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.
Photo courtesy Allison Rushing, from Sojourn East.
Song: (Leader’s Choice – different at each campus)
Call to Worship
There’s a funny sense in which the gathered church is like a book club. Our whole gathering is wrapped around the scriptures: We read the Bible, we preach from the Bible, we sing songs taken from or inspired by the Bible – It’s at the center of everything we do. The church is the longest-running book club in history, getting together every week to open these pages and respond. As Christians, we are a people of the book. It’s our guide and our guardian, revealing our God, our sin, and our Savior. So join me now, as we open it once again, and hear it call us to worship. Stand with me and hear the word of the Lord:
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
(Psalm 103:1-5)
Song: Sing Alleluia
Song: Indescribable
Prayer of Confession:
The God we worship has spoken to his people throughout the ages. The Psalmist warns us:
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts… (Psalm 95:7-8)
I think we all have to admit that — over and over — we’ve ignored God’s voice, choosing to listen to a thousand other voices for guidance. With that in mind, let’s pray:
Lord, you have given us your Word.
You spoke in creation, and the world began.
You spoke to Abraham, and began the wonderful story of redemption.
You spoke through Moses at Sinai, revealing your Law,
And you spoke through Jesus at Calvary, revealing your grace.
We confess that we often fail to listen.
We forget that the world is yours.
We forget that you give all people a reason to hope.
We forget that you’ve shown us how to live,
and we forget that you’ve poured out grace to us through Jesus.
Open our ears, Lord, and let us hear you.
By the power of your Spirit,
may the words of the Bible come to life in our hearts,
igniting a fire of faith, hope and love.
It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Song: Open Thou My Eyes
Song: We Are Listening by Sojourn’s Jeremy Quillo, from our Before The Throne album.
Passing the Peace
Jesus told his disciples:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
Giving – (“Open Thou My Eyes” Instrumental)
Then our preacher taught from Titus 1:5-9, on the role of elders in the life of a church. You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.
Song: Alas and Did My Savior Bleed. This was our Communion song of the week.
Reading
In the ups and downs of life, it’s tempting to throw our confidence in everything but Christ. That’s one reason we gather, week after week, and celebrate this gospel. We remember that our hope is always and only found in Jesus Christ. With that in mind, hear the word of the Lord:
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
Pray with me:
Lord – we know you have unlimited resources of glory and power.
Strengthen your people with your Spirit,
Make your home in our hearts as we trust in you.
May we grow deep roots in the rich soil of your love.
May we understand, with all the saints,
how wide, how long, how high, and how deep your love is.
May we ever know and experience more of your love,
As you make us complete with the life and power of God.
based on Ephesians 3:14-19
Song: Feast or Fallow
Song: Refuge by Sojourn’s Neil and Kate Robins, recorded on our Over The Grave: The Hymns of Isaac Watts, volume one.
Benediction
May the light of God
Illuminate your heart and soul.
May the flame of Christ
kindle you to love.
May the fire of the Spirit
Free you to live for the Glory of God
This day and forevermore.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
-adapted from a Celtic Benediction.
