Christian Liturgy 101: How One Church Worshiped March 26, 2023

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 Bobby Gilles preached from Hebrews 10:1-18.

—Prelude: “Heaven”

CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Good morning, and welcome to Sojourn! We’re so glad that you’re here to worship with us. This week and this transition into spring is such a great reminder of how much our god loves to breathe life into his creation. Let’s prepare our hearts for worship by reading Psalm 146 together – please join in on the underlined portions.

1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul.

2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.
–Psalm 146, NIV

Praise the Lord, indeed. He is a great big God who sees, knows, and loves each and every one of us. Let’s sing.

—Song 2: “Refuge”

CONFESSION/LAMENT: Band Member
Hear these words.

12 For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities:
13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord,
turning our backs on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,
uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice is driven back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
that there was no justice.
–Isaiah 59: 12-15

Even after hearing and knowing the promises of Jesus, we still sometimes find ourselves in a similar state of mind like Isaiah wrote about — we sometimes feel hopeless, overwhelmed, and ashamed. Let’s take a moment and ask the Lord to remind us that the work is indeed complete.
Pause
Lord, we profess that you are good and your mercy endures forever, and we confess that we sometimes live life as if it were not true. Meet us where we are, as we are, and help us to see ourselves as you do — fully redeemed. Amen.

—Song 3: “Jesus Paid It All” 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON & PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member
In an act of great love, Jesus paid the price for you and for me. Indeed, the work is finished. “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10)” This means that we can live life free from condemnation and filled with peace. Let’s take some time to share that peace with one another.

 

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

—Song 4: “God Alone ” 

NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that because of Jesus, we aren’t grasping in the dark. We know who we are,
whose we are, and where we stand. Let’s proclaim our belief together!

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

COMMUNION: Liturgist
Every Sunday we announce and experience the mystery of faith. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to
remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He 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 announce the mystery of faith together (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. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, 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 by the cross. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner.

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: “The Hill” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader

—Song 6: “Mighty to Save” 

BENEDICTION: Liturgist
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23) Go in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Peace be with you.

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