Monthly Archives: December 2008

Although Evangelical Christians have been slow to see the benefits in following the Christian Year in personal devotions and corporate worship services, many are aware of seasons like Advent and Lent.  And of course, Easter and Christmas are major holidays in the western world.  Epiphany, though, gets short thrift. What Is Epiphany? “Epiphany” means “manifestation” or “appearance.”  In Church history, Christians have observed a day of Epiphany to commemorate the revelation of the Messiah in connection with the visit of the Wise Men.  Many churches in the Western world celebrate this day either on January 6 (at the end of …« Read Entire Post

Each Monday on sojournmusic.com I write an inside look at our Sunday worship service liturgy and music set list, including commentary on the songs, lyrics and mp3s. I also share photos of Sojourn worship leaders from the services. Most weeks, these photos come from Sojourn member Dan Canales. Many sojournmusic.com readers have commented on the high quality of Dan’s work … so now for you, here is a selection of Dan’s 2008 Sojourn photos — including some that we’ve never published before.  Be sure to visit his Flickr page for for hundreds of great photos from Sojourn, the city of …« Read Entire Post

You can find the worship set lists of many other churches by perusing the Blog Carnival at fredmckinnon.com. Photos here by Dan Canales (I’ll have a special photo blog post tomorrow, dedicated fully to the Sojourn Music Year In Pictures, featuring Dan’s art).  Check out Dan’s complete Flickr photo stream, including many Sojourn photos, portraits, night life, wedding photos, Kentucky landscapes and more. We began this final Sunday of 2008 with a Call To Worship based on Numbers 23:19 and Psalm 100:5.  Then we responded in song: 1. I Have To Believe, written by Rita Springer.  The automakers say they’re on …« Read Entire Post

Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper: Merry Christmas! Even if the gifts are the best – they’ll wear out. The batteries will die, the technology will date, and Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony will make cooler toys in a matter of just a few years. Christmas will come again, and our kids, friends,family and neighbors will go into the same frenzy they went into the year before. But take refuge in the fact that the heart of this season is more steadfast than the consumer frenzy around it. The heart of Advent and Christmas is the steadfast hope of Jesus Christ’s promised …« Read Entire Post

To check out the music set lists of many other churches this weekend, visit the Blog Carnival at fredmckinnon.com.  Photos here courtesy of Dan Canales.  Next Sunday the 28th I’ll publish “The Year In Photos” — many pictures from Sojourn worship services in 2008, by Dan.  If you appreciate his photography, you’ll want to check it out. 1. Mary, Mary, traditional African-American spiritual.  This folk gospel song was a fun way to start off our final Sunday before Christmas (it actually followed a Call to Worship reading from Isaiah 9).  I like the way the writer portrayed the pre-Epiphany tension …« Read Entire Post

Our sister site, sojournkids.com, has posted a free mp3 and chord sheet of a brand new Christmas lullably entitled “He Is Born.” Sojourn Kids Director Jared Kennedy also provides the children’s worship liturgy from a recent Sojourn Kids service, in which they debuted “He Is Born.” Sojourners and those familiar with Sojourn Music will recognize the songwriter and performer on this track — it’s worship leader Jeremy Quillo, who has written songs such as “Hosanna in the Highest” from Advent Songs, “We Are Listening” from Before the Throne, “Mourning Into Dancing” from These Things I Remember. Sing this song with …« Read Entire Post

This website features a lot of music.  Most of it, and most of what I talk about, is the music of our Sojourn worship leaders in their various bands.  But of course all Christians are commanded to sing, just as we are all called to show mercy, to walk justly, to pray without ceasing, and, as our act of spiritual worship, to present our very bodies “as living sacrifices” because of the mercy God showed us through the cross of Christ (Romans 12:1) See “Worship Practices Explained: Why Do Christians Sing Out Loud Together” Over at seed.sojournchurch.com, the website for …« Read Entire Post

Courtesy of The Worship Sourcebook, here are readings for personal reflection, family worship and church congregations.  If used in public worship, have everyone read aloud the portions in bold type: Prayer of Thanksgiving/ Lord’s Supper For Christmas With joy we praise you, gracious God, for you have created heaven and earth, made us in your image, and kept covenant with us – even when we fell into sin. We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord, who came among us as the Word made flesh to show us your glory, full of grace and truth. Therefore we join our …« Read Entire Post

We’re drawing close to the end of the sojournmusic.com “Why Do Worship Leaders Do That?” series, in which Sojourn worship leader Lorie King tackles ten provocative issues that people in many churches raise, concerning worship leaders.  Lorie is one of Sojourn Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper’s long-time worship leaders.  She’s also led in many other missional contexts, from Brazil to Cyprus and various churches in the United States.  The goal of this series is to help worship leaders use this criticism constructively, and also to help the laity to be more understanding of worship liturgy (which literally means “the worship work of the …« Read Entire Post

In today’s churches, the guitar is coming to dominate the landscape in the same way that the piano and organ once did. It’s important that as church musicians we give great care and thought to our guitar playing – everything from chord voicings to tones – so that the instrument is a servant of the congregation, not the star and not the distraction. Each week on Sojournmusic.com, Pastor Mike Cosper will post a guitarist’s feature, which will range from articles to links, online lessons and interviews.  Here, Mike talks about guitar scale length and points you to a helpful resource: Guitar Scale …« Read Entire Post

Check out this video of Brooks Ritter performing “Child” from his debut album The Horse Fell Lame, live in front of a standing-room-only crowd at The 930 Listening Room in Louisville, KY on Friday, December 5, 2008.  Brooks is a worship leader here, co-writer of “In The Shadow of the Glorious Cross” and “Lead Us Back,” and the lead singer on those songs and many others from Before The Throne and Advent Songs.  He is also a featured vocalist on both of our upcoming records of new worship songs based on the hymns of Isaac Watts. Here, you can watch …« Read Entire Post

If you’re looking for a new Christmas song — or if you’ve already got our Advent Songs album and enjoy “Hosanna in the Highest” — check out this video performance by the Sojourn band from the recent Light Up Louisville outdoor festival.  Before the song begins you’ll hear about three second of, according to keyboardist Dave Moisan, “the square dance portion” of the set.  Two things about that: there was actually no square dance portion.  Just original and classic Christmas carols.  But next time, maybe. Dave appears as an orb of light in the video  because it comes from a …« Read Entire Post

This is one of many churches set lists you can read by following the Blog Carnival at fredmckinnon.com.  Pictures here provided by Dan Canales. We began worshiping together this week by meditating on a Call to Worship reading from John 1:1-6 and 10-14. 1. God Is With Us, by Sojourn’s Jeremy Quillo and Dustin Neeley, lead pastor at Crossing Church in Louisville’s east end, which Sojourn planted in 2005.  This is one of eight songs — originals and standard carols — on our Advent Songs, which you can download for any price you set, or for free.  You can also view the …« Read Entire Post

‘Think!’ – Daniel Montgomery from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.  Pastor Daniel preaches from Romans 8:31-39.  From the sermon notes: This text is widely considered one of the peaks of the gospel. Paul has spent eight chapters in Romans building a very logical case for Christian faith and now he has laid it all out and is ready to drive it home. These nine verses are all about victory and assurance and though the victory may seem distant and possibly even unlikely from our earthly standpoint, we are given assurance that God will complete what he begins in us. Paul …« Read Entire Post

Christmas is a day-long celebration, of course, but it is also a season lasting twelve days (as in the song “The Twelve Days Of Christmas”).  What many people don’t realize is that, in the Church calendar year, these twelve days don’t end with Christmas day.  They begin there and end on Epiphany Sunday.  What most people call “the season of Christmas” is Advent, which we’ve talked quite a bit about lately here at sojournmusic.com.  Hopefully you’ve been able to incorporate many of the readings into your Advent devotionals and services. Now looking ahead, and courtesy of The Worship Sourcebook, here …« Read Entire Post

Welcome to the sojournmusic.com “Why Do Worship Leaders Do That?” series, in which Sojourn worship leader Lorie King talks about ten common gripes and questions that people in many churches have, concerning worship leaders.  Lorie uses her experience as one of Pastor Mike Cosper’s long-time worship leaders at Sojourn and experiences leading worship in churches overseas and in the States to help worship leaders understand how they can use this criticism constructively, and also to help the Christian in the pew to understand the worship leader perspective. You can find the articles where these “pet peeves” were originally publicized and tabulated at ragamuffinsoul.com …« Read Entire Post

Just a quick note to let everyone who has been waiting know: the chord sheet to our version of “What Child Is This” from Advent Songs is now available on the same page as the chords for the rest of the album.  Sorry for the hold up.  Enjoy! This arrangement of the traditional Greensleeves melody comes from Neil and Kate Robins, Sojourn worship leaders and members of the band Dirt Poor Robins.  They’re pictured here from their songwriting seminar at Sojourn’s home, The 930 Art Center.  Photo courtesy of Tom Branch.

In today’s churches, the guitar is coming to dominate the landscape in the same way that the piano and organ once did. It’s important that as church musicians we give great care and thought to our guitar playing – everything from chord voicings to tones – so that the instrument is a servant of the congregation, not the star and not the distraction. Each week on Sojournmusic.com, Pastor Mike Cosper will post a guitarist’s feature, which will range from articles to links, online lessons and interviews.  Here, Mike continues last week’s instruction in tuning and intonation: Tuning and Intonation 102 A tuner …« Read Entire Post

Christmas is just weeks away.  Courtesy of The Worship Sourcebook, here are a series of scriptures relating to this season where we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Read them to your children, preach them to yourself, share them in your small group, incorporate them into your Christmas and Advent worship services.  I’ve also included the recommended sections from classic confessions of the Christian faith (often known as “creeds”) that deal with the day and period of the Church Year known as Christmas (see my article “Why Do Christians Recite Creeds?” in the “Worship Practices Explained” …« Read Entire Post

