EASTER

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Many of us feel the pressure to “pull out all the stops” for Easter, whether that means a drama, special choir number, special communion service, hired orchestra, etc. Recognize the opportunities this High Holy Day provides for evangelism without feeling the pressure to “pull out all the stops.” We tend to bring out the fireworks on the big day and then the next week, if any of the new guests decided to come back, it’s a letdown. Where are the flying angels, the guys in fake beards and dresses, and the parade of children? Wouldn’t it be something if they actually wanted to come back? Wouldn’t it be nice if they felt that they could come “just as they were” without the hoopla of the seasonal celebration and their having to dress up for it?

Approach the service as an evangelistic opportunity and plan accordingly. Here are some general planning principles:

• We have nothing more powerful to offer people than the Gospel. If we’re most concerned about our creativity, our lighting, our talent, our “relevance,” or our cleverness, we’ve missed the point. It’s not that any of those things are wrong or unimportant; they’re just not the best thing we have to offer unbelievers who come through our doors on Easter morning. For that reason, we need to make sure that at some point we clearly explain our need for a Savior and God’s provision of his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins and that he is alive! Tell it plainly, biblically, and passionately. Most people are oblivious to the fact that their greatest need is to be reconciled to God. We have the privilege of telling them. What a joy!
  
  
• Pursue excellence and creativity without being enslaved to them. We don’t have to put on the greatest Sunday service in history, in our lifetime, in our denomination, or in our area. We simply need to faithfully proclaim, in an understandable and appealing way, the greatest news the world has ever heard.
  
  
• Use creativity wisely. Two things to remember about creativity. First, what you win people with is usually what you win people to. Second, creativity isn’t something we do—it’s a way we do something. And on Easter Sunday, that something is clearly communicating the significance and meaning of the resurrection. So our goal isn’t simply to impress and entertain—we want to instruct and educate. We want to be winsome, but we also want to win hearts. And creativity doesn’t have to be big, lavish, or complex. Simplicity can cause people to listen more carefully to what you’re saying. Often less is more.
  
  
• Share information of your community services and resources available to your guests. Provide your guests with overviews and contact information for the services and resources your church offers to the community. This Easter service, focus on providing “tangible” hope, and not just a “presentation” of hope.

Incorporate into the worship service spoken word (poetry, sermon illustration, dramatic reading), visual arts, painting, multi-media, sculpture, use of banners, draping, video illustrations, and song movies. Some additional ideas for worship service elements include:

1. Incorporate a Mini-Cantata. These are generally 7–15 minutes in length and can be incorporated into the service without drawing it out. A mini-cantata in your worship service is a great alternative for churches that don’t have the time or resources to perform a full-blown cantata. An example of a mini-cantata is Hallelujah! What a Savior! by Anna Laura Page and Jean Anne Shafferman. This mini-cantata (8 minutes) is a compelling blend of biblical narrative, beloved familiar spirituals and hymns, and choral and congregational singing.
   
   
2. Paint a picture of the Easter message. This can be a creative and powerful segment in your worship service. Identify an artist in your congregation or community to paint a picture of the Easter message during the service. Remarkably this can be done in very short periods of time (8–15 minuets) during praise and worship or during the delivery of short worship thought. View these YouTube clips for how some churches creatively incorporated paintings of Christ’s death and resurrection during praise and worship.
              
   
   
3. Incorporate spoken word videos in the worship service. An example is Resurrection by Amena Brown. This reverent video illustration recounts God’s plan of salvation for us all.
   
   
4. Introduce a less familiar Easter hymn or new arrangements of more familiar hymns. (See #2.)
   
   
5. Select music where you can include the congregation throughout the service. (See #1(a), 2(a), 6(b), and 11(e).)

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation

Music for Processional

(a) Thine Be the Glory Risen, Conquering Son. By Edmond L. Bundry. Tune, (MACCABEAS), by George F. Handel

Thine be the glory
Risen, conquering Son
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won
Angels in bright raiment
Rolled the stone away
Kept the folded grave-clothes
Where Thy body lay

Thine be the glory
Risen, conquering Son
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won!

Sung Call to Worship
(b) There’s a Great Day Comin’. By John Ray. Arr. by Susan Naylor Callaway. This selection is a lively Easter spiritual for SATB, a capella.
Sheet Music Sample: http://www.halleonard.com/viewcloserlook. do?id=08744561& lid=-1&keywords =there's%20a%20great%20day% 20comin'&subsiteid=1&
Audio Sample: http://www.halleonard.com/viewaudio.do?itemId=08744561&fileName= /common /closerLook /08744561/ TheresAGreatDay.mp3

Spoken Call to Worship
Call to Worship: SONRise. By Michelle Riley Jones

We’ve come from our week of crosses that we have had to bear.
And this Easter morning,
we will hail our risen Christ with songs of victory and triumph!

In a world where some have lost their hope
Open our eyes to what your scriptures foretold:
That you would arise and ascend to your Father;
and that you will come again.

This morning we rise to give you worship and praise.
We rise to eagerly feast upon the Living Word.
We rise in great joy and celebration!

“The mountains and hills will lead the parade,
bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession,
exuberant with applause. We stand as a living and lasting witness to
the glory of our God.” (Isaiah 55:12-13)

I hear our Heavenly Parent saying, “SON, rise.”
Let us rise to greet our risen Lord and soon-coming King!

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs

(a) The Day of Resurrection (Lead On O King Eternal). By Robert A. Hobby. Tune, (LANCASHIRE), by Henry T. Smart. For SATB Choral, Congregation, Brass quintet, timpani, organ, crash/suspended cymbal.
Sample Score: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/The-Day-of-Resurrection-Full-score/17328667

(b) Calvary’s Cross. By Tom Eggleston. This selection is a great new paraphrase of Isaac Watts’s “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

(c) Thine Is [Be] the Glory. By Edmond L. Bundry. Tune, (JUDAS MACCABEUS), by George Fredrick Handel

(d) The Strife Is O’er. By Francis Pott. Tune, (VICTORY), by Giovanni da Palestrina

(e) He Rose Triumphantly. By Oswald J. Smith. Tune by B.D. Ackle

(f) Christ the Lord Is Risen Today. By Charles Wesley. Tune from Lyra Davidica

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) There’s a Great Day Comin’. By John Ray. Arr. by Susan Naylor Callaway. This selection is a lively Easter spiritual for SATB, a capella.
Audio Sample: http://www.halleonard.com/viewaudio.do?itemId=08744561&fileName= /common/closerLook/08744561 /TheresAGreatDay.mp3

(b) Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down. Spiritual
Audio Sample: http://mfile.akamai.com/11415/wma/timelife. download.akamai.com /11415/16639 /16639_01_17_cant _no_grave_hold_my_ body_down.wma

(c) Can’t Keep-a-That Glory In! By David Lantz III and John Parker. For SATB, a capella

(d) My Lord, What a Morning. Spiritual. Arr. by Russell Robinson. For SATB choral with keyboard and optional flute or C instrument

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
Choirs and Ensembles
(a) He Got Up. By Shawn McLemore

(b) Since He Got Up, I Can Go Up. By John A. Thompson

(c) Resurrection Anthem. By Kevin Paul Turner

(d) He Lives. By JJ Hairston

(e) My Liberty. By Carl Preacher

(f) Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down. Spiritual. This selection is a very spirited blues arrangement!

(g) Written in Red. By Gordon Jenson

Praise Teams
(h) Sacrifice of Praise. By Alvin Slaughter

(i) He Has Risen. By Noel and Tricia Richards and Gerald Coates

(j) Worship Medley: Smile & Better Is One Day. By Tasha Cobbs and Matt Redman

(k) Mighty to Save. By Anthony Evans

(l) Medley: Lord I Thank You & I’m So Glad That the Lord Saved Me. Traditional

(m) God Is Not Dead. By Margaret Douroux

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) Oh Holy Lamb. By James JJ Hairston

(b) Praise You with the Dance. By Casting Crowns/Mark Hall

(c) Under an Open Heaven. By Wess Morgan

(d) He Got Up. By Shawn McLemore

(e) I’m So Thankful. By Charles “Chuck” Bethany

6. Anthems
(a) Easter Rejoicing. By James Biery. For SATB, with organ and trumpet. A declamatory trumpet part heralds a call to praise the risen Christ.
Sample Music mp3: http://www.morningstarmusic.com/mp3s/50-8205.mp3
Sample Sheet Music: http://www.morningstarmusic.com/pdfs/50-8205.pdf

(b) Anthem for Resurrection. By Henry Smart. This Easter anthem, an arrangement of the LANSHIRE tune, is for SATB choir with optional 2-octave handbells and/or brass (three trumpets, two trombones, and tuba). Permission is granted to reprint the last page for congregational participation.

(c) Thine Be the Glory Risen, Conquering Son. By Edmund Bundry. Tune, (MACCABEUS), by George Friedrich Handel

(d) Credo (from Gospel Mass). By Robert Ray. For SATB

(e) I Didn’t Know. By Greg A. Lapp

(f) Joy Comes in the Morning. By Billy D. Martin and Jimbo Stevens

(g) Our Risen Lord. Composed by Timothy Dudley-Smith and Bob Moore

7. Modern Songs
(a) Easter Song. By Anne Herring. This selection is a moving piece for your male quartet!

(b) Was It a Morning Like This. By Sandi Patty. Arr. by Keith Christopher. For SATB, SAB, and SSA Choir

(c) He's Not Dead. By Odell Heard

(d) Jesus Paid It All. By John Tillery

8. Music for Children and Youth
(a) Blood Spilla. By Earl Branch

(b) God Is Not Dead (Church Version). By Jeral Gray Sr.

(c) Resurrection. By Steven McCoy

(d) John 3:16. By George A. Pass, II

(e) Deep Love. By Charles Jenkins

(f) Oh Holy Lamb. By James JJ Hairston

(g) I Know That My Redeemer Liveth. By George Fredrick Handel

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Under the Blood. By Malcolm Williams

(b) When I Rose This Morning. By Jerry Smith

(c) He Lives. By Jerome Lorde

(d) Thank God for the Blood. By V. Michael McKay

(e) You Gave Me Hope. By Wess Morgan

(f) My Name Is Victory. By Jonathan Nelson/Justin Savage

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Draw Me Nearer. By Lesley-Ann G. Valley

(b) Because He Lives. By William Gaither and Gloria Gaither

(c) Was It a Morning Like This. By Sandi Patty

(d) Lord, I Love You. By Walter Hawkins

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Oh What Love. By TJ Hemphill

(b) Story of Calvary. By Thomas Whitfield

(c) High Cost of Praise. By V. Michael McKay

(d) I Know That My Redeemer Liveth. By George F. Handel

(e) Affirmation of Life. By Joseph Martin. For SATB. This selection is a hymn celebration. I Know That My Redeemer Lives, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, and All Creatures of Our God and King combine forces in this regal anthem of praise.

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Easter Alleluia. By G. Near. For SATB, this selection is a nice meditative response to the Easter message.

(b) The Empty Tomb Says It All. By Daryl Petersheim. This selection is a Southern Gospel classic for traditional quartets.

(c) He Was Hung Up for My Hang Ups. By Mattie Moss Clark

(d) There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood. By William Cowper. Tune, (CLEANSING FOUNTAIN).

(e) Act of Worship. By Jim Zartman

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Let’s Celebrate (He’s Risen). By Paul D. Wright and Timothy Wright

(b) Victory. By John Ness Beck. For choral SATB, choral with congregation

(c) May the Grace of Christ Our Savior. By John Newton. Tune, (SARDIS), by Ludwig van Beethoven

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

Worship Planning Notes

Online location of ideas: http://www.worshipmatters.com/ accessed 20 January 2011

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation
Music for Processional
(a) Thine Be the Glory Risen, Conquering Son. By Edmond L. Bundry. Tune, (MACCABEAS), by George F. Handel

Spoken Call to Worship
(c) Call to Worship: SONRise. By Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) The Day of Resurrection (Lead On O King Eternal). By Robert A. Hobby. Tune, (LANCASHIRE), by Henry T. Smart. For SATB Choral, Congregation, Brass quintet, timpani, organ, crash/suspended cymbal.
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