MEN'S DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Marty Austin Lamar, Guest Lectionary Liturgist,
Assistant Director of Worship & Arts, Turner Memorial AME Church, Hyattsville, MD

Worship Planning Notes

Traditionally Men's Day has been a moment in the life of the Church when the men lead every aspect of worship. From the devotion to the presentation of the music ministry, the men lead. This encourages the fellowship of men of faith.

Generally, men, beginning with those who are age 16, are selected to participate in all facets of the service. In an effort to present new and exciting ways to honor men, use this year's Men's Day as a time to train, uplift, and prepare the young men of your church to lead and serve.

This year select male youth ages 16 and below to serve as worship leaders and service participants. Select men throughout the church for the youth to shadow as it relates to their participation during the worship service.

Example: Every Deacon/Steward of your church would mentor a male youth within the congregation. He would prepare the youth for the worship service and allow the male youth to work with and understand the specific ways that the Deacon/Steward serves within the church.

Essentially, Men's Day is being used to prepare and preserve the church of tomorrow.

Creative Ideas to Integrate into Your Worship Experience

• Select a color that all men and male youth will wear on the designated Sunday as a symbol of unity, brotherhood, and common belief in Christ.
  
  
• Pin a theme that reflects the generational focus and inclusion of male youth for your Annual Men's Day Celebration.
  
  
• Infuse creative and dramatic literature into the worship service. This literature can be used as affirmations, incorporated into the litany for the day, or staged and presented through the drama ministry of your church.
  
  
• Do not be afraid of using literature that is a bit more controversial. Be wise in your editing so that the work is appropriate for the church setting but avoid causing it to lose its intended meaning. Each of the following plays celebrates both the triumph and tragedy of existing as a black man in these United States. Scenes and monologues should be selected and used in direct correlation to the theme for your Annual Men's Day.

• The Mountaintop by Katori Hall
• Fences by August Wilson
• The Colored Museum by George C. Wolf
• Zooman and the Sign by Charles Fuller
• A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

1. Call to Worship and Litany

Call to Worship

Come let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. We worship Him on this glorious day and give thanks for the men of faith, courage, strength, dignity, and wisdom who have laid the foundation and helped shape the very world in which we live. We lift high the name of Jesus for every husband, father, son, brother, nephew, and friend who has impacted our church, our lives, and our world. We pause to do as Scripture teaches and Give honor where honor is due to all men who have overcome and triumphed in the face of adversity, hardship, sickness, and even death. We magnify You, our God, for your creation of men. Amen.

Litany

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) How Great the Wisdom. By Benjamin Beddone

(b) Victory Is Mine. By Dorothy Norwood and Alvin Darling

(c) God of Grace and God of Glory. By Harry Emerson Fosdick. Tune by John Hughes

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) I'm Building Me a Home. By Uzee Brown, Jr.

(b) Lord I'm Trusting. By Chester D.T. Baldwin

(c) I Don't Feel No Ways Tired. By Curtis Burrell

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Order My Steps. By Glenn Burleigh

(b) Cast Your Cares. By Carlton Burgess

(c) I Can't Thank Him Enough. By Chester D.T. Baldwin

(d) I Don't Know Why Jesus Loved Me. By Andraé Crouch

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Brothers and Friends. By Jeff Ferguson and Marcus Dawson

(b) You Are an Heir. By Donald Lawrence

(c) My Soul Has Been Anchored. By Douglas Miller

6. Anthems
(a) Rise Up, O Men of God. By William Merrill and William Walter

(b) How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place. By Johannes Brahms

7. Modern Songs
(a) There's a King Inside of Me. By Victor Caldwell, Cedric Caldwell, and T.D. Jakes

(b) Status. By Andre Jones

(c) He's My Everything. By Antione Peterson

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) The Lord Is My Light. Text and Tune by Lillian Bouknight

(b) Give Me a Clean Heart. Text and Tune by Margaret Pleasant Doureaux

(c) I Really Love the Lord. By Jimmy Dowell

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Lead Me Guide Me. Text and Tune by Doris M. Akers

(b) I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry. Text and Tune by Richard Smallwood

(c) God Is. Text and Tune by Robert J. Fryson. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton and Nolan Williams, Jr.

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) I Believe. By John P. Kee

(b) Take My Life. By Micah Stampley

(c) I Love You Lord. By Laurie Klein

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) God Has It All in Control. By O'landa Draper

(b) Shout to the Lord. By Darlene Zschech

(c) I Surrender All. By Judson W. Van De Venter. Tune, (SURRENDER).

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) God Has Smiled on Me. By Isaiah Jones

(b) He Has Done Great Things for Me. By Jessy Dixon

(c) Yes, God Is Real. By Kenneth Morris

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Call to Worship and Litany
Call to Worship by Marty Austin Lamar. Litany by Nolan Williams, Jr. and Kenneth Mosley