DISABILITY AWARENESS

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Marcus D. Smith, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Music, Ark Church, Baltimore, MD and
W. Patrick Alston, Sr., Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

The Church has failed to adequately accommodate and include its members who have disabilities. Beyond singing ministries offered by a few churches and wheelchair ramps in a few churches, little evidence can be found of our purposeful attempts to include all in the worship and activities of the Church. This must change! Technology now makes so much possible if we have willing hearts and minds. Many congregations now have within their ranks numerous persons who have Down syndrome or autism, who are blind or deaf, who use wheelchairs, or have other disabilities. Most of these persons are more than able to participate in the life of the Church if we assist them.

Many of your church members have disabilities, as statistically one in five individuals has a disability. Present to the congregation a survey that includes questions about each member’s abilities, needs, and desires to be part of your church’s activities. Many people have disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as vision difficulties, physical challenges, or mental illness, so it is important to ask everyone if his or her needs are being met.

Do a thorough assessment of your programs and policies to determine if you have faithfully done all that you can do to include persons with disabilities and those who are differently-abled in the life of the church. This assessment should take no more than two months to complete and should include a plan for implementation, a budget, and timelines for each act that is to be implemented. Be sure to include persons of all ages in your assessment and plan for implementation. Make immediate changes wherever possible. Help your church raise funds where needed. Your actions can lead to change by your entire congregation and could encourage other churches to do more. Also, be aware that federal, state and local entities also provide financial assistance for the disabled.

For great resources to help your church lend greater support to the disabled, see the cultural resource unit for Disability Awareness.

1. Invocation
On this day, we admit that we have failed to do all that we can to embrace, uplift, and include the differently abled. Forgive us of our lack of concern, our ignorance, and our irrational fear of those who are different. Move us as we have never been moved to stand up for and with those who are differently abled. Make this church and its people their advocate. Make this church a place where they are welcomed participants and members on all occasions. Make us people who are open to help persons see you, hear the Word, and participate fully in worshipping you. Let our budget and our beliefs reflect our care and concern for the differently abled. Shower us with the wisdom, the will, the people and the resources to do the right thing. Hold us accountable we pray. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) This Is My Father’s World. By Maltbie D. Babcock. Tune, (Terra Beata) by Franklin L.
Sheppard

(b) All Creatures of Our God and King. By Francis of Assisi. Tune, (Lasst Uns Erfreuen) Arr. by
Norman Johnson

(c) We’ll Praise the Lord. By R. H. Cornelius

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) You Must Have That True Religion. By Roland Carter. For four-part chorus

(b) Plenty Good Room/Sit Down, Servant. By Robert De Cormier. For four-part chorus with
     mezzo-soprano or tenor and baritone solos with piano accompaniment

(c) Ain’- A That Good News. By William L. Dawson. For mixed chorus

(d) Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus. By James Cleveland

(e) One More Day. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Do It for Me. By DeAndre Patterson

(b) He Laid His Hands on Me. Traditional. By Charles G. Hayes

(c) No Weapon. By Fred Hammond

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Music
(a) We’re All in the Same Boat. By David Grover and Aaron Schroeder

(b) Something Inside So Strong. By Vanessa Bell Armstrong

(c) Bend, Don’t Break. By Richard White

6. Anthems
(a) Sing to the Lord. By Melvin Bryant. For SATB choir and piano

(b) O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing. By Carl G Glaser. For SATB choir, organ, and brass

(c) Ye Shall Have a Song. By Randall Thompson. For a capella choir

7. Modern Songs
(a) My Relationship. By James Moore

(b) I Know the Lord Will Make a Way. Traditional. Arr. by James Moore

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Let’s Just Praise the Lord. By T. D. Jakes

(b) Everytime I Turn Around. By Jeff Jacobs

(c) He’s Able. By Deitrick Haddon

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Use Me. By Carol Cymbala

(b) This Day. By Edwin Hawkins

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) He Shall Feed His Flock. By James Cleveland

(b) Perfect Peace. By Keith Pringle

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) I Will Trust in the Lord. Traditional

(b) We Offer Christ. By Joel Britton

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Be with Us All Lord. By Uzee Brown, Jr.

(b) We Are One. By Timothy Wright

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed