Sojourn’s Worship Liturgy: 5-13-2012

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.

This was our Mother’s Day liturgy, as well as a Baptism Sunday. Photos this week from Chuck Heeke, David Alan Kidd and Tom Branch.

Prelude: When the Savior Reached Down For Me

Call to Worship:
Happy Mothers Day! We celebrate mothers and family as a gift from God – the giver of every good gift. We worship Him and Him alone the One who provides everything for us, including a place within his holy family. Stand with me as we hear his word:

Let God’s children rejoice.
Let them be glad in God’s presence.
Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—rejoice in his presence!
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
He is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
-Psalm 68:3-6

Song: Come Thou Fount

Prayer of Lament:
We recognize on a day like today, that everything in God’s creation isn’t as it should be. Sin has broken families and caused deep pain and heartache, and suffering in creation has led to suffering in the flesh – some who long to be parents are unable to experience that joy. Pray with me:

Lord, on this Mother’s Day
we lift up the aching hearts of all those who long to be mothers,
that mourn the absence of new life within them who have conceived,
and those that suffered loss through miscarriage or abortion
who have given birth, but endured the tragedy of burying a child.
Their grief is often hidden from us or neglected on this day of celebration of motherhood.
We pray that they may experience healing in this church family.
How long, O Lord, must death get its way at the outset of new life?
How long must joy be deferred or interrupted by such cruel sorrow?
Risen Lord of life, grant them comfort and peace,
breathe in us all the breath of new life.
Through Jesus Christ, who defeated death,
Amen.

Song: Abide With Me

Assurance:
A day is coming when Jesus will return and set everything right and gather his family for eternity. Hear this hopeful vision John was given:

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”
- Revelation 21: 3-5

Song: Cling to the Crucified

Passing of Peace: Let’s greet each other and give a special welcome to all the moms in attendance today.

Giving
Song: Remember Me (Prayer of Hannah) a song for Mother’s Day written by our own Jamie Barnes. Listen to Jamie’s demo, view the lyrics and download the chord sheet here.

Then our preacher taught a Mother’s Day sermon on Eve: Life Giver. You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.

Song: Beautiful Scandalous Night our communion hymn of the week.

*Baptisms

Song: Only Your Blood is Enough written by Sojourn’s Neil and Kate Robins, based on “Psalm 51, Part 2″ by Isaac Watts. We recorded this on Over The Grave: The Hymns of Isaac Watts, Volume One.


Song: Awake My Soul

Benediction: May God the giver of life bless you, keep you and cause his face to shine upon you. Go in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. peace be with you.