Welcome to sojournmusic.com’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led following the Call To Worship, but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can find links to the to the set lists of this church and many other churches each week in the Worship Blog Carnival at theworshipcommunity.com. And you can learn about some of the songs we sing at Sojourn Gathered each week in advance of the Sunday service by reading my “Getting Ready For Sunday” post each Thursday at Sojourn’s online journal, TravelBlog.
Photos this week are courtesy of Chuck Heeke, from Sojourn New Albany.
Call to Worship:
When God speaks to us, a lot of truths are revealed. First, he is Holy and deserves our worship. Secondly, that we are not holy and don’t deserve anything. But finally, God reveals his love for us and invites us even in our sin and brokenness into a relationship with Him. This is what we celebrate when we gather as his people, the good news of the Gospel:
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
Let people from every nation say,
“The LORD reigns!”
Let the sea roar like thunder and the fields crescendo like a great orchestra!
Let the the forest sing for joy before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
We cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation!
Gather and rescue us from among the nations,
so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.”
Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting!
- Based on 1 Chronicles 16:31-36
Song: Come Ye Sinners by Joseph Hart, a good sung-Call to Worship.
Confession:
We come before God as Sinners, but we don’t have to come in fear. God invites us in his word to pray like this:
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
- Psalm 139:23-24
Take a moment and ask the Lord to search your heart. Let your sins, fears, and anxiety come before him, and let his presence remind you that grace abounds in Jesus Christ – that he is all we really need.
(SILENCE)
Song: Water and The Blood written by Isaac Watts, Neil Robins and David LaChance, recorded on last year’s album of the same name. You can hear “The Water And The Blood” in its entirety here.
Song: Majesty (Here I Am) written by Martin Smith and Stuart Garrard.
Assurance/Passing of Peace:
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” – Titus 3:3-7
Our sin once divided us, but now those of us that have placed faith in Jesus are united and are given peace with God and a home within his family. As a family, let’s say hello to each other today.
Giving:
Then our pastor preached a sermon from Genesis 18-19, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.
Song: Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me written by Edward Hopper and Bifrost Arts. This was our Communion hymn this week at Sojourn Gathered.
Reading:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. - Hebrews 12:1-2
Song: The Wonderful Cross by Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason, Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and J.D. Walt. You can hear Tomlin’s version in its entirety as part of this 40-track Songs for Lent playlist on Spotify, which includes several Sojourn songs as well.
Song: Beautiful Savior written by Stuart Townend. This song of adoration has been a staple of Sojourn services for years.
Benediction: Go with your eyes fixed upon the Savior who rescues you from destruction and promises you life. Peace be with you.
Can I ask what version of Hart’s “Come Ye Sinners” did you use? It seems there are several versions out there, and a great little lyrical controversy to boot…wondering how you guys navigated those waters. Thanks!