The real Father-force is responsibility. It’s standing up and being the man.
The Father-force is a caring force. It watches at night when dangers lurk around their children…
The Father-force does not want to be something that’s impressive to someone else. The Father-force wants to be impressive to his own family, his own children. They don’t want their sons to look up to their boss. They want their sons to look up to them. That’s the Father-force!
--Dr. Na’im Akbar
Worship Planning Notes
In the African American community there has long been a cry for more men to step up and take responsibility as fathers. On this Sunday, although the need continues, we do not continue that cry. Instead we salute those Godly men who are supporting families and communities. These men are described in Psalm 112 and in 1 Timothy 5:8.
Begin worship with a spirited choir processional, “To My Father’s House,” by Edwin Hawkins, to honor the providential care of the God of our fathers (both biological and mentors) whom the Creator has given to us.
The colors for this day are maroon and burgundy, signifying strength and robustness! Choir robes, or robe accents, and banners/flags, etc. should all be coordinated. Notify fathers four weeks in advance and have them wear maroon or burgundy ties this day. Supply maroon carnation lapel corsages.
This day, let fathers speak! Plan an afternoon service of spoken word delivered by fathers. The spoken word topics can cover all aspects of fatherhood (i.e., fatherly spiritual leadership in the home, fathers as providers, fathers as teachers, etc.). Uplift traditional and non-traditional fathers (i.e., single dads, grandfathers, foster fosters, adoptive fathers, stepfathers, mentor fathers/father figures, etc.).
1. Litany Processional Music
(a)
To My Father’s House. By Edwin Hawkins
Litany (b)
Father, father…Thank You!
Leader:
Father of our fathers, we give you glory today.
We thank you for our earthly fathers.
We honor them, as they have honored you.
People:
Father, father…Thank You!
Leader:
Our fathers have reverenced you and have walked in your ways.
As you have girded them up, we too have been made strong.
Our fathers have shown us the way to you.
Because of their example, we have made precious your precepts.
People:
Father, father… Thank You!
Leader:
We can never forget what you’ve done for us, O God; and fathers, we will
forever remember that you have loved us as God loved you.
People:
Father, father… Thank You!
Leader:
Our fathers, when knocked down, have always looked to you for strength to get back up. They have leaned on your everlasting arms to care and provide for their families.
People:
Father, father… Thank You!
Leader:
Father of our fathers, we give you glory today.
We thank you for our earthly fathers (dads, uncles, father-figures,
adoptive fathers, and step fathers).
We honor them, as they have honored you.
All:
Father, father…Thank You!
2. Hymns or Congregational Songs
(a) God of Our Fathers. By Daniel C. Roberts. Tune, (NATIONAL ANTHEM), by George
W. Warren
(b) O Perfect Love. By Dorothy B. Gurney. Tune, (O PERFECT LOVE), by Joseph Barnby
(c) My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me. By W. C. Martin. Tune, (WATCHES OVER ME), by Charles H. Gabriel
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) I Thank You, Jesus. Negro Spiritual
(b) The Good Old Righteous Way. By Linda Twine
(c) My Soul Is Anchored in the Lord. Arr. by Charles Garner. This selection is for SATB, with tenor solo.
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) That’s Just the Way the Father Is. By Kurt Carr
(b) Provider. By VaShawn Mitchell
(c) I’ve Got My Mind Made Up. By Norman Hutchins
(d) Worthy to Be Praised. By Brenda Hinton
5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) Father You. By Jayshawn Champion
(b) My Father Was/Is. By Noel Hall and Fred Hammond
6. Anthem
All The Way My Savior Leads Me. By Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Fanny J.
Crosby. Tune by Robert Lowry. Arr. by Tom Fettke; orch. arr. by Michael Lawrence. This selection is for SATB, with optional instrumental ensemble.
Audio Sample: http://www.alfred-music.com/player/AlfredChurchChoral2009/32210/player.html
7. Modern Songs
(a) Everlasting God. By Chris Tomlin
(b) Heavenly Father. By Terrell Hunt
(c) The Father’s Song. By Matt Redman
8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) My Tribute. By Andraé Crouch
(b) Jesus, I’ll Never Forget/He’s Done So Much for Me. By Patrick Henderson
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Happy the Men Who Jesus Knows. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (VENETIA), from the London Tune Book
(b) I Honor You. By Timothy Clifton
10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Jesus Loves Me. Traditional
(b) Thanks for Staying. By Lindsey Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, and Kim Rutherford
(c) Your Love Is Amazing. By Norman Hutchins
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around. Spiritual
(b) Because You Loved Me. By Diane Warren
(c) Father, I Worship You. By Charles Williams
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Well Done. By Darnell Williams
(b) God Will Take Care of You. By Civilla D. Martin. Tune by W. Stillman Martin
13. Audio Visual Suggestions
Include images of fathers in bulletins and videos. Highlight fathers of all age ranges, from teens to seniors, and from all aspects of life: work, family, home, at church, in the community, etc.
