You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,

but you have received a spirit of adoption.

When you cry, “Abba! Father!”

it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit

that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs,

heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, we are forgiven.

Thanks be to the triune God.

—based on Romans 8:15-17

As used by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY on May 30, 2010

Praise be to you, O God the Father:

You created all things by your power and wisdom

and so loved the world that you gave your Son to be our Savior.

Praise be to you, O God the Son:

You became human like us in all things, except sin,

died for our offenses, and rose again for our justification.

Praise be to you, O God the Holy Spirit:

You lead us into all truth and spread the love of God in our hearts

We often don’t see you and accept you for who you are. We forget you, neglect your word or mold you into something less than you are.

Forgive us Lord. Help us to see you and to know you more fully.

Fill us with the vision of your glory, that we may always serve and praise you. Amen

- Adapted from The Worship Sourcebook, As used by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY on May 30, 2010

Today is Trinity Sunday, a day historically when the Church celebrates & focuses on the mystery, power and beauty of our triune God. Today we respond in worship because of the work that has been done in our lives by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our worship is not only directed to the triune God, but is also made possible by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the mediating blood of Jesus Christ that allows us to draw near to the Father. Stand with me as we hear the scriptures call us to worship:

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Praise him for his mighty works and unequaled greatness!

Let everything that has breath praise God!

- Based on Psalm 8 and Psalm 150:6

As used by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY on May 30th, 2010

Hear God’s word for you:

“I will take you out of the nations;

I will gather you from all the countries.

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;

I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees.

You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

Friends in Christ: by the power of the Spirit,

we are united with Christ and given a new spirit.

In Christ we are made right. Thanks be to God!

-Ezekial 36:24-28

As used by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Ky on May 23, 2010

Almighty God,

to you all hearts are open, all desires known,

and from you no secrets are hid.

You send us the Spirit of courage,

but we have been afraid.

You send us the Spirit of truth,

but we cling to our illusions and lies.

You send us the Spirit of healing,

but we cannot let go of our hurts.

Holy Spirit of forgiveness, come to us again:

shake our hearts,

set our souls on fire with your love:

Help us to rejoice in your power and live in the love of Christ Jesus, The Son.

In His Name we ask, Amen.

Adapted from The Worship Sourcebook and used at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Ky on May 23, 2010

Today is Pentecost – a day recorded in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus’ disciples, empowering them to preach the Gospel to the nations. It’s a day that symbolizes a new beginning, celebrating God’s outreach to the entire world. It’s also a time for us to express our thanksgiving for Christ’s fulfilled promises followers that God’s Spirit would dwell within His people. Let’s stand and let God’s word call us to worship:

The love of God has been poured into our hearts

through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us;

we dwell in him and he in us.

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples.

Sing to him, sing praises to him,

and speak of all his marvelous works.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,

who was and is and is to come!

—based on Psalm 105:1-2; Romans 5:5; Revelation 4:8

Adapted from the Worship Sourcebook and used at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Ky on May 23, 2010

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

the Lord answered me and set me free.

The Lord is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation

I shall not die, but I shall live,

and recount the deeds of the Lord.

In Christ, God answers us and sets us free!

In Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God.

—based on Psalm 118:4-5, 14, 17,

The assurance of the Gospel is that despite our sin, God forgives and saves us from death.. Truly we can sing & shout “Hosanna” to the King who gave us victory when he died in our place.

Adapted from The Worship Sourcebook

As used by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY on March 28th, 2010

Jesus, our Lord, we shout hosannas to praise you.

With eager hands, we place our palms of praise on the path before you.

Yet, Lord, we confess that the mouths that seek to praise you often deny or defy you.

And we confess that the hands that seek to serve you often become fists.

We confess our praise is often empty. Just as the people of Jerusalem did long ago

We sing “Hosanna,” but cry “Crucify.”

As the crowd laid their palms in front of you,

you took no glory for yourself.

We confess that we want to be accepted and take the easy way.

We do not stay true to your will.

Forgive us, Lord, and help us

to follow in the way of obedience.

Help us to be loyal and loving servants of Jesus, our King.

In his Holy Name, Amen

Adapted from The Worship Sourcebook

As used by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Ky on March 28th, 2010

Today is Palm Sunday, a day celebrated in the Church that looks back on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It was a day when he was honored and declared as a King. Today we echo those shouts of praise as we acknowledge Christ as our King and Savior:

King Jesus comes, King Jesus,

Son of God, Son of Man, Messiah.

Hail! King Jesus, King of all!

Recall the words of the Scriptures:

“A great crowd who had come to the feast

heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

So they took branches of palm trees

and went out to meet him, crying, ‘Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,

even the King of Israel!’”

In praise we adore you, King Jesus.

Enter our hearts today

as you entered Jerusalem long ago,

and lead us by faith in the way everlasting. Amen.

—based on John 12:13

Adapted from The Worship Sourcebook

Used by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY March 28th, 2010

Passing the Peace

In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus,

we are assured that there is no sin so terrible

that God cannot forgive,

no hurt so terrible that God cannot heal.

In Christ, God accepts, God forgives, and God sets free.

Receive the forgiving love of God.

Thanks be to God.

In the spirit of that peace, take some time to welcome and enjoy one another.

As used by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY on March 7th, 2010