Brandon A. Boyd, Young Adult Liturgist of the African American Lectionary
Worship Planning Notes
As we approach planning for Good Friday, remember that Resurrection Sunday cannot occur without “Good Friday.” Good Friday is the celebration of Jesus’ redemptive power and his fatal love for all humanity. Jesus literally sacrificed his life for our sins. During this special season of the Liturgical Year, we should reflect on how much was sacrificed for us.
Encourage your congregations to experience God in a new way in this celebration of the Passion of Christ. Theodore Dubois’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ” is one of the most popular works of Passion Week. This work can be accomplished with orchestra or by using piano reduction/organ accompaniment if your congregation has the means to do so.
Composer: Theodore Dubois
Title: The Seven Last Words of Christ
English Adaptation by: Theodore Baker
(A Sacred Cantata for Soli, Chorus, and Orchestra or Piano Reduction)
Introduction: O vos omnes (Soprano Solo)
1st Word – Pater, dimitee (Tenor, Baritone, and Chorus)
2nd Word – Hodie mecum eris (Duet, Tenor, and Baritone)
3rd Word – Stabat Mater (Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, and Chorus)
4th Word – Dues meus (Baritone Solo)
5th Word – Sitio (Tenor, Baritone, and Chorus)
6th Word – Pater, in manus tuas (Tenor and Chorus)
7th Word – Et clamans Jesu (Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, and Chorus)
1.Responsive Reading
“The Day He Wore Our Crown”
By Sue Smith
(adapted from Isaiah 52:1-6, NIV)
Worship Leader:
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.
Congregation:
He was despised and rejected by man, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Worship Leader:
Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Congregation:
He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.
Worship Leader:
Yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.
Congregation:
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed.
Worship Leader:
We all, like sheep, have gone astray; each of us has turned to His own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Lift High the Cross. By George Kitchin and Michael Newbolt
(b) Down at the Cross. By Elisha Hoffman
(c) Were You There? African American Spiritual
(d) He Will Remember Me. By Eugene Bartlett
(e) At Calvary. By William Newell
3.Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a)Were You There? Arr. by Marques Garrett
(b) Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley. African American Spiritual
(c) Calvary. Arr. by Diane White
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs or Ensembles
(a) I Am Redeemed. By Jessy Dixon
(b) Near the Cross. Arr. by David Curry
(c) There Is a Blood. Arr. by Kevin Turner
5.Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Worthy Is the Lamb. By Darlene Zschech
(b) Calvary. By Richard Smallwood
(c) Savior More Than Life to Me. Arr. by Kirk Franklin
6. Anthems
(a) Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs. By George Handel
(b) First Word: Father, Forgive Them. By Theodore Dubois
(c) It Is Well with My Soul. Arr. by Carl Haywood
7.Modern Songs
(a) His Blood Still Works. By Vashawn Mitchell
(b) Because of the Blood. By Christopher Watkins
(c) Your Masterpiece. By Philip Thompson and Zenzo Metoga
8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Jesus Paid It All. By Kirk Franklin
(b)You Are My All. By Dennis Jernigan
(c) Highly Exalted. By Aaron Lindsey and Israel Houghton
(d) The Presence of the Lord Is Here. By Kurt Carr
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Oh the Blood. Arr. by Joe Pace
(b) Just for Me. By Donnie McClurkin
10. Sermonic Selection
(a) O How I Love Jesus. By Thomas Whitfield
(b) Jesus Paid It All. Arr. by David Curry
(c) There Is a Redeemer. By Keith Green
11. Invitational Song
(a) There’s Room at the Cross for You. By Ira Stamphill
(b) Lamb of God. By Twila Paris
(c) Are You Washed in the Blood? By Elisha Hoffman
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a)At the Cross. By Issac Watts
(b) Via Dolorosa. By Billie Sprague and Niles Borop
(c) I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary. By Gloria and William Gaither
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
Worship Planning Notes
Performance Suggestion: The Seven Last Words of Christ. By Theodore Dubois
Location:
Dubois, Theodore. The Seven Last Words of Christ: Edition 186. New York: Schirmer, Inc., 1926.
1. Responsive Reading – “The Day He Wore Our Crown” by Sue Smith(adapted from Isaiah 52:1-6, NIV)
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Lift High the Cross. By George Kitchin and Michael Newbolt
Location:
The Celebration Hymnal. Brentwood, TN: Word/Integrity Music, 1997. #450
Sing Joyfully. Carol Stream, IL: Tabernacle Publishing Company, 1989. #523
Total Praise. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2011. #249
(b) Down at the Cross. By Elisha Hoffman
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #248
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #46
(c) Were You There? African American Spiritual
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #254
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #43
Sing Joyfully. #266
Total Praise. #246
(d) He Will Remember Me. By Eugene Bartlett
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #240
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #36
Total Praise: #239
(e) At Calvary. By William Newell
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #246
The Celebration Hymnal. #492
Sing Joyfully. #313
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Were You There? Arr. by Marques Garrett
Location:
