The African American Lectionary

Worship Resources

YOUTH DAY
(YOUTH AND SEX)

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Nolan Williams, Jr., Lectionary Team Liturgist

Lection Scripture - Proverbs 5:1-2, 12-23 (emphasize 12-14) (New Revised Standard Version)

1. Invocation
Lord, we present our youth to you today. Help them see and shun the pitfalls of sexual impurity. Show its face for what it really is—sin. Show its consequences for what it can produce unhappiness, unwed mothers and fathers, and children born out of wedlock. Show its mirror for what it can reflect—dreams deferred, low self-esteem, and shame. Show its wounds for the health risks it brings—sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and AIDS. Give all youth a heart for you and your ways. Help them to esteem discipline and to listen to wise counsel. May they remember that their bodies are your temples; and may they present their desires and bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto you. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Give of Your Best to the Master. By Howard B. Grose. Tune by Charlotte A. Barnard

(b) I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. Text ascribed to an Indian prince, as sung in Garo, Assam. Tune, (ASSAM).

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Glory, Glory, Hallelujah.

(b) Old Time Religion.

4. Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) A Move of God Is on the Way. By Norman Hutchins and Jason White

(b) Be Sure. By Paul Allen, Karen Clark Sheard, and James Moss

(c) We Are Victorious. By Jerome Clark

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Group Music
(a) I Will Give You the Praise. By JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise

(b) My Body. By Trin-I-Tee 5:7

(c) Praise Him in Advance. By Deon Kipping and Marvin Sapp

(d) Psalm 150. By Paul D. Allen and J. Moss

6. Modern Songs
(a) Chosen Generation. By Martha Munizzi

(b) Everything Is Changed. By JJ Hairston and Kenneth Moales, Jr.

(c) I Really Love You. By Norman Hutchins

(d) Save Me. By Erica Atkins-Campbell, Trecina Atkins-Campbell, Warryn Campbell, Nisan Stewart, and Fred Hammond

(e) Set Me Free. By Myron Butler & Levi

(f) Wrong Things. By Kierra Sheard

(g) Lover of My Soul. By John Jackson and L. Spencer Smith

7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) I Give You My Heart. By Derrick Horne

(b) I Got a Praise (Holy One). By Deitrick Haddon

(c) Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary. By Charles E. Blake

(d) Stronger. By Myron Butler and John Webb

(e) We Love You (The Live Remix). By Paul Allen, Byron Cage, and J. Moss

(f) You Don’t Know. By LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, Danny Nixon, and Delisha Thomas

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

(b) We Are an Offering. By Fred Hammond

9. Sermonic Selection
(a) Everything Part I, Part II. By Tye Tribett

(b) Everything Is Changed. By Youthful Praise

(c) In Awe of You. By Derek Triplett

(d) Me Again. By J. Moss

10. Invitational Song
You Didn’t Let Me Fall [Thank You]. By Barry Ginyard and Deitrick Haddon

11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Always Remember. By Andraé Crouch

12. Audio Visual Suggestion
Find images that reflect youth culture today.

13. Other Recommendations
(a) Have the pastor or youth ministry leader conduct a Ring Ceremony of Commitment to Purity which includes parents and youths. This can occur at the close, or in the middle, of your worship service. See the sample litany following. Note: As part of this ceremony, your church may choose to include jewelry options, or non-jewelry options, as tokens from parents to youths. See #13(a) under “Cites and Additional information for Music and Material Listed” for information.

We Commit to God and Each Other

Minister:	This is a moment of reverence and celebration. You are about to commit to something that you will never regret. We commend you for your choice.
Students:	Because I believe that God has a plan for my life, I choose to make this choice.
Parents:	We commit our support and love to you as you take this stand.
Adults:	We promise to stand with you as you seek to follow God’s formula for success.
Students:	Right now I commit to remaining sexually pure from this day until my wedding day.
Minister:	The choice you have made is not an easy choice. But it is the very best choice. I will make a commitment to pray for you.
Parents:	When you are faced daily with new challenges, temptations, and responsibilities, we will listen and do everything we can so that you can make this commitment a reality.
Students:	I commit my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Christ, which is an act of worship.
All:	We also commit our bodies to Christ.
Students:	Whatever things are true, whatever things are pure
Parents:	Whatever is noble
Students:	Whatever is lovely
All:	Whatever is admirable
Students:	Whatever is worthy of praise,
All:	We commit ourselves to these things.
Students:	We, as students, commit ourselves to watch out for each other, and turn away from anything that would intentionally or unintentionally lead each other away from our commitment to wait.
Male Students:	In the plans we make
Female Students:	In the way we choose to dress
Male Students:	In our conversation
Female Students:	In how we spend our time
All Students:	We commit to this goal of purity and abstinence before marriage.
Minister:	Sex is an incredible gift within the marriage covenant but it destroys the lives of those outside God’s plan.
All:	We as the body of Christ commit to God’s foolproof plan and the exciting future that we hold in our hands.
Minister:	Amen.

(b) Youth may also develop and present a drama on sexual purity to be incorporated into the service. See #13 (b) under “Cites and Additional information for Music and Material Listed" for sample. Two Sides: Same Story, a free script by Matt Tullos, is a dramatic portrayal that is a duet monologue. Both characters speak to the audience as if the other character is not present. It can be done as a reading which would allow students to use scripts inside black folders. Even if used as a reading, spend an adequate amount of time rehearsing the material! Be sure that your pastor and/or youth minister review all materials before they are used. Materials may need to be altered for your congregation.

(c) Your church can host a Youth Bible Study — What Does It Mean to be Holy? — one evening during the week prior to your Youth Service, or this study can be held during Youth Sunday School. Be sure that your pastor and/or youth minister review all materials before they are used. Materials may need to be altered for your congregation.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Invocation - written by Michelle Riley Jones, Washington, D.C.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Give of Your Best to the Master. By Howard B. Grose. Tune by Charlotte A. Barnard
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #465

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. #369

(b) I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. Text ascribed to an Indian prince, as sung in Garo, Assam. Tune, (ASSAM).
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #400

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. #14

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #231

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #41

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #484

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Glory, Glory, Hallelujah.
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #500

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #290

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #31

(b) Old Time Religion.
Location:

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #622

The New National Baptist 21st Century Edition. #151

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #488

4. Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) A Move of God Is on the Way. By Norman Hutchins and Jason White
Location:

Hutchins, Norman. Where I Long to Be. Los Angeles, CA: JDI Records, 2006.

(b) Be Sure. By Paul Allen, Karen Clark Sheard, and James Moss
Location:

Clark Sheard, Karen. 2nd Chance. New York, NY: Elektra, 2002.

We Are Victorious. Prospect Records (INDIE), 2006.

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Group Music
(a) I Will Give You the Praise. By JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise
Location:

Exalted—Live In Baltimore. Nashville, TN: Evidence Gospel, 2007.

(b) My Body. By Trin-I-Tee 5:7
Location:

Trin-I-Tee 5:7, Kirk Franklin, Crystal Lewis, and Tramaine. Holla: The Best of Trin-I-Tee 5:7. New York, NY: Gospocentric/Legacy, 2007.

Sapp, Marvin. Thirsty. New York, NY: Zomba, 2007.

(d) Psalm 150. By Paul D. Allen and J. Moss
Location:

The J. Moss Project. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 2004.

6. Modern Songs
(a) Chosen Generation. By Martha Munizzi
Location:

Munizzi, Martha. No Limits-- Live. New York, NY: Integrity/Columbia, 2006.

(b) Everything Is Changed. By JJ Hairston and Kenneth Moales, Jr.
Location:

Youthful Praise, and JJ Hairston. Exalted-- Live in Baltimore. Nashville, TN: Evidence Gospel, 2007.

Where I Long to Be. Los Angeles CA: JDI Records, 2006.

(d) Save Me. By Erica Atkins-Campbell, Trecina Atkins-Campbell, Warryn Campbell, Nisan Stewart, and Fred Hammond
Location:

Mary Mary, Warryn Campbell, and Kirk Franklin. Mary Mary. New York, NY: Sony Urban Music/Columbia, 2005.

(e) Set Me Free. By Myron Butler & Levi
Location:

Set Me Free. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2005.

(f) Wrong Things. By Kierra Sheard
Location:

This Is Me. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2006.

(g) Lover of My Soul. By John Jackson and L. Spencer Smith
Location:

Smith, L. Spencer. Statement: The Assignment Continues--. Fleming Island, FL: Emtro Gospel, 2006.

7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) I Give You My Heart. By Derrick Horne
Location:

My Purpose. New York, NY: Koch Entertainment, 2006.

(b) I Got a Praise (Holy One). By Deitrick Haddon
Location:

Haddon, Deitrick and Voices of Unity. Together in Worship. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscot Records, 2007.

West Angeles Church of God in Christ and Charles E. Blake. No Limit. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel Music, 2007.

(d) Stronger. By Myron Butler and John Webb
Location:

Stronger. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2007.

(e) We Love You (The Live Remix). By Paul Allen, Byron Cage, and J. Moss
Location:

Moss, J., Marvin L. Winans, and Byron Cage. V2--. New York, NY: Sony/BMG Music Entertainment, 2007.

(f) You Don’t Know. By LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, Danny Nixon, and Delisha Thomas
Location:

Sheard, Kierra. Double Take - Kierra Kiki Sheard. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2006.

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

Sheard, Kierra. Amazing Grace (Music Inspired by the Motion Picture). Brentwood, TN: Sparrow Records, 2007.

(b) We Are an Offering. By Fred Hammond
Location:

Radical for Christ. Praise in the House. Mobile, AL: Hosanna/Integrity, 1996.

9. Sermonic Selection
(a) Everything Part I, Part II. By Tye Tribbett
Location:

Life. New York, NY: Sony, 2004.

(b) Everything Is Changed. By Youthful Praise
Location:

Youthful Praise, and JJ Hairston. Exalted-- Live in Baltimore. Nashville, TN: Evidence Gospel, 2007.

In Awe of You. New York, NY: Koch Records, 2006.

(d) Me Again. By J. Moss
Location:

The J. Moss Project. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 2004.

10. Invitational Song or Instrumental
You Didn’t Let Me Fall [Thank You]. By Barry Ginyard and Deitrick Haddon
Location:

Deitrick Haddon, and Voices of Unity. Super Natural. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscot, 2001.

11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Always Remember. By Andraé Crouch
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #640

12. Audio Visual Suggestion - See number 12 above.

13. Other Recommendations
All resources available free from Lifeway Ministries.
(a) Ring Ceremony: www.lifeway.com/tlw/leaders/ring_ceremony.asp

Jewelry and Non-Jewelry options
Location:

Lifeway Ministries provides various samples for jewelry and apparel options.
www.lifeway.com/tlw/products.asp

Other options include silicone wristbands, which may be customized with any message.

T-shirts may be customized using some combination of the church’s name, logo, and the youth group’s name or its abbreviation.

(b) Drama Script: www.lifeway.com/tlw/leaders/tools_drama.asp

(c) Youth Bible Study: www.lifeway.com/tlw/leaders/tools_studies.asp