SINGLES' SUNDAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Charles Barrett, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Ministry Leader for Worship Ministries, Heritage Fellowship Church, Reston, Virginia

Worship Planning Notes

As you approach Singles' Sunday, be mindful and vigilant about cultivating a worship atmosphere that ministers to the diverse needs of the total man and woman that is represented in your respective houses of worship.

Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church clearly shows that the premise of all we do, including worship, should be based on love (see chapter 6 verses 11 and 12). And further, as an epistle, Paul sought to instruct the fledgling church so that they would mature in the faith and become a stronger body of [Christian] believers. Because individuals who are saved and single should not [even seek to] join themselves with those who have not made a personal confession of Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior, on this Singles' Sunday, it is incumbent upon you to challenge those in your congregation that despite the messages bombarding them from secular human society, God's way remains the best and only acceptable way.

What are some elements that should be considered in the conceptualization, planning, and execution of worship on Singles' Sunday? While the information below highlights some important ideas, it is certainly not exhaustive. Prayerfully, these points of consideration will serve to inspire your planning teams to think creatively about how the manifest presence of God can be experienced by all who are blessed to be in your company.

First, recognize that there are many variations of single adults in your congregation.
For example, while there are those whom have never been married, there are other individuals who might be referred to as "single again" through divorce or the death of a spouse (e.g., widowed). Further, there are those who are contemplating marriage, engaged couples, as well as those who are single with and without the responsibility of raising children. The different circumstances that lead to individuals' singleness is coupled with unique needs that should be respected throughout the worship service. For example, while young adults (e.g., those between the ages of 18–35) who have never been married might need to be encouraged and reassured that God desires to bless them with a partner with whom they can share their lives, if that is their wish, divorced individuals might be struggling with the guilt and regret of past decisions that require the realization that God is loving, forgiving, and compassionate. See today's Cultural Resource unit for more on this point.

Comprehensive worship planning to meet the diverse needs of your single audience also includes a deliberate approach to involve individuals who are representative of the various categories mentioned above. For example, be sure to include both young adults as well as those singles who have matured to a more senior position in their lives perhaps through the reading of Scripture and offering of prayers. Additionally, although the overwhelming majority of most congregations are female, both single men and single women should be included throughout the worship liturgy.

As the scriptural focus text suggests, we should not be joined together with the unbeliever. To convey this message, underscore the importance of Psalm 37:4. Throughout the service, encourage the congregation, especially those who are single, to delight themselves in the Lord, which involves more than doing what is pleasing in his sight out of a sense of duty, obligation, or servitude. Further, teach them that delighting in the Lord is centered on being content both in God and with God. It is being completely satisfied with knowing God and being totally fulfilled through having a personal relationship with him.

Use Singles' Sunday to redefine the perception that single individuals are seemingly less than or in some way lacking compared to married individuals. For example, highlight various biblical figures who were single and accomplished great things for the Kingdom of God. Such an approach will help to shift the focus from singleness being viewed as something less than ideal or merely a temporary condition until marriage.

Use Singles' Sunday as a kickoff to a larger initiative that is sponsored by your Singles' Ministry. For example, the event can be a Bible Study series that is focused on maturing in Christ and being whole—even as individuals. Although sponsored by the Singles' Ministry, the event might be open to all—single individuals and married couples—as well as church members and those in the community.

If your church has both, use Singles' Sunday to deliberately differentiate the Singles' Ministry from the Young Adult Ministry. As mentioned above, more than young adults are single in your ministry.

1. Invocation

Sustainer God, we thank you for this day. Thank you for your unconditional love for us. We thank you that regardless of where we find ourselves, you are good, and you are good all the time. We thank you that nothing can separate us from your love and there is no place that we can go to escape your presence. Thank you for being with us in every area of our lives. We thank you that you love us too much to place upon us more than we can handle. Despite trouble on every side and in the world around us, we thank you for the great things that you have done in our lives. We thank you for life, and for a reasonable portion of health and strength. We thank you that you desire for us to be more than conquerors in all things.

Today we pray your blessing upon this service. We pray that you would meet every need represented. On this Singles' Sunday, we pray for the needs of single people everywhere. Help us to cast all of our cares upon you. Help us to place and leave all of our burdens at your feet. Where there is despair, we pray for hope. Where there is despondency and discouragement, we pray for hope and encouragement. Increase our faith to trust you more. Where there is loneliness, we pray that you would wrap us in your arms and love us. Where there is guilt, we pray that your love will surround us. Thank you for supernatural strength to be victorious over every situation that we face as single people. Thank you for how you provide for us and for how you take care of us. Help us to know that we are complete in you. Help us to find ourselves lost in the center of your will. Continue to order our steps as we seek your face and you reveal your divine plan for our lives. These and all other blessings we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) I Am Thine, O Lord. By Fanny J. Crosby

(b) Look and Live. By William Ogden

(c) Fill My Cup, Lord. By Richard Blanchard

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) I Am on the Battlefield for My Lord. By Sylvana Bell and E. V. Banks

(b) I Will Trust in the Lord. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Jeffrey Radford and Nolan Williams

(c) Guide My Feet. By Robert J. Fryson

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Falling in Love with Jesus. By Jonathan Butler

(b) All I Want Is You. By William McDowell

(c) Chasing after You. By Devaughn Murphy

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Dance with Me. By Chris Payne Dupre

(b) Draw Me. By Danny Chambers

(c) Jesus, Lover of My Soul. By Daniel Grul and John Ezzy

6. Anthems
(a) Lord We Need Your Love. By Fred Hammond

(b) Christians Sing Kum Ba Yah. By P. Liebergen

(c) Trust in Jesus. By Charles Billingsley

7. Modern Songs
(a) Take My Life. By Scott Underwood

(b) You're All I Need. By Jason Clayborn

(c) My Soul Says Yes. By Damita Haddon and Deitrick Haddon

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Releasing My Faith. By Charles Jenkins

(b) You've Been So Faithful. By Eddie James

(c) Never Seen the Righteous. By Donald Lawrence

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) I Belong to You. By Hagan Anderson and William McDowell

(b) Jesus at the Center. By Adam Ranney, Israel Houghton, and Micah Massey

(c) The Promise. By Andraé Crouch and Luther "Mano" Hanes

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Trust Me. By Richard Smallwood

(b) The Will of God. By R. White

(c) Why Should I Be Bound. By Rudolph Stanfield

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) I'm Available to You. By Carlis Moody, Jr.

(b) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier

(c) Completely Yes. By Sandra Crouch

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Let the Church Say Amen. By Andraé Crouch

(b) God Be with You. Words and music by Thomas A. Dorsey. Arr. by Horace Clarence Boyer

(c) Lord, Keep Me Day by Day. By Eddie Williams

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Materials Listed

1. Invocation by Charles Barrett