Worship Resources



CHILDREN’S SUNDAY (STOPPING ABUSE AND NEGLECT)

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, January 17, 2010

W. Patrick Alston, Sr., Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Please note that this is Children’s Sunday (for ages birth–12). It is not youth or teen Sunday, nor is this young adult Sunday. Please plan accordingly.

This may be one of the most important worship services for which the music and arts department of your church prepares this year. All children’s ministries, including the Children’s area of Christian Education departments, should lead and serve during this Sunday’s worship. It is left to the discretion of the Music ministry leaders to determine the choice and placement of choirs or singing ensembles. Section 4 in this service has special recommendations for choirs with children ranging in age from 4–12. The service itself is designed for music to be provided by a children’s choir (ages 4-12), an adult choir, a young adult choir (ages 19–35), or a teen choir (ages 13–17), along with your dance/mime ministry (see section 5).

Special elements for your attention:

  • Be sure to include your mime ministry, drama ministry, step ministry, and all other cultural arts performance groups.
  • Be sure to have testimonies from children within the church with adult supervision.
  • Be sure to have available counselors and related resources to assist children who want help because they have been abused or neglected.
  • Be sure to have present local entities that serve abused and neglected children.
  • Be sure to invite law enforcement officers to attend your service.
1. Responsive Reading
  Children
Clergy: Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Child: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.
Clergy: Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Child: Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Clergy: Even children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right. Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.
Child: Remember you creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say “I have no pleasure in them.”
Clergy: He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children;
Child: That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children,
Clergy: So that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation.
Child: The wolf also shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) How Can You Recognize a Child of God? By Margaret Douroux

(b) I Love the Lord. Arr. By Richard Smallwood

(c) Jesus Loves Me. By Anna B. Warner. Tune, (China) by William Bradbury

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Walk Through the Valley. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Nathan Carter

(b) Walk Together Children. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

(c) Who’ll Be a Witness. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Wendell Whalum

4. Gospel Songs for Children’s Choirs
(a) Troop’s Prayer. By Percy Gray, Jr.

(b) Everybody Clap Your Hands. By Percy Gray, Jr.

(c) Make a Joyful Noise. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is an effective anthem-styled song for a children’s choir.

(d) You Deserve the Best. By Michael Earl Thompson

(e) I Wanna Feel Good about Myself. By Gerry A. J. Thompson

5. Liturgical Dance and Mime Ministry Music
(a) Angel and Me. By V. Michael McKay

(b) Mercy Said No. By Dave Clark, Gregory Long, and Donald Koch

6. Anthems
(a) I’m His Child. By Moses Hogan

(b) Fairest Lord Jesus. By Derrick Hayes

(c) The Lord Is My Light. By Francis Allisten

7. Modern Songs
(a) Never Gonna Let You Go. By David Frazier

(b) Faithful Is Our God. By Jules Bartholomew

(c) G. A. Hymn (Who Else But God). By Tye Tribbett

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Still Have Joy. By Tye Tribbett

(b) So Good. By Richard White and Leo Taylor

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Thank You. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.

(b) I Am Somebody. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) O How Precious. By Myrna Summers

(b) Help Us Grow. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Your Grace and Mercy. By Frank Williams. Arr. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(b) Everything. By Tye Tribbett

12. Benediction Song
‘Til We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin

13. Audio Visual Suggestions
If your church has a media ministry, have the media ministry work with parents and children to do a special media report that includes current statistics of child abuse and neglect especially include the statistics for your city and state. Also include pictures of children who are being loved and protected.

14. Other Worship Recommendations

  • Have your Drama ministry prepare a skit dealing with child abuse and neglect. Be sure to not allow really young children to be present during the skit if it is too disturbing.
  • Have your missionary department raise a special offering for either foreign or domestic children’s shelters.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Responsive Reading—Children
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #3. Used with permission and shortened for inclusion in this worship unit.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs

(a) How Can You Recognize a Child of God? By Margaret Douroux
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #266

(b) I Love the Lord. Arr. By Richard Smallwood
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #395

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #238

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. #53

(c) Jesus Loves Me. By Anna B. Warner. Tune, (China) by William Bradbury
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #335

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #106

National Baptist Publishing Board. The New National Baptist Hymnal. Nashville, TN: National Baptist Pub. Board, 1981. #465

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #506

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #59

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a)  Walk Through the Valley. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Nathan Carter
Location:
GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue
Chicago, IL 60638
Phone: 1-800-GIA-1358

Online location: www.giamusic.com

(b) Walk Together Children. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Evelyn Simpson-Curenton
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #541

(c) Who’ll Be a Witness. Negro Spiritual. Arr. By Wendell Whalum
Location:
Lawson-Gould Music Publishers
Phone: 1-800-292-6122

Online location: www.alfred.com

4. Gospel Songs for Children’s Choirs
(a) Troop’s Prayer. By Percy Gray, Jr.
Location:
Joshua’s Troop. JT3. Nashville, TN: New Haven Records, 2007.

