FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Nolan Williams, Jr., Lectionary Team Liturgist and Sylveta Brown, Assistant Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

The first Sunday of Advent marks the start of one of the most celebratory seasons in the Christian Church year. This worship service should be joyful and hope-filled, setting the right tone for this season—a season of earnest expectation as we anxiously await the coming of the Messiah. A great way to achieve a spirit of celebration is to incorporate elements in worship that awaken the senses. The selections highlighted below will certainly add to the auditory impact of worship. Consider making subtle adjustments in how people ‘hear’ the service: perhaps do an introit in the aisles, or end the service with a choir recession that places choir members along the walls singing directly to parishioners.

At the same time, use color to enhance the visual impact of worship. (Our lectionary team has developed a liturgical colors chart— http://theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PDF/colors.pdf—that will help you incorporate color throughout the Church year.) On this Sunday, choose between red and bright blue. Accent the pulpit area with your color choice and encourage members of your choir(s) and praise team to dress accordingly.

Incorporate a third sense, try adding aroma to the worship experience. For example, dress the pulpit area with fresh evergreens and pine cones. In a subtle way this will add both visual and aromatic impact to your worship experience. As the month progresses, refresh the greens with scented oils so that the sanctuary maintains the scent of pine and evergreens.

On a different note, remember also that the first Sunday of Advent is closely followed by World AIDS Day (celebrated in 2011 on Thursday, December 1). Make sure your worship includes some reference to this commemoration. Provide red ribbons for members of your worship team—both music and ministerial—to wear. This season of expectation is a great time for the Church to affirm its hope that a cure for this disease is sure to come!

1. Call to Worship, Centering Prayer, and/or Litany

Litany

While we were yet sinners, Jesus came at the right time, after forty two generations.

During this Advent season the whole church, the Body of Christ, looks forward to the second coming of the promised Messiah, Jesus, our Lord.

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth to announce to the virgin Mary that she had foundfavor with God. Her cousin, Elizabeth, said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:42)

As the Word made flesh, Jesus came to an unprepared people in an unprepared place.

We remember our Savior’s humble and obscure entry into our world.

O God, we remember your love for your creation and thank you for Jesus, your only begotten Son.

God, help us to understand and appreciate the ways in which you use the forgotten, the marginalized, the outcast, the weak, the poor, the imprisoned, and the afflicted to proclaim the presence of your kingdom.

At the birth of our Savior, angels sang with jubilation and shepherds praised Jesus and glorified God!

Lord Jesus, as we reflect upon the joyous miracle of your birth, deepen our understanding of the purpose of your coming.

We herald your coming, Wonderful Counselor, for you are the King of kings, Lord of lords, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. We love you. We adore you. You alone are worthy of all our praise! (See Isaiah 9:6)

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Traditional. Tune, (VENI EMMANUEL), adapted by Thomas Helmore

(b) Hail to the Lord’s Anointed. By James Montgomery. Tune, (SHEFFIELD), English melody

(c) Love Divine, All Love Excelling. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (BEECHER), by John Zundel

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Amen. Spiritual. Arr. by Jester Hairston

(b) Have You Heard about the Baby? By Shelton Becton

(c) Pretty Little Boy. Traditional

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Medley: Alpha and Omega. By Erasmus Mutambira; Be Unto Your Name. By Lynn DeShazo and Gary Sandler; Magnificent and Holy. By Israel Houghton; The Almighty Reigns. By Israel Houghton

(b) Emmanuel. By Norman Hutchins and Jason White

(c) I Really Love You. By Norman Hutchins and Jason White

(d) Peace on Earth (with Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee). By Ludwig von Beethoven. Arr. Babbie Mason and Henry Van Dyke. For children’s choirs

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) Joy to the World. Traditional. Arr. by Hoyt Axton

(b) Overture: A Partial History of Black Music. By George Frideric Handel

(c ) Hark. By Luther “Mano” Hanes and Israel Houghton

6. Anthems
(a) Joy to the World. By Frank Kuykendall

(b) Christmas Gloria: A Medley of Advent Hymns. Arr. by Lloyd Larson

(c) His Plan (for Soprano and Tenor duo). By Carol Cymbala and Roy Lessin

7. Modern Songs
(a) Call Him Jesus. By E. Campbell, T.C. Campbell, and Warryn Campbell

(b) Receive Our Praise. By Paul Golatt, III and Trenton Phillips

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Rejoice. By Richard Smallwood

(b) Oh, How I Love Jesus. By Thomas Whitfield

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) My Season of Advent. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(b) Sweet Little Jesus Boy. By Donald Lawrence

(c) I Know That My Redeemer Liveth. By George Frideric Handel, Mervyn Warren, and Michael O. Jackson

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Mary Did You Know? By Buddy Green and Mark Lawry

(b) Angels We Have Heard on High. By Norman Hutchins and Jason White

(c) Let Us Adore Him. By John P. Kee

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) You Are the Living Word. By Noel Hall and Fred Hammond

(b) Come, Lord, and Tarry Not. By Horatius Bonar. Tune, (ST. BRIDE), by Samuel Howard

(c) Jesus Is Calling. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by George C. Stebbins

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Hallelujah. By George Frideric Handel. Arr. Mervyn Warren, Michael O. Jackson, and Mark Kibble

(b) Emmanuel, Emmanuel. By Bob McGee

(c) Hallelujah Chorus. By George Frideric Handel, edited by T. Tertius Noble

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed