*Langston Hughes (1902-1963) reading his poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"
ARTS DAY
MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sharon L. Fuller, Guest Lectionary Liturgist Minister of Music, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC, and founder, B.O.S.S. Ministries Incorporated
Worship Planning Notes
By employing art in worship, congregations may learn to:
- comprehend, appreciate, and value theological proclamation through the visual;
- participate in the creation of a work, where the artist designs, but the members complete (needlepoint tapestry, for example);
- discover deeper meanings of liturgical seasons and other special times (learn history through an Advent Banner for example);
- accept and expect cutting-edge, prophetic, artistic work.
Churches may employ various arts in worship, including:
- music
- drama
- spoken word, choral readings, and reader’s theatre, etc.
- dance (liturgical, hip hop, step teams, etc.)
- mime and signing arts (sign choirs)
- graphic arts
- flags and banners
- the use of sculpture or ornamental wood or stone
- the use of dossal cloth (ornamental cloth hung behind and above an altar)
- liturgical paraments (tapestries or wall hangings)
- processional or chancel cross
- use of scents (i.e., frankincense and myrrh at Christmas, etc.)
Churches may also consider supporting an artist-in-residence who, in exchange for studio space and a small stipend, could implement
special visuals in worship one time each liturgical season. Such an artist designs the work, organizes the project, works out the mechanics of
installation, and instructs people in the medium. (For a fuller description of an artist-in-residence relationship, contact Wesley
Theological Seminary's Center for the Arts and Religion atcar@wesleysem.edu.)
1. Call to Worship The Call to Worship can be accompanied by a processional.
You have filled each one of us with the skill to do all kinds of work for Kingdom building purposes.
Let us arise and take our respectful places—all who are master craftsmen and designers, teachers and students alike.
The Lord has need of you.
2. Processional Flag and Liturgical Dance ministries can be incorporated into the processional following the invocation or succeeding the litany.
(a) Glorious. By Martha Munizzi and Israel Houghton
(b) To Our God. By Robert Christie and Judith Christie McAllister
3. Litany This litany can also be presented in “choral reading” style—with multiple readers, in lieu of congregational responsive reading.
The Lord Has Need of You
Leader:
Lord, as in the days of Moses help us to know that You have called each of us to a special work.
Congregation:
The Lord has need of you.
Leader:
As You have rescued us for the grips of our sinful nature and provided Salvation through Your tender mercies, allow us to be filled with the Spirit of God as we gather together yielding special works of service.
Congregation:
The Lord has need of you.
Leader:
Allow us to be as zealous in our efforts as we are skillful in our crafts.
Congregation:
The Lord has need of you.
Leader:
Teach us how to be teachers in our respective areas for Kingdom-building purposes.
Congregation:
The Lord has need of you.
Leader:
Protect and bind us as we render special works of service.
Congregation:
The Lord has need of you.
Leader:
Allow your servants to always offer their knowledge, skills, and abilities with a positive attitude.
Congregation:
The Lord has need of you.
Leader:
We have to know how to work in the areas of artistic craftsmanship: designing, embroidering, and weaving.
Congregation:
The Lord has need of you.
Leader:
God has filled each of us with the skill to do all kinds of work for Kingdom-building purposes. Let us arise and take our respective places—all who are master craftspersons and designers, teachers and students alike.
All:
The Lord has need of you and me.
4. Hymns and Congregational Songs (a) To the Work. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by William H. Doane
(b) Without Him I Could Do Nothing. By Mylon B. LeFevre
(c) I’ll Be Somewhere Listening for My Name. By Eduardo J. Lango. Tune, (SERVICE).
(d) They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love. By Peter Scholtes
5. Spirituals or Traditional Songs (a) Walk Together Children. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton
(b) Once More We Come before Our God. By Joseph Hart. Tune by John B. Dykes
(c) May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me. By Sullivan Pugh. Arr. by K. Morris
6. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams (a) We Are One. By Peter Scholtes, Walt Whitman, and Kim McFarland
(b) We’re in Your House. By Derek Triplett
(c) Lift the Savior Up. By Damian Price
(d) Sing. By Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey
7. Liturgical Dance Music
These selections can also be effectively ministered by a sign choir or mime ministry.
(a) I’m Available to You. By Carlis Moody, Jr.
(b) My Prayer (Use Me). By George Rowe
(c) Use Me. By Jeanie McQuinn and Jacquelyn Reddick
(d) Let God Use You. By Walter E. L. Scrutchings
8. Anthems
(a) Born to Serve the Lord. By Craig Adams. For SATB
(b) God’s Building a Church. By Bradley Knight. For SATB
(c) Find Us Faithful. By Tom Fettke. For SATB
(d) Giving My Best. By Michael Frazier. For SATB
9. Modern Songs
(a) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier
(b) Servant’s Prayer. By Kevin Bond
(c) Use Me. By Lynette Hammond
10. Songs for Children and Youth
(a) Do It All in the Name of the Lord. By Donna Jones
(b) There’s No Me, There’s No You. By Evelyn Reynolds. Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.
(c) Trees. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux
11. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Bless Thou the Gifts. By Samuel Longfellow. Tune by Robert Schumann
(b) Running Over. By Joe Pace II
12. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
See 15(a) for ideas and an example of a prayer petition inspired by art.
(a) Servant’s Prayer. By Kevin Bond
(b) Have Thine Own Way. By Adelaide A. Pollard. Tune, (ADELAIDE), by George C. Stebbins
(c) Lord You Are the Potter. By Norman Hutchins
(d) A Praying Spirit. By Elbernita Clark
13. Sermonic Selection
(a) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Tune, (NORRIS), by John S. Norris
(b) Trust and Obey. By John H. Sammis. Tune by Daniel B. Towner
(c) Where He Leads. By B. B. McKinney
(d) Never Too Busy. By Brent Jones
14. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Softly and Tenderly. By Will L. Thompson
(b) The Lord Is Speaking. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux
(c) Unity. By Glorraine Moone
15. Benediction Spoken or Sung
Spoken
(a) By Warren Wiersbe
Gracious God,
Forgive us for being so blind and deaf. Your universe is one vast cathedral of
praise, and yet we have not seen it or heard it as we should, and we have been
the poorer because of [our] ignorance. All things you have created; praise Your
name. And all of creation can be used by Your church to worship You. Thank You
for this treasury of blessing. Thank You too, for the gifted people You have
given us, Your church, to help us use the arts to worship and serve You. May it
be the Creator, not the creature, who receives the glory. May we truly worship
You in beauty. You are infinitely original and the variety of Your creation amazes
us. Deliver us from sameness as we praise Your name. Be pleased to guide us into
true creativity, and save us from novelty.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sung
(b) Blest Be the Ties That Bind. By John Fawcett. Tune, (DENNIS), by
John G. Nageli. Arr. by Lowell Mason
(c) Till We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin
16. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Music and Fine Arts Ministry—Create a video clip which includes your music
and arts ministry and reflects how the arts edify believers and point the unsaved
to Christ. The video may be sent as an “eCommerical” to members throughout the
week before, and/or after the sermon is given. It can also be used as a recruitment
tool for the music and arts ministries. The eCommercials may be uploaded to
www.YouTube.com for evangelism
purposes as well.
Some sample tunes to incorporate with the video include:
(i) Use Me. By Dewitt Jones and Ron Kenoly
If You can use anything, Lord, You can use me
If You can use anything, Lord, You can use me
Take my hands, Lord, And my feet,
Touch my heart, Lord, And speak through me
If You can use anything Lord
You can use me.
(ii) We Are Family. By B. H. Rogers and N. Rogers
We are family
I got all my [brothers] and sisters with me
We are family
Get up ev’rybody and sing.
(b) http://www.YouTube.com Clips:
1. “Father Can You Hear Me.” From Tyler Perry’s movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman
2. “Pray.” From Tyler Perry’s movie Madea’s Family Reunion (This song
depicts the importance of the servant’s prayer being understood and accepted
throughout the entire congregational setting.)
17. Other Recommendations
(a) Have a graphic artist design a bulletin cover that reflects all of the arts.
This design can also be utilized on screens.
The following resources provide information on the use of arts in worship:
(b) Visual Arts in Worship: From either/or to both/and. By Joan Huyser-Honig
(c) Real Worship: Battleground, Playground, or Holy Ground?
By Warren Wiersbe (Of special interest will be Chapter 12, “Worship Involves
Witness,” in which Wiersbe relates worship and the arts, trusting God to enrich both.)
(d) Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue. By William A. Dyrness
(e) Art to Heart™. http://www.arttoheartweb.com This site provides devotionals that illustrate how powerfully great art can express Biblical truths.
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
1. Call to Worship by Sharon L. Fuller. Used with permission.
2. Processional
(a) Glorious. By Martha Munizzi and Israel Houghton
Location:
Munizzi, Martha. The Best Is Yet to Come. Goldenrod, FL: Martha Munizzi Music/BMI & New Breed, 2002.
(b) To Our God. By Robert Christie and Judith Christie McAllister
Location:
Christie McAllister, Judith. In His Presence: Live! New York, NY: Artemis, 2007.
3. Litany “The Lord Has Need of You.” By Minister Sharon L. Fuller.
4. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) To the Work. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by William H. Doane
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #560
(b) Without Him I Could Do Nothing. By Mylon B. LeFevre
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #515
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #260
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #58
(c) I’ll Be Somewhere Listening for My Name. By Eduardo J. Lango. Tune, (SERVICE).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #560
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #260
Church of God in Christ. Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal.
Memphis, TN: Church of God in Christ Pub. Board in association with the Benson Co., 1982. #321
(d) They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love. By Peter Scholtes
Location:
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal Official Hymnal
of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Charlotte, NC: A.M.E. Zion Pub.
House, 1996. #683
Sheet Music Plus
1300 64th Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
(b) God’s Building a Church. By Bradley Knight. For SATB
Location:
Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing
Phone: 1-800-846-7664
Online location: www.brentwood-bensonmusic.com Vocal score and orchestration for anthem available.
(c) Find Us Faithful. By Tom Fettke. For SATB
Location:
Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing
Phone: 1-800-846-7664
Online location: www.brentwood-bensonmusic.com Vocal score and orchestration for anthem available.
(d) Giving My Best. By Michael Frazier. For SATB
Location:
Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing
Phone: 1-800-846-7664
Online location: www.brentwood-bensonmusic.com Vocal score and orchestration for anthem available.
9. Modern Songs
(a) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah. Family Affair II Live at Radio City Music Hall. New York, NY: Zomba Recording Corp., 2002.
