A DAY OF HEALING

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Cheryl Wilson-Bridges, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Community Praise Center SDA Church, Alexandria, VA

Worship Planning Notes

Worship leaders should encourage congregants to acknowledge and engage in the expectation of God’s unlimited power to bestow “total healing.” Signage could be displayed throughout the sanctuary with banners reading “Healing mind, body, and soul” to reinforce the idea of the totality of God’s omnipotent healing power. Hand-outs or bulletins should reflect this same theme. All aspects of the worship service should incorporate all three elements--mind, body, and soul--as areas in which individuals will benefit from God’s holistic healing power. Also, elements of confession and intercession can be added. Small prayer groups can be formed to offer prayers of healing and confession at the beginning and conclusion of the service. Additional intercessory prayer groups or prayer chains can be developed to support sick congregants at least two weeks prior to and after the Day of Healing service.

This Day of Healing should not be the first step in the healing process for your congregation. This day should be the culmination of other events leading up to the service.

1. At least a month prior to the Day of Healing Service, encourage members to visit the sick and shut-in among their families, the church, and in their communities. These acts of service are strongly encouraged. It will make the service even more meaningful.
   
   
2. At least two weeks prior to your service, make sure that members in the congregation who are sick are identified. If they agree, list their names and illnesses on index cards and distribute them to members who are prayer warriors who are willing to pray for them daily.
   
   
3. The week before your service, make sure that sick members who are able to attend the service have been contacted and will be present. Select deacons and/or other members who are willing to transport these members, if necessary. Make sure that all willing members are able to attend this special service.
   
   
4. Make this Day of Healing a life-changing event that is the beginning of a lifestyle of faithful ministry by your church for all afflicted with diseases in their minds, bodies, or souls.

1. Invocation or Litany
(a)  Invocation: God Can! (Ephesians 3:20-21)
We come before you today, Sustainer God, acknowledging your glorious majesty. We humbly bow before you as we invite your Presence to fill this place. We marvel at your love, kindness and at your healing power in our lives. Through faith, we proclaim despite what the doctors say… You, Almighty God, Can!

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (PASS ME NOT), by William H. Doane

(b) Have Thine Own Way, Lord. By Adelaide A. Pollard. Tune, (ADELAIDE), by George C. Stebbins

(c) 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. By Louisa M. R. Stead. Tune, (TRUST IN JESUS), by William J. Kirkpatrick

(d) It Is Well with My Soul. By Horatio G. Spafford. Tune, (VILLE DU HAVRE), by Philip P. Bliss

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Ain’t Got Time to Die. Arr. by John Purifoy

(b) Fix Me Jesus. Arr. by Hall Johnson

(c) Your Grace and Mercy. By Frank Williams

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Oh It Is Jesus. By Andraé Crouch

(b) Healing. By Richard Smallwood  

(c) I Know What Prayer Can Do. By Jessie Dixon

(d) For Every Mountain. By Kurt Carr

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) I Give You Praise. By Richard Smallwood

(b) Grace. By Anthony Wilkins

6. Anthems
(a) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By Thomas O. Chisholm. Tune by William M. Runyan. Arr. by Nathan Carter. For SATB

(b) The Lord Is My Shepherd. By Thomas Matthews

7. Modern Songs
(a) When the Saints Go to Worship. By Donald Lawrence

(b) I Am Healed. By Donald Lawrence

(c) Changed. By Walter Hawkins

(d) We Shall Rejoice. By Freda Battle

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) The Presence of the Lord Is Here. By Kurt Carr

(b) I Still Say Yes. By Thomas Whitfield

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) My Life Is in Your Hands. By Kirk Franklin

(b) Sweet Hour of Prayer. By William W. Walford. Tune, (SWEET HOUR), by William B. Bradbury

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) He’s an On Time God. By Dottie Peoples

(b) If It Had Not Been for the Lord. By Margaret P. Douroux

(c) I Need Thee Every Hour. By Annie S. Hawks and Robert Lowry. Tune, (NEED), by Robert Lowry

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Instrumental
(a) I Must Tell Jesus. By Elisha A. Hoffman. Arr. by Kirk Whalum

Song
(b) I Must Tell Jesus. By Elisha A. Hoffman. Tune, (ORWIGSBURG), by Elisha A. Hoffman

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Song
(a) Till We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin

(b) The Lord Bless You and Keep You. Text Numbers 6:24-26. Tune, (BENEDICTION), by  Peter C. Lutkins

13. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Scripture Promises                      
Scripture promises of health and healing can be flashed on the screen or recorded and played through the audio system prior to the service or during service transitions. A sample can be obtained from http://www.promisesforlife.com/audio-samples.php#promises-for-life-meditation-scriptures-1.

(b) Testimonials
Pictures of cancer survivors, and others who have been healed, can be shown intermittently throughout the service along with testimonies. Some testimonies should also be printed in the church bulletin.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany or Invocation
(a) Invocation written by Cheryl Wilson-Bridges. Used with permission.

(b) Litany written by Cheryl Wilson-Bridges. Used with permission.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (PASS ME NOT), by William H. Doane
Location: