Christian Liturgy 101: How One Church Worshiped March 22, 2020

by Bobby Gilles

in Liturgy & Sermons

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. You can also watch the video stream of the whole service from our Facebook page, or here below (you’ll also see a higher resolution video of the sermon alone).

Our liturgy is written by Worship Director Justin Shaffer, in collaboration with our Creative Team at Sojourn Church New Albany and worship staff at the other four Sojourn Collective churches in the Louisville area.

This Sunday Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Matthew 15:10-20 in our series Come Home: Full Life In A Whole Church. To learn more about Sojourn Church, click here. In the midst of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, we urged people to stay home and sing, pray, recite scripture, give, and listen to the sermon via our live stream on Facebook. 

March 22 2020 – Jonah Sage – Come Home 2 from Sojourn Collective on Vimeo.

—Prelude: “God Don’t Never Change” Key, Meg

CALL TO WORSHIP:   Liturgist

Themes: God’s unchanging character, presence, provision, comfort in Jesus

…moments like these are precisely why we rehearse the gospel…

For the foreseeable future, as we gather online, things are obviously gonna be a little different… a little pared down… you’ll see a lot of Ryan, Meg, and me… Ryan and I because we’re on staff, Meg out of the goodness of her heart 😉 At the same time, we tentatively hope to incorporate other musicians and readers while maintaining the CDC’s guidelines. I want to personally thank you for being a church that has not been demanding with regards to your preferences but instead delights in the giftedness of each other. A pastor friend infamously encouraged us years ago that “a mature believer is easily edified” and I am grateful to have a church home where that mantra is being lived out.

As we do every week, let’s begin by reading God’s word together.

…be content with what you have [in your circumstances], because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

-Hebrews 13: 5b, 6, 8 NLT

So we can be content… seeing the ability to gather via the internet as ABUNDANT provision rather than being bummed out. God is with us now though we can’t see each other face to face! He IS our helper… we don’t have to be afraid. As the passage we just read says and the song we just sang paraphrases; God don’t never change! Amen? Let’s sing together!

—Song 2: “Bless the Lord (Son of Man)” Key, Ryani koi

LAMENT/SUPPLICATION:  Band Member

It’s right to keep singing songs of adoration, praising our unchanging God for who he is… yet if we’re honest our need for him becomes more and more concrete when times are tough. Let’s take a few moments now and be honest in prayer before our God in our confusion, in our fear, while our hearts are conflicted or dismayed. Let’s posture our hearts and bodies as we spend a few moments in prayer. Pray as you feel lead, whether silently or aloud… eyes opened or closed, I encourage you if you’re able to consider praying on your knees before your loving king. Let’s pray.

…. Pray for those most acutely affected by the virus. For health, financial provision, peace and comfort for those with unsettled hearts and minds, and for help to trust in our Lord’s unchanging, unfailing love and faithfulness during these seemingly uncertain times

… Pray for our elected officials… that God would grant them wisdom to navigate the complexities of this situation and listen humbly to the people they represent

… Now let’s take a moment and try to settle our swimming thoughts and desires long enough to listen to what God may be speaking to us

—Song 3: “It is Well” Key, Justin

ASSURANCE & GIVING: Liturgist

Hear what the Lord has done for us:

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

-James 1:17-18 NLT

As God’s prized possessions, let’s take a moment and pass the virtual giving baskets 😉 There are prompts on the screen for how to give only and through recurring giving if you’re not already doing so and would like to consider that… you may also give via the app, the website, or snail mail.

—Song 4: “Great Are You Lord” Key, Meg

PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member

Let’s celebrate the peace we have with God and one another 🙂

Hug your family members and tell them you love them

Call or text a friend, or a loved one…

Comment on the FB live stream!

——————————————   [SERMON & COMMUNION]   ——————————————-

—Song 5: “Give us Clean Hands (gospel slow jam version)” Key, Ryan

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader 

—Song 6: “Bind Us Together” Key, Justin

BENEDICTION: Justin (or a pastor)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

        -Romans 8:38-39

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