“Rain or Shine: Washington, D.C. Elderly couple eating dinner at their home on Lamont Street, N.W.” Photo by Gordon Parks. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection [LC-USF34-013404-C].
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MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT SUNDAY
WORSHIP RESOURCES
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Robert Heath, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
residing in Chelsea, MA
Worship Planning Notes
This Sunday’s focus is on acts that will enrich marriages and the celebration of the sacred ritual of marriage. As part of celebrating the sacred bond of marriage today, the Worship and Arts departments of churches are charged to set an environment of worship with marriage as the backdrop. Be intentional to sing songs that concern marriage and family as God is lifted and praised. God honors marriage and family, so by your doing so on this Sunday, God is pleased.
Do not fail to make your service truly memorable by engaging in activities (some are suggested below at #12 and #13), and more are included in today’s cultural resource unit.
1. Invocation, Litany, or Congregational Reading
Prelude or Processional Music
Couples can process in during this music.
(a) Love. By John Stoddart. This selection is a piano solo.
Litany
(b) Litany for Married Couples
The married couples in the congregation should be seated in one section. For the litany, they are to stand together where they are seated and recite the litany.
| Husbands: |
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
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| Pastor: |
But I want you to know and realize that Christ is the Head of every man, and the Head of Christ is God … he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man (1 Corinthians 11:3a, 7).
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| Wives: |
(Say husband’s name here), how handsome you are, my love! Oh, how charming! My lover is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His arms are rods of gold. His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. This is my lover, this is my friend (Song of Solomon 1:17; 5:10, 14-16).
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| Husbands: |
(Say wife’s name here), how beautiful you are, my darling. Oh, how beautiful! Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens. Other queens there may be but my dove, my perfect one, is unique. Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman’s hands. Your neck is like an ivory tower, your eyes are the pools of Heshbon. Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry (Song of Solomon 1:16; 2:2; 6:9, 7:1, 4-5).
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| Pastor: |
Place her, place him, like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it should be utterly scorned (Song of Solomon 8:6-7).
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| Both Spouses: |
In the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God (1 Corinthians 11:8-9, 11-12).
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| Pastor: |
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Ephesians 4:31-32; Proverbs 3:5-6).
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| Husband: |
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride. You have stolen my heart, my bride (Song of Solomon 4:8).
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| Pastor: |
Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [You are] no longer two people, but one. And no one should separate what God has joined together” (John 13:34; Matthew 19:6).
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| Both Spouses: |
My lover is mine and I am his/hers. As for [our] house, we will serve the Lord (Song of Solomon 2:16; Joshua 24:15). |
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Oh to Be Kept. By Thurston Frazier
(b) Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary. By John Thompson and Randy Scruggs
(c) Sanctify Me. By V. Michael McKay
(d) I Would Be True. By Howard A. Walter. Tune, (PEEK), by Joseph Y. Peek
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Let Us Break Bread Together. Traditional. This selection could be done as a duet for male and female voices. It is also suitable as a prayer invitation for couples.
(b) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Traditional
4. Modern Songs
(a) We Wait. By Wesley Tuttle
(b) Pour My Love on You. By Juanita Bynum
(c) One Night with the King. By Jeannie Tenney
(d) Souled Out. By Estee Bullock and Nate McNair
(e) God Favored Me. By Jules Barthowlomew
5. Liturgical Dance Music
Love U with the Rest of My Life. By Fred Hammond
6. Anthems
(a) Striving after God. By Michaelangelo. Arr. by Undine Smith-Moore. For SATB
Audio Sample: http://www.giamusic/mp3s/6413.mp3
(b) Let’s Have a Union. By Salone Clarey. For SATB a capella
7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Still in Love. By Kirk Franklin
(b) When God Gave Me You. By T. D. Jakes and Darin Whittington
(c) We Magnify Your Name. By Richard Smallwood
(d) The Bridegroom Cometh. By Carl White, Jr.
(e) I’m Yours Lord. By Ethel Holloway
8. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Lord’s Prayer. By Albert Hay Malotte
for soprano voice:
for tenor voice:
(b) We Are One. By Peter Scholtes and Walt Whitman
(c) We Are One. By Timothy Wright. Arr. by Valeria Foster
(d) Make Us One. By Phillip Bailey
(e) Family. By Donald Lawrence
(f) Kept by God. By DeAndre Patterson
(g) More of Thee. By Tammi Haddon
(h) Lord, I Lift Her to Thee. By T. D. Jakes, Donald Lawrence, and Daniel Weatherspoon
(i) God Can. By Shawn Allen and James Fortune
(j) My Soul Seeks to Please Him. Traditional. This selection could be used as a prayer response.
(k) Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us. By Dorothy A. Thrupp. Tune, (BRADBURY), by William B. Bradbury
9. Sermonic Selection
(a) See Us Through. Writer Unknown
(b) More Than Wonderful. By Lanny Wolfe
(c) Flesh of My Flesh. By Leon Patillo
(d) Because You Loved Me. By Diane Warren. This is an instrumental gospel arrangement of a pop classic.
(e) The Things We Do. By Robin Scoffield and Keith Thomas
(f) This Love Won’t Fail. By Raina Bundy and Skip Scarborough
(g) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks
10. Invitational Song
(a) Jesus Is Love. By Lionel Ritchie
(b) So Easy to Love You. By Donald Clay and Michael Grungor
(c) We Need You Lord. By Jonathan Butler
11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) May the Lord God Be with You. By Terry Baker and Simeon Baker
(b) Falling in Love with Jesus. By Jonathan Butler. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.
(c) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Traditional. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.
(d) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. By Johann Sebastian Bach. Arr. by Myra Hess. This selection can be a piano solo and is also appropriate for processional or recessional.
12. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) See today’s cultural resource unit for numerous ideas that you can implement on Marriage Enrichment Sunday.
(b) Display wedding pictures of members in a highly visible area, such as the church foyer. Identify each person in the photos and include dates of marriages.
13. Other Recommendations
(a) Hold month-long classes and seminars on “Strengthening Marriages.” Have teachers and speakers give particular attention to “marriage killers” such as: failure to show empathy for your partner; inadequate finances and the inability to budget; failure to share household responsibilities; not knowing how to argue in healthy ways; not knowing how to encourage your partner toward success; and not knowing how to rear healthy children.
(b) Congregation and clergy can surround the couple in a prayer circle during the Period of Prayer or near the end of the service.
(c) Honor members of your extended family, church family, or community whose marriages have had an impact on your life. Write a note of appreciation to persons whose marriages have inspired you. Send those notes out in March.
(d) Encourage your pastor to incorporate the renewal of wedding vows into the liturgy for all married couples in attendance. Inform members and invite guests 2–3 weeks in advance.
(e) Organize “couple” events such as bake sales, garage/yard sales, and car washes to raise money for charities—all in celebration of Marriage Enrichment. Donate monies raised to groups that aid families.
(f) Organize a couples bowling, skating party, picnic, or some other event that will allow the married couples in your church to come together. These events could precede or follow the Marriage Enrichment Service.
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
1. Invocation, Litany, or Congregational Reading
Prelude or Processional Music
(a) Love. By John Stoddart. This selection is a piano solo.
Location:
Sweet. Upper Marlboro, MD: Urban Junction East Music, 2005.
Litany
(b) Litany for Married Couples. By Michelle Riley Jones, African American Lectionary Team Liturgist.
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Oh to Be Kept. By Thurston Frazier
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #423
National Baptist Publishing Board. The New National Baptist Hymnal. Nashville, TN:
National Baptist Pub. Board, 1981. #318
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2001. #212
(b) Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary. By John Thompson and Randy Scruggs
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #462
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #203
(c) Sanctify Me. By V. Michael McKay
Location:
GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue
Chicago, IL 60638
Phone: 1-800-GIA-1358
Online location: www.giamusic.com
(d) I Would Be True. By Howard A. Walter. Tune, (PEEK), by Joseph Y. Peek
Location:
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. Nashville, TN: The African Methodist Episcopal Church, (1984) second printing 1986. #411
The New National Baptist Hymnal. #265
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #246
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Let Us Break Bread Together. Traditional. This selection could be done as a duet for male and female voices. It is also suitable as a prayer invitation for couples.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #686
(b) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Traditional
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #632
4. Modern Songs
(a) We Wait. By Wesley Tuttle
Location:
Bynum, Juanita. A Piece of My Passion. Atlanta, GA: Flow Records, 2006.
(b) Pour My Love on You. By Juanita Bynum
Location:
Pour My Love on You. Atlanta, GA: Flow Records, 2008.
(c) One Night with the King. By Jeannie Tenney
Location:
Gospel Goes Classical Featuring Juanita Bynum and Jonathan Butler. Dallas, TX: Flow Records, 2006.
(d) Souled Out. By Estee Bullock and Nate McNair
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Souled Out. New York, NY: Verity Records, 2008.
(e) God Favored Me. By Jules Barthowlomew
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Souled Out. New York, NY: Verity Records, 2008.
5. Liturgical Dance Music
Love U with the Rest of My Life. By Fred Hammond
Location:
Fred Hammond Presents… In Case You Missed It, and Then Some. New York, NY: Verity, 2001.
6. Anthems
(a) Striving after God. By Michaelangelo. Arr. by Undine Smith-Moore. For SATB
Location:
(b) Let’s Have a Union. By Salone Clarey. For SATB a capella
Location:
7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Still in Love. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
The Fight of My Life. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 2007.
(b) When God Gave Me You. By T. D. Jakes and Darin Whittington
Location:
Jakes, T. D. Sacred Love Songs. Santa Monica, CA: Island, 1999.
(c) We Magnify Your Name. By Richard Smallwood
Location:
Memorable Moments. Brentwood, TN: Sparrow Records, 1999.
(d) The Bridegroom Cometh. By Carl White, Jr.
Location:
Hayes, Charles and the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir. The Collection. Jackson, TN: Savoy Records, 1999.
