Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: Sojourn's Worship Music Set List, 12/28/08

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 the brink of the abyss, the banks won’t tell us how they’re spending the bailout money we gave them, terrorists are hiding all over the world, and many people don’t know what to believe in anymore.  This song echoes the faith of the woman “with an issue of blood” who reached out to touch the hem of the Savior’s garment:

I have to believe that He sees my darkness

I have to believe that He knows my pain

I have to lift up my hands to worship

Worship His name.

2. I’m Coming Back, written by Sojourn’s Rebecca Bales Elliott.  You can view the chord sheet from the Before The Throne page here on sojournmusic.com.  Hear the mp3 at Last FM.  We sang this one as a song of confession and repentance, like we used it on the liturgically themed Before The Throne.  The slow, soft jazz arrangement is a poignant accompaniment to the honest lyrics.

3. Here Is Love, written by William Rees and Robert Lowry. Arrangement and additional chorus by Matt Redman.  We sang this one as a celebration of assurance, letting the narrative of the verses lead us into the declarative addition by Redman:

No love is higher, no love is wider

no love is deeper, no love is truer

no love is higher, no love is wider,

no love is like Your love, O Lord

After the Passing of the Peace, Sojourn Pastor Rob Plummer preached on “Gospel Resolutions” from Philippians 4:1-7, exhorting us to:

• Be reconciled (v. 2-3)
• Rejoice in the Lord (v. 4)
• Be known for gentleness (v. 5)
• Do not worry about anything (v. 6)
• Pray about everything (v. 6)
• Rest in the peace of God (v. 7)

4. Abide With Me, words by Henry Lyte, music by William Monk.  Arrangement by Sojourn’s Jamie Barnes.  Lyte penned the words to this 19th century hymn as he lay dying from the tuberculosis that would end his life just three weeks after he finished the song.  Of course we are all subject to the curse of the fall, death and decay, from the day we are born.  But often, those who are most aware of their mortality can remind us of what we can’t escape on our own, as well as the way of escape that grace has given us:

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, Oh Lord abide with me.

5. The Wonderful Cross (When I Survey The Wonderful Cross), by Isaac Watts, arranged by Chris Tomlin with the additional chorus by Tomlin and Jerry Reeves.  We’ve done several arrangements of this classic from Watts, the Father of English Hymnody, at Sojourn.  Watts’ lyrics present the panoramic view of Calvary that is possible when one “surveys” something:

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down;

did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown.

We do many Watts hymns at Sojourn, and we’ll do many more in 2009.  In fact, next Tuesday the 6th I’ll share an interview I conducted with worship leader/ record producer Neil Robins.  Neil talks about the progress of the first of our two 2009 CDs of new worship music based on Watts’ hymns.  Our “secret” tongue-in-cheek code name for this project is “Hi Wattage,” because it will feature an aggressive indie pop sound.  The next, “Low Wattage,” will feature a more acoustic, Americana vibe.

Following “The Wonderful Cross” we all read Philippians 4:4-7 aloud together before singing the final song:

6. There Is A Peace, written by Sojourn’s Charlie Richardson.  You can view the chord sheet from our Before The Throne page.  Hear the mp3 at the Sojourn Music Facebook page.  In uncertain, war-torn, economically distressed times, this is a great song to sing.  And it’s a fitting way to end one year and begin another.  Christ is our peace and our victory.

Worship band for the 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services:

Brooks Ritter — vocals and guitar

Rebecca Elliott — vocals and keys

Mike Cosper — electric guitar

Brian Meurer — bass guitar

Smitty Smith — drums

Lachlan Coffey — liturgical readings

Worship band for the 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. services:

Jamie Barnes — vocals and guitar

Katie Vaughn — vocals

Dan Cassin — keys

Christi Osterday — cello

Bryon Shrock — bass guitar

Miguel Angel Monroy — drums

Micah Revell — liturgical readings

This week on sojournmusic.com: “The Year In Pictures,” “What Every Christian Should Know About Epiphany,”  a special interview Pastor Mike conducted with the founder of Indelible Grace, Kevin Twit, and more.