MUSIC AND WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, April 18, 2012

Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

At Easter we celebrate the resurrection. In Luke 24:28-50 (our Lectionary Scripture for today), we find a narrative of Jesus’ visit with his disciples after the resurrection. The narrative provides multiple areas of focus for all who are heirs to the resurrection. Particularly noteworthy is the request by Jesus that his disciples be clothed with “power from on high.” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary says: “As he arose, so he ascended, by his own power. They worshipped him. This fresh display of Christ’s glory drew from them fresh acknowledgments. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. The glory of Christ is the joy of all true believers, even while they are here in this world. While waiting for God’s promises, we must go forth to meet them with our praises. And nothing better prepares the mind for receiving the Holy Ghost” – the POWER. (emphasis mine).

Reflection on the resurrection should certainly elicit great praise! When we praise, God manifests His power. Praise power is transformational for worshippers. On this Sunday, Worship and Arts ministries should keep this in mind and design services that promote the theme of resurrection transformation. Other worship planning concerns to remember:

• Does the music for the day accent the sermon text that your pastor will use today? This should be a foremost concern just as the Word is foremost in the service.
  
  
• If your church does communion on this Sunday, be sure to have clergy meld the themes of resurrection and communion.
  
  
• Give consideration to the colors for the day. This is a moment on the calendar that should see clergy in robes and choir members and praise teams dressed uniformly.
  
  
• If your church places lilies or other plants in and around its sanctuary, be sure that persons are designated to take the plants to nursing home and sick and shut-in members after your service(s).
  
  
• Be sure that your children participate in today’s service and do more than deliver Easter speeches.

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation

Prelude

(a) Resurrection Prelude. By Frank La Rocca. A grand two-minute prelude for SATB choir, brass, and timpani, setting Psalm 8:1. The title derives in part from the interwoven references to two great works that deal with the subject of resurrection: Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2.
Audio Sample: http://www.rockarbormusic.com/movies/RessurectionPrelude.html

Meditation for Gathering
(b) Up from the Grave. By Safiyah Fosua

Up from the Grave

Christ is raised
And we are raised in him!

Call to Worship
(c) Easter Morning. By Sherrie Dobbs Johnson

Easter Morning

2. Hymns and Congregatioanal Songs
(a) On the Third Day Morning. Text and Tune by Harold Wheat, Jr.

(b) I Know That My Redeemer Lives. By Samuel Medley. Tune, (DUKE STREET), by John Hatton

(c) I Know that My Redeemer Liveth. By Jessie B. Pounds. Tune, (HANNAH), by James H. Fillmore

(d) He Lives. Text and Tune, (ACKLEY), by Alfred H. Ackley

(e) Christ Arose. Text and Tune by Robert Lowry

3. Spiritual or Traditional Song
(a) He Arose. Spiritual

(b) Christ Arose. Text and Tune, (CHRIST AROSE), by Robert Lowry

(c) Soon Ah Will Be Done. Spiritual

(d) I Never Shall Forget What He’s Done for Me. Traditional song

(e) In the Morning When I Rise/God’s Not Dead, He’s Yet Alive (Live). Traditional

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles or Praise Teams
(a) Just Like He Said He Would. By Joseph Pace, III

(b) He Is Risen. By Carlis L. Moody, Jr

(c) He Got Up on the Third Day. By Jerry Parries

(d) Alive Alive. By David Bratton

(e) Still Alive. By Kirk Franklin

(f) God So Loved the World. Traditional

(g) Jesus Is Alive. By Cedric Ford

5. Liturgical Dance and Mime Ministry Music
(a) He Lives. By Cindy Cruse Ratliff, Israel Houghton, and Melissa Houghton

(b) The Lord’s Prayer. Author Unknown

6. Anthems
(a) A Hymn of Resurrection. By Gwyneth Walker. For SATB chorus and organ with optional brass quintet and timpani
Audio Sample: http://www.coomanarts.com/gw/mp3/ahymnres-ocean.mp3

(b) Our Risen Lord. By Timothy Dudley-Smith and Bob Moore

(c) Hail the Day That Sees Him Arise. By Howard Helvey. For SATB chorus and congregation and organ, with optional brass quintet and timpani
Audio Sample: http://site.paracletepress.com/audio/PPDemoJanuary2010-HailtheDayThatSeesHimRise.mp3

(d) Resurrection Jubilee. By Glenn Jones

7. Modern Songs
(a) Tell the World. By Lionel Williams

(b) I Am with Thee. By Carmen Calhoun

(c) Jesus Is Alive (Live). By Cedric Ford

(d) Alive. By Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey

(e) Because He Lives. By William and Gloria Gaither

8. Songs for Children and Youth
(a) He’s Alive. By Anthony Brown and Maurette Brown Clark

(b) Jesus Is Alive (Live). By Ron Kenoly. This song has a fun chorus for kids.

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Thank You (Congregational Medley). By Christopher Lewis

(b) He Lives. By Germaine Dwyer

(c) Let’s Celebrate (He Is Risen). By Timothy Wright and Paul D. Wright

(d) Because of Lives. By Gloria and William Gaither. Arr. by Deitrick Haddon

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Calvary. By Jules Bartholomew

(b) The Lord’s Prayer. Public Domain

(c) God Is On Our Side. By Andraé Crouch

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Jesus Is Alive. By Ron Kenoly

(b) Morning Medley. By Stephen Hurd

(c) I Need Your Glory. By James Fortune

(d) Simply Redeemed. By Marc Harris and Tommy Sims

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) He Is Lord. Text based on Philippians 2:11. Tune, (HE IS LORD), traditional

(b) Morning’s Breaking. By Richard Smallwood

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Benediction Prayer
(a) Open the Door. By Safiyah Fosua

Open the Door

Unlock the doors of fear and doubt.
Let your faith spill into the streets!
Jesus is risen!
Death has no more claims on your life.
In life, in death Christ is your life.
Peace be with you.

Benediction Music
(b) Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (LLAN FAIR ALLELUIAS), by Robert Williams

(c) Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (LLAN FAIR ASCENSION), by William H. Monk

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation

Prelude
(a) Resurrection Prelude.By Frank La Rocca. A grand two-minute prelude for SATB choir, brass, and timpani, setting Psalm 8:1. The title derives in part from the interwoven references to two great works that deal with the subject of resurrection: Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2.