HOLY THURSDAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, March 28, 2013

Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Our key Scripture for this service is John 13:31-35. It reads:

This Scripture helps shape the focal point of this service—our communion with Christ such that he lives out his life within us. The aim of Jesus’ presence, his identity as messiah and God’s Son, begins to break through as he breaks bread and serves his disciples. They had hoped they were preparing to set up an earthly kingdom. But Holy Thursday instead marks the moment when Jesus lovingly redirects the disciples—redirects us—that Christ’s salvific ministry must become their ministry—must be our ministry. He will finish the work through us as we live out his life in our lives and ministries. Holy Thursday becomes an opportunity for our congregations to enter into committed lives of seeking the salvation of our neighbors, of drawing them close, of dying and being risen together.

Your ministry efforts can be punctuated, both during the service and outside the service, in the following ways:

A. Music, Readings, Videos

• During the Service
• The music of the service might begin on a joyous note, celebrating the fellowship (this could begin in the Agape Feast prior to the main service), but it should move to more contemplative music as the congregation is drawn deeper into the revelation of the salvific mission of Christ.
  
  
• Incorporate a series of dramatic readings in the service. This would be a great opportunity for a choral reading (include several readers in unison) or readers theatre (multiple readers using vocal expression to help the audience understand the story rather than visual storytelling with sets, costumes, and intricate blocking), etc.
  
  
• Combine music and readings into a Service of Tenebrae. Examples can be found through an internet search and then modified as needed.
  
  
• Include video clips for periods of reflection, to open the service, during Offertory, during serving of the emblems, as Sermon Illustrations, etc.

• Outside the Service
• If your Audio Visual capabilities or budget will permit, set up a large screen outside to broadcast the service. Be mindful of the volume, of course, and any permits that may be required.

B. Liturgical Color: White

• During the Service
  
  The liturgical color for this service is white, representing the spotless life of Jesus and our rejoicing in the Lord’s Supper. The white can also represent our lives and ministries, connected to our community by the unblemished love of Jesus Christ lived out in us. This color can be employed to drape the cross, to cover the altar or communion table, in the attire of those serving, and in your floral decorations.
  
  
• Outside the Service
  
  Display a large wooden cross in your church front lawn, draped with a white cloth.

C. Commitment to Serve

• During the Service
• Congregational Foot Washing. See 15(b).
  
  
• Organized prayers can also be effectively used as an act of service. In the 2010 music resource for Holy Thursday, W. Patrick Alston, Sr. suggested that such prayers could be held prior to the start of the worship service, or they can be incorporated into the service itself. Have your prayer ministry, ministers, elders, deacons, stewards, altar guild, etc., lead the congregation in prayers from the altar. The prayers can be formal prayers for the following:
• Personal needs;
• Families;
• The healing of our nation and world;
• Your church and the Church universal; and
• The salvation of the unsaved.

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation

Music for Processional
(a) Of Tears and Sorrows. By Joseph M. Martin. For SATB, optional orchestration available
Audio Sample: www.jwpepper.com/mp3/10058755.m3
The dramatic text from Isaiah, “Surely, He Hath Borne our Grief,” is vividly conveyed in the interplay between the two solo voices and powerful choral support. A moving chamber orchestration for pageants is available.

Sung Call to Worship
(b) O Come and Taste the Lord. By Patrick M. Liebergen. For SATB

(c) Fill This House. By John P. Kee

Spoken Call to Worship
(d) Join Him at the Welcome Table Today. By Michelle Riley Jones

Join Him at the welcome table.
Take off your shoes, dusty with worry and cares,
Remove your coat, torn from strife and grief.
Clasp the hand of your brother, your sister
And let us open our hearts to the Savior’s love.
We will share the bread, broken for us.
And drink the wine, poured out for our salvation.
And we will see that the Lord, He is good.
Let us join Him at the welcome table today.

Congregational Litany
(e) Holy Thursday

2. Hymns or Congregational Songs
(a) Live Out Thy Life within Me. By Frances Ridley Havergal. Tune, (AURELIA), by Samuel Westley

(b) The Servant Song(Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You). By Richard A. M. Gillard. Arr. by David Haas. For SATB choral; optional handbell accompaniment
Audio Sample: http://www.sevenwholedays.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ServantSong.mp3

(c) Oh Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go. By George Matheson. Tune, (ST. MARGARET), by Albert L. Peace

(d) More Love to Thee. By Elizabeth Prentiss. Tune, (MORE LOVE TO THEE), by William H. Doane

(e) Break Thou the Bread of Life. By Mary A. Lathbury. Tune, (BREAD OF LIFE), by William F. Sherwin

(f) Is Your All on the Altar? By Elisha Hoffman

(g) Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. By Charles Wesley. Music by John Zundel

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) I Wouldn’t Take Nothing (for My Journey Now). Spiritual. Arr. by William Barks-Dale

(b) Sinner You Can’t Walk My Path. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Undine Smith Moore

(c) I’m Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table. African American Spiritual

(d) Oh to Be Kept by Jesus. By Thurston Frazier

(e) Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land. African American Spiritual
Verse 2 of this African American spiritual specifically cites the act of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
Praise Teams
(a) Commune with Me. By Phil Tarver

(b) Sacrifice of Praise. By Alvin Slaughter

Choirs
(c) I See a Crimson Stream of Blood. By G. T. Haywood

(d) Precious Is the Blood. By Joe Pace

(e) Calvary. By Albert Jamison

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Matthew 28. By Donald Lawrence

6. Anthems
(a) I Give You a New Commandment. By Peter Aston. For SATB choir

(b) O Love Divine. By Fanny J. Crosby. Arr. by John Hudson. For SATB choir

(c) Hope of the World. By Lloyd Larsen. For SATB; two-part mixed also available This anthem uses the captivating melody, Wayfaring Stranger, and beautifully incorporates the African American spiritual Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley.

(d) Can You Drink the Cup? By Pamela Martin. Arr. by Craig Courtney. For SATB choir A haunting piano motive opens and closes this contemplative selection. In between, question-like vocal phrases express a poignant text about the cost of discipleship.

7. Modern Songs
(a) How Beautiful. By Twila Paris

(b) Destiny Is Waiting. By Deon Kipping

8. Music for Children and Youth
(a) Jesu, Jesu Fill Us with Your Love. By Cindy Johnston-Favreau. With optional flute accompaniment

(b) Yes. By Kirk Franklin

(c) Your Blood (The Communion Song). By Tye Tribbett

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) When I Rose This Morning. By Jerry Smith

(b) He Lives. By Jerome Lorde

(c) Thank God for the Blood. By V. Michael McKay

(d) You Gave Me Hope. By Wess Morgan

10. Song for the Period of Prayer and Preparation
(a) Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love. Ghana Folk Song. Tune, (CHEREPONI).

(b) Let Us Be One. By Eugene Englert. For SATB
Audio Sample: http://resources.giamusic.com/mp3s/5249.mp3
This is a song of preparation to break the bread and drink the cup. It is scored for unaccompanied choir, but keyboard may double the voices.

(c) Sweet Hour of Prayer. By William Walford. Tune, (SWEET HOUR), by William Bradley. Arr. by Joseph Graham for SATB, a capella

(d) May They Be One. By Lloyd Larsen. For SATB
Audio Sample: http://www.beckenhorstpress.com/audio/1708.mp3

(e) Oh Draw Me Lord (Draw Me Near). By Michael W. Smith

(f) I Need Your Attention. By Deon Kipping

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) To the Cross. By Babbie Mann and Julie Adams

(b) The Meal. By Russell Nagy. For SATB

(c) Christ We Do All Adore Thee with Fairest Lord Jesus. By Theodore Baker and Theodore Dubois. Arr. by William David Young. For SATB

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Thy Way, O Lord. By Nina B. Jackson. Tune by E. C. Deas

(b) The Cross Says Come. By Babbie Mason and Eulalia King. Arr. by Camp Kirkland. For SATB, with optional instrumental accompaniment
Audio Sample: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/look_inside/19086315

(c) Come with Me. By Patti Drennan. For SATB
Audio Sample: http://www.beckenhorstpress.com/audio/1448.mp3

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Lord I Have Seen Thy Salvation. Text and Tune, (THY SALVATION), by John D. Cooper

(b) Till We Gather Again. By Stephen Key

(c) My Peace I Leave With You. By Wendell Woods

(d) Victory. By John Ness Beck. Choral SATB, choral with congregation
Audio Sample: http://www.beckenhorstpress.com/audio/1100.mp3

14. Audio Visual Aids
These videos may be used for reflection to open the service, during Offertory, during serving of the emblems, as Sermon Illustrations, etc. You may want to use alternative music to suit your worship culture.

(a) Because of This. By Splashdrive Media
Sample Video: http://www.sermonspice.com/product/19986/its-because-of-this
This powerful video focuses on the sacrifice of Jesus as our reason for worship. It is a great opener for the service.

(b) Rescue Me. By The Work of the People
Sample Video: http://www.sermonspice.com/search?&page=1&producer_id=479
Watch as people react to the sacraments. Christ is offering his body to everyone. Will you partake? Will you taste the bread and the wine? How will you react to the Communion table?

(c) Because of Jesus. By The Grove Center for the Arts and Media
Sample Video: http://www.sermonspice.com/product/9155/because-of-jesus
Who are you in Christ? This beautiful meditation focuses on our true spiritual identity in Jesus Christ.

(d) The Passover Lamb. By Angelhouse Media
Sample Video: http://www.sermonspice.com/product/23804/the-passover-lamb
Scripture provides the script for this beautifully filmed and scored program, paralleling the similarities between the sacrificial lamb of the Old Testament and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

(e) Currency: How Much Is Our Life Worth? By Bluefish TV
Sample Video:
http://www.bluefishtv.com/Store/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/1359/Currency_How_Much_Is_Our_Life_Worth
Everything has a price tag. This thought-provoking sermon illustration considers the value of various everyday things, but begs the question: What are we worth? Remember, Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem us from sin.

15. Other Worship Recommendations
Have your drama ministry prepare a skit that recreates the scene in the lection Scripture—John 14:31-35. Some key goals to consider:

• The aim of Jesus’ presence, his identity as Messiah and God’s Son, begins to break through as he breaks bread and serves his disciples.
  
  
• Jesus’ words and deeds must become present in the disciples’ own lives and ministries.
  
  
• Holy Thursday marks a moment not only when our souls become bound to God, but also becomes an opportunity for our congregation to enter into the rhythms of seeking the salvation of our neighbor, of drawing them close, of dying with and being risen together.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation