FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT & WORLD AIDS DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Worship Planning Notes

• The liturgical colors for the First Sunday of Advent and World AIDS Day are violet and red.

• If possible, provide a red ribbon, representing the fight against HIV/AIDS to all who enter your worship services.

• This is a great opportunity to ensure that your church acknowledges the entire Advent season instead of rushing on to Christmas. It is also a good time to have the music and arts ministry lead the way in making churches more active in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The cultural resource unit for today provides a good list of organizations and websites that your church can contact to offer uplifting worship while educating church goers about the dreadful impact of AIDS on the African American community. Remember, worship should not only inspire, it should also educate. Be especially aware that HIV/AIDS is profoundly impacting young adult African American females and senior citizens. Please visit the cultural resource section for the first Sunday of Advent and plan accordingly.

• As lectionary team liturgist Michelle Riley Jones said last year:
  
  Remember, worship can be a vehicle that:
  Transforms the mind (proclaiming the Gospel, providing facts around HIV/AIDS prevention education and support, and calling everyone to action);
  Builds up the body (serving as a conduit to health and social resources and building community); and nourishes the soul (providing spiritual support, prayer, comfort, and the assurance of God’s promises to us all).
  
  Armed with the message and the power of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the resources of credible leaders in the field of HIV and AIDS, the church will be more than equipped to step up and provide bold and life-supporting leadership.
  Churches, TAKE THE LEAD!

• Also, be sure to prepare audio visual materials to bring your message alive. Audio visual materials will be particularly powerful and helpful to use as worshippers gather to begin worship, during the period of prayer, the offering and the benediction. Please see the great video from Year One of the lectionary (First Sunday of Advent and World AIDS Day) for wonderful images that you can use. Simply click the Year One Archive and scroll to the day on the calendar.

• Do not fail to include children in your worship services.

• Finally, the service will be even more educational and inspiring if the morning sermon addresses the Advent season and World AIDS Day.

1. Processional Music and Responsive Reading
Processional Music
(a) The Lord Will Hear the Just. By Kenneth W. Louis. For SATB

(b) Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord. By Kenneth W. Louis. For SATB
Audio Sample: http://www.wlp.jspaluch.com/download/017331-002.mp3

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Have a Little Talk with Jesus. Text by Cleavant Derricks. Tune, (Just a Little Talk) by Cleavant Derricks

(b) Precious Lord Take My Hand. By Thomas Dorsey. Tune, (Precious Lord) by George N. Allen

(c) Where Shall I Be. Text and Tune, (Judgement Day) by Charles P. Jones

(e) O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Text by John Mason Neale. Tune, (Veni Emmanuel) by John Mason Neale

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) There Is a Balm in Gilead. Spiritual. Tune, Balm in Gilead

(b) My Lord! What a Morning. Spiritual. Tune, What a Morning

(c) Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land. Spiritual. Arr. by Glenn Burleigh

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Emmanuel. Text and Tune by Bob McGee

(d) Grateful. By Shawn Brown

(e) You Are Worthy. By Cynthia Gowens. Arr. By Kenneth Louis

5. Music for Liturgical Dance or Mime Group
(a) I’ll Trust You. By Richard Smallwood

6. Anthems
(a) Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. By Robert Robinson. Tune, (Nettleton). Arr. By Mack Wilberg. For SATB choral and organ

7. Modern Songs
(a) Jesus Christ Is the Way. By Walter Hawkins

(d) Lord Make Us Turn to You. From The Coming. By Leon C. Roberts

8. Music for the Offertory Period
(a) High and Lifted Up. By Joseph Pace

(c) Faithful Is Our God. By Jules Bartholomew

(e) He Cares for You. By Percy Bady

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer 
(a) Standing in the Need of Prayer. Spiritual. Tune, Standin’ in the Need

(b) I Love the Lord. By Richard Smallwood

(c) I Don’t Mind Waiting. By Juanita Bynum

(e) My Life Is in Your Hands. By Kirk Franklin

(f) For the Good of Them. By Darius Brooks

(g) Hear My Prayer. By Moses Hogan

(h) My Help (Cometh from the Lord). By Jackie Gouche’ Farris

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Behold Your God. By Kenneth Louis

(b) Take It to the Lord in Prayer. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(c) For Every Mountain. By Kurt Carr. This is a beautiful arrangement for a male chorus.

(d) Not ‘Til I’ve Seen Jesus. From Born to Die. By Glenn Burleigh

(e) Every Valley. By John Ness Beck. (Octavo). For SATB choral

(f) All Is Well. By Michael Dotson. Tune by Chad Higgins

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) People Need the Lord. By Greg Nelson and Phil McHugh

(b) Come, Lord, and Tarry Not. By Horatius Bonar. Tune, (St. Bride) by Samuel Howard

(c) Jesus Is Calling. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by George C. Stebbins

(d) Just for Me. By Kenneth W. Louis

(e) I’m His Child. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(f) He Shall Feed His Flock. By George Frederick Handel. Arr. By Eric Schultz. For trumpet and organ

12. Benediction Song or Music
(a) Lord Make Me More Holy. Spiritual

(b) An Irish Blessing. By James Moore. For SATB, with optional descant

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed