CELEBRATION OF VOCATION
S (LABOR DAY)
MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Donna Cox, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Chair, Department of Music, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Worship Planning Notes
A sense of Christian Vocation is what gives meaning to our daily routine.
Without a true sense of God’s call in our daily lives, we will pass through
life without direction to our work, and most of life will have no meaning.
Whether you are a butcher, a baker, or a homemaker, your labors and talents are
God’s gift through you to the world.
The resulting joy of accepting your labors as God’s work allows you to take
life one step at a time — as it has been delivered to you — and to
find meaning and worth in every moment of the day, and in every encounter along
the way.*
Other Liturgical Suggestions:
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Provide time during the service for congregants to testify about how their
life was positively impacted by individuals, such as teachers, supervisors,
coaches, etc. This will provide an opportunity to demonstrate the power that
each individual has to impact the lives of others while engaging in the
ordinary activities of their vocation.
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Consider having your worship team develop a special litany for your worship
service aimed at youth who are leaders in ministry, to encourage them to
continue their work. A sample is available for free download at: Office of
Certification and Christian Vocation Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
www.pcusa.org/christianvocation/pdf/litany.pdf
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Have members of the congregation place on the altar emblems of their vocations.
These may include badges from police officers, helmets from firefighters, chalk
from teachers, Bibles from ministers, medals or uniforms from soldiers, bus
tickets or tokens from bus drivers, etc.
1. Litany or Responsive Reading
(a) Responsive Reading
Praise for Thy Blessings
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Leader:
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It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy
name, O Most High.
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Congregation:
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To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every
night
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Leader: |
I will play upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the
harp with a solemn sound.
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Congregation:
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For thou, Lord, has made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works
of thy hands.
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| ALL: |
O Lord, how great are thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep. |
(b) Invocation
Your work is perfect. You are ever attentive to the works of your hands. Lord,
make us in your image. Help us to take on your character in everything we set
our hands to do. May we have the mind of Christ as we go about our day. Teach
us to seek you in all decisions. Be glorified through us. Be glorified in this
place today, Lord. We give you the honor and praise for all you have done, and
all you will do. Amen.
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) I Call Upon You, God. By Leon Roberts. For SATB with tenor solo
(b) Only What You Do for Christ Will Last. By Raymond Raspberry
(c) May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me. By Sullivan Pugh. Arr. by K. Morris
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
Traditional
(a) I’ll Stand. By Raymond Wise. For mixed choir
Spirituals
(b) Done Made My Vow to the Lord. African American Spiritual. Harmony by Evelyn
Davidson-White
(c) If I Labor. By Estella Boyd and Marvin Winans
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) What Shall I Render. By Darius Brooks
(b) Stir Up the Gift. By Joe Pace
5. Liturgical Dance Music
Work to Do. By Dorinda Clark-Cole and J. Moss
6. Anthems
(a) I Call Upon You, God. By Leon Roberts. For SATB with tenor solo
(b) Achieved Is Thy Glorious Work. By Franz Joseph Haydn, from Creation
7. Modern Songs
(a) He Promised Me. By Raymond W. Hinton
(b) I'm Not Available. By John P. Kee
(c) Lord, Send Your Spirit. By Raymond Wise. For mixed choir
8. Offering Song or Instrumental
Instrumental
(a) The Harvest. By Rollo Dilworth. For SATB with optional string bass and
percussion
Songs
(b) I Will Go in Jesus' Name. By Clay Bogan, III
(c) My Offering. By Nolan Williams, Jr.
(d) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Arr. by Kirk Whalum. Instrumental solo for
saxophone
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Trusting in His Plans for Me. By Diane White-Clayton
(b) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Tune by John S. Norris
10. Sermonic Selection
God Made Our Hands. By Roberto Burton
11. Invitation Song or Instrumental
(a) I Almost Let Go. By Kurt Carr
(b) Is Your All on the Altar. By Elisha A. Hoffman. Tune, (YOUR ALL).
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Take the Name of Jesus with You. By Lydia Baxter. Tune, (PRECIOUS NAME).
(b) It’s Time to Go. By Raymond Wise. For SATB
13. Audio Visual Suggestion
Organize a series of slides depicting various occupations to the tune of “Work
to Do,” performed by Dorinda Clark-Cole.
14. Other Recommendations
(a) A poem to use for church bulletins or on screens:
How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord
How clear is our vocation, Lord,
when once we heed your call:
to live according to your word,
and daily learn, refreshed, restored,
that you are Lord of all,
and will not let us fall.
But if, forgetful, we should find
your yoke is hard to bear;
if worldly pressures fray the mind
and love itself cannot unwind
its tangled skein of care:
our inward life repair.
We mark your saints, how they became
in hindrances more sure,
whose joyful virtues put to shame
the casual way we wear your name,
and by our faults obscure
your power to cleanse and cure.
In what you give us, Lord, to do,
together or alone,
in old routines or ventures new,
may we not cease to look for you,
the cross you hung upon,
all you endeavored done.
(b) As a part of a weekend of celebration, hold a Readers Theatre Presentation
— Called by God by Edward A. White is a possible choice for
material. It is available for free download at
http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/christianvocation/
(c) Use Sunday School classes or other group teaching sessions to facilitate
Spiritual Gifts assessment as a means of helping people identify their gifts,
and match those gifts to existing ministries or recommendations for new
ministries.
(d) Use Bible stories of God calling individuals (i.e., Abraham, Moses, Samuel,
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Deborah, Mary (the Mother of Jesus), Saul, etc.), as a basis
for small group discussions. Use the stories as outlines for meditation,
reflection, and prayer.
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
Worship Planning Notes
*Taken From This Call Is for You: A Christian Vocation Workbook.
Location:
Presbyterian Distribution Services
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 1-800-524-2612
1. Litany or Responsive Reading
(a) Responsive Reading - Praise for Thy Blessings
Location:
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. #609
(b) Invocation by Dr. Donna M. Cox, Dayton, Ohio. Used with permission.
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) I Call Upon You, God. By Leon Roberts. For SATB with tenor solo
Location:
GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue
Chicago, IL 60638
Phone: 1-800-GIA-1358
Online location: www.giamusic.com
Edition: G-4327
(b) Only What You Do for Christ Will Last. By Raymond Raspberry
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago IL: GIA Publications, 2001.
#548
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN:
Triad Publications, 2005. #286
(c) May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me. By Sullivan Pugh. Arr. by K. Morris
Location:
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #543
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
Traditional
(a) I’ll Stand. By Raymond Wise. For mixed choir
Location:
Raise Publishing Company
Center for the Gospel Arts
P.O. Box 247574
Columbus, OH 43224-7574
Phone: 614-268-5056
Online location: www.raiseonline.com
Spirituals
(b) Done Made My Vow to the Lord. African American Spiritual. Harmony by Evelyn
Davidson-White
Location:
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic
Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #285
(c) If I Labor. By Estella Boyd and Marvin Winans
Location:
The Winans, and Variety of Artists. Best Gospel. Studio City, CA: Varèse
Sarabande, 2004.
The Anointed Lyrics. The Call. New York, NY: Word/Epic, 1995.
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) What Shall I Render. By Darius Brooks
Location:
Mississippi Mass Choir. God Gets the Glory. Jackson, MS: Malaco Records,
1991.
(b) Stir Up the Gift. By Joe Pace
Location:
Verity Presents the Best of Joe Pace & the Colorado Mass Choir.
New Gospel Legends Series, 05. New York, NY: Verity, 2001.
5. Liturgical Dance Music
Work to Do. By Dorinda Clark-Cole and J. Moss
Location:
Clark-Cole, Dorinda. Live from Houston, the Rose of Gospel. Inglewood,
CA: Gospocentric, 2005.
6. Anthems
(a) I Call Upon You, God. By Leon Roberts. For SATB with tenor solo
Location:
(b) Achieved Is Thy Glorious Work. By Franz Joseph Haydn, from Creation
Location:
Pine Forge Academy Choir. Rock in a Weary Land. Pine Forge, PA: Pine
Forge Academy, 2007.
Sheet Music available from:
G. Schirmer, Inc. and Associated Music Publishers
257 Park Avenue South, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212-254-2100
Online location: www.schirmer.com
7. Modern Songs
(a) He Promised Me. By Raymond W. Hinton
Location:
Hinton, Raymond W. & The Anointed Voices of Praise Ministry. God Is Still
Blessing Me. Akron, OH: Scrutchings Music, 2001.
Raymond W. Hinton
1189 Joy Ave.
Akron, OH 44306
(b) I'm Not Available. By John P. Kee
Location:
V.I.P. Music and Arts Seminar, and John P. Kee. Live at the Fellowship.
New York, NY: Zomba Recording, 2005.
(c) Lord, Send Your Spirit. By Raymond Wise. For mixed choir
Location:
8. Offering Song or Instrumental
Instrumental
(a) The Harvest. By Rollo Dilworth. For SATB with optional string bass and
percussion
It takes the text "The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few," and fuses
it with "Sinner Please Don't Let this Harvest Pass." The piece is written in a
slightly vocal jazz style with double bass and conga drums in the
accompaniment.
Location:
Hal Leonard Corporation
PO Box 13819
Milwaukee, WI 53213
Online location: www.halleonard.com
Songs
(b) I Will Go in Jesus' Name. By Clay Bogan, III
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Live in Atlanta.
New York, NY: Verity, 1997.
(c) My Offering. By Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:
InSpiration. Washington, DC: NEWorks
Productions, 2006.
Songbook and mp3 Available at
NEWorks Productions
P.O. Box 4599
Washington, DC 20017
Phone: 202- 882-8966
Online location: www.newinspiration.us
(d) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Arr. by Kirk Whalum. Instrumental solo for
saxophone
Location:
Whalum, Kirk. The Gospel According to Jazz. New York, NY: Word Records,
1998.
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Trusting in His Plans for Me. By Diane White-Clayton
Location:
Dr. Dee Live in DC: My Heart Says Yes. Washington, DC: Bythax Records,
2006.
LCW Publishing
322 Bryant Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 310-936-0055
Online location: www.lcwpublishing.com
(b) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Tune by John S. Norris
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #550
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. #631
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #120
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #229
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #409
10. Sermonic Selection
God Made Our Hands. By Roberto Burton
Location:
Pine Forge Academy Choir. Rock in a Weary Land. Pine Forge, PA: Pine
Forge Academy, 2007.
11. Invitation Song or Instrumental
(a) I Almost Let Go. By Kurt Carr
Location:
Carr, Kurt & The Kurt Carr Singers. WOW Gospel 2004. New York, NY:
Verity, 2004.
(b) Is Your All on the Altar. By Elisha A. Hoffman. Tune, (YOUR ALL).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #393
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #527
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #220
Yes, Lord! The Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #300
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Take the Name of Jesus with You. By Lydia Baxter. Tune, (PRECIOUS NAME).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #297
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #287
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #261
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #410
Yes, Lord! The Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #233
(b) It’s Time to Go. By Raymond Wise. For SATB
Location:
Sheet Music available at
Raise Publishing Company
Online location: www.raiseonline.com
Catalog #RAGO106-88
14. Other Recommendations
How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord. By Fred Pratt Green
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