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MARTYR’S SUNDAY/ALL SAINTS DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Dilys Brooks, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Associate Chaplain of Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, and Executive Director, Center for Women Clergy at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI

Worship Planning Notes

Martyr’s Sunday/All Saints Day is a day on which the body of Christ celebrates and acknowledges that it has been edified by the lives and sacrifices of the saints of old. It also encourages us to think about the people who have made a difference to our faith journey (mothers, fathers, grandparents, Bible teachers, youth counselors, mentors or whoever introduced us to Jesus Christ, etc). Finally, on this day God is glorified for the faithfulness of the saints, but most of all for his faithfulness to the Christian community.

Be sure to use pictures and images that represent martyrdom for your church members. This Sunday is a great teaching moment for children and adults. Use this opportunity to introduce them to well-known and little known martyrs from your church, state and beyond. Your church bulletin/order of worship can become a mini-history pamphlet for this Sunday. Teach African American history throughout the year not just during Black History Month.

Use this occasion to have children and youth prepare stories (written and via use of videos) about African American martyrs, especially women, and have them tell why these martyrs are important to them and to the world. There may be video offerings from your youth that you want to post on YouTube and Facebook.

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

(a) Invocation

Creator God, we have gathered today in worship to say thank you. Thank you for your mercy, grace, patience, and love that covers us and keeps us while we live for you daily. Today we especially say thank you for the ministry of the saints who have gone before us. We thank you for all martyred saints. We count it a privilege that you shared their lives with us. Merciful God, accept up our worship we pray, as we join with the great cloud of witnesses in declaring that you are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are Yahweh, the ever-existing one, and we give you all the praise honor and glory. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

(b) Call to Worship

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in holy array.
Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no God besides You.”
As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
O fear the LORD, you His saints;
for to those who fear Him there is no want.
Ascribe to the LORD, O saints of the mighty,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength,
for the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and
possess the kingdom forever,
for all ages to come.

(c) Responsive Reading

Reader:	Eternal God, make us this day to remember the unseen cloud of witnesses who compass us about: Those who in every age and generation witnessed to their faith in life and in death;
People:	Those who by their courage and their sacrifice won for us the freedom and the liberty we enjoy; Those who served their fellow men at the cost of pain, of persecution, and of death;
Reader:	Those for whom all the trumpets sounded as they passed over to the other side; Those whom we have loved and who have gone to be with you, and whose names are written on our hearts.
People:	Help us to walk worthily of those in whose unseen presence life is lived. Help us to have in our lives Their courage in danger; Their steadfastness in trial;
Reader:	Their perseverance in difficulty; Their loyalty when loyalty is costly; Their love which nothing can change; Their joy which nothing can take away.
People:	So grant to us in your good time to share with them the blessedness of your nearer presence, that we also may come to that life, where all the questions are answered; where ail the tears are wiped away:
Reader:	Where we shall meet again, never to be separated from them, those whom we have loved and lost awhile’. Where we shall be forever with our Lord.
People:	So grant to us in this life never to forget those who have gone before, so that in the life to come we may share their blessedness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All:	Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) We’ve Gathered to Pay Homage. By E.M. Gordon

(b) Rise Up O Men of God. By William P. Merrill Gordon

(c) To Worship, Work and Witness. By Henry Lyle Lambdin and George J. Webb

(d) God of Our Fathers. By Daniel C. Roberts

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Walk Together Children. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson Curenton

(b) Ain’t That Good News. By Robert J. Fryson

(c) In That Great Getting Up Morning. By Joseph Joubert

(d) Keep Your Lamps. Arr. by Andre Thomas

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) One Pure and Holy Passion. By Mark Altrogge

(b) Soon and Very Soon. By Andraé Crouch

(c) Absent from the Body/In the Presence of the King. By Donald Lawrence

(d) O How Wondrous. By John P. Kee

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) When the Saints Go to Worship. By Donald Lawrence

(b) To Live Is Christ. By Kirk Franklin

(c) What Do I Know. By Sara Groves

(d) Well Done. By Deitrick Haddon

6. Anthems
(a) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James W. Johnson

(b) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson

(c) Pleasant Are the Courts Above. By Henry F. Lyte

(d) We Are One. By Timothy Wright

7. Modern Songs (Written between 2000–2010)
(a) Let It Be Said of Us. By Steven Fry

(b) Stand Up. By Milton Carroll

(c) We Are Called to Be Saints. By Michael Lehr

(d) We Have Overcome. By Israel Houghton

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) When the Saints Go Marching In. Arr. by Stephen Key

(b) Walking Up the King’s Highway. By Mary Gardner and Thomas A. Dorsey

(c) We Are Marching in the Light of God (Si Ahamba). Arr. by Anders Nyberg

(d) We’ll Understand It Better By and By. By Charles Albert Tindley

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Prayer of the Saints. By Matt Redman

(b) Lord Make Me More Holy. By Roland M. Carter

(c) Precious Memories. By Roberta Martin and Mrs. Georgia Jones. Arr. by Joseph Joubert

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Find Us Faithful. By Steve Green

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

(c) Beautiful Feet. By Donald Lawrence

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Can the World See Jesus in Me? By Leila N. Morris

(b) Lord I Want to Be a Christian in My Heart. By John W. Work and Fredrick J. Work

(c) I Give Myself Away. By William McDowell

(d) Called to Be. By Jonathan Nelson

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus. By George Duffield Jr.

(b) For All the Saints. By William W. How

(c) As You Go, Tell the World. Arr. by Valeria Foster

(d) God Be with You ‘Til We Meet Again. By Charlene Moore-Cooper

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Music Listed

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, Invocation or Call to Worship
(a) Invocation. By Dilys Brooks

(b) Call to Worship
Location:
(c) Responsive Reading based on Psalm 16:1-3, Psalm 34:9, Psalm 29:1 and 1 Chronicles 16:29

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) We’ve Gathered to Pay Homage. By E.M. Gordon
Location:
(b) Rise Up O Men of God. By William P. Merrill
Location:
(c) To Worship, Work and Witness. By Henry Lyle Lambdin and George J. Webb
Location:
(d) God of Our Fathers. By Daniel C. Roberts
Location:
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Walk Together Children. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson Curenton
Location:
(b) Ain’t That Good News. By Robert J. Fryson
Location:
(c) In That Great Getting Up Morning. By Joseph Joubert
Location:
(d) Keep Your Lamps. Arr. by Andre Thomas
Location:

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) One Pure and Holy Passion. By Mark Altrogge
Location:
(b) Soon and Very Soon. By Andraé Crouch
Location:
(c) Absent from the Body/In the Presence of the King. By Donald Lawrence 
Location:
(d) O How Wondrous. By John P. Kee
Location:
5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) When the Saints Go to Worship. By Donald Lawrence
Location:
(b) To Live Is Christ. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
(c) What Do I Know. By Sara Groves
Location:
(d) Well Done. By Deitrick Haddon
Location:
6. Anthems
(a) Lift Every Voice and Sing. By James W. Johnson
Location:
(b) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson
Location:
(c) Pleasant Are the Courts Above. By Henry F. Lyte
Location:
(d) We Are One. By Timothy Wright
Location:
7. Modern Songs (Written between 2000–2010)
(a) Let It Be Said of Us. By Steven Fry
Location:
(b) Stand Up. By Milton Carroll
Location:
(c) We Are Called to Be Saints. By Michael Lehr
Location:
(d) We Have Overcome. By Israel Houghton
Location:
8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) When the Saints Go Marching In. Arr. by Stephen Key
Location:
(b) Walking Up the King’s Highway. By Mary Gardner and Thomas A. Dorsey
Location:
(c) We Are Marching in the Light of God (Si Ahamba). Arr. by Anders Nyberg
Location:
(d) We’ll Understand It Better By and By. By Charles Albert Tindley
Location:
9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Prayer of the Saints. By Matt Redman
Location:
(b) Lord Make Me More Holy. By Roland M. Carter
Location:
(c) Precious Memories. By Roberta Martin and Mrs. Georgia Jones. Arr. by Joseph Joubert
Location:
10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Find Us Faithful. By Steve Green
Location:
(b) Take My Life and Let It Be. By Francis Havergal
Location:
(c) Beautiful Feet. By Donald Lawrence
Location:
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Can the World See Jesus in Me? By Leila N. Morris
Location:
(b) Lord, I Want to Be a Christian in My Heart. By John W. Work and Fredrick J. Work
Location:
(c) I Give Myself Away. By William McDowell
Location:
(d) Called to Be. By Jonathan Nelson
Location:
12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus. By George Duffield and George Webb
Location:
(b) For All the Saints. By William W. How
Location:
(c) As You Go, Tell the World. Arr. by Valeria Foster
Location:
(d) God Be with You ‘Til We Meet Again. By Charlene Moore-Cooper
Location:

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