Worship Resources

Worship Planning Notes
We are all familiar with the remark, “Sunday morning (or Sabbath morning) is one of the most segregated hours of the week.” But as we plan worship, do we ever ask what we can do to change this? If not, this is your chance to change your behavior. Work with your pastor and church leaders to plan a service with persons from different denominations or different faith communities. Such a worship service should not exclude persons on the basis of race, gender, or ethnicity.

Ecumenical worship tests our ability and commitment to be Christ’s followers, praise God together, and learn to pray and worship in the presence of other Christians or non-Christians. Through this experience, we allow God to mold us into that body which is then capable of demonstrating and proclaiming reconciling love.

An important dimension of that love is our ability to understand and respect the traditions, beliefs, and rituals of those who differ from us. As we find ourselves living in a more pluralistic society, we need to be more purposeful in showing respect and concern for those who are different from us.

In preparing services of ecumenical worship, worship planners should be careful not to borrow haphazardly from various traditions, but rather to use the richness of hymnody, prayers, and forms of liturgy from these traditions to create a service that is internally coherent. Responsible representatives from each tradition should be involved in each part of the worship planning process. Everyone should be made aware of all issues of protocol.

Ecumenical worship services function best when there is an agreed upon central idea that frames or overarches the worship service. The core idea is usually crystallized by the sermon and is supported in various ways by the music and readings (if any) and the other areas of the service. So, all aspects of the service should be coordinated using the central idea.

From Worship to World
Consider forming an interfaith alliance of the worship leaders of each church represented. This group could plan quarterly prayer services to build and maintain connections between the churches and plan community projects in which all of the churches can collaborate.

1. Invocation or Litany

(a) Invocation
Holy One, Loving Creator, Sustainer of the universe, you call your people, who are created in your image, to be reconciled with each other in truth, in justice, and in love. For how pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! When we pay attention, we see signs all around us of your promises for the fullness of time. We see them in friendships that transcend barriers. We see them in hospitality to strangers. We see them in common responses to the needy. We see them in solidarity with the struggles of the oppressed. We see them in shared prayer. But we also see them in our brokenness, our fears, our resistance. Sometimes, even when we want change, we do not know how to create change. Show us, loving God. Conform us ever more fully to your will. For you, the foundation of our faiths are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Draw us toward your purpose and your will for humanity – unity. This we pray in the name of the One who makes us one. Amen.

(b) Litany

LEADER	The hand of God is upon us to give us unity of mind, following the word of the LORD. (2 Chron. 30:12)
CONGREGATION	Walk TOGETHER children!
LEADER	For Christ has given us the glory given to Him by God, that we may be one as they are one. (John 17:22)
CONGREGATION	Walk TOGETHER children!
LEADER	The same One who gives endurance and encouragement will give a spirit of unity among us. (Romans 15:5)
CONGREGATION	Work TOGETHER children!
LEADER	Let us make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)
CONGREGATION	Work TOGETHER children!
LEADER	May we be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you love us all. (John 17:23)
CONGREGATION	Worship TOGETHER children!
LEADER	For it is love, which binds us all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:14)
CONGREGATION	Worship TOGETHER children!
LEADER	Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to the perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
ALL	Walk, Work, Worship TOGETHER children! For how very good and pleasant it is when kindred dwell together in unity!

(c) Processional Music
Come, All You People (Uyai Mose). Zimbabwe folksong. By Alexander Gondo. For SATB, with keyboard, guitar, drums and percussion accompaniment
This simple, festive gathering song can be used as a processional for the clergy, choirs, and dance ministries, with accompanying drums and percussion.

Come all you people
Come and praise your Maker
Come all you people
Come and praise your Maker
Come all you people
Come and praise your Maker
Come now and worship the Lord
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Anthem of Unity. By John Ness Beck. For SATB and congregation

(b) Come, Ye Thankful People (Come). By Henry Alford. Tune, (ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR), by George J. Elvey

(c) Let the Peoples Praise You. By John McCann. For SATB and cantor/worship leader
This beautiful and simple song can be used for processional music for choirs and congregation(s).

(d) Unity. Text based on Psalm 133:1. Tune by Glorraine Moore

(e) Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones. By Athelstan Riley. Tune, (LASST UNS ERFREUEN), Geistliche Kirchengesange

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Walk Together Children. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

(b) It’s My Desire. By Freda Pullen Bagley and Horace Boyer

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Keep Oil in Your Lamp. By David Curry and Jerry Mannery

(b) Special Place. By Byron Cage

(c) I Need You. By Dana Sorey and Tye Tribbett

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) Kwanzaa-Umoja-Uhuru (First Fruits of the Harvest-Unity-Freedom). By Gary Hines

(b) Enter into His Gates/Halleluyah. By Helen Shapiro
This spirited piece, in the Jewish tradition, is a wonderful song of rejoicing! It could also be used for the offertory selection.

6. Anthems
(a) Canticle of Fellowship. By Craig Courtney. For SATB, with optional 3-4 octave handbells

(b) Holy Ground. By Geron Davis

(c) Renew Thy Church, Her Ministries Restore. By Kenneth L. Cober. Tune, (ALL IS WELL).

(d) The Church’s One Foundation. By Samuel Wesley. Arr. by Roger Holland, II. For SATB, organ and optional brass

7. Modern Songs
(a) We Have Come. By Wayne Bucknor

(b) We Are One. By Walt Whitman

(c) I Can Only Imagine. By Bart Millard

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Uyai Mose/Come, All You People (Zimbabwe). By Alexander Gondo
If not used for the processional, this is a festive piece for the Offertory in which the congregation can participate.

(b) Enter into His Gates/Hallelujah. By Helen Shapiro
This spirited piece, in the Jewish tradition, is a wonderful song of rejoicing! It could also be used for liturgical dance.

(c) Suite 1 for Organ Offertory. By Florence B. Price
Florence B. Price (1887-1953) was a renaissance woman from Chicago. She was the first commercially successful African American female composer of classical music.

9. Prayer, Song, or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
Prayer
(a) “We Have Often Perpetuated the Divisions Christ Came to Destroy.” Prayer by Valerie Bridgeman Davis. Adapted by Michelle Riley Jones

Have a representative from each visiting faith community participate in the prayer.

L1	Merciful God, we have not loved you with all our being.
L2	In your kindness you formed the world as one glorious, diverse, multi-colored place.
L3	In our stubbornness and sinful pride, we have distorted your intention for humanity and for all creation.
L4	As your church, we have often perpetuated the divisions Christ came to destroy.
L1	In your grace, forgive us and free us from the grip of sin.
L2	Lord, you have gathered us together today as a shepherd gathers a flock.
L3	Forgive us Lord for often choosing intolerance and animosity, piety and jealousy, rather than love and respect between churches.
L4	Lord, Magnificent Creator, you are peace and reconciliation!
L1	Forgive us, Lord, for often choosing isolation, and refusing to be a blessing for each other, between churches and faith communities.
L2	Faithful Redeemer, you give us an abundance of blessings in the unity of faith!
L3	Forgive us, Lord, for having often strayed far from you, and pushed you away, thus underlining our divisions.
Host Pastor	For you have sought us, and today, together, we draw near to you. Remind us of our common foundation. Give us a fresh chance to work for unity. We seek the oil of your anointing, your sweet, sweet Spirit. Create in us a fervent longing for the unity of your church and enable us to work towards it. May we grow together in faith and in love, until we attain that unity which is your will. Help us to worship and serve you joyfully for the sake of the salvation of the world. Amen.

Prayer Music
(b) You’re My Glory. By Helen Shapiro

(c) Holy Is Thy Name. By Joel Bruce, Jr. Arr. by Lloyd Mallory, Jr.

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Who Shall Separate Us? By Glenn Burleigh. For men’s choir, TTBB

(b) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Arr. by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory. For SSATB and children’s choir

11. Invitational Song
(a) The Decision. By V. Michael McKay

(b) Is There Any Room in Your Heart for Jesus? By Wyatt T. Walker. Arr. by Valeria A. Foster

12. Benediction Spoken or Sung
Spoken
(a) Benediction 1. By Rev. Dennis W. Creek, Senior Pastor, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship (Assemblies of God). Adapted by Michelle Riley Jones

Thank you, Lord, for the wonder of your Spirit that still hovers over your creation. Ignite, inflame, and kindle our hearts so that we may be unified in our love of you, and each other. Soothe us and be an overflowing fountain welling up within our lives. Purify, strengthen, heal, instruct, and melt our hearts in ways pleasing to you. Capture our thoughts and empower us. Awaken mighty hope and blow your winds of renewal throughout your church and the world. So work in our hearts and lives, our churches, our synagogues, our mosques, and our lands, that our testimony in this millennium will be our unity and not our divisions, community and not our creeds, your power and not our plans, your work and not our earthly wisdom. May our unity in you flow like precious oil on our heads, and like the dew which falls on the mountain of Zion. For through this unity, you may ordain your blessing, life evermore. Amen.

(b) Benediction 2—“God the Sprit, Guide and Guardian”—Great Triune God, so bless the time entrusted to our care, that all our varied ministries may form a common prayer; then, when time ceases, bring us where divisions are undone, that in your presence, joined in praise, at last we may be one. Amen.

Sung
(c) Nothing Can Ever Come Between Us. Taizé. For SSATB and piano
This is a simple choir and congregational song that has solos which can be led by a member from each faith group represented.

(d) We’re Marching to Zion. By Isaac Watts. Tune, (MARCHING TO ZION), by Robert Lowry

(e) Blest Be the Tie That Binds. By John Fawcett. Tune, (DENNIS), by John G. Nageli

(f) A Charge to Keep I Have. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (BOYSTON), by Lowell Mason

(g) The Blessing. By Helen Shapiro

13. Recessional Music
Oh, Happy Day. By Edwin Hawkins

14. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Design your bulletin using the faith symbols of various faith communities represented in the worship service.

(b) The following poem can be printed in your church bulletin for congregants to silently reflect upon as they gather.

(c) Develop a border of denominational symbols, and use the border throughout the service on screen when listing song lyrics, scriptures, and announcements.

15. Other Recommendations
(a) Sources
The ecumenical dimension of worship will vary relative to form, context, and scope. The form and/or text of a service often borrow from existing denominational sources or from significant ecumenical events. These sources might include the World Council of Churches (i.e. With all God's People - Resources for Worship, the National Council of Churches or local councilor bodies). Other models for ecumenical worship may be provided from annual events such as the National Workshop on Christian Unity, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Graymoor, Garrison, New York), and the World Day of Prayer (Church Women United).

(b) Ecumenical Accountability
The General Guidelines of the Massachusetts Council of Churches are a good resource from which to obtain guidelines for planning ecumenical services.