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“WHO SO EVER WILL” SUNDAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Cornelius V. Johnson III, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Music, Transformations Church, Chicago, IL

Worship Planning Notes

The purpose of this worship experience is to celebrate without judgment, the unique people that God created each of us as. It is a day that we put aside our differences and other extraneous distractions that would take our focus away from the fact that we are all created in God’s image. The Bible says, “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well” (Psalm 139:13-14, NRSV). This includes all of humanity, people of different racial backgrounds, social statuses, sexual orientations, different abilities, different theological beliefs, and the list goes on.

For many in our congregations, the concept of intentionally celebrating our differences may prove to be a difficult task initially. However, if we first accept that God made us exactly as we are, then we can begin to celebrate our diversity.

The pastor, worship leaders, and other church leaders can help guide your church to a greater worship experience by selecting music, prayers, and a sermon that focuses our attention on the fact that not only is grace a gift from God, but so is diversity. Much care should be given to proper planning for this service, particularly given the likely presence of children and youth.

I have listed references for showing diversity and being inclusive in your worship experience. Include those who are disabled, visual artists, women, and testimonials about racial and social issues of diversity. For other resources and ideas, please see section “14. Additional Worship Planning Recommendations” to become a more welcoming and inclusive congregation.

1. Litany, Call to Worship, and Invocation

Leader:	O God, the Creator of  all, You  made us and know us completely. You, O God, are familiar with all of our ways. Even before we utter a word, you know it. You surround us with your love and have laid your hand upon us. So wonderful are you, Lord! Your knowledge goes far beyond what our minds can conceive. Today we are called to open our hearts and minds to receive the blessings you have placed within all of your people. Together we pray to you:
Congregation:	Lord, hear our prayer!
Leader:	Lord, your thoughts are not our thoughts and your ways are not our ways. Help us not to judge those who we perceive as being  different than us. Help us not to discriminate against those we do not understand.
Congregation:	Lord, hear our prayer!
Leader:	Lord, as we perceive faults and shortcoming in others, help us to remember our own.
Congregation:	Lord, hear our prayer!
Leader:	Lord, help us not to glory in the discrimination and hurt of others. Lord, help us to show love to all of your children, including the homeless, the addicted, the disenfranchised, and the forgotten.
Congregation:	Lord, hear our prayer!
Leader:	Help us to see the beauty and the significance in the uniqueness of all of your people. Lord, you created us all.
Congregation:	Lord, hear our prayer!
ALL:	Lord, help us to remember that we all have sinned and fallen short of your glory, but through your gift of grace and through your son Jesus Christ, we are made whole. Help us to honor and celebrate all that you have created and called each of us to be. Lord, help us to remember that all who call upon your name shall be saved. We thank you for your unconditional love. Lord, on this day, we believe that you have heard our prayer. Amen!

2. Song for Gathering/Opening Selection
As We Are, We Come. By Uzee Brown

3. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Standing on the Promises. By R. Kelso Carter. Tune, (PROMISES), by R. Kelso Carter

(b) God of Grace and God of Glory. By Harry Emerson Fosdick. Tune, (CWM RHONDDA), by John Hughes

(c) Blessed Assurance. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (ASSURANCE), by Phoebe P. Knapp

(d) Hold to God's Unchanging Hand. By Jennie Wilson. Tune, (UNCHANGING HAND), by F. L. Eiland

4. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) He's Got the Whole World in His Hand. Traditional

(b) For God So Loved the World. By Lanny Wolfe

(c) God Never Fails. By George Jordan

(d) He's Been Keeping Me. By Gale Murphy Jones

5. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Who Shall Separate Us. By Walter Hawkins

(b) Safe in His Arms. By Darius Brooks

(c) Search Me Lord. By Ricky Dillard

(d) Your Grace Is Enough. By Matt Maher and Chris Tomlin

(e) I Came to Magnify the Lord. By Mark Condon

6. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Love God Love People. By Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, and Tommy Simms

(b) Safety. By Oscar Williams Jr.

(c) When Sunday Comes. By Donald Lawrence

(d) Justified. By Smokie Norful

7. Anthems
(a) Amazing Grace. By John Newton. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

(b) Just as I Am, I Come. Arr. by Mary McDonald and Charlotte Elliot

(c) A Prayer for Peace. By Michael John Trotta

(d) O Love That Will Not Let Me Go. Arr. by Joseph Martin and George Matheson

(e) O Love That Will Not Let Me Go. Arr. by Mary Kay Parish. This selection is an anthem alternative for a hand bell choir and chimes.

8. Modern Songs
(a) God Made Me. By Jules Bartholomew

(b) Strong Finish (Finish Strong). By Jonathan Nelson and Kenneth Shelton

(c) Lord You've Been So Good. By Amber Bullock, Paul Morton Jr., and Eric Ramey

(d) It Not Over (When God Is in It). By Aaron Lindsey, Israel Houghton, and Ricardo Sanchez

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Oh Give Thanks. By Judith Christie McAlister

(b) I've Got So Much. By Kurt Carr

(c) Thank You Lord. By Walter Hawkins

(d) Celebrate. By Keith Hampton

(e) The Lord Is Blessing Me. Arr. by Mark Hubbard

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) I Love the Lord. By Richard Smallwood

(b) Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (PASS ME NOT), by William H. Doane

(c) Be Blessed. By Kurt Carr

(d) Remember Me (Chant). By Nolan Williams, Jr.

(e) Hear My Prayer, O Lord. By Roy L. Belfield, Jr.

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By Thomas O. Chisholm

(b) So Many Reasons. By A. Lewis and Vicki Yohe

(c) Were It Not for Grace. By David Hamilton and Phil McHugh

(d) No Weapon. By Fred Hammond and Alvin Moore

(e) He Will Answer. By Jules Bartholomew

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Take Me to the King. By Kirk Franklin

(b) His Yoke Is Easy. By Glenn Burleigh

(c) We Offer Christ. By Joel Britton. Arr. by Valeria Foster

(d) Amazing Grace. For organ. By Mark Hayes. Arr. by Douglas E. Wagner

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Be with Us All, Lord. By Uzee Brown Jr.

(b) God Be with You. By Thomas A. Dorsey

(c) A Gospel Benediction. By Rollo Dilworth

14. Additional Worship Planning Recommendations
Article
Berg, Susan Vanden. "Festival of Church Celebrates Diversity and Inclusion." The Banner. March 2012. Online location: http://www.thebanner.org/news/2012/03/festival-of-churches-celebrates-diversity-and-inclusion.

This article identifies way in which those in the following areas can be included:

• Disabled worshippers
• Ethnic dance ensembles
• Persons with testimonies of racial inclusion
• Hip-hop artists

Resource for Children
Hart, Carolyn. Story Time Standouts: Raising Children Who Love to Read. Online location: http://www.storytimestandouts.com/celebrating-diversity-with-picture-books/

Books

	Williams, Scott. Church Diversity: Sunday The Most Segregated Day of The Week. Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press, 2011.
	Young, Amos. The Bible, Disability, and the Church: A New Vision of the People of God. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2011.

15. Audio Visual Aids

Love, Joshua. Uncommon Hope: A DVD Enhanced Curriculum Reflecting the Heart of the Church for People Affected by HIV/AIDS. Bloomington, IN: Trafford Publishing, 2009.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany, Call to Worship, and Opening Prayer by Cornelius V. Johnson III

2. Song for Gathering/Opening Selection
As We Are, We Come. By Uzee Brown Jr.
Location:

3. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Standing on the Promises. By R. Kelso Carter. Tune, (PROMISES), by R. Kelso Carter
Location:

(b) God of Grace and God of Glory. By Harry Emerson Fosdick. Tune, (CWM RHONDDA), by John Hughes
Location:

(c) Blessed Assurance. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (ASSURANCE), by Phoebe P. Knapp
Location:

(d) Hold to God's Unchanging Hand. By Jennie Wilson. Tune, (UNCHANGING HAND), by F. L. Eiland
Location:

4. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) He's Got the Whole World in His Hand. Traditional
Location:

(b) For God So Loved the World. By Lanny Wolfe
Location:

(c) God Never Fails. By George Jordan
Location:

(d) He's Been Keeping Me. By Gale Murphy Jones
Location:

5. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Who Shall Separate Us. By Walter Hawkins
Location:

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

(c) Search Me Lord. By Ricky Dillard
Location:

(d) Your Grace Is Enough. By Matt Maher and Chris Tomlin
Location:

(e) I Came to Magnify the Lord. By Mark Condon
Location:

6. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) Love God Love People. By Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, and Tommy Simms
Location:

(b) Safety. By Oscar Williams Jr.
Location:

(c) When Sunday Comes. By Donald Lawrence
Location:

(d) Justified. By Smokie Norful
Location:

7. Anthems
(a) Amazing Grace. By John Newton. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton
Location:

(b) Just as I Am, I Come. Arr. by Mary McDonald and Charlotte Elliot
Location:

(c) A Prayer for Peace. By Michael John Trotta
Location:

(d) O Love That Will Not Let Me Go. Arr. by Joseph Martin and George Matheson
Location:

(e) O Love That Will Not Let Me Go. Arr. by Mary Kay Parish. This selection is an anthem alternative for hand bell choir and chimes.
Location:

8. Modern Songs
(a) God Made Me. By Jules Bartholomew
Location:

(b) Strong Finish (Finish Strong). By Jonathan Nelson and Kenneth Shelton
Location:

(c) Lord You've Been So Good. By Amber Bullock, Paul Morton Jr., and Eric Ramey
Location:

(d) It's Not Over (When God Is in It). By Aaron Lindsey, Israel Houghton, and Ricardo Sanchez
Location:

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Oh Give Thanks. By Judith Christie McAlister
Location:

(b) I've Got So Much. By Kurt Carr
Location:

(c) Thank You Lord. By Walter Hawkins
Location:

(d) Celebrate. By Keith Hampton
Location:

(e) The Lord Is Blessing Me. Arr. by Mark Hubbard
Location:

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) I Love the Lord. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

(b) Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (PASS ME NOT), by William H. Doane
Location:

(c) Be Blessed. By Kurt Carr
Location:

(d) Remember Me (Chant). By Nolan Williams, Jr.
Location:

(e) Hear My Prayer, O Lord. By Roy L. Belfield, Jr.
Location:

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By Thomas O. Chisholm
Location:

(b) So Many Reasons. By A. Lewis and Vicki Yohe
Location:

(c) Were It Not for Grace. By David Hamilton and Phil McHugh
Location:

(d) No Weapon. By Fred Hammond and Alvin Moore
Location:

(e) He Will Answer. By Jules Bartholomew
Location:

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Take Me to the King. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

(b) His Yoke Is Easy. By Glenn Burleigh
Location:

(c) We Offer Christ. By Joel Britton. Arr. by Valeria Foster
Location:

(d) Amazing Grace. For organ. By Mark Hayes. Arr. by Douglas E. Wagner
Location:

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Be with Us All, Lord. By Uzee Brown Jr.
Location:

(b) God Be with You. By Thomas A. Dorsey
Location:

(c) A Gospel Benediction. By Rollo Dilworth
Location:

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