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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Nolan Williams, Jr., Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes
Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday) commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with the disciples. Many Holy Thursday services include three principle rituals: Holy Communion, foot washing, and a Tenebrae service (See #15 for a brief service of Tenebrae).

1. Responsive Reading

Leader:	Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Congregation:	But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.
Leader:	Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
Congregation:	I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.
Leader:	And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
Congregation:	Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours, be done.”
Leader:	In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
Congregation:	Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Leader:	For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple,
ALL:	And the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) O Sacred Head Now Wounded. By Bernard of Clairvaux. Arr. by Johann S. Bach

(b) O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go. By George Matheson

(c) Where He Leads Me. By Ernest W. Blandy

(d) I Gave My Life for Thee. By Frances R. Havergal

3. Communion Songs
(a) Taste and See. By Kenneth Louis

(b) Let Us Break Bread Together. Traditional

(c) At the Cross. By Isaac Watts

(d) A Communion Hymn. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

4. Spirituals
(a) Fix Me, Jesus.

(b) I’ve Been ‘Buked.

5. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
Note: The songs selected by the Praise Team should be somber yet worshipful.
(a) There Is Bread in This House. By Covenant Church Choir

(b) Near the Cross. Arr. by Angie Curry and Frank Williams

(c) Thank God for the Blood. By V. Michael McKay

(d) He’s God. By Edwin Hawkins

6. Liturgical Dance Music
In This Very Room. By Karen E. Hylton

7. Anthems
(a) There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood. By William Cowper. Arr. by Wendall Whalum

(b) When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Arr. by Gilbert M. Martin

8. Modern Songs
(a) We Give You Glory. By Andraé Crouch

(b) At Calvary. By Dorothy Norwood & The Mississippi Mass Choir

(c) My Life, My Love, My All. By Kirk Franklin

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) We Thirst for You. By CeCe Winans

(b) Christ Did It All. By Rodney Posey

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) I Love You Lord. By Laurie Klein

(b) Take My Life and Let It Be. By Frances Ridley Havergal

(c) A Perfect Sacrifice. By V. Michael McKay

(d) There’s Room at the Cross for You. By Ira Stamphill

11. Sermonic Selection
Solo
(a) He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word

(b) Great Is Our God. By James Hall & Worship and Praise

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
I Am Redeemed. By The Chicago Community Choir

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
God Be with You Till We Meet Again. Tune by Charlene Moore Cooper

14. Audio Visual Suggestions
Use images of bread, wine, and the Last Supper, and images of events leading up to the Crucifixion for screens.

15. Other Recommendations:
Service of Tenebrae (In Brief)

Overview of Tenebrae and write-up for bulletin
This worship service, called Tenebrae, from the Latin word for darkness, was a time of quiet reflection. Those gathering, of course, believed in the Resurrection. They found tremendous comfort and deep worship in the simple service of reading Scripture as the room around them slowly grew darker and darker. The tradition was that the service would end as the final moments of the cross were remembered, and then the last candle extinguished (the Christ candle) as he commends his Spirit to his Father. Then the Christ Candle will be removed from view, symbolizing the apparent victory of the powers of darkness at Jesus’ death. The “strepitus,” a loud noise during the time of darkness, will suggest the earthquake at the moment that Jesus died. The return of the candle to its stand foreshadows the Resurrection.

Like the ancient Tenebrae service, this is not a service of spectacular effects or exhilarating songs of praise. The music and the readings are simple. You will observe a diminishing of light through the service in the pattern of Tenebrae worship. The draping of black cloth is symbolic of the darkness that enveloped the scene. In retracing the steps of Jesus towards the Cross we will meditate on his obedience to God. We also think of our own life of sacrifice for Christ and those for whom he died. Leave quietly this evening with your heart centered on the suffering of Christ for you and your salvation.

(A) General Order of Service:
(B) Songs for Worship: The choice of music for the entire service should be reflective and solemn. (See #15 in the Cites section for suggestions.)

(C) Lighting: During the Song of Meditation, the sanctuary lighting should begin to dim. The lighting should be progressively dimmed at phases throughout the Service of Tenebrae. By the time of the Shadow of Death reading, all lights should be out except one sole light positioned on the altar (or handled by a designee). This light represents the light of Christ!

(D) Conclusion of Service: At the conclusion of the last reading (Shadow of Death), the congregation sits in silence with all attention focused upon the light of Christ candle. Lighting is then partially restored, enough for the congregation to safely depart the sanctuary in silence. The Pastor should be first to rise, along with other clergy, thus initiating the congregation’s departure. No benediction is offered. This service is the first step toward Resurrection Sunday when the benediction of God is finally offered as a culmination of the Passion narrative.

1. Responsive Reading—Suffering, used with permission.
Location:

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
Hymn
(a) O Sacred Head Now Wounded. By Bernard of Clairvaux. Arr. by Johann S. Bach
Location:

(b) O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go. By George Matheson
Location:

(c) Where He Leads Me. By Ernest W. Blandy
Location:

(d) I Gave My Life for Thee. By Frances R. Havergal
Location:

3. Communion Songs
(a) Taste and See. By Kenneth Louis
Location:

(b) Let Us Break Bread Together. Traditional
Location:

(c) At the Cross. By Isaac Watts
Location:

(d) A Communion Hymn. By Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:

4. Spirituals
(a) Fix Me, Jesus.
Location:

(b) I’ve Been ‘Buked.
Location:

5. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) There Is Bread in This House. By Covenant Church Choir
Location:

(b) Near the Cross. Arr. by Angie Curry and Frank Williams
Location:

(c) Thank God for the Blood. By V. Michael McKay
Location:

(d) He’s God. By Edwin Hawkins
Location:

6. Liturgical Dance Music
In This Very Room. By Karen E. Hylton
Location:

7. Anthems
(a) There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood. By William Cowper. Arr. by Wendall Whalum
Location:

(b) When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Arr. by Gilbert M. Martin
Location:

8. Modern Songs
(a) We Give You Glory. By Andraé Crouch
Location:

(b) At Calvary. By Dorothy Norwood & The Mississippi Mass Choir
Location:

(c) My Life, My Love, My All. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) We Thirst for You. By CeCe Winans
Location:

(b) Christ Did It All. By Rodney Posey
Location:

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) I Love You Lord. By Laurie Klein
Location:

(b) Take My Life and Let It Be. By Frances Ridley Havergal
Location:

(c) A Perfect Sacrifice. By V. Michael McKay
Location:

(d) There’s Room at the Cross for You. By Ira Stamphill
Location:

11. Sermonic Selection
Solo
(a) He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word
Location:

(b) Great Is Our God. By James Hall & Worship And Praise
Location:

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
I Am Redeemed. By The Chicago Community Choir
Location:

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
God Be with You Till We Meet Again. Tune by Charlene Moore Cooper
Location:

14. Audio Visual Suggestions - See #14 above.

15. Other Recommendations
Service of Tenebrae Music
(a) Remember Me. Arr. by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:

(b) Remember Me. Arr. by Leon Roberts
Location:

(c) First Word (Father, Forgive Them). By Theodore Dubois

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