Worship Resources



SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
  
MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, December 7, 2008

William C. Powell, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Associate Professor of Music, Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Worship Planning Notes
Worship leaders, ministers of music and musicians please keep in mind that Christmas has not arrived. Persuade all involved in the worship service to keep this in mind and to instead help your church celebrate the Advent Season, our time of working while we wait for the birth of our Savior.

1. Litany or Responsive Reading
Leader: The prophets foretold Jesus’s birth centuries before he came to earth. Some believed—some did not. Yet, he came, and fulfilled all messianic prophecies.

People: Jesus is coming. The Savior is coming soon!

A choir member: God called John the Baptist, even before he was born, to announce the coming of the Messiah. Many believed that John was the Messiah. However, his was the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord.

People: Jesus is coming. The Savior is coming soon!

An usher: The righteous cry out and the Lord hears, and he delivers them out of all of their troubles. The Lord is near.

People: Jesus is coming. The Savior is coming soon!

A deacon, trustee, or other church leader: Who can stand when he appears? Who is like him? Who is able to judge the Creator of all things? He does all things well. He is great and greatly to be praised.

ALL: The King of kings will judge the living and the dead. He will end pain and suffering, and restore righteousness and peace among the nations. Jesus is coming again! The Savior is coming again, soon!

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Come Thou Almighty King. By Felice de Giardini. Tune, (ITALIAN HYMN).

(b) Jesus Is Coming Again. By John W. Peterson

(c) A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. By Martin Luther, translated by Frederick H. Hodge. Tune, (EIN’ FESTE BURG).

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning. Traditional
Suggested arrangements of various voicings by, but not limited to, the following arrangers:
1. Arr. by Victor C. Johnson. For SATB

2. Arr. by Patsy Ford Simms. For SATB

3. Arr. by Andre J. Thomas. For SATB Choir and conga drums

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams 
(a) And He Shall Purify. By George Frederick Handel. Arr. by Mervyn Warren

(b) But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming. By George Frederick Handel. Arr. by Mervyn Warren

(c) Pure Gold. By Twinkie Clarke

5. Children’s Songs for Advent
(a) Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. By Nellie Talbot. Tune, (SUNBEAM), by E. O. Excell

(b) We’re Growing. By Evelyn Reynolds

6. Anthems
(a) Prepare the Way of the Lord. By Benjamin Harlan. For SATB and SAB

(b) Advent. By Craig Courtney. For TTBB; violin part in octavo

(c) Who Shall Come Before the Lord? By Philip M. Young

7. Modern Songs
(a) Glorious Is Thy Name. By John P. Kee

(b) War Cry. By Mica Stampley and Heidi Stampley

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
Refiner’s Fire. By Brian Doerksen

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) O Come O Come, Emmanuel. By John Mason Neale (vv. 1, 4) and Henry Sloan Coffin (vv. 2, 3). Tune, (VENI EMMANUEL). Adapt. by Thomas Helmore

(b) Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. By Robert Robertson. Tune, (NETTLETON), by John Wyeth

10. Sermonic Selection
(a)  Search Me Lord. By Thomas Dorsey

(b)  Give Me a Clean Heart. By Margaret Douroux

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Jesus Is Calling. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (CALLING TODAY), by George C. Stebbins

(b) Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door. African American spiritual. Tune, (SOMEBODY’S KNOCKING).

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Music
(a)  Go Ye Now in Peace. By Joyce Eiler

(b)  The Lord Bless You. Based on Numbers 6:24-26. Tune, (BENEDICTION), by Peter Lutkin

13. Other Recommendations
The song “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” appears at 3 above. Suggestions are as follows:
(a) Involve praise/liturgical dancers as the choir sings the song;

(b) Your drama ministry can reenact the parable of the wise and foolish virgins prior to or after the song.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany
Written by William C. Powell with selected scriptural quotes.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a)  Come Thou Almighty King. By Felice de Giardini. Tune, (ITALIAN HYMN).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #327

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal Official Hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Charlotte, NC: A.M.E. Zion Pub. House, 1996. #2

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #76

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #38

Church of God in Christ. Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. Memphis, TN: Church of God in Christ Pub. Board in association with the Benson Co., 1982. #16

(b)  Jesus Is Coming Again. By John W. Peterson
Location:
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #7

(c) A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. By Martin Luther, translated by Frederick H. Hodge. Tune, (EIN’ FESTE BURG).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #124

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #57

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #37

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #144

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning. Traditional
Suggested arrangements of various voicings by, but not limited to, the following arrangers:
1. Arr. by Victor C. Johnson. For SATB
Opening with the dramatic musical statement, “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning!”, this incredibly creative arrangement then kicks into a driving, rhythmically intense feel that never lets up! A most welcome addition to choral repertoire in these voicings!
Location:
Sheet Music Plus
300 64th Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
Phone: 1-800-743-3868

Online location: www.sheetmusicplus.com

2. Arr. by Patsy Ford Simms. For SATB
Location:
Stagepass.com Inc.
555 Route 78, Suite 165
P.O. Box 717
Swanton, VT 05488
Phone: 866-374-2337

Online location: www.stagepass.com

3. Arr. by Andre J. Thomas. For SATB Choir and conga drums
Location:
Sheet Music Plus
Phone: 1-800-743-3868
Online location: www.sheetmusicplus.com

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) And He Shall Purify. By George Frederick Handel. Arr. by Mervyn Warren
Location:
Tramaine Hawkins/Various. Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration. New York, NY: Warner Alliance, 1992.

(b) But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming. By George Frederick Handel. Arr. by Mervyn Warren
Location:
Austin, Patty/Various. Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration. New York, NY: Warner Alliance, 1992.

(c) Pure Gold. By Twinkie Clarke
Location:
The Clarke Sisters. Is My Living in Vain. New York, NY: Sony, 1995.

5. Children’s Songs for Advent
(a)  Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. By Nellie Talbot. Tune, (SUNBEAM), by E. O. Excell
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #614

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal. #556

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #420

(b)  We’re Growing. By Evelyn Reynold.
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #618

6. Anthems
(a) Prepare the Way of the Lord. By Benjamin Harlan. For SATB and SAB
Location:
J. W. Pepper & Sons Incorporated
2480 Industrial Boulevard
Paoli, PA 19301
Phone: 1-800-345-6296

Online location:www.jwpepper.com

(b) Advent. By Craig Courtney. For TTBB; violin part in octavo
Location:
Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
960 Old Henderson Road
Columbus, OH 43220
Phone: 614-451-6461

Online location: www.beckenhorstpress.com

(c) Who Shall Come Before the Lord? By Philip M. Young
Location:
Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
Phone: 614-451-6461

Online location: www.beckenhorstpress.com

7. Modern Songs
(a) Glorious Is Thy Name. By John P. Kee
Location:
New Life Community Choir. Nothing But Worship. New York, NY: Zomba, 2007.

(b)  War Cry. By Mica Stampley and Heidi Stampley
Location:
Stampley, Micah. The Songbook of Micah. New York, NY: EMI Gospel Dexterity, 2005.

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
Refiner’s Fire. By Brian Doerksen
Location:
Toronto Mass Choir. Going Home. Toronto, Canada: Micah Records, 2007.

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) O Come O Come, Emmanuel. By John Mason Neale (vv. 1, 4) and Henry Sloan Coffin (vv. 2, 3). Tune, (VENI EMMANUEL), adapt. by Thomas Helmore
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #188

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #92

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #3

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #82

(b) Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. By Robert Robertson. Tune, (NETTLETON), by John Wyeth
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #175

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #29

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #166

10. Sermonic Selection
(a)  Search Me Lord. By Thomas Dorsey
Location:
Various Artists. Precious Lord: New Recordings of The Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey. New York, NY: Columbia, 1973.

(b)  Give Me a Clean Heart. By Margaret Douroux
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #461

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a)  Jesus Is Calling. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (CALLING TODAY), by George C. Stebbins
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #351

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #411

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #175

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #171

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #303

(b)  Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door. African American spiritual. Tune, (SOMEBODY’S KNOCKING).
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #348

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Hymnal. #601

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #34

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #170

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Music
(a)  Go Ye Now in Peace. By Joyce Eiler
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #637

(b)  The Lord Bless You. Based on Numbers 6:24-26. Tune, (BENEDICTION), by Peter Lutkin
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #636

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #557

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #142