Christian Liturgy 101: How One Church Worshiped November 7, 2021

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 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 Jonah Sage preached from Genesis 2:1-4 in our series Sacred. Kristen McGee was our Lector.

—Prelude: “Shelter Me” Key, Leader

CALL TO WORSHIP:   Liturgist

Good morning! Welcome to Sojourn!

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

my hope comes from him.

6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

8 Trust in him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge.

-Psalm 62:5-8 NIV

Amen!

—Song 2: “Refuge (Funky Rhino version)” Key, Leader

CONFESSION:  Dramatic reading by Meg with music underneath

Instead of finding shelter, refuge, REST in the Lord, we so often grasp for control, rush from one commitment to another and feel the weight of the world on our shoulders. We act out of a sense of scarcity and forget the abundance God has lavished upon us. Hear the word of the Lord:

1-3 For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said,

Exasperated, I vowed,

“They’ll never get where they’re going,

never be able to sit down and rest.”

3-7 God made that vow, even though he’d finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it’s written, “God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,” but in this other text he says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David’s psalm, centuries later than the original invitation:

Today, please listen,

don’t turn a deaf ear . . .

8-11 And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.

12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one can resist God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.

-Hebrews 4:1-13 The Message

So let’s sing…

—Song 3: “There is a Peace” Key, Leader

ASSURANCE & GIVING: Liturgist

Hear what did for us:

14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

-Hebrews 2:14-15, 17 NLT

I want you to imagine for just a moment… feel free to close your eyes if you’d like

—Song 4: “Come Ye Sinners (new arrangement, Funky Hippo Arrangement)” Key, Leader

PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member

God “will keep [you] in perfect peace” when you fix your gaze on him, turning to him in trust. You then have the opportunity to share that deep sense of peace with your sisters and brothers and see what happens when God’s people remind one another that God is taking care of them. Let’s take a moment to greet one another… to receive and share the gift of peace 🙂                                                                        -Based on Isaiah 26:3

 

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

—Song 5: “Be Still My Soul” Key, Leader

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader

—Song 6: “Jireh” Key, Leader

BENEDICTION: Liturgist

(inspired by Colossians 3:17)

When you work,

work as though working for the Lord.

When you rest,

rest in the sovereign grace of God.

And when you celebrate,

celebrate as a people with the greatest reason

for love, joy, and celebration!

Go now in the grace and peace of our Savior,  in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

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