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THANKSGIVING DAY
  
MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

For Sunday, November 23, 2008 or Thursday, November 27, 2008

Joyce Garrett, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Music Ministry Director, Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, VA

1. Spoken Call to Worship
(a)  Isaiah 12:1-6
In that day you will say:
“I will praise you, O LORD.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.

In that day you will say:
“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

(b)  Litany of Thanksgiving

Leader:	We consider God’s kindness to us from generation to generation. From our journey from African soils, across oceans and seas, to lands all over the Diaspora, and our pilgrimage in America, we have benefitted from the bounty which has been supplied to us through God’s amazing grace. God has not forgotten us. God has looked beyond our faults and seen our needs.
Congregation:	O God, thank you for blessing us and remembering us by your grace.
Leader:	We know that we have been chosen by God to redeem a nation and a world that has become self-absorbed and self-centered. Because you have redeemed us, we are called to be ministers of reconciliation. We are the beneficiaries of Jesus’ unconditional love which led to his ultimate sacrifice. Instead of suffering the penalty of sin, we have received the power of love.
Congregation:	O God, thank you for saving us and redeeming us by your love.
Leader:	We enjoy the privileges of freedom and the pleasure of possessions. “All we have needed, your hand has provided.” We have been enriched by the priceless benefits of family, friends, church, associations, and organizations that have embraced us, educated us, and edified us. God’s love and the love of all have sustained us. Against all the odds, we believe we are here because someone “stood in the gap” for us. Most of all, we know that God has blessed us.
Congregation:	O God, thank you for providing for us and restoring us by your mercy.
ALL:	O God, we give thanks for your goodness. We will tell our story and sing your praises in all the earth. We will express our gratitude to you in our service to our neighbor. We will “pay forward” our debt to you in our love and devotion to your creation. O God, we adore you, we exalt you, and we magnify your Name. Thank you for all you have done for us. Amen.

(c)  Thanksgiving Responsive Reading
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name,
O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

When the builders laid the foundations of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the Lord with TRUMPETS.

And the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with CYMBALS,
according to the directions of King David of Israel;

And they SANG RESPONSIVELY, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”

And all the people responded with a great SHOUT
when they praised the Lord, because the foundation
of the house of the Lord was laid.

Then David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly:
David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel,
forever and ever.”

Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory,
the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens
and on the earth are yours.

Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all.
In your hand are power and might;

And it is in your hand to make great and to give

strength to all. And now, our God, we give thanks to you
and praise your glorious name.

Choral Call to Worship
(d)  Thank You Lord (for Saving My Soul). By Seth Sykes and Bessie Sykes

(e)  Thank You, Lord. African American praise song

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Come, Ye Thankful People, Come. By George J. Elvey

(b) Let All the People Praise Him. By C. H. Morris

(c) We Gather Together. Netherland Folk Song. Tune by Edward Kremser

(d) We Give You Thanks. By Evelyn Haettenschwiller

(e) Count Your Blessings. By Johnson Oatman, Jr. Tune, (BLESSINGS), by Edwin Excell

(f) Now Thank We All Our God. By Martin Rinkart. Tune, (NUN DANKET), by Johann Cruger

(g) My Tribute. By Andraé Crouch

3. Spiritual or Traditional Song
Ain’t-a That Good News. Spiritual

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Every Day Is Thanksgiving. By Leonard Gregory Burks

(b) He Has Done Great Things for Me. By Jessy Dixon

(c) Jesus, You Brought Me All of the Way. By Kenneth Louis. For SATB, solo

(d) Count Your Blessings. By Johnson Oatman, Jr. Tune, (BLESSINGS), by Edwin O. Excell

(e) Just Can’t Tell It All. By Smith Byron Jerome

(f) Thank You, Jesus. By Bernadette Blount Salley

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Thank You. By Todd Collins, John Katina, and Sam Katina

6. Anthems
(a) Lord, We Give Thanks to Thee. By Undine Smith Moore. For SATB a capella

(b) Thanks Be to Thee. By George Frederic Handel. For SATB, soprano or tenor optional solo

(c) Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart. By Edward Hayes Plumptre. Arr. by Richard Dirksen. Tune, (VINEYARD HAVEN). For SATB with optional brass and tympani

(d) I Will Give Thanks Unto Thee O Lord. By Rossini and Fitzhugh. For SATB

7. Modern Songs
(a) Give Thanks. By Percy Bady

(b) I Just Can’t Tell It All. By Mozel

(c) Hallelujah to Your Name. By Tye Tribbett

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Destiny. By Stephen Hurd, Jonathan Nelson, and Justin Savage

(b) Bless the Lord. By Andraé Crouch. Arr. by Try Tribbett

(c) I Will Bless Thee, O Lord. By Esther Watanabe

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Remember Me. Congregational Praise Song

(b) Thank You, Lord. Traditional

10. Sermonic Selection
If Not for Your Grace. By Israel Houghton

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Give Thanks. By Don Moen

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Scriptural Benediction
(a) Philippians 4:4-7

(b) Philippians 4:19-20

Choral Benediction
(c) Thank You. By Walter Hawkins

13. Other Recommendations
Using the theme “Time, Talents, and Treasures,” worshippers may reflect upon their many blessings in each area. In a smaller setting, they may also be asked to list several specific ways that they have been blessed; and offer their own personal thanks to God.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Invocation or Litany
Spoken Call to Worship
(a) Isaiah 12:1-6, NIV

(b) Litany of Thanksgiving. By Rev. Lester Agyei McCorn, Senior Pastor, Faith AME Zion Church, Atlanta, GA.

(c) Thanksgiving responsive reading
Location:

Choral Call to Worship
(d) Thank You Lord (for Saving My Soul). By Seth Sykes and Bessie Sykes
Location:
(e) Thank You, Lord. African American praise song
Location: 2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Come, Ye Thankful People, Come. By George J. Elvey
Location:
(b) Let All the People Praise Him. By C. H. Morris
Location:
(c) We Gather Together. Netherland Folk Song. Tune by Edward Kremser
Location:
(d) We Give You Thanks. By Evelyn Haettenschwiller
Location:

(e) Count Your Blessings. By Johnson Oatman, Jr. Tune, (BLESSINGS), by Edwin Excell
Location:
(f) Now Thank We All Our God. By Martin Rinkart. Tune, (NUN DANKET), by Johann Cruger
Location:
(g) My Tribute. By Andraé Crouch
Location:

3. Spiritual or Traditional Song
Ain’t-a That Good News. Spiritual
Location:
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Every Day Is Thanksgiving. By Leonard Gregory Burks
Location:

(b) He Has Done Great Things for Me. By Jessy Dixon
Location:

(c) Jesus, You Brought Me All of the Way. By Kenneth Louis. For SATB, solo
Location:

(d) Count Your Blessings. By Johnson Oatman, Jr. Tune, (BLESSINGS), by Edwin O. Excell
Location:
(e) Just Can’t Tell It All. By Smith Byron Jerome
Location:

(f) Thank You, Jesus. By Bernadette Blount Salley
Location:

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Thank You. By Todd Collins, John Katina, and Sam Katina
Location:

6. Anthems
(a) Lord, We Give Thanks to Thee. By Undine Smith Moore. For SATB a capella
Location:

(b) Thanks Be to Thee. By George Frederic Handel. For SATB, soprano or tenor optional solo
Location:

(c) Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart. By Edward Hayes Plumptre. Arr. by Richard Dirksen. Tune, (VINEYARD HAVEN). For SATB with optional brass and tympani
Location:

(d) I Will Give Thanks Unto Thee O Lord. By Rossini and Fitzhugh. For SATB
Location:

7. Modern Songs
(a) Give Thanks. By Percy Bady
Location:

(b) I Just Can’t Tell It All. By Mozel
Location:

(c) Hallelujah to Your Name. By Tye Tribbett
Location:

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Destiny. By Stephen Hurd, Jonathan Nelson, and Justin Savage
Location:

(b) Bless the Lord. By Andraé Crouch. Arr. by Tye Tribbett
Location:

(c) I Will Bless Thee, O Lord. By Esther Watanabe
Location:

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Remember Me. Congregational Praise Song
Location:

(b) Thank You, Lord. Traditional
Location:
10. Sermonic Selection
If Not for Your Grace. By Israel Houghton
Location:

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
Give Thanks. By Don Moen
Location:

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Scriptural Benediction
(a) Philippians 4:4-7

(b) Philippians 4:19-20

Choral Benediction
(c) Thank You. By Walter Hawkins
Location:

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