ECONOMIC JUSTICE/FINANCIAL LITERACY SUNDAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday January 27, 2013

Neichelle R. Guidry Jones, Lectionary Team Young Adult Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Economic Justice and Financial Literacy are at the heart of this worship unit. With the recent proliferation of shared financial woes and concerns, this service is purposed to confront and to comfort. It is purposed to confront recent waves of injustice, such as the widespread recession, predatory lending, and racist banking practices that have disproportionately affected people of color. These have only exacerbated situations of prolonged joblessness and underemployment. Songs of prophetic power should be intermingled with insights on these events and their implications for your particular community. Furthermore, this service is meant to confront financial recklessness and illiteracy, materialism, and greed. Pray for the boldness to name the ways that our own spending practices rob God’s church and God’s people.

On the other hand, this service is meant to offer comfort to those who may have brought their financial worries with them to worship. Consider the fact that some attendees may be personally familiar with the aforementioned systemic issues, and that many of them embrace certain financial practices out of fear, addiction, or worry. Songs about trusting in God and the blessings of God should be combined with messages of encouragement and empowerment.

Also, consider what practical financial strategies you will offer. What will you say about tithing? What will you say about offering? How will you frame financial literacy as an act of covenant building with God? For example, at Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago, IL), we practice a principle called “10-10-80.” Through this principle, we are teaching the congregation to give the “top 10 percent” to God in the tithe, give the “second 10 percent” to themselves in savings and investments, and to “live off of the remaining 80 percent.” This principle has been disseminated through a series of teachings and sermons.

Setting a Mood

Consider setting the mood in the sanctuary with the Drama Ministry or thespians in your congregation. Have them strategically placed throughout the worship space in the following roles:

• A homeless man or woman with a sign that reads something like, “Lost job. Need help.” Tell them not to be afraid to approach attendees as they come in and ask them for change.
  
  
• A well-dressed banker boasting about his “bailout” from the government, continuing to conduct “business as usual” on his smartphone.
  
  
• A small family sitting in a corner or along a wall with a sign that reads, “Our home was foreclosed.”
  
  
• A woman with an armful of shopping bags, bragging about her possessions to people as they enter.

1. Invocation

Lord, We Call on You

Our Lord and our God, we call on you this day asking you to be present with us and to visit us in this our time of trouble.

Lord, we are poor and needy materially.
For many of us, there is more month at the end of the money
than money at the end of the month.
Many of us are living paycheck to paycheck.
Lord, we call upon you right now to help us and guide us.

Lord, we are poor and needy spiritually.
We have cheated you of the time you desire from us.
We have turned away from having a healthy, intimate relationship with you.
Our prayer lives, meditation lives, study lives, giving lives have given way to
the demands made of us by the world, the job, and creature comforts of life.
Lord, we ask you to be with us this day.

Lord, we call upon the power of the Holy Spirit,
To comfort us in our time of trial,
To guard us in our great hour of weakness,
To have mercy on us in our many moments of anguish.

Lord, you would bring us joy today?
Would you lift our souls from sorrow?
There is none like you, O Lord.
And so we beseech you to hear our prayer.

We invite you to come and be present with us.
We look to you for answers.
We trust you in the time of trouble.
We acknowledge your greatness.

We await your mercies and give you thanks even before they come.
Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By Thomas O. Chisholm. Tune by William Runyan

(b) I Will Trust in the Lord. Afro-American Spiritual. Arr. by Carl Haywood

(c) God Will Take Care of You. By Civilla D. Martin. Tune by W. Stillman Martin

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand. By Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Arr. by Richard Smallwood

(b) I Want Jesus to Walk with Me. Afro-American Spiritual

(c) Go Down, Moses. Afro-American Spiritual

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) We’re Blessed. By Fred Hammond and Tommie Walker

(b) I Trust You. By Tasha Cobbs

(c) Never Seen the Righteous Forsaken. By Donald Lawrence

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Ella’s Song. By Bernice Johnson Reagon

(b) I Want It All Back. By Tye Tribbett

(c) Latter Rain. By Clifton Edwards Jr.

6. Anthems
(a) My Life Is in Your Hands. By Kirk Franklin

(b) Faithful Is Our God. By Jules Bartholomew

(c) Is Your All on the Altar. By Elisha A. Hoffman

7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2012)
(a) Brighter Day. By Kirk Franklin

(b) Your Latter Will Be Greater. By Israel Houghton and Derrick Thomas

(c) All I Have to Give. By Kortney Jamaal Pollard

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Could’ve Been. By Kirk Franklin

(b) Confidence. By Tasha Cobbs

(c) Blessing of Abraham. By Donald Lawrence

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by William H. Doane

(b) The Prayer. By David Foster

(c) ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. By Louisa M.R. Stead. Tune by William J. Kirkpatrick

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Order My Steps. By Glenn Burleigh

(b) Every Moment. By Forever Jones

(c) God Is Able. By Smokie Norful

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Never Be Bound Again. By Paul S. Morton Sr.

(b) Open the Eyes of My Heart. By Paul Baloche

(c) Please Don’t Pass Me By. By Fred Hammond, Kim Rutherford, and Tommie Walker

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) God Be with You. By Jeremiah E. Rankin. Tune by William G. Tomer

(b) Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. By Elisha A. Hoffman. Tune by Anthony J. Showalter

(c) For the Love of Money. By Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Anthony Jackson

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Materials Listed