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WOMEN’S DAY
(March is Women’s History Month)

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Brandon A. Boyd, Young Adult Lectionary Team Liturgist
Minister of Music, Worship and Arts, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Choral Conducting Graduate Student, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL  and

Marty Austin Lamar, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Assistant Minister of Music, Turner Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, Hyattsville, MD

Worship Planning Notes

Creative Ideas to Integrate into the Worship Experience

• Use pictures of phenomenal women, particularly within the church, to promote this special service. Use on the program cover or projected on screens prior, during, and after service.
  
  
• Celebrate the “SURVIVORS” within your congregation who have overcome sickness, imprisonment, recession, education challenges, etc. Allow these women the opportunity to serve as your worship leaders and program participants.
  
  
• There are several dramatic works written specifically about women. “Crowns” by Regina Taylor uses the emphasis church hat as its vehicle to discuss tradition, death, womanhood, and faith. This piece could be produced as a staged reading or as a vignette during the worship experience, or it could be incorporated into a hat show and tea.
  
  Do not be afraid of using literature that is a bit more controversial. Be wise in your editing so that the work is appropriate for the church setting but not in a way that loses its meaning or reality. Please review the suggested list below:
  
  The Exonerated: A New Play. By Jessica Blank and Eric Jensen
  
  Rabbit Hole. By David Lindsay-Abaire
  
  For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf. By Ntozake Shange
  
  Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through. By Iyanla Vanzant

• All excerpts presented during the worship experience should be minimally produced. Use all black costuming, stools, and music stands.

• Attempt to incorporate the national theme for Women’s History month as frequently as possible.

NATIONAL THEME for 2013

The national theme can be used creatively with the YOUTH of your congregation. Find women within your congregation who have careers in the listed fields of the theme. Have your youth interview these phenomenal women and broadcast the interview in a 20/20 format during a special event or throughout a series of worship services.

1. Litany and Congregational Prayer

Leader:	Today we celebrate the strength, power, passion, beauty, courage, and faith of women across this world. Made in the image and likeness of God, He chose the woman to lead, support, nourish, and deliver His glory to the earth.
People:	We praise God for the creation of the woman.
Leader:	We celebrate women for following the Savior’s example of service. These vessels of life, these wives, these mothers, and these believers are often overlooked, choosing to relinquish their will for the uplifting of others.
People:	We honor God for endowing the spirit of service into the heart of the woman.
Leader:	We give reverence to every woman, who like the beautiful, thoughtful, mindful, and powerful women of scripture continue to defy odds, banish stereotypes, and serve in the face of oppression and tradition.
People:	We thank God for the unselfish spirit that lives in the heart of the woman.
Leader:	We honor the women of our past who were beaten, raped, and abused because of skin color and gender. We honor their resilience and intuition to escape and assist others with escaping. We honor those who blazed trails and rose above the conditions of their time. We honor those mighty women who tarried in prayer and sang the songs of Zion while their backs were lashed and their wombs mistreated.
People:	We worship God for the memory our ancestors, mothers, and grandmothers.
Leader:	We celebrate the women of today. We celebrate the sharing of their gifts, talents, and skills. We celebrate their ability to manage the home and the office. We celebrate their ability to serve as a public official and a Sunday School teacher. We celebrate those who are required to be both the matriarch and the patriarch, and those who are strong enough to fight for civil equality but gentle enough to be the woman of some man’s dream.
ALL:	We praise God for the virtuous women who persevered through our yesterdays, influence our todays, and shape our tomorrows. From the rib of man God created woman. He has found favor in her and has sent her into the lives of every man and child. God’s creation is man’s testimony of God’s never-ending love, grace, and mercy for His children.

Congregational Prayer

Leader: Most merciful and all-wise God, it is by your hand that you took the rib of Adam and made woman. We laud and glorify your holy name for the wisdom, strength, faith, and courage you birthed into the heart of every woman. Teach us, O Lord, to pattern our lives, our witness, and our service after the women of scripture whom you ordained to serve and labor in your kingdom.

PEOPLE: With Miriam, who with Moses and Aaron led the people of Israel out of Egypt; With Deborah, who judged the people of Israel in truth and righteousness; With Ruth, who was an example of faithfulness; With Mary Magdalen, who first brought the good news of the resurrection; With Phoebe, deacon and leader of the early Church; With Priscilla, who labored with Aquila in the service of Christ; With Dorcas, who tirelessly served, doing good and helping the poor; With Mary the mother of Jesus, who said “yes” with no holding back; With these, our sisters, we pray for women everywhere who see their families divided, their children sad.

Leader: We pray for women who against all odds create an environment of love and peace for their family to live in; we pray for women who, when tempted to give up, find new strength in you and continue to follow the path you have ordered.1 God our God, you have made women in your own image and likeness. Teach us to trust your design and seek the divine destiny that you have for every woman in every corner of your universe.

ALL: Grant us favor and continue to protect our spirits from anything that may hinder our walk with you or our sister. We offer this prayer to you. Amen!

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Help Us Accept Each Other. By Fred Kaan. Tune, (AUERELIA).

(b) I Am on the Battlefield for My Lord. By Sylvana Bell and E.V. Banks

(c) God of Grace and God of Glory. By Harry Fosdick. Tune, (CWM RHONDDA).

(d) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert Goodson. Arr. by James Abbington

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down. By P. Caldwell and S. Ivory

(b) Give Me Jesus. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Nolan Williams

(c) This Day. By Edwin Hawkins

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Still I Rise. By Rosephanye Powell

(b) Champion. By Ashaala Jenkins

(c) Strength. By John P. Kee

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Still I Rise. By Percy Brady

(b) My Refuge, My Strength. By Byron Cage

(c) I Look to You. By R. Kelly

6. Anthems
(a) Give Thanks and Sing for Joy. By Roy Belfield

(b) Hail Warrior. By Undine Smith Moore

(c) If I Faint Not. By Kevin and Celeste Johnson

7. Modern Songs
(a) I’m Still Standing. By Kurt Carr

(b) God Made Me. By Jules Martholomew

(c) Back to Eden. By Donald Lawrence

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) You’re All I Need. By Jason Clayborn

(b) All of My Help. By T. Manley and N. McNair

(c) Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land. By Glenn Burleigh

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Just a Little Talk with Jesus. By Cleavant Derricks. Tune, (JUST A LITTLE TALK).

(b) Is Your All on the Altar. By Elisha Hoffman

(c) What Shall I Render. By Margaret P. Douroux

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) It Pays to Serve Jesus. By Frank Huston

(b) Powerful God. By D. Kipping and J.J. Hairston

(c) Turning Around. By C. Rodgers, L. Gray, P. Feaster, and V. Mitchell

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) It Pays to Serve Jesus. By Frank Huston

(b) Give of Your Best to the Master. By Howard Grose. Tune by Charlotte Barnard

(c) I Trust in God. By W.C. Martin. Tune by C. Gabriel and V. Nix

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Order My Steps. By Glenn Burleigh

(b) The Lord Bless You and Keep You. By Peter Lutkin

(c) Till We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin

13. Visual Aids

Please refer to Worship Planning Notes for creative suggestions that include dramatization, liturgy, etc.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Call to Worship and Responsive Reading
The Women’s Sunday Litany is by Marty Lamar. ¹Beginning with the words “With Miriam,” this text of the Congregational Prayer is from the More Than Life website (http://www.morethanlife.org/prayerstopray.html#Women).

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Help Us Accept Each Other. By Fred Kaan. Tune, (AURELIA).
Location:

(b) I Am on the Battlefield for My Lord. By Sylvana Bell and E. V. Banks
Location:

(c) God of Grace and God of Glory. By Harry Fosdick. Tune, (CWM RHONDDA).
Location:

(d) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert Goodson. Arr. by James Abbington
Location:

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down. By P. Caldwell and S. Ivory
Location:

(b) Give Me Jesus. Negro Spiritual. Arr. by Nolan Williams
Location:

(c) This Day. By Edwin Hawkins
Location:

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Still I Rise. By Rosephanye Powell
Location:

(b) Champion. By Ashaala Jenkins
Location:

(c) Strength. By John P. Kee
Location:

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Still I Rise. By Percy Brady
Location:

(b) My Refuge, My Strength. By Byron Cage
Location:

(c) I Look to You. By R. Kelly
Location:

6. Anthems
(a) Give Thanks and Sing for Joy. By Roy Belfield
Location:

(b) Hail Warrior. By Undine Smith Moore
Location:

(c) If I Faint Not. By Kevin and Celeste Johnson
Location:

7. Modern Songs
(a) I’m Still Standing. By Kurt Carr
Location:

(b) God Made Me. By Jules Martholomew
Location:

(c) Back to Eden. By Donald Lawrence
Location:

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) You’re All I Need. By Jason Clayborn
Location:

(b) All of My Help. By T. Manley and N. McNair
Location:

(c) Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land. By Glenn Burleigh
Location:

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Just a Little Talk with Jesus. By Cleavant Derricks. Tune, (JUST A LITTLE TALK).
Location:

(b) Is Your All on the Altar. By Elisha Hoffman
Location:

(c) What Shall I Render. By Margaret P. Douroux
Location:

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) It Pays to Serve Jesus. By Frank Huston
Location:

(b) Powerful God. By D. Pipping and J.J. Hairston
Location:

(c) Turning Around. By C. Rodgers, L. Gray, P. Feaster, and V. Mitchell
Location:

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) It Pays to Serve Jesus. By Frank Huston
Location:

(b) Give of Your Best to the Master. By Howard Grose. Tune by Charlotte Barnard
Location:

(c) I Trust in God. By W.C. Martin. Tune by C. Gabriel and V. Nix
Location:

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Order My Steps. By Glenn Burleigh
Location:

(b) The Lord Bless You and Keep You. By Peter Lutkin
Location:

(c) Till We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

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