Sunday, January 20, 2008
Pierre Walker, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Fellowship Baptist Church, Chicago, IL
Worship Planning Notes
Quotations from Dr. King can be used on bulletin covers, in artwork, in sermons, or in prayers and litanies. Some quotes are provided below.
Worship leaders can also use video clips in the worship service from the excellent PBS documentary on the last five years of Dr. King’s Life,
The American Experience: The Citizen King. The DVD or VHS tape can be purchased online at
www.shoppbs.org/home/index.jsp accessed 20 October 2007
Also see the additional recommendations at the end of this worship design
(#13) before the Cites section.
1. Litany
| Leader: |
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s greatness was anchored in his desire to serve, rooted in his obedience to his call, and guided by his strength to love. Today, we celebrate Dr. King's personal sacrifice, and we recommit ourselves to his vision for a peaceful world founded on the powerful principles of love, nonviolence, and economic and social justice for the entire human family.
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People: | May we nurture Dr. King's dream, plant it on the hearts and minds of our children, and live out its true meaning in our daily lives.
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Leader: |
May we, in the spirit of Dr. King, put on the whole armor of God and stand against the unjust actions and unfair policies of oppressive governments; join with our brothers and sisters to expose and reject all false teachings, regardless of their age or institutional cloak; and create new visions for our people.
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People: |
Dr. King's faith enabled him to overcome valley experiences while maintaining mountaintop hopes. Likewise, may we work to transform our lives and renew our minds, so that our faith will lead us through our desolate times to heights higher than the reach of spirits of despair, defeat, and unbelief.
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Leader: | May we too learn to love with a perfect love, forgive with a healing spirit, and trust and follow the orders of God without falling prey to the spirit of double mindedness.
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People: |
May the teachings of Dr. King and the sinless life of Christ empower us to reject violence in all forms; in our families, homes, relationships, churches, schools, communities; and on every battlefield.
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Leader: | May Dr. King's spirit infuse us with courage, discipline us with restraint, and equip us with hope.
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People: |
May we, as the beneficiaries of Dr. King's drum major leadership, understand that we are responsible for the stewardship of the earth and all that is within it; and that God, one day, will require us to give an accounting.
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Leader: | May we not be afraid to seek the guidance of God, incline the ear of the Holy Spirit, and employ the assistance of the angelic host to overcome those negative forces that birth war and not peace.
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People: | May we, like Dr. King, act with boldness but walk with humility, knowing that it is the power and grace of God that directs our path and provides all victories.
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Leader: | May we dream dreams that have not been dreamt, conquer fears yet to be born, and build communities yet to be conceived.
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ALL: | We celebrate, commemorate, and honor the life and works of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his family, and those who labored in the vineyard with them. We pray that our words will lift our own hearts and spur us to action, engage the disaffected, and enliven dry bones in broken communities to become shining lights of victory for this present generation and generations to come. Hear our Prayer, Oh God. Amen and Amen.
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2. Hymn or Anthem
Hymn
(a) We Shall Overcome (I’ll Be Alright). Traditional
Anthem
(b) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Tune by John R. Johnson
Hymn
(c) The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory). By Julia Ward Howe. Tune by William Steffe
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
Spirituals
(a) I Shall Not Be Moved.
(b) Oh, Freedom.
(c) I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray.
(d) Walk Together Children. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson Curenton
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired. By James Cleveland
(b) I’ve Got a Testimony. By Tony Tidwell
(c) Stand. By Donnie McClurkin
(d) The Storm Is Passing Over. By Charles Tindley. Arr. by Donald Vails
5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) Walk in Jerusalem, Just Like John (I Wanna Be Ready).
(b) God Has Smiled on Me. By Isaiah Jones, Jr.
