AFRICAN HERITAGE SUNDAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, February 12, 2012

The African American Lectionary Liturgists

Worship Planning Notes

Please have your congregation do more than dress in American-styled African garb. Following is a list of things that can be done to make this service holy, memorable and informative. If there are ideas that you cannot carry out this Sunday, use them in a future worship service:

• Instead of your usual praise dancers and mimes, invite African dancers. Local universities often have troupes who would love to perform for their community church.
  
  
• Use the appropriate liturgical colors for the month (red, black, and green). The pastor can lead by wearing these colors throughout the month. Church officers and leaders and choirs can wear these colors or a sash of Kente cloth. On at least one Sunday, be purposeful in asking your ENTIRE congregation to dress in African attire.
  
  
• Work with a local museum and have them design an exhibit for your church. The display can be placed at the church throughout the month of February or can be highlighted on a specific weekend or a Sunday morning. Be sure to invite the neighborhood and other churches to view the exhibit and use every means available to advertise the exhibition—tweet it, put pictures on Facebook, and do public service announcements on the radio and on your public service television station. You can even make the exhibit a major event by involving your city’s largest museum.
  
  
• This Sunday mark all CD or DVD covers with an African symbol. Symbols can be found on the web.
  
  
• Use this Sunday to raise funds for a project in Africa. There are many worthy projects. Consider the Lott Carey Association which has done work in Africa for more than 75 years as a potential source to which to donate.
  
  
• Images of noteworthy Africans should be shown throughout the service with their names featured. If your church does not have screens, places images in your bulletin/printed order of worship.
  
  
• See today’s Cultural Resource unit for additional great ideas.

1. Call to Worship

Africa

Africa, beautiful yet unappreciated
Africa, from the Sahara to the Atlantic
Africa, from Zulu land to Yoruba Land
Africa, from the Nile River to the River Niger
Africa, rain and sunshine round the year
Africa, with her green lustre
Africa, with coolness, calmness, a serenity unequaled
Africa, your hospitality and warmth taken for granted
Africa, raped, and left desolate, yet richly blessed
Africa, your Children scattered all over the World crying for you.
Africa, You are simply mine Africa.

Choral Introit
(a) Let’s Praise the Lord. By Rufus Carter

(b) My Everything (Praise Waiteth). By Richard Smallwood

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Psalm 150. Arr. By Nathan Carter

(b) Kum Ba Ya (Come by Here). (African/Angolan). By Marvin Frey. Arr. By Robert Fryson

(c) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson

(d) In Remembrance. By Jeffrey Adams

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Over My Head. Spiritual

(b) Siakudumisa. Traditional (South African). Arr. By S.C. Molefe

(c) Guide My Feet. Traditional

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Caribbean Medley. By Donnie McClurkin

(b) Alpha and Omega. By Israel Houghton

(c) I Am Not Forgotten. By Israel Houghton

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) African Medley (Royal Kingdoms, Rise, My Native Land). By Gary Hines and Terry Lewis

(b) Rock-A My Soul. Spiritual. Arr. By Howard Roberts. This song can be performed with the choir and liturgical dancers.

(c) Broken Sorrow. By T. Escobar, D. Escobar, Nuttin But Stringz, and A. Varela Da Veiga

6. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2011)
(a) Speak to My Heart. By Donnie McClurkin

(b) Where Joy and Sorrow Meet. By David James White. This arrangement is for a small ensemble or trio and can also be used during the Sermonic Selection or the Invitation.

(c) Mystic Oceans. By Aisha Kahlil

7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Bayete Inkosi. By Fini de Gersigny

(b) Jabulani Africa. By Fini de Gersigny. This song is for children and youth.

(d) The Lord Will Hear the Just/Proclaim God’s Marvelous Deeds. By Kenneth Louis. For SATB

8. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Mayenziwe/Your Will Be Done. 1 Chronicles 29:14. Music attrib. to Ludwig van Beethoven

(b) Prayer for Africa. By Enoch Sontonga. Arr. By Audrey Snyder

(c) I Need Thee Every Hour. By Annie Hawks

(d) Sweet Hour of Prayer. By William W. Walford

9. Sermonic Selection
(a) Oh Africa! By Francis Key. Arr. By Kurt Hawthorne

(b) New Morning, New Mercies. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

10. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Thuma Mina. South African Spiritual (Zulu)

(b) Them to Grace/Lament. By George Winston. For piano. This song can be used as an instrumental prelude.

(c) There Is a Balm in Gilead. Spiritual. For organ

11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Till We Gather Again. By Stephen D. Key

(b) May the Grace of Our Savior. By John Newton. Tune by Ludwig van Beethoven

(c) Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. By Isaac Watts and William Keathe

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Call to Worship - “Africa.” By Segun Rasaki. Used with permission.