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 Tom Branch, from Sojourn Midown.
Call to Worship
In God’s story of redemption, he used one of the cruelest acts in history to accomplish his plan of salvation through Christ. Suffering is not the final word for Christians. In the darkest situations, even when we can’t see it, God is at work in our lives. So wherever you are, whether mourning or rejoicing, God is inviting you to come before Him and to trust in Him alone.
All who thirst, come to the water.
Come, all who are weary; come, all who yearn for forgiveness.
The Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ has washed over us, and our gracious and holy God beckons and blesses us.
Drink deeply of these living waters.
All praise to our God who rescues us.
-based on Matthew 11:28-30 and adapted from the Worship Sourcebook
Song: Invitation Fountain written by Michael Pritzl.
Confession
It’s easy for us to believe that God has forgotten us when we suffer and face trials. You may be here today questioning if God even hears you or knows what you’re going through. Know, today, that He is present and loves to hear you depend on Him by bringing your needs before Him. The Psalms show us how we can present our requests before the Lord while remembering that He is always faithful. Let’s pray like the psalmist:
Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression? We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt. Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
-Psalm 44:23-26
Song: In Feast or Fallow written by Sandra McCracken
Song: In the Hours written by Helen L. Parmelee and Indelible Grace’s Kevin Twit.
Assurance/Peace
Hear God’s Word:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. -Romans 8:28-30
God has intentionally made us family in Christ. Families greet, families share, families love; let’s be a family and welcome each other today!
Giving: Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul another hymn adapted and fitted with new music by Kevin Twit. This hymn text originally comes from Anne Steele.
Then our preacher taught from Genesis 37, the beginning of Joseph’s story. 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 of the week.
Reading
God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.
By his wounds we are healed.
Once we were like sheep who wandered away.
But now we have turned to our Shepherd, the Guardian of our souls.
-based on 1 Peter 2:21-25
Song: My Mourning Into Dancing written by Sojourn’s Jeremy Quillo. This song has been a favorite at Sojourn Gathered for almost eight years. You can find it on our These Things I Remember album.
Song: You Never Let Go written by Matt and Beth Redman.
Benediction:
Go now, knowing that the God who saves also sustains in the good times and bad. Go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.
“In God’s story of redemption, he used one of the cruelest acts in history to accomplish his plan of salvation through Christ. Suffering is not the final word for Christians. In the darkest situations, even when we can’t see it, God is at work in our lives. So wherever you are, whether mourning or rejoicing, God is inviting you to come before Him and to trust in Him alone.”
I just loved this call to worship because it allows those who are suffering or rejoicing to come equally to the worship space and offer whatever we can as worship unto God.