PRAYER FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 (Can also be celebrated the Sunday before Election Day, including mid-term elections)

Nolan Williams, Jr., Lectionary Team Liturgist, and Kenneth Mosley, Assistant Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Whether you celebrate this lectionary moment on a Sunday or during the week, this is the occasion to honor government officials, praying that they will govern in ways that please God and strengthen our communities. In preparation for this service:

• Place pictures and brief bios of African American government officials, past and present, local and national, in your church bulletin;
• Consider sending invitations to key local elected officials to invite them to your church for worship;
• On the occasion of this service and during other moments in the year, have government officials offer remarks during a coffee hour after church to enable congregants to get firsthand updates on community matters. Invite neighbor churches to join you for these forums and invite the media. Also, Tweet about it and place the events on the Facebook pages of members of your church; and
• Create a permanent place of recognition for African American government officials in your church. This can include a glass case with pictures and bios and even memorabilia such as buttons. Or if your church has one, you may want to set aside a special space in the church library and dedicate it to African American government officials past and present, local and national. If your church has a bookstore this is also a good showplace. You can also use a large wall where pictures (framed) accompanied by bios will be placed.

Whatever you do, as the worship and arts leaders of your church, remember to always find creative ways to make each day on your church liturgical calendar more meaningful and memorable.

1. Call to Worship, Centering Prayer, and Litany

Call to Worship
No matter what political party or persuasion with which we as believers choose to affiliate, the Bible is clear: the powers that be are ordained of God. And because of God’s sovereignty, our Lord reigns despite the ebb and flow of political tides. Therefore today, we respectfully acknowledge our government officials and we joyously celebrate the Lord of all!

Centering Prayer
Dear Lord, we acknowledge you today as the ruler of all people and all things. We thank you today for those who lead us locally, regionally, and nationally. And we worship you today because, no matter the changing political landscape, you still have the whole world in your hands. We humbly ask for your glory to be revealed in our land and in our lives. Send a revival across this great nation. Draw her back to you, O God. Touch the hearts of our leaders, and protect those who dutifully serve in governmental offices. Then, empower us to stand, to serve, and to intercede in prayer for our communities and our political officials. Empower us to be advocates for justice, community development, and peace. Let your kingdom come, and let your will be done, in and through us. We humbly pray. Amen.

A Prayer for Our Leaders. By Patricia Nordman
If you are able to invite and host leaders on this occasion, here is a prayer that can be offered specifically for them:

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) God Bless America. By Irving Berlin

(b) God Bless Our Native Land. Text and Tune, (AMERICA), by Charles T. Brooks

(c) God Bless Our Leaders. By Nolan Williams, Jr. Sung to the tune of ITALIAN HYMN
     (COME, THOU ALMIGHTY KING) or OLIVET (MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE).

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Every Time I Feel the Spirit. Traditional

(b) I Believe I’ll Run On (See What the End’s Gonna Be). Traditional

(c) Lead Me, Guide Me. By Doris M. Akers

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Ooh Child. By Stan Vincent

(b) Run On. By Cliff Jones, Dave “DaveyBoy” Lindsey, and Michael Lindsey

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) Study War No More. Traditional

(b) A Change Is Gonna Come. By Sam Cooke

(c) Run on for a Long Time. By Ysaye Barnwell and Bernice Johnson Reagon

6. Anthems
(a) I Dream a World. By Langston Hughes and Robert “Baaabe” Irving, III

(b) The Last Testament of David. By Randall Thompson

(c) Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor. By Irving Berlin. Arr. by Roy Ringwald

(d) Prayer of St. Francis. By Allen Pote

7. Modern Songs
(a) Healing Grace. By John Chisum

(b) If You’re Out There. By Marcus John Bryant, DeVon “Devon” Harris, Kawan “KP” Prather,
     and John Stephens

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Battle Hymn of the Republic. By Julia Ward Howe. Tune, (BATTLE HYMN), by William Steffe

(b) Stand. By John P. Kee

(c) Be Encouraged. By John P. Kee

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Don’t Forget to Pray. Traditional

(b) Be Still, God Will Fight Your Battles. Traditional. Arr. by Nolan Williams. Jr.

(c) Give Me a Clean Heart. By Margaret P. Douroux

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Prayers of the Righteous. By Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, and Adrian Lindsey

(b) Heal Our Land. By Tom and Robin Brooks. Arr. by Tom Fettke

(c) Be Encouraged. By Kendall Hunter

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental 
(a) I Surrender All. By Judson W. Van De Venter. Tune, (ASSURANCE), by Winfield Weeden

(b) Stand Up for Jesus. By Stephen Key

(c) Stand Up for Jesus. By George Duffield, Jr. Tune, (WEBB), by George J. Webb

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) You Raise Me Up. By Brendan Graham and Rolf Loveland.This selection is for solo..

(b) Pray for America. By Mike Harland and Luke Garrett. Arr. by Richard Kingsmore

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

(c) God Bless Our Leaders. By Nolan Williams, Jr. Sung to the tune of ITALIAN HYMN
(COME, THOU ALMIGHTY KING) or OLIVET (MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE).