EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION DAY AND JUNETEENTH MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Or Friday, June 19, 2009: Juneteenth
Editorial Note: Since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth share important historical and cultural connections, we explore them under the same lectionary moment. Some congregations will choose to celebrate each of these moments separately on different days. Others will elect to celebrate only one of these moments. Still other churches will combine the celebrations as we have done and celebrate them on January 1 or June 19th.
Sharon Fuller, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Founder, B.O.S.S. Ministries, Inc. and Minister of Music and Worship Arts, Second Calvary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC
Worship Planning Notes
Worship planning should focus on recognizing and promoting black artists, black composers, spirituals, and folk songs and on introducing art forms that support and reflect black heritage. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate our uniqueness as blacks instead of perpetuating the idea of “the melting pot” society.
Celebrate and Teach our History
Familiarize yourself and your congregation with the history of the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth via your Worship Arts ministry. Be creative. Help your church understand the historical significance of the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth. See #14 for additional worship recommendations.
1. Litany
A Christian Affirmation of Juneteenth
Leader:
As we commemorate freedom as African Americans, let us not forget the trials and tribulations faced by our ancestors forced into slavery for hundreds of years.
People:
Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Leader:
Let us continue to emphasize the importance of education and the advancement of the African American race.
People:
Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Leader:
God has granted us freedom, let use it wisely, guard it carefully, and embrace it totally.
People:
Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Leader:
Allow this Juneteenth celebration to serve as a reminder of our tenacity, our ability to hold on to hope and to our God.
People:
Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Leader:
Let all people of all religions come together and acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to negatively influence American society.
People:
Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! We are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us so.
Leader:
Allow other ethnic groups to be sensitized to the conditions our ancestors endured and help them to understand why racism and bigotry cannot have the last word.
People:
Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! We are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us so.
Leader:
Let all African Americans continue to hope for a better tomorrow while remembering and rejoicing over our triumphant heritage.
People:
We will not forget the “Middle Passage.” We will continue to tell our ancestral story of bondage that gave way to freedom, both physically and spiritually. We shall forever strive to advance the Kingdom of God through liberation and excellence.
All:
Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! We are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us!
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) A Better Day Is Coming. By Charles Albert Tindley
(b) Farther Along. By W. B. Stephens
(c) God Will Provide for Me (Here, I May Be Weak and Poor). By Charles Albert Tindley
(d) Just Today (I Have Found the Peace of Heaven). By Charles Albert Tindley
(e) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Tune, (Anthem) by J. Rosamund Johnson
(f) Oh, Freedom. Traditional
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Free at Last. Traditional
(b) God Has Smiled on Me. By Isaiah Jones. Tune by Isaiah Jones, Jr.
(c) Go Down, Moses. Spiritual
(d) How Did You Feel. By Edward Boatner
(e) Oh, Freedom. Spiritual
(f) We’ve Come a Long Way, Lord. Traditional
(g) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Celebrator. By Toby Hill
(b) I Really Love the Lord. By Jimmy Dowell
(c) Oh, To Be Kept by Jesus. By Thurston Frazier. Tune by Kenneth Morris
(d) Through It All. By Andraé Crouch
(e) We’ll Understand It Better By and By. By Charles Albert Tindley
5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) In the Midst of It All. By Kevin Bond
(b) I’m Free. By Percy Bady
(c) Stand Tall and Be Happy. By Emma Jean Fiege
(d) Tree of Life. Traditional. Arr. by Emma Jean Fiege
(e) You Are an Heir. By Donald Lawrence
6. Anthems
(a) Freedom Is Coming. By Anders Nyberg. Arr. by Henry Leck
(b) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Tune, (Anthem) J. Rosamund Johnson. A capella arrangement by Jody Gray. This arrangement can be done with combined adult and youth/children’s choirs.
(c) We’ll Never Turn Back. By Bertha Gober
7. Modern Songs
(a) I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired. By Curtis Burnnell
(b) Jesus I Won’t Forget. By Percy Gray, Jr.
(c) To Every Generation. By Bill Batstone and Cynthia Wilson
8. Song or Instrumental for Children and Youth
We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Brian Kelly and Kendall Wyatt
9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Offering. By Toby Hill
(b) What Shall I Render. By Margaret Douroux
10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Come By Here. African American Spiritual
(b) There’s a Bright Side Somewhere. Anonymous
11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Faith. By Andra Woods. Arr. by Thomas Whitfield
(b) My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me. Text and Tune, (Heavenly Father) by W. C. Martin
12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Have You Crossed the Line? (You Have Waited Too Long). By Charles A. Tindley
(b) I’m Determined. Traditional
(c) Try God. By Tony S. Griffin
(d) When Comes the Day. By Chester D. T. Baldwin
13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Always Remember. By Andraé Crouch
(b) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier
14. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) For at least this week create a newsletter entitled “The History of Juneteenth.” Explain the history of this important celebration. Include geographic information about the Gulf Coast Region of the State of Texas. It is important that readers understand the history of this port. Remember to cite each source used and by all means, provide pictures.
(b) Perform a skit based on the words of General Gordon Granger’s “General Order #3: . . . The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
Characters:
General Gordon Granger
Federal troops
Slave owners
Slaves
Bystanders
Hotel clerk
Bellhop
Props:
Backdrop of a slave’s living quarters
Backdrop depicting the historic Reedy A.M.E. Church
A backdrop depicting water
Have a brainstorming session with your fine arts team and develop the play. The concept is simple. Allow the viewers and participants to engage in the history of the freeing of slaves in the state of Texas. This may prove to be a highly emotional experience. The book, Island of Color: Where Juneteenth Started by Izola Ethel Fedford Collins, will provide vivid details of the account.
This skit may be given before a live audience, filmed and forwarded as an eCommercial to the congregation, or it can be used as an evangelism tool.
(c) Perform a skit based on the Negro Spiritual “Go Down, Moses.” Bring this song to life in a 21st century fashion by presenting it as a play.
Characters:
Moses
Pharaoh
A Crowd of Egyptians
A Crowd of Hebrew slaves
Props:
An oversized map showing the ancient world of Egypt
A chair in which a Pharaoh can sit
This skit may be given before a live audience, filmed and sent as an eCommercial to the congregation, or it can be used as an evangelism tool.
(d) Educate in a creative way by holding a “Secrets about African American History You Did Not Learn in History Class Essay Contest” for youth (ages 12-17).
If it is feasible, provide a trip to the city of Galveston or Houston for the winning writer and his or her family to attend an authentic Juneteenth festival. Essays can be posted for congregational viewing. This will take several months of planning, clear contest rules, and activities to raise money for a trip.
(e) Bring the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” to life by allowing mime performers to present this moving song, which is considered the Black National Anthem. Use the A capella arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Jody Gray on this occasion.
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
1. Litany
“A Christian Affirmation of Juneteenth.” By Sharon Laverne Fuller
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) A Better Day Is Coming. By Charles Albert Tindley
Location:
Beams of Heaven: Hymns of Charles Albert Tindley. General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church. New York, NY: GBGMusik, 2006. #40
(b) Farther Along. By W. B. Stephens
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #376
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The A.M.E. Zion Bicentennial Hymnal Official Hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Charlotte, NC: A.M.E. Zion Pub. House, 1996. #522
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #289
Cleveland, J. Jefferson, and Verolga Nix. Songs of Zion. Supplemental worship resources, 12. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1981. #28
(c) God Will Provide for Me (Here, I May Be Weak and Poor). By Charles Albert Tindley
Location:
Beams of Heaven: Hymns of Charles Albert Tindley. #34
(d) Just Today (I Have Found the Peace of Heaven). By Charles Albert Tindley
Location:
Beams of Heaven: Hymns of Charles Albert Tindley. #29
(e) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson. Tune, (Anthem) by J. Rosamund Johnson
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #540
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #653
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #291
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #457
Songs of Zion. #32
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. #506
(f) Oh, Freedom. Traditional
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #545
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Free at Last. Traditional
Location:
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #293
Songs of Zion. #80
(b) God Has Smiled on Me. By Isaiah Jones. Tune by Isaiah Jones, Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #152
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #185
Songs of Zion. #196
(c) Go Down, Moses. Spiritual
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #543
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #623
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #292
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #490
Songs of Zion. #212
(d) How Did You Feel. By Edward Boatner
Location:
Spirituals Triumphant Old and New. Sunday School Publishing Board. Nashville, TN: 1927, 1981. #13
(e) Oh, Freedom. Spiritual
Location:
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #621
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #298
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #486
Songs of Zion. #102
Spirituals Triumphant Old and New. #31
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #501
(f) We’ve Come a Long Way, Lord. Traditional
Location:
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #294
(g) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson
Location:
Pearson, Carlton. Live At Azusa, Vol. 4. New York, NY: Tommy Boy, 2001.
African American Heritage Hymnal. #412
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #259
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #225
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #529
Songs of Zion. #192
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Celebrator. By Toby Hill
Location:
Zion Still Sings for Every Generation. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2007. #38
(b) I Really Love the Lord. Text and Tune by Jimmy Dowell
Location:
Zion Still Sings. #41
(c) Oh, To Be Kept by Jesus. By Thurston Frazier. Tune by Kenneth Morris
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #423
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #212
(d) Through It All. By Andraé Crouch
Location:
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #402
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #71
(e) We’ll Understand It Better By and By. By Charles Albert Tindley
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #418
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #636
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #490
Songs of Zion. #55
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #135
5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) In the Midst of It All. By Kevin Bond
Location:
Adams, Yolanda. Mountain High…Valley Low. New York, NY: Electra, 1999.
(b) I’m Free. By Percy Bady
Location:
Brunson, Milton & The Thompson Community Singers. Great Gospel Moments. Nashville, TN: Word Records, 2000.
(c) Stand Tall and Be Happy. By Emma Jean Fiege
Location:
Tillery, Linda & the Cultural Heritage Choir. Say Yo Business. Claremont, CA: Rhino, 2001.
(d) Tree of Life. Traditional. Arr. by Emma Jean Fiege
Location:
Tillery, Linda & the Cultural Heritage Choir. Say Yo Business. Claremont, CA: Rhino, 2001.
(e) You Are an Heir. By Donald Lawrence
Location:
Lawrence, Donald and the Tri City Singers. Finale. Brentwood, TN: EGD, 2006.
6. Anthems
(a) Freedom Is Coming. By Anders Nyberg. Arr. by Henry Leck
Location:
Vocal score for anthem available
Emerson Music
4650 Arrow Hwy, Unit D-1
Montclair, CA 91763
Phone: 1-800 518-7214
Online location: http://www.emersonmusiconline.com
(b) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James Weldon Johnson.Tune, (Anthem) J. Rosamund Johnson. A capella arrangement by Jody Gray. This arrangement can be done with combined adult and youth/children’s choirs.
Location:
Women of the Calabash (Performed with the Free Voices of Praise Choir). The Kwanzaa Album. New York, NY: Orchard, 2000.
CD Baby
5925 NE 80th Avenue
Portland, OR 97218-2891
Phone: 503-595-3000
Online location: http://cdbaby.com/cd/kwanzaa
(c) We’ll Never Turn Back. By Bertha Gober
Location:
Sweet Honey in the Rock. Freedom Song Soundtrack (from made for TV film Freedom Song). New York, NY: Sony, 2000.
7. Modern Songs
(a) I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired. By Curtis Burnnell
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #414
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #159
Songs of Zion. #175
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #364
(b) Jesus I Won’t Forget. By Percy Gray, Jr.
Location:
Brunson, Milton and the Thompson Community Singers. 50 Blessed Years. New York, NY: Sony, 1998.
(c) To Every Generation. By Bill Batstone and Cynthia Wilson
Location:
Zion Still Sings. #88
8. Children and Youth
We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Brian Kelly and Kendall Wyatt
Location:
Bryant Rodnie. Change of Seasons. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscot, 2005.
9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Offering. By Toby Hill
Location:
Zion Still Sings. #212
(b) What Shall I Render. By Margaret Douroux
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #389
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #346
10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Come By Here. African American Spiritual
Location:
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #218
(b) There’s a Bright Side Somewhere. Anonymous
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #411
11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Faith. By Andra Woods. Arr. by Thomas Whitfield
Location:
(b) My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me. Text and Tune, (Heavenly Father) by W. C. Martin
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #144
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #53
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #139
12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Have You Crossed the Line? (You Have Waited Too Long). By Charles A. Tindley
Location:
Beams of Heaven: Hymns of Charles Albert Tindley. #46
(b) I’m Determined. Traditional
Location:
Zion Still Sings. #175
(c) Try God. By Tony S. Griffin
Location:
Tony S. Griffin and the Bethlehem Young Adult Choir. WayMaker, Get Ready! He's Coming Back! Greenville, SC: PIP Music, 2003.
(d) When Comes the Day. By Chester D. T. Baldwin
Location:
Chester D. T. Baldwin and the Mass Choir. Sing It On Sunday Morning. Los Angeles, CA: JDI Records, 2000.
13. Benediction Song or Music
(a) Always Remember. By Andraé Crouch
Location:
Atlanta Chorale. Always Remember. Atlanta, GA: Life Size Music, 2005.
African American Heritage Hymnal. #640
(b) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #219
14. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Website to assist with the creation of a Juneteenth News Letter http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/juneteenth.html
