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 can also see a video of our sermon alone, from Vimeo).
Our liturgy is directed by Worship Director Justin Shaffer, in collaboration with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany, and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, and Lindsey Blair).
This Sunday Pastor Travis McGowen preached from Genesis 2:5-17 in our series Sacred. Deacon Melissa Gordon was our Lector.
—Prelude: “In the Garden (I Come to the Garden Alone)” Key, Leader
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Good morning Sojourn, and peace be with you. We’re so glad you decided to join us as we worship a most creative God. It is genuinely astounding to think that He made mankind with the ability, and what’s more — the purpose — to also be creative. He didn’t have to, but he did. He made us capable of showing artistic expression, building solutions for problems, finding ways to use the Earth’s resources responsibly, and showing up to care for one another. Hear these words:
The trees of the Lord are well cared for—
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests,
and the storks make their homes in the cypresses.
18 High in the mountains live the wild goats,
and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.
19 You made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to set.
20 You send the darkness, and it becomes night,
when all the forest animals prowl about.
21 Then the young lions roar for their prey,
stalking the food provided by God.
22 At dawn they slink back
into their dens to rest.
23 Then people go off to their work,
where they labor until evening.
-Psalm 104: 16-23, NLT
Indeed, every part of creation has purpose and works in beautiful harmony for the glory of its creator. Let’s join together to worship our God.
—Song 2: “Steadfast” Key, Leader
CONFESSION/LAMENT: Band Member
We worship a creative and generous father, yet we so often need a reminder of how to use his good gifts well. Pray this with me, and read the underlined portions out loud:
God of all creation,
You loved us into being,
Yet we often flee our rightful place in your creation.
We confess that we exploit the gifts you place around us
And dominate the richness of the natural order.
Forgive our greedy grasping.
We confess our part in the devastation of our planet,
Mirrored in the violence of the world,
And the brokenness of hearts.
Forgive and restore us, O God.
Nurturing God, remind us of other ways to live
And of a place called home,
Where creation reflects your goodness
And each thing lives in balance with all others.
Come and find us, set us right again,
And take us home. Amen.
–Adapted from The Worship Sourcebook
Let’s sing.
—Song 3: “You Know My Name” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE & GIVING: Liturgist
Hear these words:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 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. 20 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. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
–2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV/NIV)
Our world and everyone in it is broken and scarred, yet creation belongs to God, who holds it together and gives us hope. God will be all in all. Righteousness and peace will flourish, everything will be made new, and every eye will see at last that our world belongs to God. Hallelujah!
—Song 4: “Intentional by Travis Greene ” Key, Leader
PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member
In his mercy, God knew that we would need some brothers and sisters to help us as we find our place in his creation. Look around, friends. They’re right next to you! So let’s take a moment to say hello and share the peace of the Lord with one another.
—————————————— [SERMON & COMMUNION] ——————————————-
—Song 5: “So Will I” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “God of This City” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
God created you with a holy purpose to tend and watch over his creation. As you go out this week, look for opportunities to do just that. Let us be “light shining out of darkness”. Go in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Peace be with you.
-Ref. to 2 Corinthians 4:6