The African American Lectionary

Worship Resources

JESUS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE SUNDAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Stirling Culp, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Adjunct Professor of Music, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL

Worship Planning Notes
This Sunday is an opportunity for your Social Justice Ministries to lead in worship. If you do not have Social Justice Ministries, perhaps this day can serve as their inaugural ceremony, since they are greatly needed, and the social issues they address are ones your congregation will readily understand and issues by which they may even have been affected. The focus of this service is to encourage persons to become greater advocates against the systemic evils that continue to perpetuate poverty, and all of the associated pain and suffering that attend it. Images that will assist in this worship service are plentiful on the web. Be sure to use them on bulletins and screens. However, be sure that the service is not simply for persons to vent their anger and frustration, or to just show empathy. Instead, create an empowerment service that moves congregants to take concrete steps to ensure that there is less economic injustice in the world.

1. Litany

Economic Justice

Leader:	In times like these we need a Savior. Be sure. Be very, very sure that in harsh economic times, and at all times, that your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock. For it is this Rock that sees and knows all. It is this Rock that favors the poor and will deal harshly with those who harm them.
Congregation:	I stand with Jesus for the poor and the marginalized in my neighborhood, throughout America and throughout the world.
Leader:	God, forgive us for all of the ways that we help to impoverish others. Forgive us for our gluttony. Forgive us for our silence when the poor are trampled upon. Forgive us.
Congregation:	I stand with Jesus and the poor and the marginalized in my neighborhood, throughout America and throughout the world.
Leader:	We pray for those who are too blind to see the pain and poverty caused by their business and political decisions. We confront in the spirit of the prophets those who ignore the cries of the least of these. No more!
Congregation:	I stand with Jesus and the poor and the marginalized in my neighborhood, throughout America and throughout the world.
Leader:	God, help us to be more like Jesus. Loose the shackles from our minds that bind us to materialism, that allow us to close our eyes when political and social decisions are made that harm the poor.
Congregation:	I stand with Jesus and the poor and the marginalized in my neighborhood, throughout America and throughout the world.
Leader:	We shall not be afraid to picket corporations, to speak truth to power, to write a letter to make a call to help loosen the grip that poverty has on the poor.
ALL	I say no to economic injustice on my watch. I will share with the poor. I will advocate for the poor. I will stand against those who dare harm the poor. I will be the economic change I want to see in the world. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Without God (I Could Do Nothing). Arr. by Kenneth Morris

(b) Something Within. By Lucy Campbell

(c) Trust and Obey. By John Sammis

3. Spirituals
(a) Fix Me Jesus.

(b) I Want Jesus to Walk with Me.

4. Modern Songs
(a) All Because of Jesus. By Andraé Crouch

(b) Friend of God. By Israel and New Breed

(c) My Help. By Beverly Bam Crawford

(d) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier and Hezekiah Walker

5. Congregational Songs
(a) We All Need Each Other. By Danniebelle Hall

(b) Heal the Land. By Vincent Gray

(c) Blest Be the Tie That Binds. By John Fawcett

(d) There’s No Me, There’s No You. By Evelyn Reynolds

(e) We Are One. By Timothy Wright

6. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) God Is Here. By Martha Munizzi

(b) Sweet, Sweet Spirit. By Doris Akers

7. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Nearer My God to Thee. By Sarah Adams

(b) We Need Love. By Donnie McClurkin

8. Liturgical Dance or Mime Group Music
(a) If I Can Help Somebody. By A. B. Androzzo

(b) If Everybody Was Like Jesus. By Milton Brunson

(c) I See a World. By Donnie McClurkin

9. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Song
(a) Softly and Tenderly. By Will Thompson

Instrumental
(b) No Man Is an Island. By John Doone

10. Benediction Song
(a) The Lord Bless You and Keep You. By Peter Lutkin

(b) Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand). By Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson

(c) Get Up My Brother. By Shirley Caesar

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany - Economic Justice written by Martha Simmons, Director, The African American Lectionary.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Without God (I Could Do Nothing). Arr. by Kenneth Morris
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #515

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #320

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. #478

(b) Something Within. By Lucy Campbell
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #493

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #320

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #454

African American Heritage Hymnal. #380

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal Official Hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Charlotte, NC: A.M.E. Zion Pub. House, 1996. #193

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #171

3. Spirituals
(a) Fix Me Jesus.
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #436

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #122

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #279

(b) I Want Jesus to Walk with Me.
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #563

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #95

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #503

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #381

4. Modern Songs
(a) All Because of Jesus. By Andraé Crouch
Location:

Crouch, Andraé, Crystal Lewis, Marvin Winans, Karen Clark-Sheard, and Fred Hammond. Mighty Wind. New York, NY: Verity, 2006.

(b) Friend of God. By Israel and New Breed
Location:

Live from Another Level. New York: Integrity Records, 2004.

The King Is Coming Any Day. New York, NY: Harmony Records, 1997.

(d) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier and Hezekiah Walker
Location:

Walker, Hezekiah. Family Affair II Live at Radio City Music Hall. New York, NY: Zomba Recording Corp, 2002.

5. Congregational Songs
(a) We All Need Each Other. By Danniebelle Hall
Location:

Remembering the Times. Brandwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2001.

Online location: www.emicmg.com

(b) Heal the Land. By Vincent Gray
Location:

New Direction. Rain. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric Records, 2004.

African American Heritage Hymnal. #341

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #527

(d) There’s No Me, There’s No You. By Evelyn Reynolds
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #619

(e) We Are One. By Timothy Wright
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #323

6. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) God Is Here. By Martha Munizzi
Location:

Munizzi, Martha and Jon Swearingen. The Best Is Yet to Come. New York, NY: Integrity Music, 2003.

(b) Sweet, Sweet Spirit. By Doris Akers
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #326

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #123

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #192

See a brief bio on Doris Akers, who was honored by the Smithsonian Institute, at: The African American Registry: a resource on African American History http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/doris-akers-american-gospel-composer-and-vocalist. accessed 19 December 2007

7. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Nearer My God to Thee. By Sarah Adams
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #163

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #283

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #168

(b) We Need Love. By Donnie McClurkin
Location:

McClurkin Project. The McClurkin Project. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 1999.

8. Liturgical Dance or Mime Group Music
(a) If I Can Help Somebody. By A. B. Androzzo
Location:

Jackson, Mahalia The Essential Mahalia Jackson. New York, NY: Legacy/Columbia, 2004.

(b) If Everybody Was Like Jesus. By Milton Brunson
Location:

If Everyone Was Like Jesus. Minneapolis, MN: Liquid 8 Records/Roadshow Music, 2002.

The Collection. Jackson, MS: Savoy Records, 2001.

9. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Song
(a) Softly and Tenderly. By Will Thompson
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #347

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #150

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #282

Instrumental
(b) No Man Is an Island. By John Doone
Location:

Brunson, Milton. I Thank God. Minneapolis, MN: Liquid 8 Records/Roadshow Music, 2002.

10. Benediction Song
(a) The Lord Bless You and Keep You. By Peter Lutkin
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #536

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #464

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #228

(b) Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand). By Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson
Location:

Mills, Stephanie and Maya Angelou, et al. Church Songs of Soul & Inspiration. Universal City, CA: UTV Records, 2003.

Brunson, Milton. If Everyone Was Like Jesus. Minneapolis, MN: Liquid 8 Records/Roadshow Music, 2002.