DISABILITY AWARENESS

WORSHIP & MUSIC RESOURCES

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Jason Powell, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Music and Worship, Light of the World Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

Worship Planning Notes

This worship unit exists for the purpose of engaging our awareness of persons with disabilities. In our world, it’s very common to look over and ignore persons with disabilities or who are differently abled. But we are reminded of God’s heart on this matter in Luke 14:12-13, which emphasizes our duty as Christians to extend hospitality to the disabled.

In order to properly prepare worship that will increase the sensitivity of your congregation regarding persons with disabilities, it’s imperative that you approach your planning of this service with the love of God as the foundation. When we are not walking in love toward our fellow man and woman, we cannot claim to be doing the work of the church. We cripple and maim the Body of Christ by not walking in the love of God. As we are faithful to show forth this love in our daily interactions with all people, we create the platform for the power of God to be displayed. Whether our disabilities are spiritual, mental, intellectual, or physical, it is God alone who can transform our disability into divine ability. Therefore, our job is to emphasize the impartial love of God. Only with this mindset can we adequately prepare worship for this occasion. Only with this understanding will we be inspired to be the hands and feet of God, showing forth the love of Christ to the world. As the hymn writer said in the song “Here Am I”: “God has no eyes but those alert to see someone distressed, some soul in need.”

As worship leaders, we need to acknowledge that we are all lacking in some area; we are all disabled in some way. Each one of us has differing abilities, and each one of us has his or her own gifts to share with others. With this foundation, you can construct a worship service that is appropriate for this Sunday.

1. Litany or Responsive Reading

Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

If I speak in tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Here Am I. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(b) Koinonia. By V. Michael McKay

(c) Look and Live. By William A. Ogden

(d) More Love to Thee, O Christ. By Elizabeth Prentiss. Tune by William Doane   

(e) No Not One. By Johnson Oatman Jr.

(f) See My Hands and Feet. By Mary Louise Bringle. Tune, (ABBOT’S LEIGH), by Cyril Taylor

(g) The Healer. By Lois Irwin

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand. Arr. by Hezekiah Brinson, Jr.

(b) His Yoke Is Easy. By Paul S. Morton

(c) What a Mighty God We Serve. By T.D. Jakes

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) I Am God. By Danny Graham and Donald Lawrence

(b) Expect the Great. By Darien Dennis, Kenneth Shelton, and Jonathan Nelson

(c) Mighty Long Way. By Joe Pace

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Psalm 8. By Richard Smallwood

(b) There Is a King in You. By Donald Lawrence

(c) He Wants It All. By Dominique Jones

6. Anthems
(a) In Bright Mansions. Arr. by Roland Carter
           
(b) Someday (Beams of Heaven). By Charles Tindley. Arr. by Nathan Carter

(c) In the Beauty of Your Holiness. By Cindy Berry

7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2010)
(a) He’s Able. By Deitrick Haddon

(b) Give Him Glory. By Myron Williams

(c) Lord You’re Mighty. By JJ Hairston

(d) The Great I Am. By Earnest Pugh

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Running Over. By Joe Pace

(b) Jesus Promised. By Tim Carpenter

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power. By Andraé Crouch

(b) Healing. By Richard Smallwood

(c) Sweet, Sweet Spirit. By Doris Akers

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Lord, You’re Holy. By Eddie James

(b) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks

(c) There Is No Way. By Percy J. Bady

(d) Even Me. By Z. R. McEachen

(e) Fight On. By Kevin Davidson

(f) Be Blessed. By Kurt Carr

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Holy Thou Art Holy. By David Frazier

(b) Calling My Name. By Jules Bartholomew

(c) I’m Yours. By Joe B. Reed

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Emmanuel, Emmanuel. By Bob McGee

(b) God Be with You. By Thomas A. Dorsey

(c) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed