• BACK
• Click Here Cultural Resources
• Click Here Lectionary Commentaries

A SERVICE OF HEALING (FOR THOSE SUFFERING EMOTIONAL DISTRESS,
GRIEF, DIVORCE, AND PHYSICAL AILMENTS)

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Neichelle R. Guidry Jones, Lectionary Young Adult Liturgists’ Team

Worship Planning Notes

The subject of healing lies at the heart of this worship service. With matters of physical, spiritual, and mental health and wellness ever on our hearts, this service is purposed to comfort those who are afflicted and to inspire those who are positioned to advocate for better healthcare laws and practices. On any given Sunday, our sanctuaries are proliferated with illness. From benign conditions, to those of malignant and infectious natures, and from the visible to the invisible, any number of health issues may populate the pews. This service is intended to calm the mind that worries about these issues, and to remind attendees of the power of our God to do the miraculous. Songs of prophetic healing should be commingled with testimonies of healing and reminders of God’s healing power.

Furthermore, this service is meant to confront the sluggishness and laziness that have sequestered many into unhealthy and potentially fatal predicaments. It is meant to name our fears of receiving healthcare. We must be honest and admit that while many of us have health issues beyond our control, many of us refuse to become proactive about our health and well-being. Moreover, we must name the systemic barriers to our receiving the necessary care, and incorporate words of empowerment to patiently fight for healthcare that is adequate for all human beings.

Consider how you communicate God’s healing power. Will you incorporate rituals, such as the laying on of hands or the symbolic use of anointing oil or water? Will you incorporate drama or liturgical arts? How will you address issues of disability and speak of healing to those who have lost certain bodily functions? Consider how you will conduct the service, liturgically and ethically.

Setting a Mood

Consider setting an atmosphere of hope and expectation by allowing time for testimonies. Consider lifting testimonies of various natures:

• A testimony of a sickness that was not cured or healed by Christ, but the person’s faith in God’s ability to heal remained intact.
  
  
• A testimony of a sickness that God did heal, and so the person is a “living witness” to God’s power to heal.
  
  
• A testimony of a sickness that is in its course, and the person is waiting on God and faithful that God is with them through the process and able to heal.
  
  

By offering this variety of testimonies, you speak to the faith and experiences of multiple persons in the sanctuary.

1. Invocation

God of love, God of power,
Your sons and your daughters are gathered now,
Here in Your temple.

Seeking to see your face on this day.

We have come from many directions and many spaces to get here.
And we come with a variety of concerns and issues that we desire to lay at your feet.

We know that you are a miraculous God, who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or think.
And so, we bring our infirmities,
Our fears,
Our aches and pains,
The sicknesses that have been called “terminal.”
Our “there’s nothing the doctor can do” reports.
Our weary bodies …

We bring them to you, Jehovah Rapha, our Healer.

And in this time of worship, we ask that you would speak a word to us.
A word of Life.
A word of Encouragement.
A sustaining, life-changing Word,

For we know that with YOUR Word, you’ve
Healed the sick,
Cured the infirmed,
And even raised the dead.

So, come into this House and Speak, Lord.

Speak Lord, for your Children are listening.

In the name of Jesus,
Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By Thomas O. Chisholm. Tune by William Runyan

(b) I Will Trust in the Lord. Afro-American Spiritual. Arr. by Carl Haywood

(c) God Will Take Care of You. By Civilla D. Martin. Tune by W. Stillman Martin

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) There Is a Balm in Gilead. Afro-American Spiritual

(b) I Want Jesus to Walk with Me. Afro-American Spiritual

(c) What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Traditional

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) He’s Able. By Dietrick Haddon

(b) There Is a Balm in Gilead. By Karen Clark Sheard

(c) Standing in the Need. By John P. Kee

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Please Don’t Pass Me By. By Fred Hammond, Kim Rutherford, and Tommie Walker

(b) Healing Waters. By Kirk Franklin

(c) Take Me to the King. By Tamela Mann

6. Anthems
(a) Healing. By Richard Smallwood

(b) My Life Is in Your Hands. By Kirk Franklin

(c) Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior. Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by William H. Doane

7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2012)
(a) Free. By J. Drew Sheard II and Kierra “KiKi” Sheard

(b) Awesome God. By Fred Hammond

(c) Now Be Restored. By Vashawn Mitchell and Rick Robinson

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) His Blood Still Works. By Vashawn Mitchell

(b) Strength. By John P. Kee

(c) God Will Take of You. By Edwin Hawkins

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Broken But I’m Healed. By Byron Cage

(b) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier

(c) Just a Little Talk with Jesus. By Cleavant Derricks

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

(b) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks

(c) Break Every Chain. By Will Regen

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Never Be Bound Again. By Bishop Paul S. Morton

(b) Awesome. By Charles Jenkins

(c) Can’t Give up Now. By Erica Atkins, Trecina Atkins, Curtis Burrell, and Warryn Campbell

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Amazing Grace. By John Newton

(b) How I Got Over. By William Herbert Brewster

(c) Never Give Up. By Yolanda Adams, James Harris, Terry Lewis, and James “Big Jim” Wright

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Invocation by Rev.Neichelle Guidry Jones

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By Thomas O. Chisholm. Tune by William Runyan
Location:
(b) I Will Trust in the Lord. Afro-American Spiritual. Arr. by Carl Haywood
Location

(c) God Will Take Care of You. By Civilla D. Martin. Tune by W. Stillman Martin
Location

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) There Is a Balm in Gilead. Afro-American Spiritual
Location:
(b) I Want Jesus to Walk With Me. Afro-American Spiritual
Location:
(c) What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Traditional
Location:
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) He’s Able. By Dietrick Haddon
Location:

(b) There Is a Balm in Gilead. By E. Clark
Location:

(c) Standing in the Need. By John P. Kee
Location:

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Please Don’t Pass Me By. By Fred Hammond, Kim Rutherford, and Tommie Walker
Location:

(b) Healing Waters. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

(c) Take Me to the King. By Tamela Mann
Location:

6. Anthems
(a) Healing. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

(b) My Life Is in Your Hands. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

(c) Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune by William H. Doane
Location:
7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2012)
(a) Free. By J. Drew Sheard II and Kierra “KiKi” Sheard
Location:

(b) Awesome God. By Fred Hammond
Location:

(c) Now Be Restored. By Vashawn Mitchell and Rick Robinson
Location:

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) His Blood Still Works. By Vashawn Mitchell
Location:

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

(c) God Will Take of You. Arr. by Edwin Hawkins
Location:

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Broken but I’m Healed. By V. Michael McKay
Location:

(b) I Need You to Survive. By David Frazier
Location:

(c) Just a Little Talk with Jesus. By Cleavant Derricks
Location

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

(b) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks
Location:

(c) Break Every Chain. By Will Regen
Location:

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Never Be Bound Again. By Paul S. Morton
Location:

(b) Awesome. By Charles Jenkins
Location:

(c) Can’t Give Up Now. By Erica Atkins, Trecina Atkins, Curtis Burrell, and Warryn Campbell
Location:

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Amazing Grace. By John Newton
Location:

(b) How I Got Over. By William Herbert Brewster
Location:

(c) Never Give Up. By Yolanda Adams, James Harris, Terry Lewis, and James “Big Jim” Wright
Location:

• Click Here Cultural Resources
• Click Here Lectionary Commentaries