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 was Missions’ Sunday. We celebrated and sent Justine and Harold Bradley, who told us of their new mission to translate the Bible with Wycliffe Translators to the people of Papua New Guinea.
—Prelude: “You Hem Me In” Key, Leader
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Good morning and welcome!
“Sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
-1 Chronicles 16:23-34
—Song 2: “10,000 Reasons” Key, Leader
PRAYER: Justin
For as long as we’ve been a church, we have set aside a Sunday in January to pray for the unborn and for mothers who feel marginalized and afraid. We have affirmed that all children and mothers are precious image bearers of the living God, beautiful and valuable, worthy of protection, love, and compassion. Now that Roe is reversed, it is time for us to really step up, church, as many of you who have been fostering, adopting, and serving women facing an unexpected pregnancy have already been doing. Let us pray for our society, that we would be able to have charitable dialogue and that we would be moved to action in love and compassion. Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, may the Church lovingly help our neighbors to cherish unborn life and proclaim the Gospel’s teaching with beauty and kindness. In your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for our civil leaders, that you would give them integrity to represent their constituencies justly and wisely. In your mercy, hear our prayer.
May women considering abortion heed the call of the Holy Spirit to share life. We pray for them in their fear, confusion, and desperation, that instead they would feel valued, empowered, and receive the support they need. In your mercy, hear our prayer.
May men involved in these conversations own their responsibility, love and respect their partner and themselves, and humble themselves before you. In your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray that the church will heed the call to step into this overwhelming need as many foster and adoptive parents, folks who have been working at pregnancy support centers, and others are already doing. In your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for change of heart in doctors, nurses, and others who provide abortion services. That their eyes will be opened to a more beautiful and holistic answer. In your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray that the truth, beauty, and goodness of the gospel will permeate our culture. That we may help women in frightening pregnancies in light of the whole Gospel. In your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the healing of women who have had an abortion: through the ministry of the Church may they find hope and reconciliation with their God and with themselves. In your mercy, hear our prayer.
Risen Lord of Life, save the unborn who bear your image, protect, provide for, and empower women facing an unexpected pregnancy, and breathe in us all the breath of new life. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who defeated death, Amen.
—Song 3: “Have Thine Own Way” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE: Liturgist
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
-Revelation 7:9-12 NIV
—Song 4: “Is He Worthy” Key, Leader
PEACE: Band Member
—————————————— [SERMON & COMMUNION] ——————————————-
—Song 5: “How He Loves” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Ancient of Days” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
Jesus Christ instructs us to live as “sent ones”. Whether in New Albany, in Mexico, France, or Papua New Guinea. Whether a full time Christian missionary or a student. Whether a pastor or a church member. Our identity is that of a sent one. Taking the gospel with us wherever we go! Go and proclaim the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Gospel to a lost and hurting world in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Peace be with you!!