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MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Nolan Williams, Jr., Lectionary Team Liturgist; Kenneth Mosley, Assistant Liturgist; and J. Anthony Plenty, Assistant Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

The Old Testament passage, 2 Kings 22:3-6, is one of the few that mentions the work performed by ushers. Ushers are those who are “keepers of the threshold.” Their role was to collect money from the people for the upkeep of the temple. Today, we honor our modern-day ushers who, in addition to collecting money from persons for the upkeep of the church, do so much to enhance our worship experience.

Ideas for Usher’s Day During Your Morning Worship

• Plan ahead so that members of other auxiliaries serve as ushers today. Allow enough time for today’s stand-in ushers to be prepared so that visitors will not notice any change in the level of professionalism and friendliness they are shown.

• To make the day fun, have the stand-in ushers wear pins that say: Stand-In Usher.

• Salute the presidents of all church usher boards as appropriate.

• Have all ushers seated together and wearing corsages or boutonnieres provided by the pastor.

• Honor each usher by name and have them stand as their names is called.

• During the offering, have a “Special Usher’s March” led by the stand-in ushers followed by your real church ushers. Make the march lively by playing upbeat music and having the entire congregation stand for this special march.

1. Call to Worship, Centering Prayer, and Litany

Call to Worship
2 Kings 22:3-6, NRSV

22:3		In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the Lord, saying,
22:4		“Go up to the high priest Hilkiah, and have him count the entire sum of the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people;
22:5		let it be given into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the house of the Lord; let them give it to the workers who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house,
22:6		that is, to the carpenters, to the builders, to the masons; and let them use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the house.”

Centering Prayer
O God, we seize this opportunity to celebrate those who serve us diligently. As we appreciate their service, we also spend these passing moments to reflect on our own opportunities to serve you and your people. May our lives be full of gratitude and service, for they go hand in hand. We are grateful, therefore, we serve. And for the opportunity to serve, we are grateful. Amen.

Litany—Usher’s Day

Leader:	We Understand that before we enter the Sanctuary, there are those who have prepared the temple for worship.
People:	We honor their Service, and praise God for their accepting the call to serve as door-keepers and welcome us into the Holy place.
Leader:	The caretaking of the temple door is a sacred trust, never to be undervalued, always to be Hallowed.
People:	God has Entrusted ushers with a noble duty and his work is a divine assignment.
Leader:	With praise, we acknowledge their preparedness; with gratitude, we appreciate their gifts and sacrifice. With Reverence, we honor the doorkeepers of God’s House!
All:	And we pray God’s manifold blessings upon their individual lives and collective ministry on this their Special day.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Tune by John S. Norris

(b) Lead Me, Guide Me. By Doris M. Akers. Tune by Doris M. Akers

(c) Let Jesus Lead You. Traditional

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) This Little Light of Mine. Spiritual

(b) Somebody’s Knockin’. Spiritual

(c) Shut De Do’. By Randy Stonehill

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Welcome into This Place. By Orlando Jaurez

(b) Everybody Praise. By Tammi Haddon and Gerald Haddon

(c) Welcome. By Dathan Thigpen

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) I’ve Seen Him Work. By Virgil Straford and Benita Washington

(b) Usher Me. By T. D. Jakes and Donald Lawrence

(c) Lead Me to Rest. By Keith Lancaster

6. Anthems
(a) Bless This House. By May Morgan and Helen Taylor

(b) It Pays to Serve Jesus. Arr. by Nathan Carter

(c) The Best of Rooms. By Randall Thompson

(d) The Call. By Kirk Kirkland. Arr. by Nan Allen and Dennis Allen

(e) Sanctuary. By Bruce Greer

7. Modern Songs
(a) It’s Better to Help Somebody. By Michael Mathis

(b) Lead Me through the Night. By Paul Baloche and Don Moen

(c) Enter In. By Joseph Pace, II

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) What a Fellowship. Text by Elisha Hoffman. Arr. by Laythan Armor, Donald Taylor,  
and Tony Wilkins

(b) When God’s Children Get Together. By David Curry

(c) Keep Oil in Your Lamp. By David Curry and Jerry Mannery

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Please Be Patient with Me. By Curtis Burrell

(b) Lead Me to the Cross. By Brook Fraser

(c) You Don’t Look Like. By Deon Kipping

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Walk in the Light. By Thomas Whitfield

(b) Set the Atmosphere. By Kurt Carr

(c) Lead Me to the Rock. By Stephen Hurd

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental 
(a) One More Time. By James Moore

(b) Down at the Altar. By Joseph Pace II

(c) Let Jesus Lead You. Anonymous

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) A Good Day. Anonymous

(b) Hand in Hand. By Steve Angrisano

(c) Let Jesus Lead You. By Donnie Harper

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Call to Worship, Centering Prayer, and Litany. By Nolan Williams, Jr. and Kenneth Mosley

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Where He Leads Me. Text by E. W. Blandy. Tune by John S. Norris
Location: (b) Lead Me, Guide Me. By Doris M. Akers. Tune by Doris M. Akers
Location: (c) Let Jesus Lead You. Traditional
Location:
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) This Little Light of Mine. Spiritual
Location:
(b) Somebody’s Knockin’. Spiritual
Location:
(c) Shut De Do’. By Randy Stonehill
Location:
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Welcome into This Place. By Orlando Jaurez
Location:
(b) Everybody Praise. By Tammi Haddon and Gerald Haddon
Location:
(c) Welcome. By Dathan Thigpen
Location:
5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) I’ve Seen Him Work. By Virgil Straford and Benita Washington
Location:
(b) Usher Me. By T. D. Jakes and Donald Lawrence
Location:
(c) Lead Me to Rest. By Keith Lancaster
Location:
6. Anthems
(a) Bless This House. By May Morgan and Helen Taylor
Location: (b) It Pays to Serve Jesus. By Frank C. Houston. Arr. by Nathan Carter
Location:
(c) The Best of Rooms. By Randall Thompson
Location:
(d) The Call. By Kirk Kirkland. Arr. by Nan Allen and Dennis Allen
Location: (e) Sanctuary. By Bruce Greer
Location:
7. Modern Songs
(a) It’s Better to Help Somebody. By Michael Mathis
Location:
(b) Lead Me through the Night. By Paul Baloche and Don Moen
Location:
(c) Enter In. By Joseph Pace, II
Location:
8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) What a Fellowship. Text by Elisha Hoffman. Arr. by Laythan Armor, Donald Taylor,
and Tony Wilkins
Location:
(b) When God’s Children Get Together. By David Curry
Location:
(c) Keep Oil in Your Lamp. By David Curry and Jerry Mannery
Location:
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Please Be Patient with Me. By Curtis Burrell
Location:
(b) Lead Me to the Cross. By Brook Fraser
Location:
(c) You Don’t Look Like. By Deon Kipping
Location:
10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Walk in the Light. By Thomas Whitfield
Location:
(b) Set the Atmosphere. By Kurt Carr
Location:
(c) Lead Me to the Rock. By Stephen Hurd
Location:
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental 
(a) One More Time. By James Moore
Location:
(b) Down at the Altar. By Joseph Pace II
Location:
(c) Let Jesus Lead You. Anonymous
Location:
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) A Good Day. Anonymous
Location:
(b) Hand in Hand. By Steve Angrisano
Location:
(c) Let Jesus Lead You. By Donnie Harper
Location:

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