EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND JUNETEENTH

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Charles B. Cotton, Jr., Lectionary Young Adult Liturgists Team

Worship Planning Notes

What is Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth? You hear these words synonymously used in culture and history, but can you give a clear answer to the question? View today’s Cultural Resources unit for the answer.

Today, we stand on the shoulders of slaves who worked, toiled, and fought for the freedom that we now enjoy. Being free from chains, bonds, whips, and masters is not the only freedom we have; we are mentally and spiritually free if we make the choice to embrace such freedom.

On this day celebrate freedom. Consider celebrating in the following ways:

• Feature a Video Presentation during the Sunday School/Teaching hour of your church. Assemble children and adults in a room to view “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom” (PBS Documentary).
  
  
• Present “Morning Monologues with Slaves.” Utilize the Youth ministry in your church (ages 8–18) to offer the monologues. Challenge them with these questions:

1. Call to Worship

Freedom Rings!

By Charles B. Cotton, Jr.
With Excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech”

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Tune by R. Rosamond Johnson

(b) God Never Fails. Text and Tune by Charles Jordan

(c) Battle Hymn of the Republic. By Julia Ward Howe. Tune by William Steffe

(d) Victory Is Mine. Text and Tune, (VICTORY), by Dorothy Norwood and Alvin Darling

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Free at Last. African American Spiritual

(b) I Am Free. By Percy Bady

(c) I Can Tell the World. Arr. By Moses Hogan. For SATB a cappella

(d) God Is a Good God. By Keith Hunter. Arr. By Stephen Key and Nolan Williams, Jr.

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Our God Reigns. By Joseph Pace, II
 
(b) I Won’t Go Back. By Williams McDowell

(c) No Limits. By Israel Houghton

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Shackles. By Erica M. Atkins, Trecina E. Atkins, and Warryn S. Campbell

(b) Golden. By Harold Lee Robinson

(c) Set Me Free. By Myron Butler

6. Anthems
(a) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Tune by R. Rosamond Johnson. Arr. By Roland Carter

(b) Battle Hymn of the Republic. Julia Ward Howe. Tune, (BATTLE HYMN).

(c) America the Beautiful. By Katherine L. Bates. Tune, (MATERNA, CMD), by Samuel A. Ward
Consider doing this piece as an instrumental selection; utilize a youth from your congregation to perform this with piano or organ accompaniment; or invite a guest instrumentalist or ensemble from the community to perform this piece.

7. Modern Songs
(a) Free. By Darwin Hobbs

(b) Believe. By Israel Houghton. This song was written by Israel Houghton to commemorate the July 9, 2011 declaration by the people of South Sudan that they have become a free nation.

(c) Freedom Song. By Trent Cory

(d) Set Me Free. By Myron Butler & Levi

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) He Has Done Great Things for Me. By Jessy Dixon. Tune, (GREAT THINGS), by Jessy Dixon. Arr. By Stephen Key

(b) My Offering. By Nolan Williams Jr.

(c) You Can’t Beat God Giving. By Doris Akers

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Never Alone. Anonymous. Arr. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(b) I Feel Jesus in This Place. By Carman

(c) I Need Thee Every Hour. By Annie S. Hawkes. Tune, (NEED), by Robert Lowery

(d) Have Thine Own Way, Lord. By Adelaide A. Pollard. Tune, (ADELAIDE), by George C. Stebbins

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) God Is Able. By Smokie Norful

(b) We’ll Never Turn Back. By Mavis Staples

(c) Trust Me. By Richard Smallwood

(d) I Never Lost My Praise. By Kurt Carr

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

(b) Jesus Christ Is the Way. By Edwin R. Hawkins

(c) I Give Myself Away. By Sam Hinn and William David McDowell

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Freedom Highway. By Mavis Staples
Use the liturgical dance ministry at your church to present this song at the close of service, or utilize the chorus of the song—“Marching up freedom highway. Marching each and every day. Made up my mind and I won’t turn around”—as the closing with a small ensemble or choir.

(b) As You Go, Tell the World. Anonymous. Arr. By Valeria Foster

(c) Make Them Hear You. By Lynn Ahrens. Music by Stephen Flaherty

This song concerns freedom. As a creative and unique way to close the service in a non-tradition way, ask a soloist from the music community of your city to render this piece as the closing to the worship service; teach this piece to a small intergenerational ensemble of singers in your church; or use an orator to close the worship service by reciting the words to this song with piano and string underscoring.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Materials Listed

1. Call to Worship – “Freedom Rings!” By Charles B. Cotton, Jr. with excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘s “I Have a Dream Speech.”