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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Donna Cox, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Chair, Department of Music, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

Worship Planning Notes
A sense of Christian Vocation is what gives meaning to our daily routine. Without a true sense of God’s call in our daily lives, we will pass through life without direction to our work, and most of life will have no meaning. Whether you are a butcher, a baker, or a homemaker, your labors and talents are God’s gift through you to the world.

The resulting joy of accepting your labors as God’s work allows you to take life one step at a time — as it has been delivered to you — and to find meaning and worth in every moment of the day, and in every encounter along the way.*

Other Liturgical Suggestions:

• Provide time during the service for congregants to testify about how their life was positively impacted by individuals, such as teachers, supervisors, coaches, etc. This will provide an opportunity to demonstrate the power that each individual has to impact the lives of others while engaging in the ordinary activities of their vocation.
  
  
• Consider having your worship team develop a special litany for your worship service aimed at youth who are leaders in ministry, to encourage them to continue their work. A sample is available for free download at: Office of Certification and Christian Vocation Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) www.pcusa.org/christianvocation/pdf/litany.pdf
  
  
• Have members of the congregation place on the altar emblems of their vocations. These may include badges from police officers, helmets from firefighters, chalk from teachers, Bibles from ministers, medals or uniforms from soldiers, bus tickets or tokens from bus drivers, etc.

1. Litany or Responsive Reading

(a) Responsive Reading

Leader:	It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.
Congregation:	To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night
Leader:	I will play upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
Congregation:	For thou, Lord, has made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
ALL:	O Lord, how great are thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep.

(b) Invocation
Your work is perfect. You are ever attentive to the works of your hands. Lord, make us in your image. Help us to take on your character in everything we set our hands to do. May we have the mind of Christ as we go about our day. Teach us to seek you in all decisions. Be glorified through us. Be glorified in this place today, Lord. We give you the honor and praise for all you have done, and all you will do. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) I Call Upon You, God. By Leon Roberts. For SATB with tenor solo

(b) Only What You Do for Christ Will Last. By Raymond Raspberry

(c) May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me. By Sullivan Pugh. Arr. by K. Morris

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
Traditional
(a) I’ll Stand. By Raymond Wise. For mixed choir

Spirituals
(b) Done Made My Vow to the Lord. African American Spiritual. Harmony by Evelyn Davidson-White

(c) If I Labor. By Estella Boyd and Marvin Winans

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) What Shall I Render. By Darius Brooks

(b) Stir Up the Gift. By Joe Pace

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Work to Do. By Dorinda Clark-Cole and J. Moss

6. Anthems
(a) I Call Upon You, God. By Leon Roberts. For SATB with tenor solo

(b) Achieved Is Thy Glorious Work. By Franz Joseph Haydn, from Creation

7. Modern Songs
(a) He Promised Me. By Raymond W. Hinton

(b) I'm Not Available. By John P. Kee

(c) Lord, Send Your Spirit. By Raymond Wise. For mixed choir

8. Offering Song or Instrumental
Instrumental
(a) The Harvest. By Rollo Dilworth. For SATB with optional string bass and percussion

Songs
(b) I Will Go in Jesus' Name. By Clay Bogan, III

(c) My Offering. By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(d) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Arr. by Kirk Whalum. Instrumental solo for saxophone

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Trusting in His Plans for Me. By Diane White-Clayton

(b) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Tune by John S. Norris

10. Sermonic Selection
God Made Our Hands. By Roberto Burton

11. Invitation Song or Instrumental
(a) I Almost Let Go. By Kurt Carr

(b) Is Your All on the Altar. By Elisha A. Hoffman. Tune, (YOUR ALL).

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Take the Name of Jesus with You. By Lydia Baxter. Tune, (PRECIOUS NAME).

(b) It’s Time to Go. By Raymond Wise. For SATB

13. Audio Visual Suggestion
Organize a series of slides depicting various occupations to the tune of “Work to Do,” performed by Dorinda Clark-Cole.

14. Other Recommendations
(a) A poem to use for church bulletins or on screens:

How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord
How clear is our vocation, Lord,
when once we heed your call:
to live according to your word,
and daily learn, refreshed, restored,
that you are Lord of all,
and will not let us fall.

But if, forgetful, we should find
your yoke is hard to bear;
if worldly pressures fray the mind
and love itself cannot unwind
its tangled skein of care:
our inward life repair.

We mark your saints, how they became
in hindrances more sure,
whose joyful virtues put to shame
the casual way we wear your name,
and by our faults obscure
your power to cleanse and cure.

In what you give us, Lord, to do,
together or alone,
in old routines or ventures new,
may we not cease to look for you,
the cross you hung upon,
all you endeavored done.

(b) As a part of a weekend of celebration, hold a Readers Theatre Presentation — Called by God by Edward A. White is a possible choice for material. It is available for free download at http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/christianvocation/

(c) Use Sunday School classes or other group teaching sessions to facilitate Spiritual Gifts assessment as a means of helping people identify their gifts, and match those gifts to existing ministries or recommendations for new ministries.

(d) Use Bible stories of God calling individuals (i.e., Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Deborah, Mary (the Mother of Jesus), Saul, etc.), as a basis for small group discussions. Use the stories as outlines for meditation, reflection, and prayer.


Worship Planning Notes
*Taken From This Call Is for You: A Christian Vocation Workbook.
Location:
Presbyterian Distribution Services
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 1-800-524-2612

1. Litany or Responsive Reading
(a) Responsive Reading - Praise for Thy Blessings
Location:

(b) Invocation by Dr. Donna M. Cox, Dayton, Ohio. Used with permission.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) I Call Upon You, God. By Leon Roberts. For SATB with tenor solo
Location:

(b) Only What You Do for Christ Will Last. By Raymond Raspberry
Location:

(c) May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me. By Sullivan Pugh. Arr. by K. Morris
Location:

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
Traditional
(a) I’ll Stand. By Raymond Wise. For mixed choir
Location:

Spirituals
(b) Done Made My Vow to the Lord. African American Spiritual. Harmony by Evelyn Davidson-White
Location:

(c) If I Labor. By Estella Boyd and Marvin Winans
Location:

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) What Shall I Render. By Darius Brooks
Location:

(b) Stir Up the Gift. By Joe Pace
Location:

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Work to Do. By Dorinda Clark-Cole and J. Moss
Location:

6. Anthems
(a) I Call Upon You, God. By Leon Roberts. For SATB with tenor solo
Location:

(b) Achieved Is Thy Glorious Work. By Franz Joseph Haydn, from Creation
Location:

7. Modern Songs
(a) He Promised Me. By Raymond W. Hinton
Location:

(b) I'm Not Available. By John P. Kee
Location:

(c) Lord, Send Your Spirit. By Raymond Wise. For mixed choir
Location:

8. Offering Song or Instrumental
Instrumental
(a) The Harvest. By Rollo Dilworth. For SATB with optional string bass and percussion
It takes the text "The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few," and fuses it with "Sinner Please Don't Let this Harvest Pass." The piece is written in a slightly vocal jazz style with double bass and conga drums in the accompaniment.
Location:

Songs
(b) I Will Go in Jesus' Name. By Clay Bogan, III
Location:

(c) My Offering. By Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:

Songbook and mp3 Available at
NEWorks Productions
P.O. Box 4599
Washington, DC 20017
Phone: 202- 882-8966

Online location: www.newinspiration.us

(d) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Arr. by Kirk Whalum. Instrumental solo for saxophone
Location:

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Trusting in His Plans for Me. By Diane White-Clayton
Location:

(b) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Tune by John S. Norris
Location:

10. Sermonic Selection
God Made Our Hands. By Roberto Burton
Location:

11. Invitation Song or Instrumental
(a) I Almost Let Go. By Kurt Carr
Location:

(b) Is Your All on the Altar. By Elisha A. Hoffman. Tune, (YOUR ALL).
Location:

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Take the Name of Jesus with You. By Lydia Baxter. Tune, (PRECIOUS NAME).
Location:

(b) It’s Time to Go. By Raymond Wise. For SATB
Location:

14. Other Recommendations
How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord. By Fred Pratt Green

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