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FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT/WORLD AIDS DAY

Sunday, December 2, 2012 (World AIDS Day is December 1, 2012)

Marcus D. Smith, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Music, Ark Church in Baltimore, Maryland

Worship Planning Notes

In our world, people are hurting all around us. People are hurting in our community, people are hurting in our families, people are hurting in workplaces, and people are hurting in our churches. People are experiencing hurt and pain on many different levels (physically, emotionally, psychologically, etc.). This day is designed, in large part, to focus on the people who are hurting physically, emotionally, and spiritually due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This day is also designed to help educate and inform our congregations and community about the epidemic. Our job is to love and do the will of God (Matthew 7:1; 1 John 4:20; Mark 12:31).

The selections listed below are organized to encourage, empower, and educate through song.

On the day proceeding December 1, 2012, partner with a local certified testing center and host an HIV/AIDS testing at your church/ministry. For information about the HIV/AIDS virus, please visit the following websites to educate yourself and congregation about the virus: Balm in Gilead: http://www.balmingilead.org/ and Centers of Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/.

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

Personal Prayer in the Midst of a Church Living with AIDS

There are brothers and sisters in my community who are in desperate need of healing—healing from the ravages of HIV and AIDS. We don’t even know who some of them are.

Some of them are us. Walls of silence keep us apart. Many are fearful to speak the words HIV and AIDS.

O God bring us all to a truly safe place filled with compassion and understanding. Bring us all to this place of safety that the Church may embody your spirit of protection and healing.

What part do I play?
Show me the way to make a difference.
Guide my hands to hold the first hand.
Open my heart to give and receive the first hug.
Remind me that you have chosen me. I can help.

God, awaken your spirit within me.
The Spirit refreshes the soul with serenity.
Your Spirit embodies the heart with courage.
Your Spirit charts our right course with wisdom.

Help me break down the walls of separation within our community. Help me build bridges of love and understanding. Help me sweep away the debris of the isms, phobias, broken connections, and shattered hopes.

Prepare my heart to prepare your way. Encourage me to think the first thought, to make the first sound, to speak the first words. Help me break the silence.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by William H. Doane

(b) I’m Happy with Jesus Alone. By Charles Prince Jones

(c) Come Thou Long Expectant Jesus. By Charles Wesley and Rowland Prichard

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen. By Fernando Allen

(b) Jesus Is Always Looking Out for Me. By James Cleveland

(c) I Want Jesus to Walk with Me. By Colin Lett

(d) Lord Keep Me Day by Day. By Eddie Williams

(e) There Is a Balm in Gilead. By William Dawson

(f) Give Me Jesus. Arr. by Larry Fleming

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) He’s Been So Good. By Carneal Overton

(b) Happy. By Tasha Cobbs

(c) Grace. By Tony Wilkins

(d) Holy Spirit, Rain Down. By Russell Frager

(e) There is a Balm. By E. Clark

(f) We’re Gonna Make It. By Timothy Wright

(g) Please Be Patient with Me. By Curtis Burrell

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) We Need the Lord. By Jonathan Butler

(b) Be Encouraged. By William Becton

(c) Are You Listening. By Kirk Franklin

6. Anthems
(a) We Are Surrounded. By J. Williams and J. Martin

(b) I Am His Child. By Moses Hogan

7. Modern Songs
(a) Are You Ready. Arr. by Kenneth Louis

(b) Healing. By Richard Smallwood

(c) God Made Me. By Jules Bartholomew

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) I Will Bless the Lord. By Butch Heyward

(b) Great Things. By Guy Robinson

(c) I’ve Got a Testimony. By Anthony Tidwell

(d) Keep Living. By Ricky Dillard

(e) How Much We Can Bear. By David Frazier

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Lord I Believe. By Percy Bady

(b) There’s a Blessing in This House. By Margaret Douroux

(c) Over and Over. By Paul Morton

(d) How Much We Can Bear. By Kirk Franklin

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) It Ain’t Over. By Maurette Brown Clark

(b) Be Healed. By Kevin Bond

(c) Keep Your Loving Arms around Me. By Percy Bady

(d) City Called Heaven. By Joesphine Poienlintz

(e) Stand. By Donnie McClurkin

(f) It’s Your Time. By Luther Barnes

(g) You Raise Me Up. By Josh Groban

(h) Even Me. By Michael Reid

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) I Surrender All. By Judson W. Van De Venter

(b) Father, Can You Hear Me. By Tyler Perry and Elvin Ross

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Always Remember Jesus. By Andraé Crouch

(b) Reach Out and Touch. By Lucille Pope

(c) Lord Make Us More Holy. Arr. by Roland Carter

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation
(a) Invocation: Personal Prayer in the Midst of a Church Living with AIDS
Location:
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by William H. Doane
Location:

(b) I’m Happy with Jesus Alone. By Charles Prince Jones
Location:

(c) Come Thou Long Expectant Jesus. By. Charles Wesley and Rowland Prichard
Location:

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen. By Fernando Allen
Location:
(b) Jesus Is Always Looking Out for Me. By James Cleveland
Location:

(c) I Want Jesus to Walk with Me. By Colin Lett
Location:
(d) Lord Keep Me Day by Day. By Eddie Williams
Location:

(e) There Is a Balm in Gilead. By William Dawson
Location:
(f) Give Me Jesus. Arr. by Larry Flemings
Location:
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) He’s Been So Good. By Carneal Overton
Location:
(b) Happy. By Tasha Cobbs
Location:

(c) Grace. By Tony Wilkins
Location:

(d) Holy Spirit, Rain Down. By Russell Frager
Location:

(e) There Is a Balm. By E. Clark
Location:

(f) We’re Gonna Make It. By Myrna Summers
Location:

(g) Please Be Patient with Me. By Curtis Burrell
Location:

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) We Need the Lord. By Jonathan Butler
Location:

(b) Be Encouraged. By William Becton
Location:

(c) Are You Listening. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

6. Anthems
(a) We Are Surrounded. By J. Williams and J. Martin
Location:
(b) I Am His Child. By Moses Hogan
Location:
7. Modern Songs
(a) Are You Ready. Arr. by Kenneth Louis
Location:

(b) Healing. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

(c) God Made Me. By Jules Bartholomew
Location:

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) I Will Bless the Lord. By Butch Heyward
Location:

(b) Great Things. By Guy Robinson
Location:
(c) I’ve Got a Testimony. By Anthony Tidwell
Location:

(d) Keep Living. Ricky Dillard
Location:

(e) How Much We Can Bear. By David Frazier
Location:

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Lord I Believe. By Percy Bady
Location:

(b) There’s a Blessing in This House. By Margaret Douroux
Location:
(c) Over and Over. By Paul Morton
Location:

(d) How Much We Can Bear. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) It Ain’t Over. By Maurette Brown Clark
Location:

(b) Be Healed. By Kevin Bond
Location:

(c) Keep Your Loving Arms around Me. By Percy Bady
Location:

(d) City Called Heaven. By Josephine Poienlintz
Location:
(e) Stand. By Donnie McClurkin
Location:

(f) It’s Your Time. By Luther Barnes
Location:

(g) You Raise Me Up. By Josh Groban
Location:
(h) Even Me. By Michael Reid
Location:
11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) I Surrender All. By Judson W. Van De Venter
Location:

(b) Father, Can You Hear Me. By Tyler Perry and Elvin Ross
Location:

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Always Remember Jesus. By Andraé Crouch
Location:

(b) Reach Out and Touch. By Lucille Pope
Location:

(c) Lord Make Us More Holy. Arr. by Roland Carter
Location:

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