(e) I’m Yours Lord. By Ethel Holloway
Location:
Evans, Clay. The Collection. Jackson, TN: Savoy Records, 1998.
8. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Lord’s Prayer. By Albert Hay Malotte
Location:
Bishop T. D. Jakes and The Potter’s House Mass Choir. A Wing and a Prayer. New York, NY: Rhino/Warner, 2007.
Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago. This Is the Day. Chicago, IL: I AM Records, 2003.
(b) We Are One. By Peter Scholtes and Walt Whitman
Location:
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Live . . . This Is Your House. Brentwood, TN: M2 Communications LLC, 2003.
(c) We Are One. By Timothy Wright. Arr. by Valeria Foster
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #323
(d) Make Us One. By Phillip Bailey
Location:
The Wonders of His Love. Nashville, TN: Myrrh, 1984.
(e) Family. By Donald Lawrence
Location:
The Murrills. Family Prayer. New York, NY: Zomba, 2008.
(f) Kept by God. By DeAndre Patterson
Location:
Hayes, Charles and the Warriors. Back at War. Chicago, IL: Utopia Music Group, 2005.
(g) More of Thee. By Tammi Haddon
Location:
Bishop Noel Jones and The City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir. Welcome to the City. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscott, 2007.
(h) Lord, I Lift Her to Thee. By T. D. Jakes, Donald Lawrence, and Daniel Weatherspoon
Location:
Jakes, T. D. Sacred Love Songs. Santa Monica, CA: Island, 1999.
(i) God Can. By Shawn Allen and James Fortune
Location:
Fortune, James and Fiya. You Survived. Houston, TX: Worldwide Music, 2004.
(j) My Soul Seeks to Please Him. Traditional. This selection could be used as a prayer response.
Location:
Bynum, Juanita. A Piece of My Passion. Atlanta, GA: Flow Records, 2006.
(k) Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us. By Dorothy A. Thrupp. Tune, (BRADBURY), by William B. Bradbury
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #424
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #47
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #54
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985. #545
Church of God in Christ. Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. Memphis, TN: Church of God in Christ Pub. Board in association with the Benson Co., 1982. #385
9. Sermonic Selection
(a) See Us Through. Writer Unknown
Location:
The First Church of Deliverance Choir and Bishop Otto Houston. God Can. Chicago, IL: NEG Entertainment Group, 2006.
(b) More Than Wonderful. By Lanny Wolfe
Location:
Patty, Sandi. The Definitive Collection. Nashville, TN: Word Records, 2007.
(c) Flesh of My Flesh. By Leon Patillo
Location:
Various Artists. 10 Great Christian Love Songs. Hendersonville, TN: Daywind Records, 2001.
(d) Because You Loved Me. By Diane Warren. This is an instrumental gospel arrangement of a pop classic.
Location:
Whalum, Kirk. The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III. Nashville, TN: Top Drawer Records, 2008.
(e) The Things We Do. By Robin Scoffield and Keith Thomas
Location:
Adams, Yolanda. Mountain High…Valley Low. New York, NY: Elektra, 1999.
(f) This Love Won’t Fail. By Raina Bundy and Skip Scarborough
Location:
Adams, Oleta. Come Walk with Me. New York, NY: Harmony/Columbia, 1997.
(g) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks
Location:
Darius Brooks Presents the Reunion: Live in Chicago—Side A. Forest Park, IL: Journey Music Group, 2006.
10. Invitational Song
(a) Jesus Is Love. By Lionel Ritchie
Location:
Tankard, Ben. Piano Prophet. New York, NY: Zomba, 2004.
A different version is provided by Heather Headley and Smokie Norful.
Headley, Heather. Audience of One. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2009.
(b) So Easy to Love You. By Donald Clay and Michael Grungor
Location:
Israel & New Breed. Live From Another Level (Disc 1). New York, NY: Sony, 2004.
(c) We Need You Lord. By Jonathan Butler
Location:
Butler, Jonathan and Juanita Bynum. Gospel Goes Classical (Live). South Africa/Atlanta,
GA: Maranatha! Music/Flow Records, 2006.
11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) May the Lord God Be with You. By Terry Baker and Simeon Baker
Location:
Pace, Joe. Joe Pace Presents: Worship for the Kingdom. New York, NY: EMI Gospel, 2007.
(b) Falling in Love with Jesus. By Jonathan Butler. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.
Location:
The Worship Project. South Africa: Maranatha! Music, 2004.
(c) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Spiritual. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #632
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #222
Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #69
(d) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. By Johann Sebastian Bach. Arr. by Myra Hess. This selection can be a piano solo and is also appropriate for processional or recessional.
Location:
Oxford University Press
2001 Evans Road
Cary, NC 27513 Phone: 1-800-445-9714
Online location: www.oup.com
12. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Suggestion obtained from the World Marriage Day
website: http://wmd.wwme.org/liturgies.html#Vows
13. Other Recommendations
Ideas taken from Black Marriage Day website: http://www.blackmarriageday.com and from
World Marriage Day website: http://wmd.wwme.org/liturgies.html#Vows
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