Sojourn Church, click here.
2-3-2019 – A Crooked Tree pt 2 – Travis McGowan from Sojourn Collective on Vimeo.
Turn, Turn, Turn
CALL TO WORSHIP
Welcome friends… the lyrics of that song, taken almost verbatim from Ecclesiastes chapter 3, are would ring sharply against the upbeat melody but for the fact that our God is a mighty protector in whom we can seek protection when life is turbulent. And so let us declare together with the Psalmist today:
1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.
And we can with confidence declare together:
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness. -Psalm 57:1-3 NLT
Let’s sing of his mighty power:
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
LAMENT/REFLECTION
Life in the 21st century can be so noisy and full of hustle and bustle that moments of quiet and still have to be actively sought. Let’s set aside a few moments to do just that. Let’s take a deep breath, hear the word of the Lord, and allow God to speak to us as he sees fit.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV
(Begin vamping but allow some space for reflection before singing together)
Psalm 126
ASSURANCE/GIVING
Hear this potent word of assurance:
5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
-Romans 5:1-5 NLT
Hallelujah!
…and our prayer is that God’s love will realign of priorities and motivation, affecting every aspect of our being. As the giving baskets are passed around, let’s consider how a “heart filled with his love” may steward God’s resources. How we as a church may continue to grow in humbly and effectively submitting our resources, time, and talents to partner with him in multiplying his kingdom.
Great Are You Lord
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Let’s read Romans 5:1 again, this time aloud and together:
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Let’s celebrate that now as we spend some time in fellowship!
[Sermon]
[Communion]
Ain’t No Grave
BENEDICTION
12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. -1 Thessalonians 3:12-13