KWANZAA

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Saturday, December 26, 2009 – January 1, 2010

Lark N. Ball, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
White Rock Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA

Scripture: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1).

Worship Planning Notes

• Special care should be taken to insure symbols or practices of other holidays or cultures are not mixed or included with the symbols of Kwanzaa. Therefore, be certain to remove all Christmas decorations to prevent any violation of the integrity of the holiday.

• Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that celebrates the unity of community and family.  With that in mind, there should be an ample amount of preparation and communication prior to this worship service in order to emphasize the family and the familial relationships that exist within the church. The entire day can be reserved for the celebration of Kwanzaa and the worship service inspired by its principles. Sunday morning for most churches begins with Sunday School. The typical celebration of Kwanzaa would include the family gathering for dinner.  But since the celebration is meant to encompass the entire day, perhaps breakfast for the congregation would be appropriate. The rituals associated with Kwanzaa can be celebrated at this time. Individual families would have been preselected to either expound upon our African heritage or to present and explain the symbols used in celebrating the holiday. The presentations made could be significant to their family history (vegetables grown from home gardens, use of their candles for the Kinara, or straw place mats owned by a grandparent, etc.) Members of each family can light the candles of the Kinara, as someone else explains each of the seven principles of the celebration. Readings appropriate for each of the principles can be shared, dances performed, artwork presented, all to take place within the Sunday School hour.

• Before the worship service begins, the pastor can lead the congregation in pouring Libation. The materials needed are a glass pitcher from which to pour the beverage, a vessel, bowl or large plant into which the beverage would be poured, and water or wine. The officiant opens the ceremony with an invocation. There is a segment in the ritual where the names of the ancestors are called and acknowledged. A list of names of deceased members who have made significant contributions to the church can be called at this point. 

• In accordance with the ritual, the pastor offers thanks to God for the day of commemoration and celebration, the church family as a whole, and for the individual families represented. He or she can solicit the continued presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, praying for the health and well being of the congregation as a whole and for individual families. The pouring of the Libation provides the opportunity for the Pastor to highlight the principle of Imani, faith, that will be the focus of the worship service this year. Not only do we acknowledge and praise God for being faithful towards us, but we express our gratitude for our ancestors who were the embodiment of the lection Scripture, Hebrews 11:1. The Pastor can lead into the worship service with the Call to Worship and the service can continue according to the prescribed order of worship.

• One symbol omitted from the descriptive information above is the Zawadi, which are gifts often given as symbols of the love and labor of parents and the commitments made and kept by children. Since this is written as a church wide celebration, special offerings can be made to the church by each family in celebration of the holiday and symbolic of their commitment to the Church and their love of Christ. The moment of the worship just before the offering can be an opportunity for the Pastor to emphasize this commitment. Special envelopes could be distributed prior to this Sunday for the congregation to set aside their special offering. The idea is to present gifts demonstrating the love and commitment of the congregation for the Lord, His Church, and their church family.

2. Hymns and Congregational Selections
(a) Have Faith in God. By B. B. McKinney. Tune, (Muskogee) by B. B. McKinney                

(b) Have Thine Own Way. By A. A. Pollard. Tune, (Adelaide) by G. C. Stebbins              

(c) Great is Thy Faithfulness. By T. O. Chisholm. Tune, (Faithfulness) by William M.  
Runyan

3. Spirituals and Traditional Songs
(a) God Never Fails. By G. Jordan                                                                                    

(b) Yes, God is Real. By K. Morris                                                                                

(c) He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand. Traditional Spiritual                                                               

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles and Praise Teams
(a) This Morning When I Rose. Arr. by Jerry Smith                                                        

(b) God’s Promise. By Luther Barnes. Arr. by Carol Cymbala                                           

(c) You Must Be Faithful. By Glenn Burleigh

5. Anthems
(a) Great is Thy Faithfulness. By William Runyan. Arr. by Nathan Carter                              

(b) Someday. By C. A. Tindley. Arr. by Nathan Carter                                                         

(c) Be Strong in the Lord. By Linda Lee Johnson and Tom Fettke

6. Modern Songs
(a) Faithful is Our God. By Jules Bartholomew                                                                     

(b) I Call You Faithful. By Kevin Walker and Bobby Price                                                  

(c) I’ll Trust You. By Richard Smallwood

7. Liturgical Dance or Mime Music
(a) Brighter Day. By Kirk Franklin                                                                                   

(b) Let Go. By Paul Morton                                                                                              

(c) My Soul Says Yes. By Damita Haddon and Dietrick Haddon

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Completely Yes. By Sandra Crouch                                                                          

(b) You Can’t Hurry God. By Dorothy Love Coates                                                               

(c) God is Working. By Carol Cymbala

9. Song or Instrumental Selection for the Period of Prayer
(a) My Faith Looks Up to Thee. By Ray Palmer. Tune, (Olivet) by Lowell Mason                

(b) Have Thine Own Way, Lord. By Adelaide Pollard. Tune, (Adelaide) by George
Stebbin

(c) If You Just Hold Out ‘Til Tomorrow. By Aretha Franklin and C. L. Franklin           

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment. By Caroline Sandell-Berg                       

(b) ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. By Louisa Stead                                                        

(c) O, Thou in Whose Presence. By Joseph Swain                                                       

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) My Faith Has Found a Resting Place. By Lidie Edmunds                                                 

(b) I Will Trust in the Lord. Traditional Spiritual                                                              

(c) How Long Has It Been? By Mosie Lister                

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Victory is Mine. By Dorothy Norwood                                                                        

(b) I’ll Say Yes. By Carol Cymbala                                                                                     

(c) Cast Your Cares. By Carlton Burgess

13. Visual Aids
Large tables can be set up in the vestibule, fellowship hall, and in the sanctuary draped in black, red, and green, the colors of Kwanzaa. Each table would be dressed with the Mkeka (straw mat, representing our historical foundation), Mazao (fruits and vegetables representing the crops, the reward for productive and collaborative labor), Muhindi, (corn, representing our children and the future), and the Kikombe cha Umoja (the Unity Cup). The table in the fellowship hall and the sanctuary would include the Kinara (candle holder, symbolic of our African roots and ancestors) and the Mishumma Saba (the seven candles, which represent Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa). An explanation of the principles, all of the symbols, and their meanings can be included in the worship bulletin for all to read and reflect upon. See the cultural resource unit for this year for information provided by the founder of Kwanzaa

The seven principles of Kwanzaa can be illustrated on large decorative banners that adorn the fellowship hall or the vestibule of the church. Other African art objects and baskets can be used to decorate the church and sanctuary as deemed appropriate.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed