John Paul McGee, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Elder and Minister of Music and Worship Arts, Hope Fellowship Church, Daytona Beach, FL
Worship Planning Notes
Include in your bulletin include a picture and biography of an admirable male from each age group in the congregation (i.e., youth, adolescent, young adult, adult, and senior). Honor each person for his example of strength. This will motivate the males of the church from all age groups and walks of life to continue setting strong examples. While presenting each individual to the congregation, his photograph and name should be posted on an overhead screen for the entire congregation to see. If your church does not have screens, read aloud the information about each individual. This presentation should precede the sermonic selection.
1. Litany
How Good It Is For Brothas to Dwell Together in Unity
All:
How good and pleasant it is when the brothas live together in unity.
Leader:
For the brothas who love their wives and raise their children,
For the brothas who dwell in the house of the Lord,
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.
All:
How good and pleasant it is when the brothas live together in unity.
Leader:
For the brothas who stand on street corners or sleep in bus stations,
For the brothas who live in libraries and have no place to call home,
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.
All:
How good and pleasant it is when the brothas live together in unity.
Leader:
For the brothas who have PhDs,
For the brothas who struggle and make only Ds,
For the brothas who drive BMWs,
For the brothas who would like to be a BMW (a Black man working),
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.
All:
How good and pleasant it is when the brothas live together in unity.
Leader:
For the brothas who teach,
For the brothas who preach,
For the brothas who drink,
For the brothas who think
That there is nothing for them in this world or the next,
For those who have hope and for those who are hopeless,
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.
All:
How good and pleasant it is when the brothas live together in unity.
Leader:
Whether in the jailhouse or the schoolhouse,
In gangs or in covenant groups,
Whether in health or sickness,
In addiction or recovery,
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.
All:
How good and pleasant it is when the brothas live together in unity.
How good and pleasant it is when ALL the people live together in unity!!!
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs (a) Because He Lives. By Gloria Gaither and William J. Gaither. Tune, (Resurrection)
by William J. Gaither
(b) Count Your Blessings. By Johnson Oatman, Jr. Tune, (Blessings) by Edwin O. Excell.
Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton
(c) Keep Me Every Day. By F. L. Eiland. Tune, (Every Day) by Emmet S. Dean
(d) The Solid Rock. By Edward Mote. Tune, (Solid Rock) by William B. Bradbury
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs (a) Give Me Jesus. Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.
(b) I Am on the Battlefield for My Lord. By Sylvana Bell and E. V. Banks. Tune,
Battlefield. Arr. by Joseph Joubert
(c) I’m Determined. African American Traditional. Arr. by Marilyn E. Thornton
4. Gospel Songs for Men’s Chorus
(a) Clean Up. By Wallace Strictland and Harvey Watkins, Jr.
(b) He Will Never Leave You. By Alvin Darling
(c) I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired. By Curtis Burrell. Arr. by Stephen Key and Nolan
Williams, Jr.
5. Mime Music (a) Still Say, Thank You. By Smokie Norful
(b) Yes. By Valencia Lacy
6. Anthems and Special Selections for Soloists, Duos, or Ensembles (a) I Will Sing Hallelujah. By Neil Johnson. For TTB, piano
(b) It Pays to Serve Jesus. By Frank C. Huston. Arr. by Nathan Carter. For SATB, tenor
solo, piano
(c) You’ll Be Fine. By Donnie McClurkin “You’ll Be Fine” is to be used as a special selection for male soloist with female background vocalists.
7. Modern Songs (a) Coming Strong. By Donald Lawrence
(b) Work It Out. By Derek T. Triplett
(c) Said He Would Be with Me. By Isaiah Thomas
8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Do Your Will. By Rance Allen
(b) I Recommend Jesus. By Stan Jones
(c) Ride This Train. By Harvey Watkins, Jr., and Harvey Pop Watkins, Sr.
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer (a) Hold Back the Night. By Charles H. Nicks, Jr.
(b) Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. By Timothy Wright
(c) Your Grace and Mercy. By Frank Williams
10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Hold On, Don’t Let Go. By Richard Smallwood
(b) Standing on the Promises. By Amirris Palmore
(c) Stand. By Donnie McClurkin
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental (a) Be Strong. By William Murphy, III., and Devaughn Murphy
(b) I’m Just a Nobody. By Leonard Williams
(c) Precious Jesus. By Thomas A. Whitfield. Arr. by Thomas W. Jefferson
12. Benediction Spoken or Sung
Spoken
But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation. To him be power forever! Amen. (1 Peter 5:10, 11 GNT)
Sung (a) Lord, Help Me to Hold Out. By Harry Johnson
(b) Savior, Lead Me Lest I Stray. By Frank M. Davis. Tune, (Lead Me) Frank M. Davis
(c) God Be with You. By Thomas Dorsey. Arr. by Horace Clarence Boyer
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
1. Litany – “How Good It Is For Brothas to Dwell Together in Unity” by Marilyn E. Thornton
Location:
21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: Litany for Men’s Day, 2005. Online location: www.gbod.org/worship. Used with permission.
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Because He Lives. By Gloria Gaither and William J. Gaither. Tune, (Resurrection)
by William J. Gaither
Location
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #281
The Celebration Hymnal: Songs and Hymns for Worship. Nashville, TN: Word Music/Integrity Music, 1997. #358
The New National Baptist Hymnal. Nashville, TN: National Baptist Publishing Board, 1977. #106
(b) Count Your Blessings. By Johnson Oatman, Jr. Tune, (Blessings) by Edwin O. Excell.
Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #533
The Celebration Hymnal. #786
The New National Baptist Hymnal. #38
(c) Keep Me Every Day. By F. L. Eiland. Tune, (Every Day) by Emmet S. Dean
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #433
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA
Publications, 1987. #124
The New National Baptist Hymnal. #244
(d) The Solid Rock. By Edward Mote. Tune, (Solid Rock) by William B. Bradbury
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. # 385
The Celebration Hymnal. #526
The New National Baptist Hymnal. #223
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Give Me Jesus. Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #561
Zion Still Sings for Every Generation. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2007. #84
(b) I Am on the Battlefield for My Lord. By Sylvana Bell and E. V. Banks. Tune, Battlefield. Arr. by Joseph Joubert
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #480
The New National Baptist Hymnal. #493
(c) I’m Determined. African American Traditional. Arr. by Marilyn E. Thornton
Location:
Zion Still Sings. #175
4. Gospel Songs for Men’s Chorus (a) Clean Up. By Wallace Strictland and Harvey Watkins, Jr.
Location:
The Canton Spirituals. Nothing But Hits. New York, NY: Verity Records, 2004.
(b) He Will Never Leave You. By Alvin Darling
Location:
Darling, Alvin and Celebration. My Blessing Is on the Way. Fleming Island, FL: EMTRO Gospel, 2007.
(c) I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired. By Curtis Burrell. Arr. by Stephen Key and Nolan
Williams, Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #414
5. Mime Music (a) Still Say, Thank You. By Smokie Norful
Location:
I Need You Now. Brentwood, TN: Chordant Music Group Records, 2002.
6. Anthems and Special Selections for Soloists, Duos, or Ensembles
(a) I Will Sing Hallelujah. By Neil Johnson. For TTB, piano
Location:
Walton Music, distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation
Available from J. W. Pepper & Sons Incorporated
2480 Industrial Boulevard
Paoli, PA 19301
Phone: 1-800-345-6296
