Christian Liturgy 101: How One Church Worshiped Palm Sunday 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 Jonah Sage preached from Hebrews 10:19-25.

—Prelude: “Psalm 57″

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:   Liturgist

Themes: Palm Sunday 

 

21 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

 

4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

 

5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem,

    ‘Look, your King is coming to you.

He is humble, riding on a donkey—

    riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

 

8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

 

Praise God for the Son of David!

    Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

    Praise God in highest heaven!

10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

 

11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

-Matthew 21:1-11

 

—Song 2: “Love As You Love”

 

CONFESSION/ASSURANCE:  Band Member

Hear the word of the Lord:

 

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

    His faithful love endures forever.

2 Let all Israel repeat:

    “His faithful love endures forever.”

19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,

    and I will go in and thank the Lord.

20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,

    and the godly enter there.

 

…ask God to search your heart…

 

21 I thank you for answering my prayer

    and giving me victory!

22 The stone that the builders rejected

    has now become the cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord’s doing,

    and it is wonderful to see.

24 This is the day the Lord has made.

    We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Please, Lord, please save us.

    Please, Lord, please give us success.

26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

    We bless you from the house of the Lord.

27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.

    Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise you!

    You are my God, and I will exalt you!

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

    His faithful love endures forever.

-Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 NLT

 

[Spoken Text]

 

—Song 3: “Solid Rock”

 

PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member

Let’s take a moment to greet one another in the grace and peace we have in Christ 🙂 

 

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

 

—Song 4: “Hosanna”

 

NICENE CREED: Liturgist

Today’s sermon taught us that a life worth living is a life immersed in the people of God. 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: “Be Thou My Vision”

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader

 

—Song 6: “Where Your Praise Never Ends”

 

BENEDICTION: Liturgist

16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,[e] just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. [Go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Peace be with you!]

-Philippians 2:5-11 NLT

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