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 full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair).
This week we celebrated Easter Sunday, and Pastor Bobby Gilles preached from the story of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene in John 20:11-18. This is from our new Eastertide series, Resurrection Responses.
—Prelude: “Mighty to Save” Key, Justin or Mike
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Good morning, church! This is the day that the Lord has made, and it is a good day to gather and lift our gaze to the One who has redeemed us. Whatever has taken our attention this week, whatever has made us weary, whatever filled our days with busyness and labor, we come together as the people of the risen Christ.
Let’s read together from Psalm 118.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the Lord has done.
The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not let me die.
Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!
The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
-Psalm 118:14-24 NLT
Easter is not just one day on our calendar. It’s a season that we celebrate, and it’s a reality that we live in: that Jesus is himself the open gate that welcomes us in.
—Song 2: “Your Presence Is Heaven To Me” Key, Ryan
CONFESSION/LAMENT: Band Member
“Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb.”
-John 20:1 NLT
On this side of the story, we know it has a happy ending. But Mary did not. And like Mary, our own resurrection begins in darkness. We live in a world where loss and sorrow abounds. In our own hearts and homes, it can seem like sin and death will have the final say.
Lord, we confess that in times of chaos and uncertainty, when we cannot see how good can come from our current circumstances, we fail to remember that you are always at work in unseen ways.
Jesus, be our hope.
We have suffered loss – of loved ones, jobs, security, relationships – and we fear the future.
Jesus, be our peace.
We rely too quickly on our own solutions and fail to recognize that our Creator is cultivating goodness in the garden of our lives.
Jesus, be our strength.
God, forgive us, and in the midst of what we do not know and cannot see, help us to hear the Living Christ calling us by name. Amen.
—Song 3: “Hold Me Jesus” Key, Ryan
ASSURANCE & GIVING: Liturgist
All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven.
And everyone will see him—
even those who pierced him.
And all the nations of the world
will mourn for him.
Yes! Amen!
“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,”says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
-Rev 1:5b-8 NLT
—Song 4: “Revelation Song” Key, Mary Margaret
PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member
—————————————— [SERMON & COMMUNION] ——————————————-
—Song 5: “Raise Up Your Head” Key, Justin
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Your Great Name” Key, Mary Margaret
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
Church, go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you!
-John 20:21