14. Other Recommendations (a) Men’s Ministry Remodeled™ --developed by the National Fatherhood Initiative, this one-year ministry plan provides a model that churches and ministries can use to establish a sustainable men’s ministry that prioritizes fathers. This program provides the tools needed to create an intentional men’s ministry where fathers feel welcomed and encouraged.
(b) Visit FatherSOURCE, the online resource of the National Fatherhood Initiative to view a collection of resources for new dads, plus resources for military fathers, incarcerated fathers, teen dads, and more.
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
1. Litany Processional Music
(a) To My Father’s House. By Edwin Hawkins
Location:
The Edwin Hawkins Singers. Oh Happy Day: The Best of the Edwin Hawkins Singers. New York, NY: Buddah Records, 2001.
Litany
(b) Father, father…Thank You! By Michelle Riley Jones
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) God of Our Fathers. By Daniel C. Roberts. Tune, (NATIONAL ANTHEM), by George W. Warren
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #609
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. Nashville, TN: A.M.E. Zion Publishing House, 1996. #530
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #322
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #459
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985. #645
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. #499
(b) O Perfect Love. By Dorothy B. Gurney. Tune, (O PERFECT LOVE), by Joseph Barnby
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #520
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #532
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #154
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #361
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #656
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #226
(c) My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me. By W. C. Martin. Tune, (WATCHES OVER ME), by Charles H. Gabriel
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #144
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #84
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #231
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #53
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #139
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) I Thank You, Jesus. Spiritual
Location:
Hogan, Moses and The Moses Hogan Singers. Negro Spirituals. New York, NY: Angel, 2006.
(b) The Good Old Righteous Way. By Linda Twine
Location:
Sisters of Freedom and the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble. Sisters of Freedom. Harlem, NY: Arts Productions Ltd., 2006.
(c) My Soul Is Anchored in the Lord. Arr. by Charles Garner. This selection is for SATB, with tenor solo.
Location:
GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue
Chicago, IL 60638
Phone: 1-800-442-1358
(b) My Father Was/Is. By Noel Hall and Fred Hammond
Location:
Hammond, Fred & Radical for Christ. Purpose by Design. New York, NY: Verity, 2000.
6. Anthem
All The Way My Savior Leads Me. By Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Fanny J.
Crosby. Tune by Robert Lowry. Arr. by Tom Fettke; orch. arr. by Michael Lawrence. This selection is for SATB, with optional instrumental ensemble.
Location::
Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.
Attn: Customer Service
P.O. Box 10003
Van Nuys, CA 91410-0003
Phone: 1-800-292-6122
7. Modern Songs
(a) Everlasting God. By Chris Tomlin
Location:
Evans, Anthony. The Bridge. Franklin, TN: Anthony Evans, 2008.
(b) Heavenly Father. By Terrell Hunt
Location:
Awesome. Washington, DC: Richscape Music, 2008.
(c) The Father’s Song. By Matt Redman
Location:
The Father’s Song. Brentwood, TN: Worship Together, 2000.
8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) My Tribute. By Andraé Crouch
Location:
Crouch, Andraé/Walter Hawkins. The Kings of Gospel. Burbank, CA: Universal, 2003.
(b) Jesus, I’ll Never Forget/He’s Done So Much for Me. By Patrick Henderson
Location:
Pearson, Carlton. Live at Azusa 2: Precious Memories (Live). New York, NY: Warner Alliance, 1997.
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Happy the Men Who Jesus Knows. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (VENETIA), from the London Tune Book
Location:
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #25
(b) I Honor You. By Timothy Clifton
Location:
Jakes, Bishop T.D. Woman Thou Art Loosed: Worship 2000—Run to the Water…The River Within. New York, NY: Chordant, 2002.
10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Jesus Loves Me. Traditional
Location:
Neville, Aaron/Various Artists. Great Men of Gospel, Vol. 2. Brentwood, TN: Chordant, 2006.
(b) Thanks for Staying. By Lindsey Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, and Kim Rutherford
Location:
Jakes, Bishop T.D. He-Motions. Dallas, TX: Dexterity, 2007.
(c) Your Love Is Amazing. By Norman Hutchins
Location:
God Is Faithful.Dover, DE: Impact Records, 2009.
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around. Spiritual
Location:
Wiley, Howard. Twenty First Century Negro. San Francisco, CA: Howard Wiley, 2002.
(b) Because You Loved Me. By Diane Warren
Location:
Whalum, Kirk. The Gospel According to Jazz—Chapter III. Nashville, TN: Kirk Whalum, 2009.
(c) Father, I Worship You. By Charles Williams
Location:
Pugh, Ernest. Ernest Pugh Live: A Worshipper’s Perspective. Detroit, MI: Crystal Rose, 2006.
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Well Done. By Darnell Williams
Location:
The Williams Singers. Letting It All Out. Indianapolis, IN: Deznell, 2007.
(b) God Will Take Care of You. By Civilla D. Martin. Tune, (GOD CARES), by W. Stillman Martin.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #137
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #77
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #183
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #52
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #99
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #76
13. Other Recommendations
(a) Men’s Ministry Remodeled™. Developed by National Fatherhood Initiative
Location:
National Fatherhood Initiative
101 Lake Forest Blvd., Suite 360
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Phone: 301-948-0599
