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 from Sojourn Midtown, courtesy Allen and Melanie Seay.
Song: Let the Seventh Angel Sound written by our Jamie Barnes, recorded on The Water And The Blood.
We live in a world that tells us that life is all about you. Social media websites tell us to broadcast ourselves. Ads tell us to satisfy ourselves. Presidential candidates tell us that a vote for them is in our best interest. It’s all about you. Life is all about you…
Well, welcome to a place that’s not about you. The church is many things, but it’s ultimately a place that’s all about Jesus. As Christians, we’re invited to remember:
…You died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (Colossians 3:3-4)
We gather as God’s people, and our very lives are not our own any more: they’re hidden in his. SO this place is all about him: his glory, his fame, and his goodness. It’s why we sing. So let’s stand together and worship the God who saves, the one who alone is worthy to be sung about.
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty;
the Lord, invincible in battle.
(Psalm 24:3-5,7-8)
Song: King of Glory
Song: A Mighty Fortress
Prayer of Repentance
Almighty God,
we confess that we are still held back by earthly cares,
and can’t fix our minds and hearts on heaven.
Lord, help us believe that you can abundantly meet our needs in this life and beyond.
Lift our minds above these temporary, perishing things,
and fix our hopes and wills on service to you,
continually growing in grace
until we become full and complete in Christ.
We long to lay hold of the eternal kind of life you’ve promised to us
and made available to us by the blood of your Son.
May our lives reflect the longing in our hearts. Amen.
(Based on a prayer of John Calvin)
Song: May Your Power Rest On Me written by our Joel Gerdis and Neil Robins, recorded on our Over The Grave record.
Passing the Peace
The bible talks often about the peace of God, but we often miss its meaning. This isn’t peace like some kind of hippy saying, “Hey peace, man.” It’s peace as in the end of hostilities. There’s no hostility between you and God anymore. There’s no more conflict, no more war. In Christ, we’re invited into a life that’s marked by that kind of peace, and in the church, we extend that to one another. So look for someone around you to extend peace to – and welcome them with the love of Christ.
Giving
Then our preacher taught from Titus 2:9-10. You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.
Song: When He Returns by Bob Dylan, our communion song of the week.
Reading
The church gathers now looking to Jesus with faith and hope. One day, though, we will see him face to face, gathering around his throne, and singing his praises. We can experience a glimpse of that even now, as we join with the saints throughout the ages and declare:
You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever! Amen.
—Revelation 4:11; 5:12-13, NIV
We declare that together now, and one day, we’ll declare it in God’s presence!
Amen! Come Lord Jesus!
Song: Where Your Praise Never Ends written by our own Charlie Richardson. This is one we haven’t recorded yet. But trust me; it’s great.
Song: Absent from Flesh by our Jamie Barnes, recorded on The Mercy Seat EP and also on The Water And The Blood (a different version on each).
Benediction
May the Father ready the world,
May the Son return in glory,
And may the Spirit ready your hearts,
Even as you go now, into your varied lives,
Throughout this city and throughout the world.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Thank you so much for posting this for us!
God bless His work through you.
Tracey