Sojourn’s Liturgy Recap, July 15, 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, 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 by Sarah Horrar, from Sojourn J-Town.

Prelude: From Deep Distress written by Sojourn New Albany Worship Director Justin Shaffer and Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper, recorded on our album The Water And The Blood.

Call to Worship:
You ever lay awake at night, unable to sleep because of something you fear? Children might fear imaginary monsters under the bed, but often for us it’s our jobs, finances or a whole list of responsibilities.  The good news is that God knows all of our fears -big or small, real or imaginary. God sent his Son to rescue us from fear. In Jesus, our greatest enemies – Satan, sin and death – have been defeated. Stand and hear his Word:

We will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with us, but not any more.
Now you comfort us.
See, God has come to save us.
We will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is our strength and our song;
he has given us victory. - Isaiah 12:1-2

Song: Over Death written by Sojourn’s Jesse Eubanks, Neil Robins and Joel Gerdis. We recorded this one on our Over The Grave album.

Confession:
Psalm 23 is a pretty well known passage that speaks of God’s protection and love. Despite our familiarity with these comforting words, we still doubt them. Let’s pray this psalm together as we confess our need for Jesus, the good shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Psalm 23

Song: Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul written by Anne Steele and Kevin Twit.
Song: You Never Let Go written by Matt and Beth Redman.

Assurance/Passing of Peace:
God overcomes our fears with His love. Let’s say this together:

We know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. – 1 John 4:16-19

As family with nothing to fear, let’s welcome each other here today in love.

Giving

Then our preacher taught from Psalm 121 – “Rest in Sleep.” This was part of our Rest summer sermon series. You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.

Song: New Wonders

Reading:
What shall we say in response?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It is God who justifies.
Who then is the one who condemns?
No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For we are convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Based on Romans 8:31-39

Song: O Love that Will Not Let Me Go written by George Matheson and Christopher Miner.

Song: The Solid Rock written by Edward Mote and William Bradbury.

Benediction: May Christ’s victory over sin and death give you assurance and rest. Go in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.