Worship Resources



DISABILITY AWARENESS

WORSHIP & MUSIC RESOURCES

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Jason Powell, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Music and Worship, Light of the World Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

Worship Planning Notes

This worship unit exists for the purpose of engaging our awareness of persons with disabilities. In our world, it’s very common to look over and ignore persons with disabilities or who are differently abled. But we are reminded of God’s heart on this matter in Luke 14:12-13, which emphasizes our duty as Christians to extend hospitality to the disabled.

In order to properly prepare worship that will increase the sensitivity of your congregation regarding persons with disabilities, it’s imperative that you approach your planning of this service with the love of God as the foundation. When we are not walking in love toward our fellow man and woman, we cannot claim to be doing the work of the church. We cripple and maim the Body of Christ by not walking in the love of God. As we are faithful to show forth this love in our daily interactions with all people, we create the platform for the power of God to be displayed. Whether our disabilities are spiritual, mental, intellectual, or physical, it is God alone who can transform our disability into divine ability. Therefore, our job is to emphasize the impartial love of God. Only with this mindset can we adequately prepare worship for this occasion. Only with this understanding will we be inspired to be the hands and feet of God, showing forth the love of Christ to the world. As the hymn writer said in the song “Here Am I”: “God has no eyes but those alert to see someone distressed, some soul in need.”

As worship leaders, we need to acknowledge that we are all lacking in some area; we are all disabled in some way. Each one of us has differing abilities, and each one of us has his or her own gifts to share with others. With this foundation, you can construct a worship service that is appropriate for this Sunday.

1. Litany or Responsive Reading

Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

If I speak in tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Here Am I. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(b) Koinonia. By V. Michael McKay

(c) Look and Live. By William A. Ogden

(d) More Love to Thee, O Christ. By Elizabeth Prentiss. Tune by William Doane   

(e) No Not One. By Johnson Oatman Jr.

(f) See My Hands and Feet. By Mary Louise Bringle. Tune, (ABBOT’S LEIGH), by Cyril Taylor

(g) The Healer. By Lois Irwin

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand. Arr. by Hezekiah Brinson, Jr.

(b) His Yoke Is Easy. By Paul S. Morton

(c) What a Mighty God We Serve. By T.D. Jakes

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) I Am God. By Danny Graham and Donald Lawrence

(b) Expect the Great. By Darien Dennis, Kenneth Shelton, and Jonathan Nelson

(c) Mighty Long Way. By Joe Pace

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Psalm 8. By Richard Smallwood

(b) There Is a King in You. By Donald Lawrence

(c) He Wants It All. By Dominique Jones

6. Anthems
(a) In Bright Mansions. Arr. by Roland Carter
           
(b) Someday (Beams of Heaven). By Charles Tindley. Arr. by Nathan Carter

(c) In the Beauty of Your Holiness. By Cindy Berry

7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2010)
(a) He’s Able. By Deitrick Haddon

(b) Give Him Glory. By Myron Williams

(c) Lord You’re Mighty. By JJ Hairston

(d) The Great I Am. By Earnest Pugh

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Running Over. By Joe Pace

(b) Jesus Promised. By Tim Carpenter

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power. By Andraé Crouch

(b) Healing. By Richard Smallwood

(c) Sweet, Sweet Spirit. By Doris Akers

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Lord, You’re Holy. By Eddie James

(b) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks

(c) There Is No Way. By Percy J. Bady

(d) Even Me. By Z. R. McEachen

(e) Fight On. By Kevin Davidson

(f) Be Blessed. By Kurt Carr

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Holy Thou Art Holy. By David Frazier

(b) Calling My Name. By Jules Bartholomew

(c) I’m Yours. By Joe B. Reed

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Emmanuel, Emmanuel. By Bob McGee

(b) God Be with You. By Thomas A. Dorsey

(c) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany or Responsive Reading
(a) Love.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #31. Used with permission.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Here Am I. By Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #466

(b) Koinonia. By V. Michael McKay
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #579

(c) Look and Live. By William A. Ogden
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #503

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. Nashville, TN: The African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2000. #215

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. #428

(d) More Love to Thee, O Christ. By Elizabeth Prentiss. Tune by William Doane
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #575

American Methodist Episcopal Church Bicentennial Hymnal. Nashville, TN: The African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1983. #460

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #362

(e) No Not One. By Johnson Oatman Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #308

Yes, Lord, Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #221

(f) See My Hands and Feet. By Mary Louise Bringle. Tune, (ABBOT’S LEIGH), by Cyril Taylor
Location:
Abbington, W. James, ed. New Wine in Old Wineskins: A Contemporary Congregational Song Supplement. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2007. #49

(g) The Healer. By Lois Irwin
Location:
Melodies of Praise. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1957. #181

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand. Arr. by Hezekiah Brinson, Jr.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #150

(b) His Yoke Is Easy. By Paul S. Morton
Location:
Blackberry Collection, Vol. 1. Jackson, MS: Blackberry Records, 1999.

(c) What a Mighty God We Serve. By T.D. Jakes
Location:
Woman, Thou Art Loosed. Mobile, AL: Integrity Media Inc., 1997.

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) I Am God. By Danny Graham and Donald Lawrence
Location:
Lawrence, Donald and the Tri-City Singers. Bible Stories. Detroit, MI: Crystal Rose Productions, 1995.

(b) Expect the Great. By Darien Dennis, Kenneth Shelton, and Jonathan Nelson
Location:
Nelson, Jonathan. Better Days. Mobile, AL: Integrity Music, 2010.

(c) Mighty Long Way. By Joe Pace
Location:
Pace, Joseph II. Mighty Long Way. New York, NY: Sony Music Distribution, 2006.

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Psalm 8. By Richard Smallwood
Location:
Smallwood, Richard and Vision. Persuaded: Live in D.C. New York, NY: Verity Records, 2001.

(b) There Is a King in You. By Donald Lawrence
Location:
Lawrence, Donald and Company: The Law of Confession, Part 1. New York, NY: Verity Records, 2009.

(c) He Wants It All. By Dominique Jones
Location:
Forever Jones. Get Ready. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2010.

6. Anthems
(a) In Bright Mansions. Arr. by Roland Carter
Location:
The Fisk Jubilee Singers. In Bright Mansions. Nashville, TN: Curb Records, 2003.

(b) Someday (Beams of Heaven). By Charles Tindley. Arr. by Nathan Carter
Location:
African American Church Music Series. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2003. #G-6023

Beams of Heaven: Hymns of Charles Albert Tindley. General Board of Global
Ministries: The United Methodist Church. New York, NY: GBGMusik, 2006. #11

(c) In the Beauty of Your Holiness. By Cindy Berry
Location:
Pine Forge Academy Choir. Rock in a Weary Land. Pine Forge, PA: Pine Forge Academy Choir, 2007.

7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2010)
(a) He’s Able. By Deitrick Haddon
Location:
Together in Worship. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscot Records, LLC, 2007.

(b) Give Him Glory. By Myron Williams
Location:
Thankful. Dallas, TX: Flow Records, 2010.

(c) Lord You’re Mighty. By JJ Hairston
Location:
Youthful Praise Featuring JJ Hairston. Resting on His Promises. Nashville, TN: Light Records, 2009.

(d) The Great I Am. By Earnest Pugh
Location:
Live: Rain on Us. Maple Grove, MN: Worldwide Music, 2009.

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Running Over. By Joe Pace
Location:
Joe Pace Presents: Sunday Morning Service. Mobile, AL: Integrity Media Inc., 2004.

(b) Jesus Promised. By Tim Carpenter
Location:
Chicago Mass Choir. Project Praise: Live in Atlanta. Nashville, TN: New Haven Records LLC, 2005.

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power. By Andraé Crouch
Location:
Andraé Crouch [EP]. Nashville, TN: Light Records, 2007.

(b) Healing. By Richard Smallwood
Location:
Smallwood, Richard and Vision. Healing: Live in Detroit. New York, NY: Verity Records, 1999.

(c) Sweet, Sweet Spirit. By Doris Akers
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #326

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Lord, You’re Holy. By Eddie James
Location:
Mississippi Mass Choir. Amazing Love. Jackson, MS: Malaco Inc., 2002.

(b) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks
Location:
Brunson, Rev. Milton & Thompson Community Singers. 50 Blessed Years. Nashville, TN: Word Distribution, 1998.

(c) There Is No Way. By Percy J. Bady
Location:
Dillard, Ricky and New G. Unplugged: The Way Church Used to Be. Detroit, MI: Crystal Rose Productions, 2004.

(d) Even Me. By Z. R. McEachen
Location:
Lundy, Patrick and the Minsters of Music. Standin’. Jacksonville, FL: Allen & Allen Music Group, 2003.

(e) Fight On. By Kevin Davidson
Location:
Davidson, Kevin and The Voices. Black Gospel Explosion, Vol. 3. Nashville, TN: New Haven Records LLC, 1998.

(f) Be Blessed. By Kurt Carr
Location:
Morton, Paul S. Still Standing. Kissimmee, FL: Tehillah Music Group, 2006.

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Holy Thou Art Holy. By David Frazier
Location:
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs, Vol. 3 Favor. Dallas, TX: God’s Music Inc., 2009.

(b) Calling My Name. By Jules Bartholomew
Location:
Walker, Pastor Hezekiah and the Love Fellowship Choir. Family Affair, Vol. 2: Live at Radio City Music Hall. New York, NY: Verity Records, 2002.

(c) I’m Yours. By Joe B. Reed
Location:
Reed’s Temple Choir. Keeps On Making a Way. Nashville, TN: New Haven Records LLC, 2002.

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Emmanuel, Emmanuel. By Bob McGee
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #189

(b) God Be with You. By Thomas A. Dorsey
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #639

(c) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier
Location:
Walker, Hezekiah and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Family Affair, Vol. 2: Live at Radio City Music Hall. New York, NY: Verity Records, 2004.