Christian Liturgy 101: How One Church Worshiped 10-30-22

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 Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached on Hebrews 2:14-18.

—Prelude: “Get Back Temptation” Key, Leader

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:   Liturgist

 

You are right and you do right, God;

    your decisions are right on target.

You rightly instruct us in how to live

    ever faithful to you.

My rivals nearly did me in,

    they persistently ignored your commandments.

Your promise has been tested through and through,

    and I, your servant, love it dearly.

I’m too young to be important,

    but I don’t forget what you tell me.

Your righteousness is eternally right,

    your revelation is the only truth.

Even though troubles came down on me hard,

    your commands always gave me delight.

The way you tell me to live is always right;

    help me understand it so I can live to the fullest.

 

-Psalm 119:137-144​​ The Message 

 

—Song 2: “Solid Rock” Key, Leader

 

CONFESSION/LAMENT:  Band Member

 

32 Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—

    you get a fresh start,

    your slate’s wiped clean.

2 Count yourself lucky—

    God holds nothing against you

    and you’re holding nothing back from him.

3 When I kept it all inside,

    my bones turned to powder,

    my words became daylong groans.

4 The pressure never let up;

    all the juices of my life dried up.

5 Then I let it all out;

    I said, “I’ll come clean about my failures to God.”

Suddenly the pressure was gone—

    my guilt dissolved,

    my sin disappeared.

6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;

    when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts

    we’ll be on high ground, untouched.

7 God’s my island hideaway,

    keeps danger far from the shore,

    throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.

-Psalm 32:1-7 The Message 

 

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

 

ASSURANCE/PEACE: Liturgist

“We have been given peace with God, so let us now extend that peace as we greet one another this morning”

 

Point of emphasis: Peace with God necessarily results in peace with each other. One way we experience peace with God is by actively pursuing and promoting peace with each other. 

 

19 1-4 Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.

 

5-7 When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?”

 

8 Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.”

 

9-10 Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”

 

-Luke 19:1-10 The Message 

 

——————————————   [SERMON]   ——————————————-

—Song 4: “Death Has Lost Its Sting” Key, Leader

 

NICENE CREED

—Doxology

COMMUNION: Liturgist

On the night that he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith (say this with me)

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again

 

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

Therefore let us keep the feast!

Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.

Therefore let us keep the feast!

 

As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. If you have not been baptized into the family of Christ, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name. 

Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here, to my left and your right. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner, to my right and your left.

Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

—Song 5: “In Tenderness” Key, Leader

 

GIVING/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader

Every week, we are reminded that God gave first. He gave first in creation. He gave first in his law and promises. He gave first in sending us his son, and he gave first in shedding his own blood. We are now invited into a life of obedience and participation. God gave first, so we return to him our lives and our loves. This means we offer him the first and best of what he has given to us. One way we do so is by regularly giving to the ministries of this church. As giving baskets pass, consider how the Lord is inviting you into greater obedience and participation in the life of his church.”

 

—Song 6: “Power in the Blood” Key, Leader

 

BENEDICTION: Liturgist

11-12 Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely. [Go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Peace be with you!

 

-2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 The Message 

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