Congregational Songs – New Songs for Corporate Worship

Corporate Worship, 3/6/11

March 8, 2011

This week, Scott preached from Luke 8:40-56 – two intertwined stories of Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter and the woman who had bled for twelve years. He pointed out the desperation of these two individuals and the call to faith that Jesus gave them while putting them in awkward situations (the woman could not remain anonymous and Jairus had to wait for Jesus to heal this other person before Jesus addressed his daughter’s sickness (and death). There are plenty of great songs about our desperate need for Jesus, so I could go right at this theme in planning.

Come, People of the Risen King – iTunes, Amazon – I really like this call to worship by Keith and Kristyn Getty. We only did a verse and two choruses to start the service.
Welcome & Ministry Opportunities
Arise, My Soul, Arise – iTunes, Amazon – A very gospel-centered song that assures the believer of his desperate soul’s salvation in Christ.
All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above – iTunes, Amazon – This hymn comes out of “Arise, My Soul, Arise” with much gratitude for the gospel. It declares God’s grace and matches it with the thankful response of the one to whom grace is given – “With healing balm, my soul he fills / The God who every sorrow stills / To God all praise and glory!” The links above are to “Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above” which is the same tune with slightly different words.
Scripture Reading – Psalm 111 – A psalm about God’s powerful works and redemptive acts.
Preparation for Communion – Each communion service, Scott takes a few minutes to prepare us for communion by explaining what Jesus has told us to do in remembrance of Him and by giving us spiritual direction about how to take the elements and who should participate. While the bread and cup were being passed out to the congregation, we sang the next two songs:
In You – iTunes (Dave Hunt’s version), Amazon (Michael Boggs’ version) – I had the entire service planned and the bulletin was ready to go to print on Thursday afternoon. Then, on the way to the office Friday morning, this song came on as I was listening to my “Worship Song Prospects” playlist. About halfway through, God made the connection for me from this song to the two people Jesus heals in Luke 8:40-56. I sat there at the red light and wept (hoping that the driver next to me wouldn’t notice). Then I called our office assistant and asked her to hold off printing so I could get this song in there. It’s a prayerful song about the hope that we each have in Christ for the healing of our hearts.
Jesus, I Come – the old hymn (sorry for the cheese-ball keyboard orchestration link). I was bordering on having too many songs with the theme of coming to Jesus here, but since we were celebrating communion, I thought it was appropriate to stay there for another song. I love the contrasts laid out in this text. And seriously, can you have too many songs about coming to Jesus?
The Bread and the Cup
The Doxology – it has been a long-standing tradition at Grace to sing the Doxology a capella after partaking of the Lord’s Supper as a hymn of gratitude to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Sermon – “Faith That Is Deeper Than Desperation” – Luke 8:40-56
Congregational Response – after a few minutes of allowing the congregation to respond through prayer and the offering, we stood and sang the bridge and chorus of “In You” once more to respond congregationally to the message.
Benediction
All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above – final verse

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