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MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT SUNDAY

WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Robert Heath, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
residing in Chelsea, MA

Worship Planning Notes

This Sunday’s focus is on acts that will enrich marriages and the celebration of the sacred ritual of marriage. As part of celebrating the sacred bond of marriage today, the Worship and Arts departments of churches are charged to set an environment of worship with marriage as the backdrop. Be intentional to sing songs that concern marriage and family as God is lifted and praised. God honors marriage and family, so by your doing so on this Sunday, God is pleased.

Do not fail to make your service truly memorable by engaging in activities (some are suggested below at #12 and #13), and more are included in today’s cultural resource unit.

1. Invocation, Litany, or Congregational Reading
Prelude or Processional Music
Couples can process in during this music.

(a) Love. By John Stoddart. This selection is a piano solo.

Litany
(b) Litany for Married Couples
The married couples in the congregation should be seated in one section. For the litany, they are to stand together where they are seated and recite the litany. 

Husbands:	“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Pastor:	But I want you to know and realize that Christ is the Head of every man, and the Head of Christ is God … he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man (1 Corinthians 11:3a, 7).
Wives:	(Say husband’s name here), how handsome you are, my love! Oh, how  charming! My lover is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His arms are rods of gold. His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. This is my lover, this is my friend (Song of Solomon 1:17; 5:10, 14-16).
Husbands:	(Say wife’s name here), how beautiful you are, my darling. Oh, how  beautiful! Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens. Other queens there may be but my dove, my perfect one, is unique. Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman’s hands. Your neck is like an ivory tower, your eyes are the pools of Heshbon. Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry (Song of Solomon 1:16; 2:2; 6:9, 7:1, 4-5).
Pastor:	Place her, place him, like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it should be utterly scorned (Song of Solomon 8:6-7).
Both Spouses:	In the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God (1 Corinthians 11:8-9, 11-12).
Pastor:	Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Ephesians 4:31-32; Proverbs 3:5-6).
Husband:	Come with me from Lebanon, my bride. You have stolen my heart, my bride (Song of Solomon 4:8).
Pastor:	Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [You are] no longer two people, but one. And no one should separate what God has joined together” (John 13:34; Matthew 19:6).
Both Spouses:	My lover is mine and I am his/hers. As for [our] house, we will serve the Lord (Song of Solomon 2:16; Joshua 24:15).

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Oh to Be Kept. By Thurston Frazier

(b) Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary. By John Thompson and Randy Scruggs

(c) Sanctify Me. By V. Michael McKay

(d) I Would Be True. By Howard A. Walter. Tune, (PEEK), by Joseph Y. Peek

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Let Us Break Bread Together. Traditional. This selection could be done as a duet for male and female voices. It is also suitable as a prayer invitation for couples.

(b) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Traditional

4. Modern Songs
(a) We Wait. By Wesley Tuttle

(b) Pour My Love on You. By Juanita Bynum

(c) One Night with the King. By Jeannie Tenney

(d) Souled Out. By Estee Bullock and Nate McNair

(e) God Favored Me. By Jules Barthowlomew

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Love U with the Rest of My Life. By Fred Hammond

6. Anthems
(a) Striving after God. By Michaelangelo. Arr. by Undine Smith-Moore. For SATB
Audio Sample: http://www.giamusic/mp3s/6413.mp3

(b) Let’s Have a Union. By Salone Clarey. For SATB a capella

7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Still in Love. By Kirk Franklin

(b) When God Gave Me You. By T. D. Jakes and Darin Whittington

(c) We Magnify Your Name. By Richard Smallwood

(d) The Bridegroom Cometh. By Carl White, Jr.

(e) I’m Yours Lord. By Ethel Holloway

8. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Lord’s Prayer. By Albert Hay Malotte
for soprano voice:
for tenor voice:

(b) We Are One. By Peter Scholtes and Walt Whitman

(c) We Are One. By Timothy Wright. Arr. by Valeria Foster

(d) Make Us One. By Phillip Bailey

(e) Family. By Donald Lawrence

(f) Kept by God. By DeAndre Patterson

(g) More of Thee. By Tammi Haddon

(h) Lord, I Lift Her to Thee. By T. D. Jakes, Donald Lawrence, and Daniel Weatherspoon

(i) God Can. By Shawn Allen and James Fortune

(j) My Soul Seeks to Please Him. Traditional. This selection could be used as a prayer response.

(k) Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us. By Dorothy A. Thrupp. Tune, (BRADBURY), by William B. Bradbury

9. Sermonic Selection
(a) See Us Through. Writer Unknown

(b) More Than Wonderful. By Lanny Wolfe

(c) Flesh of My Flesh. By Leon Patillo

(d) Because You Loved Me. By Diane Warren. This is an instrumental gospel arrangement of a pop classic.

(e) The Things We Do. By Robin Scoffield and Keith Thomas

(f) This Love Won’t Fail. By Raina Bundy and Skip Scarborough

(g) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks

10. Invitational Song
(a) Jesus Is Love. By Lionel Ritchie

(b) So Easy to Love You. By Donald Clay and Michael Grungor

(c) We Need You Lord. By Jonathan Butler

11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) May the Lord God Be with You. By Terry Baker and Simeon Baker

(b) Falling in Love with Jesus. By Jonathan Butler. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.

(c) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Traditional. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.

(d) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. By Johann Sebastian Bach. Arr. by Myra Hess. This selection can be a piano solo and is also appropriate for processional or recessional.

12. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) See today’s cultural resource unit for numerous ideas that you can implement on Marriage Enrichment Sunday.

(b) Display wedding pictures of members in a highly visible area, such as the church foyer. Identify each person in the photos and include dates of marriages.

13. Other Recommendations 
(a) Hold month-long classes and seminars on “Strengthening Marriages.” Have teachers and speakers give particular attention to “marriage killers” such as: failure to show empathy for your partner; inadequate finances and the inability to budget; failure to share household responsibilities; not knowing how to argue in healthy ways; not knowing how to encourage your partner toward success; and not knowing how to rear healthy children.

(b) Congregation and clergy can surround the couple in a prayer circle during the Period of Prayer or near the end of the service. 

(c) Honor members of your extended family, church family, or community whose marriages have had an impact on your life. Write a note of appreciation to persons whose marriages have inspired you. Send those notes out in March.

(d) Encourage your pastor to incorporate the renewal of wedding vows into the liturgy for all married couples in attendance. Inform members and invite guests 2–3 weeks in advance.

(e) Organize “couple” events such as bake sales, garage/yard sales, and car washes to raise money for charities—all in celebration of Marriage Enrichment. Donate monies raised to groups that aid families.

(f) Organize a couples bowling, skating party, picnic, or some other event that will allow the married couples in your church to come together. These events could precede or follow the Marriage Enrichment Service.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Invocation, Litany, or Congregational Reading

Prelude or Processional Music
(a) Love. By John Stoddart. This selection is a piano solo.
Location:
Litany
(b) Litany for Married Couples. By Michelle Riley Jones, African American Lectionary Team Liturgist.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Oh to Be Kept. By Thurston Frazier
Location:
(b) Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary. By John Thompson and Randy Scruggs
Location:
(c) Sanctify Me. By V. Michael McKay
Location:
(d) I Would Be True. By Howard A. Walter. Tune, (PEEK), by Joseph Y. Peek
Location:
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Let Us Break Bread Together. Traditional. This selection could be done as a duet for male and female voices. It is also suitable as a prayer invitation for couples.
Location:
(b) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Traditional
Location:
4. Modern Songs
(a) We Wait. By Wesley Tuttle
Location:
(b) Pour My Love on You. By Juanita Bynum
Location:
(c) One Night with the King. By Jeannie Tenney
Location:
(d) Souled Out. By Estee Bullock and Nate McNair
Location:
(e) God Favored Me. By Jules Barthowlomew
Location:
5. Liturgical Dance Music
Love U with the Rest of My Life. By Fred Hammond
Location:
6. Anthems
(a) Striving after God. By Michaelangelo. Arr. by Undine Smith-Moore. For SATB
Location:
(b) Let’s Have a Union. By Salone Clarey. For SATB a capella
Location:
7. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Still in Love. By Kirk Franklin
Location:
(b) When God Gave Me You. By T. D. Jakes and Darin Whittington
Location:
(c) We Magnify Your Name. By Richard Smallwood
Location:
(d) The Bridegroom Cometh. By Carl White, Jr.
Location:
(e) I’m Yours Lord. By Ethel Holloway
Location:
8. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Lord’s Prayer. By Albert Hay Malotte
Location:
(b) We Are One. By Peter Scholtes and Walt Whitman
Location:
(c) We Are One. By Timothy Wright. Arr. by Valeria Foster
Location:
(d) Make Us One. By Phillip Bailey
Location:
(e) Family. By Donald Lawrence
Location:
(f) Kept by God. By DeAndre Patterson
Location:
(g) More of Thee. By Tammi Haddon
Location:
(h) Lord, I Lift Her to Thee. By T. D. Jakes, Donald Lawrence, and Daniel Weatherspoon
Location:
(i) God Can. By Shawn Allen and James Fortune
Location:
(j) My Soul Seeks to Please Him. Traditional. This selection could be used as a prayer response.
Location:
(k) Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us. By Dorothy A. Thrupp. Tune, (BRADBURY), by William B. Bradbury
Location:
9. Sermonic Selection
(a) See Us Through. Writer Unknown
Location:
(b) More Than Wonderful. By Lanny Wolfe
Location:
(c) Flesh of My Flesh. By Leon Patillo
Location:
(d) Because You Loved Me. By Diane Warren. This is an instrumental gospel arrangement of a pop classic.
Location:
(e) The Things We Do. By Robin Scoffield and Keith Thomas
Location:
(f) This Love Won’t Fail. By Raina Bundy and Skip Scarborough
Location:
(g) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks
Location:
10. Invitational Song
(a) Jesus Is Love. By Lionel Ritchie
Location:
(b) So Easy to Love You. By Donald Clay and Michael Grungor
Location:
(c) We Need You Lord. By Jonathan Butler
Location:
11. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) May the Lord God Be with You. By Terry Baker and Simeon Baker
Location:
(b) Falling in Love with Jesus. By Jonathan Butler. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.
Location:
(c) Lord, Make Me More Holy. Spiritual. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.
Location:
(d) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. By Johann Sebastian Bach. Arr. by Myra Hess. This selection can be a piano solo and is also appropriate for processional or recessional.
Location:
12. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Suggestion obtained from the World Marriage Day
website: http://wmd.wwme.org/liturgies.html#Vows

13. Other Recommendations Ideas taken from Black Marriage Day website: http://www.blackmarriageday.com and from
World Marriage Day website: http://wmd.wwme.org/liturgies.html#Vows

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