Christian Liturgy 101: How One Church Worshiped 9-18-22

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 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 Pastor Travis McGowen preached Hebrews 1:4 in our sermon series Breaking The Silence.

—Prelude: “How Can The Heavens Hold YouTitle” Key, Leader

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:   Liturgist

Good morning, and welcome to Sojourn! We’re so glad you’re here. Each week, we gather together as brothers and sisters to lift our voices to our father – the one true God – who has made a way for us to be in communion with him. Let’s prepare our hearts for worship by hearing these words from Psalm 47. We’ll read the underlined portions together. 

 

1Clap your hands, all you nations;

    shout to God with cries of joy.

 

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,

    the great King over all the earth.

3 He subdued nations under us,

    peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,

    the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

 

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

    sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

    sing to him a psalm of praise.

 Psalm 47: 1-7 (NIV)

       

Let’s sing!

 

—Song 2: “King of Glory” Key, Leader

 

CONFESSION/LAMENT:  Band Member

Here these words from the psalmist Asaph: 

 

1 Surely God is good to Israel,

    to those who are pure in heart.

 

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

    I had nearly lost my foothold.

3 For I envied the arrogant

    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 

21 When my heart was grieved

    and my spirit embittered,

22 I was senseless and ignorant;

    I was a brute beast before you.

 

23 Yet I am always with you;

    you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,

    and afterward you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

    but God is the strength of my heart

    and my portion forever.

–Psalm 73: 1-3, 21-26 (NIV)

 

It’s so easy to feel like we have everything figured out on our own — we believe we should be the lord of our own lives — we start to believe that we have no need for a savior. This trap has been set for God’s people since the garden. Take a moment to reflect on areas of your life where you’re trying to force your will over God’s. 

 

Lord, we ask you to help us see clearly. Guide us back to you. Hem us in behind and before, and lay your hand upon us so that our hearts remain anchored in your truth, and not ours. Amen. 

 

—Song 3: “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” Key, Leader

 

ASSURANCE & GIVING: Liturgist

Hear these words: 

15-16 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. 

17 He existed before anything else,

    and he holds all creation together.

18 Christ is also the head of the church,

    which is his body.

He is the beginning,

    supreme over all who rise from the dead.

    So he is first in everything.

19 For God in all his fullness

    was pleased to live in Christ,

20 and through him God reconciled

    everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

    by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

 

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

 

–Colossians 1:15-16 (MSG), 17-22 (NLT)

 

Hear that last line again, Church, “You are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” That is the good work of Jesus, and it is work that only he could do. Praise God! Let’s sing and rejoice in this good news together. 

 

—Song 4: “New Name Written Down In Glory” Key, Leader

 

PEACE: Band Member

Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God made a way for us to have peace with him and our brothers and sisters. Let’s share that peace now.  

 

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

 

—Song 5: “Be Thou My Vision” Key, Leader

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader

 

—Song 6: “In Christ Alone” into  “Doxology” Key, Leader

 

BENEDICTION: Liturgist

4 When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. 

Titus 3:4-7 (NLT)

Peace be with you. 

Previous post:

Next post: