CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SUNDAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Dedric A. Cowser, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
M.Div. Student, Emory University, Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia

Worship Planning Notes

The Bible instructs us on everything that we need for our salvation, and by God’s grace, we should seek to order our lives according to the commandments and precepts of the word of God. As we celebrate Christian Education Sunday, find ways to involve Sunday school groups, Bible study classes, small groups, teachers, and ministers in the worship service. This is a wonderful opportunity to allow a vast array of worship participants. This could also be Sunday in which teachers and leaders in the Christian Education ministry are installed into their positions or honored for their service in the church.

At the conclusion of this service, worshippers should not only feel empowered to make stronger commitments to be “doers of the word and not just hearers only,” but they should also feel the great responsibility and excitement that comes with sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others.

1. Prelude
Organ
(a) Hold Out Your Light! African American Spiritual. Arr. by William Farley Smith

(b) Who’ll Be a Witness fo’ Mah Lawd? African American Spiritual. Arr. by William Farley Smith

Piano
(c) Thy Word Is a Lamp. By Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Arr. by Keith Phillips. Tune, (THY WORD).

2. Choral Introit
True Light. Arr. by Keith Hampton. SATB

3. Call to Worship

Gracious God, eternal God, you have led us to curiosity
about our creation, ourselves, and all things unknown.
Let us never lose our sense of wonder about the world you have given us.

God of Abraham and Sarah,

you lead us to new understandings when we least expect them.
Let us never see ourselves as too young, too old, or too wise to learn new lessons from you.

God of the prophets,
you call us to speak truth with love to a reluctant world.
Give us courage to judge ourselves,
and wisdom to learn from those you send to teach us.

God of the rich younger ruler,
you love us though we shrink from the challenge of discipleship.
Teach us to surrender our own wills,
that we might seek yours and draw closer to your grace.

Everlasting, ever-loving God, teacher, creator,
giver of knowledge and freedom, fear and courage, doubt and faith,
grant that we might always use your gifts to build a world
where peace, justice, love, and hope reign in wisdom and in truth.
Amen.

*An Order for the Installation or
Recognition of Church School Workers

This order may be included as a Response to the Word or at some other appropriate place in a service of congregational worship.

During the singing of a hymn, the church school staff may gather in front of the congregation.

Following the hymn, the chairperson of education or the pastor introduces the staff. The pastor then says to the congregation:

Dear friends,
Let us recognize those who have responded to the call of God
To become workers in the church school.
To teach, to administer the work of teaching
Are ministries of Christ among us.
Those called to these ministries need our loyal support and our prayers.

The pastor prays the following or another prayer:

Let us pray.

Eternal God, you have entrusted us with the message
of your power, grace, justice, and love.
Provide for us your guidance,
that we may be teachers and learners together.
Believing that you are in our midst,
we set apart those who would serve in our church school.
May they serve you in nurturing the spiritual growth
of all who are entrusted in their care.
Bless each one gather before us,
enabling them to be channels of your grace.
We pray through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.

The pastor says to church school staff:

You have recognized God’s call in your lives.
Will you endeavor to develop your gifts for teaching
so as to continue to pass on the Christian faith?
Will you be faithful to the task,
taking seriously the commitments of time and talent?
Will you take seriously your role as learner,
studying diligently the Scriptures and traditions of the faith?

The church school staff responds:

We have heard God’s call to teach
And have responded to that call.
We teach, trusting in God’s promises
To support, sustain, and encourage us
Through gifts sufficient for the task.
We teach, relying on prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
We teach, inviting others to recognize and respond to God’s call in their lives.
We teach, depending on this congregation to uphold us in this task.

Congregation:

We pledge ourselves to pray for you and for the educational ministry of this congregation.
We pledge ourselves to enable, encourage, and love you in this ministry.
We pledge ourselves to be learners with you, diligently studying with you the Scriptures and traditions of the faith.

The pastor may greet the church school workers individually.
A hymn may be sung and a blessing given.

4. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Praise the Source of Faith and Learning. By Thomas H. Troeger. Music by Rowland H. Prichard. Harm. from The English Hymnal. Tune, (HYFRDOL), Meter: 87.87 D

(b) Come, Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire. By Charles Wesley. Music: Est’s Whole Booke of Psalmes. Harm. from Hymns Ancient and Modern. Tune, (WINCHESTER OLD), Meter: CM

(c) Wonderful Words of Life. Text and Tune, (WORDS OF LIFE), by Philip P. Bliss

(d) Holy Bible, Book Divine. By John Burton. Music by William B. Bradbury. Tune, (ALETTA).

(e) In the Name of Christ We Gather. By Shirley Erena Murray. Tune, (CWM RHONDDA, 8.7.8.7.8 77), by John Hughes

5. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Lord, I Want to Be a Christian. Arr. by Moses Hogan. SATB, a cappella

(b) Witness. Arr. by Moses Hogan. TTBB, a cappella

(c) Guide My Feet, Lord. Arr. by John Carter. SATB

6. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Lord, Prepare Me (to Be a Sanctuary). By John Thompson and Randy Scruggs

(c) I’ll Serve Him. By John P. Kee

(d) Bread of Heaven. By John P. Kee

7. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) I’m Available to You. By Milton Brunson

(b) Yes. By Valencia Lacy

(c) We Need a Word. By Malcolm Williams

8. Anthem
(a) How Great the Wisdom. By Don Lee White

(b) All for Thee. By Frances R. Havergal. Music by Henri A. Cesar Malan. Arr. by Jack Schrader

(c) The Word Was God. By Rosephayne Powell. Arr. by William C. Powell. SATB, TTBB, a capella

9. Modern Songs (Written between 2000 and 2010)
(a) I Will Hide Your Word Inside My Heart. By Paul Field. Arr. by Greg Scheer

(b) And the Word Is God. By Cecilia Olusola Tribble

(c) Breathe. By Marie Barnett. Arr. by Mark A. Miller

10. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Psalm 19:14. By Regina Hooiser

(b) Lord, Reign in Me. By Brenton Brown. Arr. by William S. Moon

(c) Center of My Joy. By Gloria Gaither. Music by Richard Smallwood and William Gaither. Arr. by Mark A. Miller. Tune, (CENTER OF MY JOY), Irregular

11. Prayer, Song, or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Seek Ye First. By Karen Lafferty. Tune, (SEEK YE), Irregular

(b) Speak, O Lord. By Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend

(c) Open Your Ears, O Faithful People. Hasidic traditional. Trans. by Willard F. Jabusch

12. Sermonic Selection
(a) Order My Steps. By Glenn Burleigh. Arr. by Jack Schrader

(b) God Is. By Robert J. Fryson. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton and Nolan Williams, Jr.

(c) This Day. By Edwin Hawkins. Arr. by Stephen Key

13. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Lead Me, Guide Me. By Doris M. Akers. Harm. by Richard Smallwood

(b) Knowing You. By Graham Kendrick

(c) Follow Jesus. By Waymon L. Burwell. Sr. Tune, (FOLLOW JESUS), 8 7 8 7 with refrain, Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.

14. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Sent Out in Jesus’ Name (Enviado Soy de Dios). Traditional Cuban. Words: Trans. By Jorge Maldonado. Atl. Cuban arr. By Carmen Peña. Tune, (ENVIADO) 12 12.12 12 D.

(b) We Are Marching (Siyahamba). Tune, (SIYAHAMBA), Irregular

(c) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Spiritual. Tune, (LORD, MAKE ME MORE HOLY).

(d) Sent Forth by God’s Blessing. Welsh folk tune. By Omer Westendorf. Harm. By Leland Sateren. Tune, (THE ASH GROVE).

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed