Worship Resources

 
       

CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Thaddeus Price, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Fine Arts Department Chair, Milford Mill Academy and Director Milford Mill Concert Chorale, Baltimore, MD

Worship Planning Notes

The following are some suggestions for a Black History worship service:
  • Have all worshippers wear African-styled attire.
  • Have an African drummer perform at the opening of the service as part of the call to worship. This is often done during most African religious ceremonies and rituals.
  • Have dancers perform to native African instrumental music.
  • Honor the oldest members of your congregation, thereby symbolically honoring all of our ancestors.

1. Litany

In Celebration of Black History

All:      “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us
thus far on the way. Thou who hast by thy might led us into the light keep us forever in Thy path we pray.”
   
Leader: Even as the worlds were formed, continents named, oceans separated, and your plan for mankind began to unfold, you had us on your mind.
   
People: Thank you, Gracious Lord, for including us in your divine plan.
   
Leader: When you decided to perfectly place man in your world, you chose to place him in our Motherland.
   
People: Thank you, Gracious Lord, for including us in your divine plan.
   
Leader: Throughout Holy Scripture and throughout our history, we have witnessed your keeping power and we have been recipients of your love and grace.
   
People: Thank you, Gracious Lord, for including us in your divine plan.
   
Leader: We shall ever be mindful of how you brought us together after the middle passage, delivered us from the chains of slavery, and carried us through the civil rights movement.
   
People: May we always remember your love towards us, O God.
   
Leader: We thank you, dear Savior, for the gifts, talents, uniqueness, and cultural blessings you have poured out upon our people.
 

 
People: May we always appreciate the blessings you have bestowed upon us, O God.
   
Leader: We thank you for our mathematic, scientific, and literary genius. We thank you jazz, gospel, and the blues. We thank you for beautiful locks of hair and beautiful shades and complexions of skin, and even for soul-food.
   
People: May we always appreciate our unique beauty and giftedness, O God.
   
Leader: We thank you for the wisdom, strength, and determination we learned from our ancestors and for the blessings and love of family, O God.
   
All: And we stand today, O God, as a corporate family in love to remember, reflect, honor, and celebrate the heritage, history, and legacy you have given to us. And we ask that you, O Lord, will keep us forever in thy path, we pray. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson

(b) We’ve Come a Long Way, Lord. By Kenneth Morris

(c) Faith of Our Fathers. By Frederick William Faber. Tune, (St. Catherine) by Henri Hemi

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Ol’ Time Religion. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Moses Hogan

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

(c) The Uncloudy Day. By J. K. Alwood. Arr. by Valeria Foster

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) I Can Depend on God. By Charles Nicks

(b) Lord I Thank You. By Rudolph Stansfield

(c) Grateful. By Kevin Davidson

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) More Than I Can Bear. By Kirk Franklin

(b) For Every Mountain. By Kurt Carr

6. Anthems
(a) Someday. Arr. by Nathan Carter

(b) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Arr. by Roland Carter

(c) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Arr. by Nathan Carter

7. Modern Songs
(a) Back to Eden. By Donald Lawrence

(b) Faithful Is Our God. By Jules Bartholomew

(c) How Can I Say Thank You. By Hezekiah Walker and Eric McDaniels

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Anthem of Praise. By Richard Smallwood

(b) Look Where He Brought Me From. Traditional. Arr. by Milton Biggham

(c) Give Him Glory. By Percy Gray

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Always Remember. By Andraé Crouch

(b) Precious Memories. By Roberta Martin and Georgia Jones. Arr. by Joseph Joubert

(c) Father I Stretch My Hand to Thee. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (Martyrdom) by Hugh Wilson.
Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) You Are God. By Thaddeus L. Price

(b) Why We Sing. By Kirk Franklin

(c) Bless the Lord. By Fernando Allen

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

(b) Take Me Back. By Andraé Crouch

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. By Isaac Watts. Arr. by Roberta Martin

(b) ‘Til We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin

(c) God Be with You. By Thomas A. Dorsey. Arr. by Horace Boyer

13. Audio Visual Suggestions
If your church has a “step-team,” have them do a routine honoring our African legacy and heritage. Prior to the service, have the youth work on creating family trees with the assistance of their oldest living family members. Display these trees in the church lobby or other appropriate areas.

14. Other Worship Recommendations

  • Consult with the culinary or hospitality ministry of your church and perhaps serve a popular African dish after service.
  • Have an auxiliary of the church work with the missions department to do something special to aid the Motherland.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany--In Celebration of Black History. By Thaddeus L. Price

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A Goodson
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #412

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #225

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #529

National Baptist Publishing Board. The New National Baptist Hymnal. Nashville, TN: National Baptist Pub. Board, 1981. #222

Church of God in Christ. Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. Memphis, TN: Church of God in Christ Pub. Board in association with the Benson Co., 1982. #395

(b) We’ve Come a Long Way, Lord. By Kenneth Morris
Location:
The New National Baptist Hymnal. #293

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #394

(c) Faith of Our Fathers. By Frederick William Faber. Tune, (St. Catherine) by Henri F. Hemi
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #409

The New National Baptist Hymnal. #192

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #282

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Ol’ Time Religion. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Moses Hogan
Location:
Distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation
Available from J. W. Pepper & Sons Incorporated
2480 Industrial Boulevard
Paoli, PA 19301
Phone: 1-800-345-6296

Online location: www.jwpepper.com

(b) Walk Together Children. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #541

(c) The Uncloudy Day. By J. K. Alwood. Arr. by Valeria Foster
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #589

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) I Can Depend on God. By Charles Nicks
Location:
Nicks, Charles and the St. James Adult Choir. Hold Back the Night. Southfield, MI: Sounds of Gospel Records, 2006.

(b) Lord I Thank You. By Rudolph Stansfield
Location:
Anderson Sanctuary Choir. Joyful Praise. Jackson, MS: Malaco Records, 2004.

(c) Grateful. By Kevin Davidson
Location:
Davidson, Kevin and The Voices. Full Circle Live. Franklin, TN: New Haven Records, 2003.

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) More Than I Can Bear. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
God’s Property from Nu Nation Project. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 1997.

(b) For Every Mountain. By Kurt Carr
Location:
Carr, Kurt and the Kurt Carr Singers. No One Else. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 1997.

6. Anthems
(a) Someday. Arr. by Nathan Carter
Location:
GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue
Chicago, IL 60638
Phone: 1-800-GIA-1358

Online location: www.giamusic.com


(b) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Arr. by Roland Carter
Location:
Mar-Vel Publications
P.O. Box 6082
Chattanooga, TN 37401
Phone: 423-266-7728

Online location: www.rolandcarter.com


(c) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Arr. by Nathan Carter
Location:
GIA Publications, Inc.
Phone: 1-800-GIA-1358
Online location: www.giamusic.com

7. Modern Songs
(a) Back to Eden. By Donald Lawrence
Location:
Lawrence, Donald and the Tri-City Singers. Back II Eden. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2008.

(b) Faithful Is Our God. By Jules Bartholomew
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah and The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. 20/85 The Experience. New York, NY: Verity, 2005.

(c) How Can I Say Thank You. By Hezekiah Walker and Eric McDaniels
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah and LFC. Live in Toronto. New York, NY: Verity, 1993.

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Anthem of Praise. By Richard Smallwood
Location:
Smallwood, Richard with Vision. Adoration Live in Atlanta. New York, NY: Verity, 1996.

(b) Look Where He Brought Me From. Traditional. Arr. by Milton Biggham
Location:
Georgia Mass Choir. The Greatest Hits. Jackson, MS: Savoy, 1996.

(c) Give Him Glory. By Percy Gray
Location:
Patterson, DeAndre. DeAndre Patterson. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscot Records, 2004.

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Always Remember. By Andraé Crouch
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #640

(b) Precious Memories. By Roberta Martin and Georgia Jones. Arr. by Joseph Joubert
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #516

(c) Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (Martyrdom) by Hugh Wilson.
Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #127

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) You Are God. By Thaddeus L. Price
Location:
Milford Mill Academy Concert Chorale, 7th Season. Baltimore, MD: Independent, 2007.
CD available from the school:
Milford Mill Academy Concert Chorale
3800 Washington Ave
Baltimore, MD 21244

E-mail: tprice@bcps.org


(b) Why We Sing. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
Kirk Franklin and The Family. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 1992.

African American Heritage Hymnal. #496


(c) Bless the Lord. By Fernando Allen
Location:
Bless the Lord. Baltimore, MD: Ice Records, 2004.

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Your Grace and Mercy. By Frank Williams. Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #270

(b) Take Me Back. By Andraé Crouch
Location:
The Best of Andraé. New York, NY: Compendia Records, 1993.

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. By Isaac Watts. Arr. by Roberta Martin
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #650

The New National Baptist Hymnal. #529


(b) ‘Til We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
Kirk Franklin and The Family. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 1992.

(c) God Be with You. By Thomas A. Dorsey. Arr. by Horace Boyer
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #639
     

 

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