MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Friday, March 29, 2013

Courtney-Savali L. Andrews, Lectionary Young Adult Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

On Good Friday, we celebrate the death of Christ who was sinless. In spite of the abuse he suffered, he did not do unto others as they did unto him. Instead, he provided our salvation by his death on Calvary, and by his death and suffering we are forever healed because of the works of the guardian of our souls. Accordingly, we are to walk as those who have been saved by such a magnificent Savior.

On this day in the church calendar, worship services across denominations serve as a specific moment in which we deviate from the usual worship experience in order to live through and reflect on the horrific, yet precious, crucifixion of Christ as the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. In doing so, services may be designed around particular rituals, symbols, places, and utterances signifying his lonesome journey, i.e. The Seven Last Words of Christ, The Stations of the Cross, and The Tenebrae Service. (For more resources and outlines for these specific services, see previous African American Lectionary Good Friday Worship Resources.)

Whether you incorporate these rituals in your service or not, it is important to set a tone and pace that gives the congregation and ministers space to comprehend and reflect not only on the actions of Christ, but also the entire weight of the Good Friday moment.

Setting the Tone

• Good Friday service embodies the journey Jesus walked to Calvary. Emotionally, this service guides us in acknowledging what Christ did, to reflecting on how and why he did it, towards gratitude for his unparalleled example of love and praise for doing it! As we suffer with Christ through this journey, consider in your worship planning how to convey the journey from acknowledgment/comprehension all the way through to gratitude and praise.
  
  
• Consider altering the order of service to start with something that places the congregation in the exact moment in which your narrative begins. This may be done through a theatrical reading, spoken word, liturgical dance or mime, worship video, or artistic painting or drawing created in real-time (usually from 5–10 minutes).
  
  Starting with an unexpected expression of worship will capture the attention of your congregation and may be a powerful way to clarify the meaning and purpose of the service.
  
  
• Choose musical selections that are appropriate to the moment. Music can be used to accompany and/or lead all aspects of the service. This includes accompanying worship videos, paintings, the Seven Last Words, and so on.
  
  
• Be sure to keep things as simple as possible so that the specific messages that you have planned to deliver are grasped.
  
  
• Be mindful of the time constraints of the service. So as not to rush your expression of the Passion narrative, carefully plan any dramatizations to be simplistic in their design and presentation. When there is too much going on, you risk losing the focus of the congregation.
  
  
• Include all ages in the presentation of the narrative and the responses to it, whether it is through song, dance, dramatization, or readings.

1. Reflection and Responsive Reading
(a) Reflection

Behold the Man

Led to
the slaughter,
taking on our torment,
wearing our guilt,
torn, crushed
for sins
not
his.

Behold
the
Son
of God.

In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
In tangled thorns he
emptied himself,
pouring his
grace on
all of
us.

(b) Responsive Reading

In Your Cross

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) At the Cross. By Isaac Watts. Tune, (HUDSON), by Ralph E. Hudson

(b) When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. By Isaac Watts. Tune, (HAMBURG), by Lowell Mason

(c) I Am Thine. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (I AM THINE), by William H. Doane

(d) Jesus Paid It All. By Elvina M. Hall. Tune, (ALL TO CHRIST), by John T. Grape

(e) Oh How He Loves You and Me. By Kurt Kaiser. Tune, (OH HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME).

(f) Jesus Lover of My Soul. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (MARTYN), by Simeon B. Marsh

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) I’ve Been ‘Buked. Arr. by Hal Johnson

(b) Were You There? Traditional

(c) Crucifixion (He Never Said Mumblin’ Word). Arr. by Adolphus Hailstork for SATB

(d) I Must Walk That Lonesome. Arr. by Clifford Shaw

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, and Praise Teams
(a) Above All. By Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche

(b) Jesus I’ll Never Forget. Traditional

(c) You Are My King (Amazing Love). By Billy Foot

(d) Holy Is the Lamb. By Fred White

(e) If Not for Your Grace. By Israel Houghton

(f) Jesus Paid It All. Arr. by David Curry

5. Liturgical Dance and Mime Ministry Music
(a) Deep Blood Red. By Mali Music

(b) Calvary. By Maurette Brown-Clark

(c) Lamb of God. By Twila Paris

(d) Holy Is the Lamb. By Fred White

(e) Savior More Than Life to Me. By Kirk Franklin

6. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) I’ll Praise Him. By Maurette Brown-Clark

(b) Oh How Wondrous. By John P. Kee

(c) Jesus Paid It All. By Kirk Franklin

7. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Perfect Peace. By Rudolph Stanfield

(b) There Is a Fountain. Arr. by Clarence McClendon

8. Sermonic Selection
(a) Marvelous. By Walter Hawkins

(b) Oh What Love. By T.J. Hemphill

(c) God So Loved the World. By Lanny Wolfe

(d) He Decided to Die. By Margaret Douroux

(e) He Looked Beyond My Faults. By Dottie Rambo. Tune, (LONDONDERRY AIRE).Traditional

9. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) How Deep the Father’s Love for Us. By Stuart Townend

(b) I Am Redeemed. By Jesse Dixon

(c) Grateful. By Sean Brown

10. Benediction Song
(a) He’s the Greatest. By John P. Kee

(b) Saved by Grace. By Israel Houghton

11. Children and Youth Choir Selections
(a) Just for Me. By Donnie McClurkin

(b) Born to Die. By Hezekiah Walker

(c) Oh How He Loves You and Me. By Kurt Kaiser

(d) I Don’t Know Why Jesus Loves Me. By Andraé Crouch

(e) Blood Spilla. The Cross Movement

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Reflection and Responsive Reading
(a) “Behold the Man” by Anne Osdieck. Online location: www.liturgy.slu.edu (accessed 10 January 2013).

(b) “In Your Cross” by Dan Wilt, The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University. Online location: http://www.danwilt.com (accessed 10 January 2013).