SENIORS, ELDERS, AND GRANDPARENTS DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Chad Brawley, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Composer, gospel artist, corporate worship facilitator, and worship ministry consultant

Worship Planning Notes

Seniors, elders, and grandparents are jewels in every community. Today, your Worship and Arts Ministry has the important task of leading your congregation in worship as it honors the jewels of your faith community. Here are some suggestions for this special Sunday. Be sure to begin your preparation at least a month or two in advance to ensure that this service includes all that you wish and is a wonderful celebration of your seniors, elders, and grandparents.

• Children’s Choir – On this day have your children’s (not youth) choir sing songs that concern seniors and are dedicated to seniors. Remember, children can sing adult songs if they are taught to them and they can sing them well.
  
  
• A Mime for elders – Have a special mime choreographed that honors elders. This should not be just a mime performance done to a song and dedicated to elders. Instead, it should be a performance designed to concern seniors with the appropriate accompanying music.
  
  
• Recognition of your seniors who are disabled – Too often we overlook those who have disabilities in our congregations, especially as they age. In a subtle fashion, through either a video and/or spoken word selection, honors those elders who have disabilities. Be appropriate and intentional. Those who use canes due to a lack of mobility or scooters for the same reason are not disabled. Those who are blind, amputees, deaf, mute, etc., are.
  
  
• Flowers for all seniors – Be sure that your pastor and the congregation honor all seniors by pinning them with a corsage or boutonnière on this Sunday. You may even want all seniors seated together.
  
  
• A plaque for the grandparent caring for the largest number of grandchildren – More than ever, as pointed out in the cultural resource unit, grandparents are aiding their families. In some cases, they are even carrying out roles once held by parents. This honor is specifically for such grandparents. Again, be sure to only honor the grandparent(s) who are housing and caring for the largest number of grandchildren. These are children without parents in the household and/or children whose parents are totally disabled.
  
  
• A plaque for the senior who has served in your church longest – The fact that someone has served in your church for decades is worthy of honor. Find the longest-serving member who is also an elder, and let him or her know that you appreciate his or her many years of service.
  
  
• Commencement of Special Senior Services – Use this Sunday to begin and announce a new initiative designed especially for seniors. Examples include: A ramp installed for wheelchairs; a special day each week or at least once each month when seniors can receive free and/or Medicare-funded check-ups at your church or a local facility with which your church has partnered; a special finance and budgeting class only for seniors; special classes for seniors who are rearing children (that include counseling and coping sessions); and legal services only for seniors through your church and/or a local law clinic with which your church has partnered.

1. Centering Prayer, Responsive Reading, and Litany

Loving God, we approach your throne today with a spirit of thanksgiving for our seniors, elders, and grandparents. Thank you for allowing them to rear, inspire, and love us into who we are today. You’ve used them to bless our lives and for that we are grateful. Now, Lord, we ask that you will remind them that they are special to the Body of Christ. Please remind them that they are blessed and will be sustained, carried, and rescued by you. And please, Lord, let this church be your hands and feet in this regard. God, bless all seniors, elders, and grandparents with sweet peace and hope in you to continue the journey of loving, living, and thriving. In the name of our redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Responsive Reading

Psalm 100:1-5, ESV

Litany

2. Opening Songs
(a) Oh Magnify. By Glenn Burleigh

(b) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert Goodson

(c) We’re Marching to Zion. By Albert Watts. Tune, (MARCHING TO ZION), by Robert Lowry

3. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Yes God Is Real. By Kenneth Morris. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

(b) I Will Trust in the Lord. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Jeffrey Radford and Nolan Williams, Jr.

(c) Thank You, Lord. Traditional. Arr. by Stephen Key

4. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) I Want Jesus to Walk with Me. Arr. by Moses Hogan

(b) I’ve Been ‘Buked. Arr. by Moses Hogan

(c) My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord. Spiritual. Arr. by Moses Hogan

(d) Ride the Chariot. Spiritual

(e) Set Down Servant. Arr. by Robert Shaw

5. Traditional Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) God Is. By James Cleveland

(b) I Know the Lord Will Make a Way. By Eugene Smith and James Cleveland

(c) God Will Take Care of You. By Vashawn Mitchell

(d) God Is Keeping Me. By Steven Daniels

(e) Lord Keep Me Day by Day. By Eddie Williams, Jr.

(f) You Keep on Blessing Me. By Luther Barnes

(g) Order My Steps in Your Word. By Glenn Burleigh

6. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) I’ll Trust You. By J. Fortune and T. Vaughn

(b) The Blood. By Andraé Crouch

(c) For Every Mountain. By Kurt Carr

7. Anthems for Choirs, Ensembles, or Soloists
(a) God Is on Our Side. By Andraé Crouch and Luther “Mano” Hanes

(b) Let the Redeemed Say So. By Ricky Dillard

8. Modern Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) God Can. By PJ Morton

(b) I Am God. By Donald Lawrence

(c) My Life Is in Your Hands. By Kirk Franklin

(d) A Move of God Is on the Way. By Norman Hutchins and Jason White

(e) God of Promise. By Richard Smallwood

(f) Keep on Making a Way. By Percy Gray, Jr.

(g) Keep on Moving on. By Estee Bullock and Nate McNair

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) The Solid Rock (My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less). By Edward Mote. Tune, (SOLID ROCK), by William B. Bradbury

(b) The Lord Is Blessing Me. Traditional

(c) All Things Come of Thee. Music attr. to Ludwig Van Beethoven

(d) You Can’t Beat God Giving. By Doris Akers. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) A Charge to Keep I Have. By Charles Wesley. Tune by Lowell Mason

(b) Even Me. Traditional. Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.

(c) My Faith Looks Up to Thee. By Ray Palmer. Tune by Lowell Mason

(d) What a Friend We Have in Jesus. By Joseph M. Scriven. Tune by Charles C. Converse

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Remember Me. Congregational Praise Song. Harm. by Leon C. Roberts

(b) My Soul Has Been Anchored in the Lord. By Douglas Miller

(c) His Eye Is on the Sparrow. By Civilla D. Martin. Refrain by Charles H. Gabriel. Arr. by Horace Clarence Boyer

(d) Your Grace and Mercy. By Franklin D. Williams. Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.

(e) Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Anonymous

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling. By Will L. Thompson

(b) Come to Jesus. Traditional. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

(c) Just as I Am. By Charlotte Elliot. Tune by William B. Bradbury

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Press Toward the Mark. Traditional

(b) Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. By Isaac Watts and William Keathe. Adapt. by Thomas Ken. Music by John Hatton. Adapt. by George Coles. Arr. by Roberta Martin

(c) The Lord Bless You and Keep You/Sevenfold Amen. By Peter C. Lutkin

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Materials Listed

1. Centering Prayer, Responsive Reading, and Litany. By Chad Brawley