PILGRIM SONGS - THE SONGS OF ASCENT [PSALM 130]
During this time where our public gatherings are not able to meet, each Sunday we are providing you with a liturgy that you can use at home. You can use it in a number of ways: on your own, with your family, or with others from our church community via video conferencing. Our suggestion is that you take time to move through each of the sections below, listening to the songs, reflecting on the liturgy and hearing the word preached exactly as we do on a Sunday. As you move through it why not talk with others or, if you are on your own, message someone from your City Group or DNA Group to share something that really struck you.
As you do this remember that we are still the church even when we can’t gather together as the church.
CALL TO WORSHIP
The bible is full of images to help us understand who God is and who we are. One of the images that is often repeated is that God is the great shepherd and his people are his sheep. This might not seem very flattering to us (after all, who wants to be a sheep) but it is an image rich with comfort and joy. Use these verses from Psalm 100 as you start your time of worship to remember that in Jesus you belong to the great shepherd who cares for you and watches over you.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
[Psalm 100]
SONG: Rejoice (Dustin Kensrue): A call to praise God and gaze upon His glory. A reminder that, even in the midst of our trials and suffering we still have reasons to rejoice in the Gospel.
LYRICS
Verse 1
Come and stand before your maker
Full of wonder full of fear
Come behold his power and glory
Yet with confidence draw near
For the one who holds the heavens
And commands the stars above
Is the God who bends to bless us
With an unrelenting love
Chorus 1
Rejoice
Come and lift your hands and raise your voice
He is worthy of all praise
Rejoice
Sing the mercies of your king
And with trembling rejoice
Verse 2
We are children of the promise
The beloved of the Lord
Won with everlasting kindness
Bought with sacrificial blood
Bringing reconciliation
To a world that longs to know
The affections of a father
Who will never let them go
Verse 3
All our sickness all our sorrows
Jesus carried up the hill
He has walked this path before us
He is walking with us still
Turning tragedy to triumph
Turning agony to praise
There is blessing in the battle
So take heart and stand amazed
Chorus 2
Rejoice
When you cry to him he hears your voice
He will wipe away your tears
Rejoice
In the midst of suffering
He will help you sing
CCLI Song # 7004663
Dustin Kensrue | Stuart Townend
© 2013 Dead Bird Theology (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
Townend Songs (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
We Are Younger We Are Faster Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
SONG: Look and See (The Village Church): A song that helps us gaze upon Christ, to direct our praise and worship to him, the one who has redeemed us.
LYRICS
Verse 1
To Him be the glory for all He has done
Praise to the Father who gave us His Son
A ransom for many He bled and died
Then rose in victory enthroned on high
Verse 2
To Him be the glory in heaven and earth
All of creation is shouting His worth
The saints and the angels all live to proclaim
The wonderful story the glorious Name
Chorus
Oh look and see our God and celebrate
The power of the cross and the empty grave
And now we're free let the redeemed
Lift up your heads
Oh look and see our God
Verse 3
To Him be the glory He's coming again
And all of the sadness will come to an end
Oh what a reunion the bride and her King
Forever we'll praise Him forever we'll sing
Bridge
Glory glory to our God glory glory to our God
Glory glory to our God glory glory to our God
(REPEAT)
CCLI Song # 6550721
Michael Bleecker | Ross King
© 2012 Bleecker Publishing (Admin. by Michael Bleecker)
Simple Tense Songs (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
In the Psalm we will be looking at today we are given a description of the situation that every one of us is in:
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
[Ps 130:3]
The answer to that question is that none of us could. If God recorded all of our sins none of us could stand before him. Even if God just took a record of this day we couldn’t stand before him.
Confession is a time for us to be honest with God about that sin and to seek his forgiveness. So take a moment to confess your sin to God now.
But the wonderful news of the gospel is that with God there is the hope of sins being dealt with. Through faith in Jesus we can experience the truth of the next verse in the Psalm:
But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
[Ps 130:4]
Rejoice in the fact that in Jesus there is full forgiveness of sins. That on the cross Jesus took our record of sin and gave us his record of righteousness.
SONG: Forgiven (Sovereign Grace): A song of confession and assurance that reminds us we are forgiven through the blood of Christ, despite the ways we fail God and fail one another.
LYRICS
Verse 1
Lord forgive us for our pride
When our faith becomes a show
Dressed in righteous deeds to hide
All the stains below
We have judged Your sons and daughters
For the sin that is our own
May we now forgive each other
And lay down our stones
Chorus
Forgiven forgiven
Through the blood of Christ
We are forgiven
Verse 2
Lord forgive us for our love
Of the things we wish to own
We forsake the feast above
For all the crumbs below
Though You've made us sons and daughters
We do not the world disown
May we find our greatest treasure
Is in You alone
Verse 3
Lord forgive us for our shame
When we can't release the past
When we're quick to take the blame
But forget we're free at last
We avoid Your sons and daughters
For the fear we don't belong
Give us eyes to see each other
Through Your only Son
CCLI Song # 7096634
Brittany Kauflin | Kate DeGraide | Rebecca Elliott
© Sovereign Grace Praise (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity Music)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Because of Christ's work on the cross, his death and resurrection, we have been brought back into communion with our God and have been made righteous. We have peace with our creator, our heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit unites us together in Jesus.
We normally express that peace with one another in our gatherings by greeting those around us. In this time where we can’t do that take a moment to pray for someone who is part of our church family instead.
SERMON Pilgrim Songs- [Psalm 130] Watch the pre-sermon message and then the sermon.
This week we’re continuing in our new series entitled ‘Pilgrim Songs’. Click here where you will find this week’s sermon.
RESPONSE
Take a few minutes to reflect on how God was speaking to you from his Word. Ask that the Holy Spirit would take the truth and use it to change and transform you.
SONG: Still my Soul be Still (Keith and Kristyn Getty): A song which helps us to quiet our souls amidst changes and hardships, and calls us to place our trust in God.
LYRICS
Verse 1
Still my soul be still and do not fear
Though winds of change may rage tomorrow
God is at your side no longer dread
The fires of unexpected sorrow
Chorus
God You are my God
And I will trust in You and not be shaken
Lord of peace renew
A steadfast spirit within me
To rest in You alone
Verse 2
Still my soul be still do not be moved
By lesser lights and fleeting shadows
Hold on to His ways with shield of faith
Against temptation's flaming arrows
Verse 3
Still my soul be still do not forsake
The truth you learned in the beginning
Wait upon the Lord and hope will rise
As stars appear when day is dimming
CCLI Song # 5469284
Keith Getty | Kristyn Getty | Stuart Townend
© 2008 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
SONG: Oh God (Citizens): An assurance that God is present with us in our struggles, when we feel alone and far from Him he is with us. A wonderful reminder that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
LYRICS
Verse 1
In the valley oh God You're near
In the quiet oh God You're near
In the shadow oh God You're near
At my breaking oh God You're near
Chorus 1
Oh God You never leave my side
Your love stands firm through all my life
Verse 2
In my searching oh God You're near
In my wandering oh God You're near
When I feel alone oh God You're near
At my lowest oh God You're near
Bridge
Height nor depth nor anything else
Could pull us apart
We are joined as one by Your blood
Hope will rise as we become more
Than conquerors through the One who loved the world
Chorus 2
Oh God You never leave my side
Oh God Your love will stand firm through all my life
CCLI Song # 6534493
Zach Bolen
© It's All About Jesus Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
We Are Younger We Are Faster Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
COMMITMENT READING
As you prepare to finish your time of worship today use this prayer to ask God to help you to patiently wait for him:
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. [Ps 130:5-6]
Lord, waiting is a hard thing for us to do. We so often find ourselves restless and impatient. We want answers and we want them fast. Help us to patiently trust you as we wait. Help us to find more of you in the watching and the waiting.
Amen.
SONG: It Is Well (Matt Redman): A new song with a familiar chorus, this song reminds us that through trials and hardship, God is with us and we can rely upon him.
LYRICS
Verse 1
Our scars are a sign of grace in our lives
And Father how You brought us through
When deep were the wounds and dark was the night
The promise of Your love You proved
Now ev'ry battle still to come
Let this be our song
Chorus 1
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well it is well with my soul
Verse 2
Weeping may come remain for a night
But joy will paint the morning sky
You're there in the fast You're there in the feast
Your faithfulness will always shine
Now ev'ry battle still to come
Let this be our song
Chorus 2
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well it is well with my soul
Trust Your ways (trust Your ways)
Trust Your name (trust Your name)
It is well it is well with my soul
(It is well it is well with my soul my soul)
Bridge
You lead us through battles
(You lead us through battles)
You lead us to blessing
(You lead us to blessing)
And You make us fruitful
(And You make us fruitful)
In the land of our suffering God
It is well it is well with my soul
CCLI Song # 7043170
Beth Redman | Matt Redman
© Said And Done Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
sixsteps Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Thankyou Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Integrity Music)
BENEDICTION
Close your time of worship with this benediction:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
[2 Thess 2:16-17]
Peace be with you