(b) Everybody Clap Your Hands. By Percy Gray, Jr.
Location:
Joshua’s Troop. JT3. Nashville, TN: New Haven Records, 2007.

(c) Make a Joyful Noise. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is an effective anthem-styled
song  for a children’s choir.
Location:
The First Coast Children’s Choir. Let the Children Sing! Volume IV: Give an Applause. Jacksonville, FL: Anvil Records, 2007.

I Sing/I Play Productions
1 South Cottage Hill Road
Orlando, FL 32805
Phone: 321-436-7633

Online location: www.isingiplay.com

(d) You Deserve the Best. By Michael Earl Thompson
Location:
The First Coast Children’s Choir. Let the Children Sing! Volume III: I Get My Praise On. Jacksonville, FL: Anvil Records, 2007.

I Sing/I Play Productions
Phone: 321-436-7633
Online location: www.isingiplay.com

(e) I Wanna Feel Good about Myself. By Gerry A. J. Thompson
Location:
The First Coast Children’s Choir. Let the Children Sing! Volume III: I Get My Praise On. Jacksonville, FL: Anvil Records, 2007.

I Sing/I Play Productions
Phone: 321-436-7633
Online location: www.isingiplay.com

5. Liturgical Dance and Mime Ministry Music
(a) Angel and Me. By V. Michael McKay
Location:
Norwood, Dorothy & The Mississippi Mass Choir. No Request. Jackson, MS: Malaco Records, 2007.

(b) Mercy Said No. By Dave Clark, Gregory Long, and Donald Koch
Location:
Winans, CeCe. Throne Room. New York, NY: Epic Records/Sony, 2003.

6.
Anthems
(a) Completely Yes. By Sandra Crouch
Location:
Hal Leonard Corporation
J. W. Pepper and Sons, Inc.
2480 Industrial Boulevard
Paoli, PA 19301
Phone: 1-800-345-6296

Online location: www.jwpepper.com

(b) Fairest Lord Jesus. By Derrick Hayes
Location:
Beckenhorst Press
J. W. Pepper and Sons, Inc.
Phone: 1-800-345-6296
Online location: www.jwpepper.com

(c) The Lord Is My Light. By Francis Allisten
Location:
G. Schirmer, Inc.
J. W. Pepper and Sons, Inc.
Phone: 1-800-345-6296
Online location: www.jwpepper.com

7. Modern Songs
(a) Never Gonna Let You Go. By David Frazier
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah and The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Family Affair, Vol. II: Live at Radio City Music Hall. New York, NY: Verity, 2002.

(b) Faithful Is Our God. By Jules Bartholomew
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah and The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. 20/85 The Experience. New York, NY: Verity 2005.

(c) G. A. Hymn (Who Else But God). By Tye Tribbett
Location:
Tribbett, Tye & G.A. Victory Live! New York, NY: Sony/BMG, 2006.

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period

(a) Still Have Joy. By Tye Tribbett
Location:
Tribbett, Tye & G.A. Victory Live! New York, NY: Sony/BMG, 2006.

(b) So Good. By Richard White and Leo Taylor
Location:
G.M.W.A. The Tampa Experience. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 2004.

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer

(a) Thank You. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.
Location:
The First Coast Children’s Choir. Let the Children Sing! Volume II. Jacksonville, FL: Anvil Records, 2007.

I Sing/I Play Productions
Phone: 321-436-7633
Online location: www.isingiplay.com

(b) I Am Somebody. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.
Location:
The First Coast Children’s Choir. Let the Children Sing! Volume II. Jacksonville, FL: Anvil Records, 2007.

I Sing/I Play Productions
Phone: 321-436-7633
Online location: www.isingiplay.com

10. Sermonic Selections
(a) O How Precious. By Myrna Summers
Location:
Dillard, Ricky and New G. Unplugged: The Way Church Used to Be. Detroit, MI: Crystal Rose, 2003.

(b) Help Us Grow. By Gerry A. J. Thompson. This selection is intended to be sung by children.
Location:
The First Coast Children’s Choir. Let the Children Sing! Volume II. Jacksonville, FL: Anvil Records, 2007.

I Sing/I Play Productions
Phone: 321-436-7633
Online location: www.isingiplay.com

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Your Grace and Mercy. By Frank Williams. Arr. By Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #270

(b) Everything. By Tye Tribbett
Location:
Tribbett, Tye & G.A. Victory Live! New York, NY: Sony/BMG, 2006.

12. Benediction Song
‘Til We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
Kirk Franklin and The Family. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 1992.