• BACK
• Click Here Cultural Resources
• Click Here Lectionary Commentaries

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, January 16, 2011

D.J. Boyd, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Worship, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC

Worship Planning Notes

• Plan in advance: Make sure that there is ample amount of time to honor and recognize the sacrifices that these persons have made in dedication to the life of the church.

• Attire: Have church officers dress uniformly and perhaps have them share in a processional at the beginning and/or at the end of the service.

• Document: Capture this day in photos and/or video. Perhaps have names listed in bulletin/program on the Sunday of this recognition, maybe even including a brief three-to-four sentence biographical sketch on each officer. Be sure to include information on the auxiliaries, boards, or committees of your church.

• Invitations: Have officers invite their family and friends to share in this moment.

• Tools: As a gift, supply officers with resourceful tools: i.e., books on leadership, calendars listing conferences/seminars that they should attend, etc.

• Celebrate: Have a reception to honor all officers, and invite their family and friends.

Since this year Installation of Officers is designated for January 16 on the calendar, it is likely that most congregations will be focused on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday which occurs on January 17. If you do a service only on the 16th you can easily merge the two calendar moments. Use information from today’s material and from the Lectionary’s Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday units for 2011, especially the featured song and clips. Skits and selected poetry and prose that concern Dr. King and leadership can work as well.

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, Invocation, or Call to Worship

Consecration of Stewards of the Church

Clergy:	Dearly Beloved, you have been called of God, and chosen by this congregation, to assume special responsibilities in the administration of this church. Your duties include many tasks needful for its welfare and for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. In addition, all of you share in the duty of counseling with your minister and of assisting him/her in the leadership of the spiritual and temporal life of the church. Above all, it is your duty, as much as in you lies, to be a positive example in your devotional life, worship attendance, financial support, and general service in the body politic of this congregation. Having heard the Gospel that you are indeed called into ministry within the Kingdom of God, and that such service is a privilege, as well as a responsibility, will each of you accept this opportunity and seek to accomplish the possibilities that lie before us?
Officers:	I will, the Lord being my helper.
Clergy:	Let us pray. O Lord our God, who art the only founder and keeper of thy church, we thank thee that thou hast called thy servants to share in the work of thy kingdom. Grant them grace to give themselves wholly to this their task and service. Grant them sincerity and singleness of mind. Hold ever before them the example of their Lord, who pleased not himself, but gave himself up for us all, that, sharing his ministry and consecration, they enter into his joy. Guide them in their work for thy church. Prosper their counsels and their labors. Reward their fidelity with knowledge that thou art using them for the accomplishment of thy purpose in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The officers of the church kneel to be consecrated.

At this point the minister lays hands upon each one individually saying: I consecrate you a Steward/Officer in (church name) in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

After the laying on of hands the officers, congregation, and minister read the Litany:

A Litany for Consecrating Members of Administrative Boards

Clergy:	Because the Church exists as the physical Body of Christ and is responsible for teaching the Word of God as contained in the Old and New Testaments,
Officers:	We take seriously our responsibility of serving as stewards in his church.
Clergy:	Because the Church exists to celebrate the actions of Christ in His Ministry through the Sacraments of Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion,
Officers:	We take seriously our responsibility of serving as stewards in his church.
Clergy:	Because the Church exists for the preaching of the Gospel and calling all people to repentance, and nurturing them in the faith,
Officers:	We take seriously our responsibility of serving as stewards in his church. What we are about this day is serious business. Our being responsible to God’s calling will determine the level of spiritual growth our membership experiences in the coming year. It could make a strong difference in the quality of life we enjoy as citizens of this community and the city of _________. We, therefore, organize ourselves to seek the Grace of God in carrying out our responsibilities, and by that Spirit we will implement the program of this church seeking His will above our own.
Clergy:	O Holy God, we thank thee this day for these who have been named by their fellows and called by you to give leadership in directing the temporal life of this congregation for 2011. May they help in strengthening the spiritual life of (church name). Mold the laity, clergy, and staff of this congregation into a unit of ministry that is invincible to evil, and unfailing in good. To this end we all commit ourselves. In the name of Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs         
(a) My Hope Is Built (The Solid Rock). By Edward Mote. Tune, (SOLID ROCK), by William B. Bradbury

(b) If Jesus Goes with Me. By C. Austin Miles

(c) O I Want to See Him. By R.H. Cornelius

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Guide My Feet. Arr. by Wendell P. Whalum       

(b) Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. By William Williams

(c) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson. Arr. by Thurston G. Frazier

(d) Give of Your Best to the Master. By Howard B. Grose

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Stand. By John P. Kee

(b) God Blocked It! By Kurt Carr

(c) Let Everything That Hath Breath. By Joe Pace
 
5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) I Almost Let Go. By Kurt Carr

(b) Use Me. By Motor City Mass Choir

6. Anthems                
(a) ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. By Louisa M. R. Stead. Tune, (TRUST IN JESUS), by William J. Kirkpatrick

(b) If I Can Help Somebody. By Alma B. Androzzo. Arr. by Nathan Carter
                       
7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2010)
(a) Dwell in the House. By Gale Jones Murphy. For SATB, piano

(b) Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary. By West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir

(c) Pastor and People. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise. By Kirk Dearman

(b) I Will Live My Thanks. By Ruth Elaine Schram and Joseph M. Martin

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
O For a Faith. Arr. by Nathan Carter

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) In the Word of God. By Eddie A. Robinson

(b) For the Rest of My Life (I’ll Serve Him). By Timothy Wright   
     
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental        
(a) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy and John Samuel Norris

(b) We Shall Overcome. Traditional. Arr. by Carl Haywood

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Day and Night Praise (The Lord Be Praised). By Margaret Douroux

(b) The Lord Bless You/Sevenfold Amen. By Peter C. Lutkin

13. Audio/Visual Aids
(a) Leadership Quotes

(b) Colin Powell’s 13 Rules of Leadership

(c) 10 Attitudes for Leadership Development by Dr. Myles Munroe

(d) Spiritual Leadership for Church Officers: A Handbook. By Joan S. Gray. Geneva Press, 2009.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, Invocation, or Call to Worship
Consecrating Leaders. By Tom Faggart
Location:
Online location: http://clergyresources.net/Constewrds.htm

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) My Hope Is Built (The Solid Rock). By Edward Mote. Tune, (SOLID ROCK), by William B. Bradbury
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #385


(b) If Jesus Goes with Me. By C. Austin Miles
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #555

(c) O I Want to See Him. By R.H. Cornelius
Location:
The New National Baptist Hymnal. #41

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Guide My Feet. Arr. By Wendell P. Whalum
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #131

(b) Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. By William Williams
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #138

(c) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson. Arr. By Thurston G. Frazier
Location:
The New National Baptist Hymnal. #222

(d) Give of Your Best to the Master. By Howard B. Grose
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #465

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Stand. By John P. Kee
Location:
Victory In Praise Music and Arts Seminar Mass Choir Featuring John P. Kee. Stand! New York, NY: Verity, 1996.

(b) God Blocked It. By Kurt Carr
Location:
God Blocked It. Hendersonville, TN: Daywind Music Group, 2008.

(c) Let Everything That Hath Breath. By Joe Pace
Location:
Mighty Long Way. New York, NY: Columbia/Integrity, 2006.

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) I Almost Let Go. By Kurt Carr
Location:
Carr, Kurt and the Kurt Carr Singers. Awesome Wonder. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 2001.

(b) Use Me. By Motor City Mass Choir
Location:
Shout in the House with the Motor City Mass Choir. New York, NY: Hosanna! Music, 1997.

6. Anthems
(a) ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. By Louisa M. R. Stead. Tune, (TRUST IN JESUS), by William J. Kirkpatrick
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #368

(b) If I Can Help Somebody. By Alma B. Androzzo. Arr. By Nathan Carter
Location:

7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2010)
(a) Dwell in the House. By Gale Jones Murphy. For SATB, piano
Location:

(b) Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary. By West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir
Location:
No Limit. New York, NY: EMI Gospel, 2007.

(c) Pastor and People. By Nolan Williams Jr.
Location:

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise. By Kirk Dearman
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #529

(b) I Will Live My Thanks. By Ruth Elaine Schram and Joseph M. Martin
Location:

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
O For a Faith. Arr. By Nathan Carter
Location:

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) In the Word of God. By Eddie A. Robinson
Location:

(b) For the Rest of My Life (I’ll Serve Him). By Timothy Wright
Location:
Wright, Rev. Timothy & The New York Fellowship Mass Choir II. Live in New York. Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Int’l, 2003

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy and John Samuel Norris
Location:

(b) We Shall Overcome. Traditional. Arr. By Carl Haywood
Location:
Lift Every Voice and Sing II. #227

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
a) Day and Night Praise (The Lord Be Praised). By Margaret Douroux
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #115

(b) The Lord Bless You/Sevenfold Amen. By Peter C. Lutkin
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #636

• Click Here Cultural Resources
• Click Here Lectionary Commentaries