MOTHER’S DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Brandon A. Boyd, Member of the Lectionary Young Adult Liturgists’ Team

“When I wake up, whether it is a cool morning or a school morning, I can hear my Mama sing her love song. I can hear the sounds of bath water running for her children. I warmly notice my clothes freshly ironed, laid on my bedside chair. I awaken more fully and I reach for my soft slippers, one being pushed farther under my bed. I hear the birds humming and the feet of squirrels shuffling over my head. I then quickly get up and I hear my Pops (Dad) singing loud, proud, and way up out of tune doing the quick step all while mowing the grass or taking out the trash. Mama is still singing, Pops is still singing, and suddenly my small radio starts playing Louie Armstrong or some other blues, Mama’s and Pop’s alarm rings out joyously, I better hurry, pray, dress, eat and sing my tune. It’s time, it’s time, it’s time—it’s time to go to school. Then I chant my Big Mama’s words, “Hurry, hurry now child, you can’t stay around here all day, you must hurry, go and learn something at school.”

Worship Planning Notes

This worship unit is designed as a resource for a creative and meaningful worship service in celebration of motherhood. On this Sunday we give thanks to God for mothers. They are special creatures who bring forth and nurture life. Celebrate them to the fullest!

During your Mother’s Day tributes:

• Have your children/youth/teens/tweens create cards, t-shirts, or coffee mugs to celebrate the mothers of the congregation.
  
  
• Give every mother a red rose—to symbolize the beauty they bring to the earth.
  
  
• Recognize women who are celebrating their very first Mother’s Day.
  
  
• Ask the congregation to think of the most influential woman in their lives, whether it’s their mother or a mother-figure. Then, ask everyone to share with the persons to their left or right how that person impacted their lives.
  
  
• Before worship begins or after the benediction, play the song entitled “Mama” from the movie Soul Food.

1. Litany and Responsive Reading

(a) A Litany for Mother’s Day
By Peggy Emerson

(b) Responsive Reading

Mother’s Day

During the Responsive Reading, show photos of women from your congregation on the jumbotrons/screens.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) For the Beauty of the Earth. Text and Tune, (DIX), by Folliott Pierpoint

(b) O Perfect Love, All Human Thought Transcending. By Dorothy Gurney. Tune, (O PERFECT LOVE), by Joseph Barney

(c) Faith of Our Mothers. By A. B. Patten. Tune, (ST. CATHERINE), by Henri Hemy

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Same Train. Arr. By Roland Carter

(b) Gwine to See My Mother Some O’ These Mornin’s. Spiritual

(c) I Thank You Jesus, I Thank You Lord. By Kenneth Morris. Arr. By Joseph Joubert

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs or Ensembles
(a) I Remember Mama. By Shirley Caesar, Bernard Sterling, and Michael Mathis

(b) I Still Hear Mama Praying. By Chester D.T. Baldwin

(c) Mama Prayed Us Through. By Thomas Cain

(d) When I Rose This Morning. By Jerry Smith

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Order My Steps. By Glenn Burleigh

(b) The Prayer. By David Foster and Carol Sager

6. Anthems
(a) Grace. Arr. By Mark Hayes

(b) Some Day. Arr. By Nathan Carter

(c) Lord, We Give Thanks to Thee. By Undine Smith Moore

7. Modern Songs (Written between 2000-2011)
(a) Back to Eden. By Donald Lawrence

(b) High Places. Arr. By Sigmund Morriar

(c) How Excellent Is Thy Name. By Eddie Robinson

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Running Over. By Joe Pace

(b) Lord, You Are Awesome. By William Murphy

(c) O Give Thanks. By Charles Nicks

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Somebody Prayed for Me. By Alvin Darling and Dorothy Norwood

(b) Come By Here My Lord. Arr. By Uzee Brown

(c) I Still Hear Mama Praying. By Chester D.T. Baldwin

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Jesus Christ Is the Way. By Walter Hawkins

(b) I Really Love the Lord. By Milton Biggham

(c) If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again. By James Rowe and James Vaughan

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) We Offer Christ. By Joel Britton

(b) While You Wait. By Joe Pace

(c) Give of Your Best to the Master. By Howard Grose

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) ‘Til We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin

(b) Shalom to You. By Elise Eslinger. Tune, (SOMOS DEL SENOR), by Carlton Young

(c) Always Remember. By Andraé Crouch

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed