ANTI-INCARCERATION DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Jesus supped and interacted with those charged with crimes. Even the thief on the cross was given salvation because he repented. As Christians, we cannot promise that freedom from incarceration will be achieved because of an individual’s desire to be more like Christ, but we can show those who are incarcerated that Jesus’ love and redemptive power is available to them. Our living examples of love and caring interaction can serve to show them the way to Christ and serve as an anti-incarceration method.

Many churches have Prison Ministries that seek to address the spiritual needs of those who are incarcerated, their families, and those who work in the prison environment. The African American Lectionary’s July 2009 “BIG IDEA” on Prison Ministry provides us with an example of the Prison Ministry of St. James Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Salinas, California, under the leadership of Pastor Darrell Wesley. For more information, visit: http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/bigideaJuly09.asp.

Encourage your congregation to support your church’s efforts by volunteering, becoming a Pen Pal, or donating supplies (Bibles, stamps, Bible studies, books, Christian CDs/videos, etc.).

Use Revelation 2:17 to emphasize the message of redemption. Display the attached image. Get white stones, and have them engraved with the word “REDEEMED” to distribute to the congregation. These can be passed out during the prayer or at the end of service.

Invocation
(b) Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Part A: Invocation. (Based on Revelation 2:7) By Michelle Riley Jones

In these beginning hours of our worship, we turn to you—away from our accusers and the judgment of the skeptics who question if God can indeed change lives. We hear this pronouncement from the Lord: “Hear ye, hear ye! To those who overcome, I will give you the right to eat from the tree of life. You will join Me in the paradise of our God” (Rev. 2:7). Accept our worship today, O God. For it is only in your presence that we will experience your power to save and to redeem. Let us receive the presence of our Almighty Redeemer. Amen.

Music for Gathering
(c) Holy Spirit. By DeLeon

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Redeemed. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by William J. Kirkpatrick

(b) Yes, God Is Real. Text and Tune, (GOD IS REAL), by Kenneth Morris

(c) My Faith Looks Up to Thee. By Ray Palmer. Tune, (OLIVET), by Lowell Mason

(d) The Love of God. Text and Tune, (LOVE OF GOD), by F. M. Lehman

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) I Wouldn’t Take Nothing (For My Journey Now). Negro Spiritual. Arr. by William A. Barks-Dale

(b) Study War No More. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Michael McElroy and Joseph Joubert

(c) Until I Found the Lord. By Clara Ward

(d) I Wanna Be Ready. Spiritual

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Oh, to Be Kept by Jesus. By Thurston Frazier

(b) Guess You’re Wondering. By Darius Brooks

(c) And Yet I’m Still Saved. By Donald Lawrence and Terrence Sykes

(d) One More Chance. By One More Chance

(e) Jailbird. By Dallas Lockett

(f) Redeemed. By Don Herron

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Music
(a) Till the Walls Fall. By Martha Munizzi and Eric Reed

(b) Shout Unto God. By Marvin Sapp

(c) Fix Me, Jesus. Spiritual

(d) Ode #17—I Have Been Freed. By John Schreiner

I have been freed
I am not condemned!
(Bless the Lord, Oh my soul)
I have been freed
I am not condemned!
(His mercy endures forever)

6. Music for Youth and Young Adults
(a) Down with the King. By P. Holmes

(b) Said He Would Be with Me. By Isaiah D. Thomas

(c) You Don’t Know. By Jevon Brock

(d) Totally Free. By Nate Clemons and Ted Winn

7. Anthems
(a) Song of Aspiration. By Craig Courtney. This selection is for Choral SATB.

(b) He Stooped to Bless. By Edward Margetson. This selection is for SATB.

8. Modern Songs
(a) Jesus Lover of My Soul. By John Ezzy, Daniel Grul, and Stephen McPherson

(b) Sing Redemption’s Song. By Israel Houghton

(c) God Blocked It. By Kurt Carr

(d) Look at Me. By Walter Hawkins

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Something Got a Hold of Me. By A. P. Carter

(b) My Testimony. By Vashawn Mitchell

(c) Nothing Shall Separate Me. By Shawn Brown

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Rebuild. By James Moss

(b) In This Very Room. By Carol Harris and Ron Harris

(c) In the Garden. By C. Austin Miles

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) One More Chance. By John Stoddart

(b) Simply Redeemed. By Marc Harris and Tommy Sims

(c) I Shall Wear a Crown. By Thomas Whitfield

(d) Not Guilty. By Mandisa, Sam Mizell, and Matthew West

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Dwell in the House. By Gale Jones Murphy
Audio Sample: http://www.giamusic.com/mp3s/6907.mp3

(b) I Am Redeemed. By The Chicago Community Choir

(c) It Is Well. By Horatio Spafford. This selection is for organ.

(d) Marvelous. By Walter Hawkins

(e) Take My Life (Holiness). By Scott Underwood

In our worship journey today, we have turned to you. And you have turned to us and have heard our prayers. As we close this service, we hear your voice yet again: “Hear ye, hear ye! You who have overcome, I will give you a white stone with a new name engraved on it” (Rev. 2:17). “And the nations shall see your righteousness and vindication—not your own, but only as I have ascribed it to you; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isaiah 62:2). We will not leave here like we came. We leave here with a new recognition; we are REDEEMED! We leave here thankful for your goodness, and empowered by your Spirit. Thank you, Lord! Hallelujah! Amen.

Music for Benediction
(b) He Will Remember Me. Text and Tune, (REMEMBER ME), by Eugene M. Bartlett

(c) Blessed Assurance. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (ASSURANCE), by Phoebe P. Knapp

(d) We Won’t Leave Here Like We Came. By Maceo Woods

(e) I Shall Wear a Crown. By Thomas Whitfield

(f) Seated at the Right Hand of God. By Tye Tribbett

(g) Jesus Christ Is the Way. By Walter Hawkins

(h) Peace and Favor. By Kurt Carr

(i) Victory Chant. By Joseph Vogels

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany or Invocation
(a) Litany by  Nolan Williams, Jr., Lectionary Team Liturgist and Kenneth Mosley

Invocation
(b) Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Part A: Invocation. (Based on Revelation 2:7) By Michelle Riley
Jones

13. Benediction Sung, Spoken, or Instrumental
Benediction Prayer
(a) Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Part B: Benediction. (Based on Revelation 2:17, Isaiah 62:2) By Michelle
Riley Jones