EARTH DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, April 22, 2012

The African American Lectionary Liturgists

Worship Planning Notes

EARTH DAY: MOBILIZE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES

The 2012 theme for Earth Day is MOBILIZE THE EARTH. Although Earth Day as a holiday turns 42 in 2012, the African American Church has yet to embrace it as a moment on its liturgical and ministry calendar. This year, those in charge of music and arts at your church can change that. You can help mobilize your church and other churches in your city. Whether we know it or not, all of us have a stake in caring for the earth, particularly those of us who claim to love the God of creation. Those who claim to love God who do not love his creation, all of it, are not pleasing God. You can help your congregation no longer be divided on the issue. Also, those actions that harm the earth find their way into the communities of poor black and brown people first. So, we really have a reason to be more attentive to celebrating Earth Day and participating in Earth Day advocacy initiatives. We cannot expect that others will save our communities from dumping of toxic waste, lead in homes, and food over-sprayed with pesticides. This year go above and beyond to make your Earth Day service exciting, informative, and inspirational. Here are some ideas:

• Place images of nature throughout your church, especially in areas near the main entrance.
  
  
• Encourage your pastor to preach a sermon that compliments the celebration of Earth Day and/or its theme, which is "MOBILIZE THE EARTH."
  
  
• Have your choir do ONLY songs and music related to Earth Day; be sure that praise teams, children's choir, and even praise dancers use ONLY music that concerns themes related to Earth Day.
  
  
• Announce a recycling or other environmental initiative that the Music and Arts Department will enact in 2012. Place information about the initiative in the bulletin, on the church's website, on its Facebook page, and on the Facebook pages of all members of the Music and Arts Department. Be prepared to give a report of the department's stewardship in April 2013.
  
  
• Encourage children's and youth leaders to have the ministries with which they work take children to the zoo and/or do a project such as tree planting, cleaning up a playground, etc. Be sure to have them video their activities.

1. Responsive Reading or Invocation
Post the responsive reading on screens with scenic backgrounds.

Spoiling Creation Breaks All 10 Commandments

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs 
(a) For the Beauty of the Earth. By Folliott S. Pierpoint 

(b) This Is My Father's World. By Maltbie D. Babcock

(c) For the Fruits of His Creation. By Fred Prat Green. Tune, (EAST ACKLAM), by Francis Jackson

(d) Hymn to the Creator of Light. By John Rutter. For SATB a cappella choir

3. Spirituals
(a) Wade in the Water.

(b) Deep River.

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) The Heavens Are Telling. By Donald Lawrence

(b) Trees. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux

(c) Majesty. By Carnell Murrell

(d) Heal the Land. By Darwin Hobbs and Aaron Pearce

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Colorful World. By Al Love, III, K. O. Thomas, and CeCe Winans

6. Anthems
(a) The Heavens Are Telling (from The Creation). By Franz Joseph Haydn

(b) Look at the World. By John Rutter. This is a wonderful anthem for a children's or youth choir (unison or SATB voice).

(c) All Things Bright and Beautiful. By C.F. Alexander. Tune and Arr. by John Rutter. For SATB choir

7. Modern Songs
(a) Touching Heaven, Changing Earth. By Hillsong

(b) Cover the Earth. By Israel Houghton

(c) God of Wonders. By Caedmon's Call

(d) Blue Skies. By Grant Cunningham and Matt Huesmann

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) You Can't Beat God Giving. By Doris Akers

(b) Showers of Blessing. By Daniel W. Whittle. Tune by James McGranahan

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) We Are an Offering. By Radical for Christ

(b) As the Deer. By Salvador

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) He's Got the Whole World in His Hand. Traditional 

(b) This Is My Father's World. By Malthie D. Babcock. Tune, (TERRA BEATA), by Franklin L. Sheppard

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Song
(a) In the Garden. By Kirk Whalum

Instrumental (Piano)
(b) When Morning Gilds the Skies. German Traditional 

(c) Creation Sings. By Fernando Ortega. Piano solo

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Songs
(a) All Things Come of Thee. Text: 1 Chronicles 29:14. Tune Attr. to Ludwig van Beethoven

(b) Earth. By Hans Zimmer

Instrumental
(c) Mayenziwe (Your Will Be Done). South African traditional

13. Other Recommended Activities

• Have your youth and seniors plant a garden or at least flowers on the church's property.
  
  
• Have your church draw up and get members to sign a petition to end one instance of environmental injustice in your community. MOBILIZE to save the earth and lessen environmental injustice. Work on this effort until the church can give a praise report concerning their efforts. Video your efforts along the way. The pastor will need to take the lead in this effort.
  
  
• Work with city and local groups in your community to plant trees in your community on Earth Day weekend. The pastor will need to take the lead in this effort.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Responsive Reading - Spoiling Creation Breaks All Ten Commandments by Howard Snyder, Distinguished Professor, Chair of Wesley Studies, Tyndale Seminary. Used with permission. *First line added by Nolan Williams, Jr. and contains text taken from Exodus 20:1 (The Message Bible).

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) For the Beauty of the Earth. By Folliott S. Pierpoint
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