This Sunday church music set list from Louisville’s Sojourn Community Church is one of many church music set lists you can read through the Blog Carnival at fredmckinnon.com.  Photos here of the evening worship leaders by Sojourn’s Dan Canales (check out his “Louisville On Two Wheels” photo blog). 1. Knocking at Your Door, written by Bill Mallonee, solo singer-songwriter, member of Vigilantes of Love and good friend of Sojourn.  “Knocking at Your Door” is an effective song for the Call to Worship, particularly during the Advent Season.  It would also make a fine “altar call” song of invitation or rededication: …« Read Entire Post

‘Groans and Glory’ – Daniel Montgomery from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.  Although Pastor Daniel preached this sermon a few months ago at Sojourn’s home in the Germantown neighborhood of Louisville, this is a perfect sermon for Advent.  It’s all about how all of creation groans, awaiting the glory of God and the redemption that will be revealed in Christ.  And the Holy Spirit groans in our behalf, until these present troubles give way to the blessedness of our savior at His second coming. The text is from Romans 8:18-27: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing …« Read Entire Post

Courtesy of The Worship Sourcebook, here are selected readings that you’ll find handy in private devotions, family worship, small group meetings and for the liturgy readings in Christmas church services.  If used in public worship, have the congregation read the portions in bold type aloud: Call To Worship Reading: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Jesus Christ is our life and light. In his name and in his power, let us worship God! (based on Isaiah 9:2, NIV) Open Response: Prayer of …« Read Entire Post

“Why does the worship leader dress and act like some kind of sex symbol?” “Why is she standing like she’s scared or half asleep?” “Is that his real hair?” We’re now in the second half of our series “Why Do Worship Leaders Do That?”, in which Sojourn worship leader Lorie King talks about ten common complaints and questions that people all over the world express about worship leaders in many churches, traditions and denominations.  Besides her work in Pastor Mike Cosper’s worship team at Sojourn for nearly eight years, Lorie has led worship in many contexts in the United States …« Read Entire Post

In today’s churches, the guitar is coming to dominate the landscape in the same way that the piano and organ once did. It’s important that as church musicians we give great care and thought to our guitar playing – everything from chord voicings to tones – so that the instrument is a servant of the congregation, not the star and not the distraction. Each week on Sojournmusic.com, Pastor Mike Cosper will post a guitarist’s feature, which will range from articles to links, online lessons and interviews.  Here, the subject is tuning and intonation: Tuning and Intonation 101 As a church musician, I’ve …« Read Entire Post

The 2008 edition of the Baptist Hymnal has been out for several months now and has met with good reviews. LifeWay has also released a version of the same collection of hymns, gospel songs and praise choruses entitled “The Worship Hymnal.”  Listen to the NPR radio report “Hymnal Update Stirs Debate Across Baptist Church,” which notes that “nearly half of the pages will be filled with songs never before published by Baptists.” Perhaps what’s most interesting — and newsworthy — is the online effort to distinguish this hymnal and bring innovation to the practice of releasing hymn collections: LifeWayWorship.com.  This new …« Read Entire Post

The Sojourn worship band performed modern and classic Christmas carols and songs for Advent last Friday at Louisville’s major holiday festival, Light Up Louisville — a downtown celebration in its 28th year that draws 75,000+ to celebrate together.  Sojourn had the crowd singing along to songs from our Advent Songs album, a Bill Mallonee cover, and one song each from Before The Throne and our upcoming CD based on the hymns of Isaac Watts. You can watch one of our modern Christmas songs now, “Glory Be,” written by Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper.  In the video you’ll see these band …« Read Entire Post

Sojourn Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper on the danger of triumphalism in Advent worship planning, and how to properly use this season of the Christian Year to plan meaningful, biblical worship time at church and in the home: An Advent Challenge: Disappoint People In The Deliberate Church, Pastor Mark Dever warns us to avoid triumphalism in our worship sets. While I don’t ascribe to all of Dever’s prescriptions for worship, I think that this one is very good – especially during Advent. Advent is a season of endless hype. We’re hyped about toys for our kids, toys for our wives and …« Read Entire Post

This is one of many church music set lists included in the Blog Carnival at fredmckinnon.com.  Go there to read what churches from many locations are singing. Photos of Sunday’s Sojourn service at The 930 Art Center are courtesy of Dan Canales.  Photo of Sojourn band performing outdoors in the downtown district at Light Up Louisville last Friday is courtesy of Alan Vales. We’ve been preparing for over a month here at sojournmusic.com, and for yesterday’s worship service, it had finally arrived — the season of expectancy: Advent.  As you would expect, our songs and liturgy reflected this. 1. Before …« Read Entire Post