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 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 by Chuck Heeke, Matt Herp, David Alan Kidd and Brad Weir, from the launch of the new worship gathering place for Sojourn Midtown — St. Vincent’s.
Song: Compel My Heart To Sing, written by Rebecca Elliott and Brooks Ritter, recorded on our album The Water And The Blood: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, volume two.
Call to Worship:
It’s tempting, at times, to think of this gathering as merely a social obligation. It’s tempting too, to think of the reasons for gathering in terms of convenience and geography – I’m here because this is the XXXX Campus.
But fundamentally, we’re not here for social reasons, and we’re not here because of geography. We’re here because God has gathered us. You were meant to be here today, whether you know it or not. And we’re here because of him. Hear the word of the Lord.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
- Psalm 98:1-4
Song: Rock of Ages from our double EP The War/The Mercy Seat (some campuses led “How Great Thou Art” in this spot, instead). Hear “Rock Of Ages” in full and read about this timeless hymn here.
Confession:
It can be overwhelming to think about the glory of God. We can’t help but feel inadequate before him. His glory, his perfection, his beauty is beyond our imagination.
But we don’t need to despair, because in Christ, he welcomes sinners like you and me. Hear the word of the Lord:
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
-Psalm 32:1-6
Song: O Help My Unbelief
Assurance:
Hear the word of the Lord:
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
Amen! In light of that grace, let’s sing together.
Song: In the Shadow of the Glorious Cross written by Rebecca Elliott and Brooks Ritter. We recorded this song on 2007′s Before The Throne.
Passing of Peace:
Last week, we talked about hospitality, and when we gather, we have an opportunity to practice it. So as we greet one another now, having remembered the merciful welcome of God, let’s reach out and welcome those around us – especially reaching out to faces we might not know.
Giving
Then our preacher taught from 1 Titus 1:1-4, the first sermon in our new sermon series on the Pastoral Epistles, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.
Song: O God Our Help in Ages Past written by Isaac Watts and Brooks Ritter, recorded on The Water And The Blood.
Song: Awake My Soul
Reading:
The world around us can tempt us to despair. Whether it’s the economy, politics, the weather, or our own checkbooks, it’s easy to lose hope. But God’s word reminds us that we have a much greater hope and promise than anything we might hear in the news or read online. Hear the Word of the Lord:
Go out through the gates!
Prepare the highway for my people to return!
Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders;
raise a flag for all the nations to see.
The Lord has sent this message to every land:
“Tell the people of Israel,
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
They will be called “The Holy People”
and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”
And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”
-Isaiah 62:10-12
Song: A City No Longer Forsaken written by Jamie Barnes, recorded as part of last year’s double EP project, The Mercy Seat/The War.
Benediction:
Find peace in the name God has given you and take comfort in the support of your surrounding brothers and sisters, encouraging each other in hard times and times of joy. Go in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
