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THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
  
MUSIC AND WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sharon L. Fuller, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Music, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC and founder, B.O.S.S. Ministries Incorporated

Worship Planning Notes
Advent is a time set apart for believers in Christ to remember the first coming of the Messiah and to wait for his return. While waiting, work is to be performed. This “work” ensures that we who believe will avail ourselves of opportunities to build our faith. As you structure worship, resist the mounting pressure of society’s relentless marketing of the Christmas season. We must refrain from observing the Christmas holiday theme before the actual scheduled time.

The writer of Malachi encourages all to be accountable for our actions. This is a time to remind the saints of God that Jesus Christ is coming and that we need to ask ourselves, “Will I be ready when Jesus comes?”

Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you as you plan for the worship experience. Please remember, God is the audience. Involve children and the entire congregation as much as possible; praise God corporately.

Advent and Serving

Again, worship leaders and planners must resist the mounting pressure of society’s relentless marketing and PR campaign of the Christmas season. We must refrain from observing the Christmas holiday theme before the actual scheduled time.

Romans 12:1-2 states: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Have officers, ministry leaders, ushers, and greeters wear buttons that say SERVICE, or SET APART TO SERVE or something similar. This will give way to the Levitical concept of being “set apart” for service.

Upon entry, have these designated persons “serve”/pass out to the congregation Scriptures that instruct us “how-to” be and “how-to” proclaim the gospel to others while waiting for the return of our Messiah. This “serving” should take place at various times throughout the worship service and as the congregation departs to serve.

Receiving the Word… Studying the Word… Proclaiming the Word… Waiting for the return of the Messiah… These activities should be a part of our daily service in the world as Christians. We are to be busy as we wait.

The Holy Spirit teaches, leads, and guides us to all truths in order for believers to be ready when Jesus comes. Anticipation… Expectation… Treating my neighbor right. Striving… Surviving… Finding my name in the “Book of Life.” The King is coming! Until that day, I am prepared to serve.

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation

Leader:	Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Congregation:	Anticipation… Expectation… Serving God will pay off after awhile.
Leader:	Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Congregation:	Anticipation… Expectation… Treating my neighbor right. Serving God will pay off after awhile.
Leader:	Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Congregation:	Anticipation… Expectation… Treating my neighbor right. Serving God will pay off after awhile.
Leader:	I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Congregation:	Anticipation… Expectation… Treating my neighbor right. Finding my name in the “Book of Life.” Serving God will pay off after awhile.
Leader:	And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
Congregation:	Anticipation… Expectation… Treating my neighbor right. Striving… Surviving… Serving God will pay off after awhile.
Leader:	Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Congregation:	Anticipation… Expectation… Treating my neighbor right. Striving… Surviving… Finding my name in the “Book of Life.” Serving God will pay off after awhile.
All:	It is my duty to serve God with the temperament of an innocent child; God does not want me to be idleness but to serve him from a principle of love. I anticipate… I have great expectations… I will treat my neighbor right. I will strive to survive keeping Godly principles. I will find my name in the “Book of Life.”... Serving God pays each day but the biggest payoff is coming!

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson

(b) It Is Well with My Soul. By Horatio G. Spafford. Tune by Ville Du Havre

(c) Loyalty to Christ. By E. Taylor Cassel. Tune by Flora H. Cassel

(d) Lord Help Me to Hold Out. By James Cleveland

(e) We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations. By H. Ernest Nichol

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a)  Jesus Getting Us Ready. Traditional

(b)  Sign Me Up. By Kevin Yancy and Jerome Metcalfe

(c)  Soon and Very Soon. By Andraé Crouch

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) If You Just Hold Out. By Gene Viale

(b)  I’ll Do His Will. By James Cleveland

(c)  I’m Determined. By Roger Culberson

(d)  Hold On Old Soldier. By Walter Hawkins

(e)  Tell Them I’m Coming. By Richard “Mr. Clean” White

(f)  We Will Wait. By David Frazier

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) I Will Wait for You. By Jason Upton

(b) I’ll See You Again. By Richard Smallwood

(c) The Question Is. By Marvin Winans

(d) Well Done. By Tye Tribbett

(e) We Wait. By Wesley Tuttle

6. Anthems
(a) If They Asked You Why He Came. By Lena J. McLin. For SATB

(b)  Let All the People Say “Amen.” By Pepper Choplin. For SATB and solo, a cappella

(c) Like a Child, I Wait. By Ruth Elaine Schram. For SATB

(d)  The Time for Turning. By Pamela Martin. Tune, (SALLEY GARDENS). For SATB

(e)  Who Will Go for Me? By Jan McGuire. Tune, (MANCHESTER). For SATB

(f)  Within These Walls. By Pepper Choplin. For SATB

7. Modern Songs
(a) Christ Is Coming Back Again. By Twinkie Clark-Terrell

(b) Don’t Wait Too Late. By Margaret Douroux

(c) Getting My House in Order. By John P. Kee

(d) Great Day. By Richard Smallwood

(e) Isaiah 40. By Chester D. T. Baldwin

(f) Wait on the Lord. By Demetrius Griffin

8. Songs for Children and Youth
(a) Are You Ready? Text and Tune by Larry E. Roberts, Sr.

(b) Wait on Him. By John P. Kee

(c) True Victory. By Allison J. LaValley

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Bless Thou the Gifts. By Samuel Longfellow. Tune by Robert Schumann

(b) Count Your Blessings. By Johnson Oatman, Jr. Tune, (COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS), by Edwin O. Eacell

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) I Pray We’ll Be Ready. By Marlowe Cribb

(b) Why Do You Wait? By George Root

(c) Take Time to Be Holy. By William D. Longstaff. Tune by George Stebbins

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) We Shall Behold Him. By Dottie Rambo

(b) When Jesus Comes. By Sara Jordan Powell

(c) Walk On by Faith. By James Cleveland

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) He’s Coming Back Again. By John P. Kee

(b) When Comes the Day. By Chester D. T. Baldwin

(c) The Decision. By V. Michael McKay

(e) Will You Be Ready? By Dello Thedford

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Blest Be the Ties That Bind. By John Fawcett. Tune, (DENNIS), by John G. Nageli

(b) God Be with You. By Jeremiah E. Rankin. Tune by William G. Tomer

(c) Till We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin

(d) What’s Coming Is Better Than What’s Been. By James Hall

14. Audio Visual Suggestion
Create a video to the tune of “Anticipation” by Carly Simon. Use the lyrics of the chorus:

This song was made famous by a commercial in the late '70s. In the commercial, the announcer said, “Heinz ketchup is thick and rich and slow.” Then, a person was shown patiently waiting for the ketchup to come out of the bottle as the chorus of the soundtrack played in the background.

Recreate this moment of nostalgia by placing emphasis on believers in Christ waiting for his return for the observance of Christmas day. Have your worship arts team develop this concept while personalizing it for your given congregation. The “eCommercial” can be spliced into various segments to create true moments of “anticipation.”

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation
“Anticipation…The Biggest Pay Off.” By Sharon L. Fuller

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a)  We’ve Come This Far by Faith. By Albert A. Goodson
Location:
(b) It Is Well with My Soul. By Horatio G. Spafford. Tune by Ville Du Havre
Location:
(c) Loyalty to Christ. By E. Taylor Cassel. Tune by Flora H. Cassel
Location:
(d) Lord Help Me to Hold Out. By James Cleveland
Location
(e) We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations. By H. Ernest Nichol
Location:

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a)  Jesus Getting Us Ready. Traditional
Location:

(b)  Sign Me Up. By Kevin Yancy and Jerome Metcalfe
Location:
(c) Soon and Very Soon. By Andraé Crouch
Location:
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a)  If You Just Hold Out. By Gene Viale
Location:
(b) I’ll Do His Will. By James Cleveland
Location:

(c) I’m Determined. By Roger Culberson
Location:

(d) Hold On Old Soldier. By Walter Hawkins
Location:

(e) Tell Them I’m Coming. By Richard “Mr. Clean” White
Location:

(f) We Will Wait. By David Frazier
Location:

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) I Will Wait for You. By Jason Upton
Location:

(b) I’ll See You Again. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

(c) The Question Is. By Marvin Winans
Location:

(d) Well Done. By Tye Tribbett
Location:

(e) We Wait. By Wesley Tuttle
Location:

6. Anthems
(a) If They Asked You Why He Came. By Lena J. McLin. For SATB
Location:

(b) Let All the People Say “Amen.” By Pepper Choplin. For SATB and solo, a cappella
Location:

(c) Like a Child, I Wait. By Ruth Elaine Schram. For SATB
Location:

(d) The Time for Turning. By Pamela Martin. Tune, (SALLEY GARDENS). For SATB
Location:

(e) Who Will Go for Me? By Jan McGuire. Tune, (MANCHESTER). For SATB
Location:

(f) Within These Walls. By Pepper Choplin. For SATB
Location:

7. Modern Songs
(a) Christ Is Coming Back Again. By Twinkie Clark-Terrell
Location:

(b) Don’t Wait Too Late. By Margaret Douroux
Location:

(c) Getting My House in Order. By John P. Kee
Location:

(d) Great Day. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

(e) Isaiah 40. By Chester D. T. Baldwin
Location:

(f) Wait on the Lord. By Demetrius Griffin
Location:

8. Songs for Children and Youth
(a) Are You Ready? Text and Tune by Larry E. Roberts, Sr.
Location:

(b) Wait on Him. By John P. Kee
Location:

(c) True Victory. By Allison J. LaValley
Location:

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Bless Thou the Gifts. By Samuel Longfellow. Tune by Robert Schumann
Location:

(b) Count Your Blessings. By Johnson Oatman, Jr. Tune, (COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS), by Edwin O. Eacell
Location:
10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) I Pray We’ll Be Ready. By Marlowe Cribb
Location:

(b) Why Do You Wait? By George Root
Location:
(c) Take Time to Be Holy. By William D. Longstaff. Tune by George Stebbins
Location:
11. Sermonic Selection
(a) We Shall Behold Him. By Dottie Rambo
Location:

(b) When Jesus Comes. By Sara Jordan Powell
Location:
(c) Walk On by Faith. By James Cleveland
Location:

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) He’s Coming Back Again. By John P. Kee
Location:

(b) When Comes the Day. By Chester D. T. Baldwin
Location:

(c) The Decision. By V. Michael McKay
Location:
(d) Why Not Now? By Daniel W. Whittle. Tune by Charles C. Case
Location:

(e) Will You Be Ready? By Dello Thedford
Location:

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Blest Be the Ties That Bind. By John Fawcett. Tune, (DENNIS), by John G. Nageli
Location:
(b) God Be with You. By Jeremiah E. Rankin. Tune by William G. Tomer
Location:
(c) Till We Meet Again. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

(d) What’s Coming Is Better Than What’s Been. By James Hall
Location:

14. Audio Visual Suggestion
Anticipation. By Carly Simon
Location:

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