Sojourn’s Liturgy Recap, January 12-13, 2013

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 above by Chuck Heeke, from Sojourn Midtown.

Prelude: Holy

Call to Worship
When we gather each week, we come together to remember God’s story. He has written the script, but He doesn’t just tell us something and leave it there; He invites us to be a part of it, rescuing us and inviting us into renewed life through His Son, Jesus.

Stand and hear of the Psalmist’s love of God’s Word:

Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven.
Your faithfulness extends to every generation;
You established the earth, and it endures.
Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.
I am yours; rescue me!
- Psalm 119:89-96

Let’s sing out and recall God’s great story!

Song: Our God
Song: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Prayer of Confession:
God, you have loved us with unfailing, self-giving mercy,
but we have not loved you.
You speak all the time, but we do not listen.
You invite us into your story,
but we settle for so much less.
God of grace, as you come to us in mercy,
we repent in spirit and in truth,
we admit our sin and gratefully receive your forgiveness
through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
Help us to hear and heed your voice. Amen.

Song: We Are Listening written by Jeremy Quillo, recorded on our Before The Throne album.

Assurance/Peace:
Pray again with me:
God, You spoke, and your Word, Jesus, walked among us,
Your Holy Spirit opens our eyes and hearts to embrace truth.
As we listen to Your story, may our ears be attuned to you.
As the Word is spoken,
Give us ears to hear, and lead us to you.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

-Adapted from the Worship Sourcebook, based on John 1:14

God’s story of redemption is one that brings us together as family.  Let’s greet each other as family today.

Giving

Then our preacher taught the second sermon in a six week series on the Book of Ecclesiastes. You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.

Song: Faded Hope

Reading
God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
God has united us with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”
-1 Corinthians 1:27-31

Song: Here is Love
Song: Our Great God

Benediction:
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Go in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.
—from Revelation 7:12