SENIORS, ELDERS, AND GRANDPARENTS DAY
MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Donna Cox, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Chair, Department of Music, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Worship Planning Notes
On this Sunday it is acceptable to have all aspects of worship led by persons who are 65 or older and by persons who are grandparents.
To make the day even more special for these seasoned saints, consider distributing ribbons that will indicate to all present that
elders are being honored on this occasion. The ribbon color should be one that matches the décor of your sanctuary, and can be
worn by men and women. To ensure that young adults (persons ages 18-35) are included on this day, have them at the door ready
to pin a ribbon on any elder and/or grandparent who would like to wear a ribbon. The ribbons should be pre-made a week or so
in advance and pins must be purchased.
Honor the senior saint of your church and the person with the largest number of grandchildren. Plaques, flowers, or plants can be
purchased for these purposes.
1. Litany or Responsive Reading
Prayer of Thanksgiving for Grandparents/Elders
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Leader: | God of Abraham and Sarah, our grandfather and
grandmother in the faith, God of all generations:
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Congregation: | We thank you today for those who are grandparents/elders.
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Leader: |
We especially thank you for those who are grandparents to us, those who are grandparents by blood
relationships, and those unrelated but older than we who generously share their love and wisdom.
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Congregation: | We thank you today for those who are
grandparents and elders.
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Leader: | We thank you for those who share their time and traditions so that we have roots, stories, and hope.
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Congregation: | We bless you for the gift of grandparents and elders in the faith.
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Leader: | Lord, we ask your blessing on them, that their days may be filled with delight.
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Congregation: | We praise you for the gift of grandparents and elders in the faith.
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Leader: | May they be a blessing to all they love and call Grandchildren.
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All: | We honor you for the gift of grandparents and elders through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Faith of Our Fathers. By Frederick William Faber. Tune, (ST. CATHERINE), by Henri Frederick Henry
(b) Faith of Our Mothers. By A. B. Patten. Tune, (ST. CATHERINE), by Henri Frederick Henry
(c) In Christ There Is No East or West. By John Oxenham. Tune, (ST. PETER), by Alexander R. Reinagle
(d) Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Anonymous. Tune, (CLOSER WALK).
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord. Arr. by Moses Hogan. Performed by the St. Olaf Choir.
(b) In the Garden. By C. Austin Miles. Tune, (GARDEN).
(c) Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee. Charles Wesley. Long Meter Hymn
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Praise Teams, or Ensembles
(a) Still Standing. By Kurt Carr
(b) Blessed and Highly Favored. By Karen Clark Sheard
5. Liturgical Dance Music
This liturgical dance is dedicated to elders and this should be indicated in the church bulletin/order of worship.
(a) The Prayer. By David Foster and Carol Bayer Sager
(b) Mama’s Song. By Kirk Franklin
6. Anthem
(a) Find Us Faithful. By John Mohr and Larry Mayfield
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.
(b) A Good and Faithful Servant of the Lord. By David Lantz, III. For SATB
7. Modern Songs
(a) I’ve Got to Praise Him. By V. Michael McKay
(b) I Just Want to Say Thanks. By Raymond Wise
(c) With Long Life. By Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Juan Najera,
and Rene F. Sotomayor
8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Grateful. By Sean Brown
(b) I Don't Feel No Ways Tired. By James Cleveland
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Thank You for Staying. By Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, and Kim Rutherford
(b) Never Would Have Made It. By Marvin Sapp
(c) Sweet Hour of Prayer. By William Walford and William Bradbury
10. Sermonic Selection
(This sermonic selection should be led an elder)
(a) I Believe/You’ll Never Walk Alone. By Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers, Jimmy Shirl, and Al Stillman
(b) Amazing Grace. By John Newton. Stanza 4 attributed to John Rees. Tune, (NEW BRITAIN).
(c) Down thru the Years. By Dan Smith 
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Come to Jesus. By Richard Randall. For SATB
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Do You Know Jesus? By David Frazier
13. Audio Visual Suggestion
Show Video presentation of the elders of the church while playing this song at key moments during worship:
Praying Women. By Cedric Caldwell, Victor Caldwell, and T.D. Jakes
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
1. Litany or Responsive Reading
Prayer of Thanksgiving for Grandparents/Elders adapted from a prayer by Daniel Benedict and Taylor Burton-Edwards,
“A Prayer of Grandparents.” Used with permission.
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Faith of Our Fathers. By Frederick William Faber. Tune, (ST. CATHERINE), by Henri Frederick Henry
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #409
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. #429
(b) Faith of Our Mothers. By A. B. Patten. Tune, (ST. CATHERINE), by Henri Frederick Henry
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #410
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #430
(c) In Christ There Is No East or West. By John Oxenham. Tune, (ST. PETER), by Alexander R. Reinagle
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #398
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #231
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #301
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #299
(d) Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Anonymous. Tune, (CLOSER WALK).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #409
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #156
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #309
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. #388
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord. Arr. By Moses Hogan. Performed by the
St. Olaf Choir
Location:
My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord. Northfield, MN: St. Olaf Records, 2006.
(b) In the Garden. By C. Austin Miles. Tune, (GARDEN).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #494
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #452
National Baptist Convention of the United States of America. Gospel Pearls. 1921. #89
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #87
(c) Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee. By Charles Wesley. Long Meter Hymn
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #127
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #317 and #318
Gospel Pearls. #112
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #289
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Praise Teams, or Ensembles
(a) Still Standing. By Kurt Carr
Location:
Morton, Paul S., Sr. Still Standing. New York, NY: Tehillah Music Group, 2006.
(b) Blessed and Highly Favored. By Karen Clark Sheard
Location:
Clark Sisters (Gospel group). Live--One Last Time. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel Music, 2007.
5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) The Prayer. By David Foster and Carol Bayer Sager
Location:
Dion, Céline, and David Foster. Quest for Camelot. New York, NY: Atlantic, 1998.
(b) Mama’s Song. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
Whatcha Lookin’ 4. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 1995.
6. Anthem
(a) Find Us Faithful. By John Mohr and Larry Mayfield
Location:
Hal Leonard Corporation
P.O. Box 13819
Milwaukee, WI 53213
Phone: 507-454-2920
Online location: www.halleonard.com
(b) A Good and Faithful Servant of the Lord. By David Lantz, III. For SATB
Location:
Beckenhorst Press
960 Old Henderson Road
Columbus, OH 43220
Phone: 614-451-0646
Online location: www.beckenhorstpress.com
7. Modern Songs
(a) I’ve Got to Praise Him. By V. Michael McKay
Location:
Various Artists. Gospel Mass Choirs. Alpharetta, GA: Light Records, 2003.
(b) I Just Want to Say Thanks. By Raymond Wise
Location:
New. Southfield, MI: Sound of Gospel, 1993.
(c) With Long Life. By Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Juan Najera, and Rene F. Sotomayor
Location:
Houghton, Israel, T-Bone, Chris Tomlin, Y. P. J., Darlene Zschech, and Jonny Lang. A Deeper Level Live. Mobile, AL: Integrity, 2007.
8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Grateful. By Sean Brown
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah. 20/85 the Experience. New York, NY: Verity/Zomba, 2005.
(b) I Don't Feel No Ways Tired. By James Cleveland
Location:
Various Artists. Celebrate the Heritage of Gospel. Jackson, MS: Malaco, 1999.
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Thank You for Staying. By Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, and Kim Rutherford
Location:
Bishop T.D. Jakes Presents He-Motions. Brentwood, TN: Dexterity Sounds, 2004.
(b) Never Would Have Made It. By Marvin Sapp
Location:
Thirsty. New York, NY: Verity, 2007.
(c) Sweet Hour of Prayer. By William Walford and William Bradbury
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #442
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #307
Gospel Pearls. #15
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #304
10. Sermonic Selection
(a) I Believe/You’ll Never Walk Alone. By Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers, Jimmy Shirl, and Al Stillman
Location:
Streisand, Barbra, and Céline Dion. Higher Ground. New York, NY: Columbia, 1997.
(b) Amazing Grace. By John Newton. Stanza 4 attributed to John Rees. Tune, (NEW BRITAIN).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #271
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #226
Gospel Pearls. #21
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #80
(c) Down thru the Years. By Dan Smith
Location:
The Lord’s House – A Tribute to Reverend Dan Smith. Redondo Beach, CA: Ocean—Word Records, 1996.
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Come to Jesus. By Richard Randall. For SATB.
Location:
Stinger Music
5737 Cameron Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70122
African American Heritage Hymnal. #354
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #246
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #281
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Do You Know Jesus? By David Frazier
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah. 20/85 the Experience. New York, NY: Verity/Zomba, 2005.
13. Audio Visual Suggestion
Praying Women. By Cedric Caldwell, Victor Caldwell, and T.D. Jakes
Location:
The Winan Women. Great Women of Gospel. Volume 4. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2004.
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