6. Congregational Songs
(a) The Presence of the Lord Is Here. By Byron Cage
(b) High Praise. By Judith Christie McAllister
(c) Revolution. By Kirk Franklin
(d) Everybody Clap Your Hands. By Joshua’s Troop (JT3)
7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) I Thank You Jesus. By Kenneth Morris
(b) He Has Done Great Things for Me. By Jesse Dixon
8. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Sweet Hour of Prayer. By William W. Walford
(b) Spirit of the Living God. By Daniel Iverson
9. Sermonic Selection
Have Thine Own Way Lord. By George Stebbins
10. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Instrumental
I Can Hear My Savior Calling (Where He Leads Me I Will Follow). By E. W. Blandy. Tune by John S. Norris
11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Never Alone. Arr. By Robert O. Hoffelt
12. Audio Visual Suggestions
For churches and other groups with screens - Use images from famous speeches given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
These can be found by searching the phrase “speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” on www.google.com.
13. Other Recommendations
(a) Have testimonies and reflections from persons who participated in the Civil Rights
Movement.
(b) On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day congregations also can acknowledge the innovative
leadership and courageous protests of female African American freedom fighters and Civil Rights activists, such as Jarena Lee, Sojourner Truth, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Rosa Parks. The following are two excellent resources for biographical information on and quotations from African American women who have struggled for justice and peace:
Ed. Marcia Y. Riggs. Can I Get a Witness? Prophetic Religious Voices of African American Women: An Anthology. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1997.
Rosetta E. Ross. Witnessing and Testifying: Black Women, Religion, and Civil Rights. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. 2003.
(c) Since there are numerous quotations from Dr. King’s sermons and speeches, only a few are listed below that can be used in various ways in worship services and on other occasions. For additional information for use in worship services and other celebrations, also see the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Beloved Community Day) material in the Cultural Resource section of this lectionary.
(1) “This hour in history needs a dedicated circle of transformed nonconformists…dangerous
passions of pride, hatred, and selfishness are enthroned in our lives; truth lies prostrate on the rugged hills of nameless Calvaries; and men do reverence before false gods of nationalism and materialism. The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.”
From Dr. King’s sermon “Transformed Nonconformist,” in Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1963, p 27.
(2) “…All life is interrelated. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied in a
single garment of destiny….As long as there is poverty in this world no man can be totally rich even if he has a billion dollars. As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people cannot expect to live more than twenty or thirty years, no man can be totally healthy, even if he just got a clean bill of health from the finest clinic in America.”
From Dr. King’s speech “The American Dream.” Ed. James M. Washington. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. San Francisco, CA: Harper, 1986, p 210.
(3) “One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that
men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”
From Dr. King’s speech “A Time to Break Silence.” Ed. James M. Washington. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. San Francisco, CA: Harper, 1986, p 24.
(4) “In the midst of blatant injustices inflicted upon the Negro, I have watched white
churches stand on the sideline and merely mouth pious irrelevancies and sanctimonious trivialities. In the midst of a mighty struggle to rid our nation of racial and economic injustice, I have heard so many ministers say, ‘Those are social issues with which the gospel has no real concern,’ and I have watched so many churches commit themselves to a completely otherworldly religion which made a strange distinction between body and soul, the sacred and the secular.”
From Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail.” Ed. James M. Washington. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. San Francisco, CA: Harper, 1986, p 299.
- This litany was written by Ralph Wheeler, Esq., Oakland, CA. Used with permission.
2. Hymn or Anthem
Hymn
(a) We Shall Overcome (I’ll Be Alright). Traditional
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #542
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. Nashville, TN: The African Methodist Episcopal Church, (2000) sixth printing, 2004. #348
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #297
Anthem
(b) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Tune by John R. Johnson
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #540
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. #571
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #291
The Presbyterian Hymnal Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs.
Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1990. #563
Hymn
(c) The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory). By Julia Ward Howe. Tune by William Steffe
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #490
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. #572
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #6
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
Spirituals
(a) I Shall Not Be Moved.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #479
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #276
(b) Oh, Freedom.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #545
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #298
(c) I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #487
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. #314
Gospel Pearls. Nashville, TN: Sunday School Publishing Board, National Baptist
Convention USA, 1921. #153
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #210
(d) Walk Together Children. Arr. By Evelyn Simpson Curenton
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #541
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired. By James Cleveland
Location:
I Don't Feel No ways Tired. Jackson, MS: 601 Music, 1997.
African American Heritage Hymnal. #414
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #159
NTIME MUSIC COMPANY
4913 Albemarle Road #103
Charlotte, NC 28205
Phone: 704-531-8961
Online location:
www.ntimemusic.com
(b) I’ve Got a Testimony. By Tony Tidwell
Location:
A.A.R.C. (African American Religious Connection) Mass Choir, and Clay Evans.
I've Got a Testimony. Chicago, IL: Meek Records, 1995.
NTIME MUSIC COMPANY
Phone: 704-531-8961
Online location:
www.ntimemusic.com
(c) Stand. By Donnie McClurkin
Location:
Donnie McClurkin. Burbank, CA: Warner Alliance, 1996.
NTIME MUSIC COMPANY
Phone: 704-531-8961
Online location:
www.ntimemusic.com
(d) The Storm Is Passing Over. By Charles Tindley. Arr. By Donald Vails
Location:
Clark, Mattie Moss, James Cleveland, Charles A. Craig, Lucylle Lemon,
Elma Hendrix Parham, Charles Nicks, Harold Smith, Donald Vails, and
Thomas Whitfield.
Detroit Remembers (the Legacy, the Music, the Love). Southfield, MI: Sound of Gospel, 2002.
African American Heritage Hymnal. #427
NTIME MUSIC COMPANY
Phone: 704-531-8961
Online location:
www.ntimemusic.com
(a) Walk in Jerusalem, Just Like John (I Wanna Be Ready).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #600
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. #510
(b) God Has Smiled on Me. By Isaiah Jones, Jr.
Location:
Voices of Tabernacle (Musical group), and James Cleveland.
God Has Smiled on
Me. Newark, NJ: Savoy, 1974.
African American Heritage Hymnal. #152
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #185
NTIME MUSIC COMPANY
Phone: 704-531-8961
Online location:
www.ntimemusic.com
(a) The Presence of the Lord Is Here. By Byron Cage
Location:
Byron Cage: The Prince of Praise. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric Records, 2003.
NTIME MUSIC COMPANY
Phone: 704-531-8961
Online location:
www.ntimemusic.com
(b) High Praise. By Judith Christie McAllister
Location:
Essence of Praise and Worship-- Live. Franklin, TN: Alliant Music Group, 2005.
NTIME MUSIC COMPANY
Phone: 704-531-8961
Online location:
www.ntimemusic.com
(c) Revolution. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
The Nu Nation Project. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 1998.
(d) Everybody Clap Your Hands. By Joshua’s Troop (JT 3)
Location:
JT3 Joshua's Troop Live. Nashville, TN: New Haven Records, 2007.
7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) I Thank You Jesus. By Kenneth Morris
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #532
(b) He Has Done Great Things for Me. By Jesse Dixon
Location:
Abbington, James.
46 More Hidden Treasures from the African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2007.
African American Heritage Hymnal. #507
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #289
NTIME MUSIC COMPANY
Phone: 704-531-8961
Online location:
www.ntimemusic.com
(a) Sweet Hour of Prayer. By William W. Walford
Location:
(b) Spirit of the Living God. By Daniel Iverson
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #320
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #126
The Presbyterian Hymnal. #322
9. Sermonic Selection
Have Thine Own Way Lord. By George Stebbins
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #449
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. #345
Gospel Pearls. #90
10. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Instrumental
I Can Hear My Savior Calling (Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow). By E. W. Blandy. Tune by John S. Norris
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #550
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. #237
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #120
11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Never Alone. Arr. By Robert O. Hoffelt
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #310
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. #441
Gospel Pearls. #33
