CHILDREN’S SUNDAY (STOPPING ABUSE AND NEGLECT)

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, January 17, 2010

W. Patrick Alston, Sr., Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Please note that this is Children’s Sunday (for ages birth–12). It is not youth or teen Sunday, nor is this young adult Sunday. Please plan accordingly.

This may be one of the most important worship services for which the music and arts department of your church prepares this year. All children’s ministries, including the Children’s area of Christian Education departments, should lead and serve during this Sunday’s worship. It is left to the discretion of the Music ministry leaders to determine the choice and placement of choirs or singing ensembles. Section 4 in this service has special recommendations for choirs with children ranging in age from 4–12. The service itself is designed for music to be provided by a children’s choir (ages 4-12), an adult choir, a young adult choir (ages 19–35), or a teen choir (ages 13–17), along with your dance/mime ministry (see section 5).

Special elements for your attention:

• Be sure to include your mime ministry, drama ministry, step ministry, and all other cultural arts performance groups.

• Be sure to have testimonies from children within the church with adult supervision.

• Be sure to have available counselors and related resources to assist children who want help because they have been abused or neglected.

• Be sure to have present local entities that serve abused and neglected children.

• Be sure to invite law enforcement officers to attend your service.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) How Can You Recognize a Child of God? By Margaret Douroux

(b) I Love the Lord. Arr. By Richard Smallwood

(c) Jesus Loves Me. By Anna B. Warner. Tune, (China) by William Bradbury

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Walk Through the Valley. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Nathan Carter

(b) Walk Together Children. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

(c) Who’ll Be a Witness. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Wendell Whalum

4. Gospel Songs for Children’s Choirs
(a) Troop’s Prayer. By Percy Gray, Jr.

(b) Everybody Clap Your Hands. By Percy Gray, Jr.

(c) Make a Joyful Noise. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is an effective anthem-styled song for a children’s choir.

(d) You Deserve the Best. By Michael Earl Thompson

(e) I Wanna Feel Good about Myself. By Gerry A. J. Thompson

5. Liturgical Dance and Mime Ministry Music
(a) Angel and Me. By V. Michael McKay

(b) Mercy Said No. By Dave Clark, Gregory Long, and Donald Koch

6. Anthems
(a) I’m His Child. By Moses Hogan

(b) Fairest Lord Jesus. By Derrick Hayes

(c) The Lord Is My Light. By Francis Allisten

7. Modern Songs
(a) Never Gonna Let You Go. By David Frazier

(b) Faithful Is Our God. By Jules Bartholomew

(c) G. A. Hymn (Who Else But God). By Tye Tribbett

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Still Have Joy. By Tye Tribbett

(b) So Good. By Richard White and Leo Taylor

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Thank You. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.

(b) I Am Somebody. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) O How Precious. By Myrna Summers

(b) Help Us Grow. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Your Grace and Mercy. By Frank Williams. Arr. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(b) Everything. By Tye Tribbett

12. Benediction Song
‘Til We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin

13. Audio Visual Suggestions
If your church has a media ministry, have the media ministry work with parents and children to do a special media report that includes current statistics of child abuse and neglect especially include the statistics for your city and state. Also include pictures of children who are being loved and protected.

14. Other Worship Recommendations

• Have your Drama ministry prepare a skit dealing with child abuse and neglect. Be sure to not allow really young children to be present during the skit if it is too disturbing.

• Have your missionary department raise a special offering for either foreign or domestic children’s shelters.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed