The African American Lectionary

Worship Resources

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT SUNDAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Nothing so closely models the union Christ seeks to have with us than his institution of marriage. The daily act of becoming one with Christ parallels the daily act of husbands and wives growing in oneness with each other.

In this worship service, in lieu of having a vow renewal (some couples may prefer a more private time/environment for this) the Married Couples’ Litany (see 1.c) provides an option for couples to remember and renew their commitment to each other and to God.

All married couples can enter in a procession during the service; the pastoral team and their spouses can lead the procession. All of the couples should be seated in the same area on this Sunday or whenever you elect to hold the ceremony.

Wives can wear cream or white; husbands can wear dark suits, white shirts, and ties.

Children from your children’s choir can serve as flower girls and Bible bearers to go before the processional of couples.

Have couples who have been married 25 years or more seated on the first seat of the designated area for couples and give them a certificate, flowers, or some other remembrance.

1. Invocation, Litany, or Congregational Reading
Prelude or Processional Music
Couples can process in during this music.

(a) Love. By John Stoddart. This selection is a piano solo.

(b) Meditation (Thais). By Jules Massenet. Arr. by Arpad Pejsik. This selection is for cello and piano.

Litany
(c) Married Couples’ Litany.
The married couples in the congregation should be seated in one section. For the litany,
they are to stand together where they are seated and recite the litany.

Pastor:	The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man (Genesis 2:18, 21, 22, 23a).The man said:
Husbands:	“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Pastor:	But I want you to know and realize that Christ is the Head of every man, and the Head of Christ is God … he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man (1 Corinthians 11:3a, 7).
Wives:	(Say husband’s name here), how handsome you are, my love! Oh, how charming! My lover is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His arms are rods of gold. His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. This is my lover, this is my friend (Song of Solomon 1:17, 5:10, 14-16).
Husbands:	(Say wife’s name here), how beautiful you are, my darling. Oh, how beautiful! Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens. Other queens there may be but my dove, my perfect one, is unique. Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman’s hands. Your neck is like an ivory tower, your eyes are the pools of Heshbon. Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry (Song of Solomon 1:16; 2:2, 6:9, 7:1, 4-5).
Pastor:	Place her, place him, like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it should be utterly scorned(Song of Solomon 8:6-7).
Both Spouses:	In the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God (1 Corinthians 11: 8-9, 11-12).
Pastor:	Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Ephesians 4:31-32; Proverbs 3:5-6).
Husband:	Come with me from Lebanon, my bride. You have stolen my heart, my bride (Song of Solomon 4:8).
Pastor:	Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [You are] no longer two people, but one. And no one should separate what God has joined together” (John 13:34; Matthew 19:6).
Both Spouses:	My lover is mine and I am his/hers. As for [our] house, we will serve the Lord (Song of Solomon 2:16; Joshua 24:15).

2. Hymns or Anthems
(a) We Gather Together. Netherlands Folk Hymn. Tune, (Kremser) by Edward Kremser

(b) Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (Beecher) by John Zundel

(c) O Perfect Love. By Dorothy F. Gurney. Tune, (O Perfect Love) by Joseph Barnby

(d) We Have Come into This House. Text and Tune, (Worship Him) by Bruce Ballinger

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Seek the Lord. By Glenn Jones. Spiritual. This spiritual is for SATB with soprano solo.

(b) I Know the Lord Has Laid His Hands on Me. Spiritual

(c) Let Us Break Bread Together. Spiritual. This spiritual could be done as a duet for male and female voices. It is also suitable as a prayer invitation for couples.

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Jesus Is a Love Song. By Twinkie Clark-Terrell

(b) Lord You Are Awesome. By Cedric Berry and Devaughn Murphy

(c) We Sing Your Praises. By Judith Christie-McAllister

(d) We Lift Our Hands. By Leonard Scott

(e) My Tribute. By Andraé Crouch

(f) Come and Let Us Worship. By Richard Smallwood

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Love U with the Rest of My Life. By Fred Hammond

6. Anthems
(a) Striving after God. By Michaelangelo. Arr. by Undine Smith-Moore. For SATB

(b) Let’s Have a Union. By Salone Clarey. For SATB a capella

7. Modern Songs
(a) We Wait. By Wesley Tuttle

(b) Pour My Love on You. By Juanita Bynum

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Still in Love. By Kirk Franklin

(b) When God Gave Me You. By T. D. Jakes and Darin Whittington

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Lord’s Prayer. By Albert Hay Malotte

(for soprano voice)

(for tenor voice)

(b) Make Us One. By Phillip Bailey

(d) Lord, I Lift Her to Thee. By T. D. Jakes, Donald Lawrence, and Daniel Weatherspoon

(e) God Can. By Shawn Allen and James Fortune

(f) Family. By Donald Lawrence

(g) My Soul Seeks to Please Him. Traditional. This selection could be used as a prayer response.

(h) Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us. By Dorothy A. Thrupp. Tune, (Bradbury) by William B. Bradbury

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Because You Loved Me. By Diane Warren. This is an instrumental gospel arrangement of a
pop classic.

(b) The Things We Do. By Robin Scoffield and Keith Thomas

11. Invitational Song
(a) Jesus Is Love. By Lionel Ritchie

(b) So Easy to Love You. By Donald Clay and Michael Grungor

(c) We Need You Lord. By Jonathan Butler

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) May the Lord God Be with You. By Terry Baker and Simeon Baker

(b) Falling in Love with Jesus. By Jonathan Butler. This would also be a nice processional song for couples.

(d) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. By Johann Sebastian Bach. Arr. By Myra Hess. This selection
can be a piano solo and is also appropriate for processional or recessional.

13. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Record and display video footage of the weddings of some of the members of your congregation.

(b) Display wedding pictures of members in a highly visible area, such as the church foyer. Include pictures of your pastor and ministers as well. Identify each person in the photo and include dates of marriages.

14. Other Recommendations
(a) Either during or following the morning worship service, hold a special communion service for married couples.

(b) Congregation and clergy can surround the couple in a prayer circle during the Period of Prayer or near the end of the service.

(c) Honor members of your extended family, church family, or community whose marriages have had an impact on your life. Write a note of appreciation to persons whose marriages have inspired you. Send those notes out in March.

(d) Donate books on strengthening marriage or devotionals related to marriage to community organizations.

(e) Organize babysitting services and child care activities for couples on this day or at some point during the month of March. Announce or print in your order of worship the names of persons who are generously donating their services as a gift to couples in the congregation.

(f) Organize a fundraiser, a dance, walkathon, bake sale, etc., to purchase marriage education books and tapes and donate them to a community organization or to the congregation library.

(g) Create a “Ten Most Affordable (or Most Romantic, or Most Creative) Marriage Dates” Contest for your church and neighboring community. Send the winning list to media—radio, TV, newspapers, websites, and community organizations that have newsletters. Ask radio stations to promote a similar contest. Keep the focus on marriage dates. The contest should have persons send in information about their “Most Affordable, or Creative, or Romantic Marriage Date.”

(h) Encourage your pastor to incorporate the renewal of wedding vows into the liturgy for all married couples in attendance. Inform members and invite guests 2-3 weeks in advance.

(i) Share different marriage customs with the congregation by having couples from different ethnic backgrounds explain customs unique to their heritage. Highlight them in your church bulletin or place them on screens throughout the worship service.

(j) Organize “couple” events such as bake sales, garage/yard sales, and car washes to raise money for charities—all in celebration of Marriage Enrichment.

(k) Organize a couples bowling, skating party, picnic, or some other event that will allow the married couples in your church to come together. These events could precede or follow the Marriage Enrichment Service.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Invocation, Litany or Congregational Reading
Prelude or Processional Music
(a) Love. By John Stoddart. This selection is a piano solo.
Location:

Sweet. Upper Marlboro, MD: Urban Junction East Music, 2005.

(b) Meditation (Thais). By Jules Massenet. Arr. By Arpad Pejsik. This selection is for cello and piano.
Location:

Published by Editio Musica Budapest
SheetMusic Plus
1300 64th Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
Phone: 510-420-7121

Online location: www.sheetmusicplus.com

Litany
(c) Litany for Married Couples. By Michelle Riley Jones

2. Hymns or Anthem
(a) We Gather Together. Netherlands Folk Hymn. Tune, (Kremser) by Edward Kremser
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #342

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. #28

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #307

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21^st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2005. #326

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985. #8

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. #8

(b) Love Divine, All Love Excelling. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (Beecher) by John Zundel
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #440

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #274

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21^st Century Edition. #65

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #191

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #38

African American Heritage Hymnal. #520

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #532

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #154

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21^st Century Edition. #361

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #656

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #226

(d) We Have Come into This House. Text and Tune, (Worship Him) by Bruce Ballinger
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #174

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21^st Century Edition. #30

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #67

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Seek the Lord. Spiritual. Arr. By Glenn Jones. This spiritual is for SATB with soprano solo.
Location:

GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue
Chicago, IL 60638
Phone: 1-800-442-1358

Online location: www.giamusic.com

(b) I Know the Lord Has Laid His Hands on Me. Spiritual
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #360

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #52

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #243

(c) Let Us Break Bread Together. Spiritual. This spiritual could be done as a duet for male and female voices. It is also suitable as a prayer invitation for couples.
Location:

Hogan, Moses and The Moses Hogan Singers. Negro Spirituals. New York, NY: EMI, 1996.

African American Heritage Hymnal. #686

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #338

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #135

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21^st Century Edition. #358

Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #403

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #30

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Jesus Is a Love Song. By Twinkie Clark-Terrell
Location:

The Clark Sisters. The Clark Sisters: Live—One Last Time. New York, NY: EMI, 2007.

(b) Lord You Are Awesome. By Cedric Berry and Devaughn Murphy
Location:

Bynum, Juanita. Pour My Love on You. Atlanta, GA: Flow Records, 2008.

In His Presence Live! Nashville, TN: Judah Music, 2006.

(d) We Lift Our Hands. By Leonard Scott
Location:

Moore, Lucinda. Lucinda Moore. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscot Records, 2006.

(e) My Tribute. By Andraé Crouch
Location:

Phipps, Wintley. The Classics. Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Music, 2008.

(f) Come and Let Us Worship. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

Rejoice. New York, NY: Zomba, 1997.

5. Liturgical Dance Music
Love U With the Rest of My Life. By Fred Hammond
Location:

Fred Hammond Presents…In Case You Missed It, and Then Some. New York, NY: Verity, 2001.

6. Anthems
(a) Striving after God. By Michaelangelo. Arr. By Undine Smith-Moore. For SATB
Location:

GIA Publications, Inc.
Phone: 1-800-442-1358
Online location: www.giamusic.com

(b) Let’s Have a Union. By Salone Clarey. For SATB a capella
Location:

GIA Publications, Inc.
Phone: 1-800-442-1358
Online location: www.giamusic.com

7. Modern Songs
(a) We Wait. By Wesley Tuttle
Location:

Bynum, Juanita. A Piece of My Passion. Atlanta, GA: Flow Records, 2006.

(b) Pour My Love on You. By Juanita Bynum
Location:

Pour My Love On You. Atlanta, GA: Flow Records, 2008.

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Still in Love. By Kirk Franklin
Location:

The Fight of My Life. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 2007.

(b) When God Gave Me You. By T. D. Jakes and Darin Whittington
Location:

Jakes, T. D. Sacred Love Songs. Santa Monica, CA: Island, 1999.

Memorable Moments. Brentwood, TN: Sparrow Records, 1999.

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) The Lord’s Prayer. By Albert Hay Malotte
Location:

Bishop T. D. Jakes and The Potter’s House Mass Choir. A Wing and a Prayer. New York, NY: Rhino/Warner, 2007.

Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago. This Is the Day. Chicago, IL: I AM Records, 2003.

(b) Make Us One. By Phillip Bailey
Location:

The Wonders of His Love. Nashville, TN: Myrrh, 1984.

Bishop Noel Jones and The City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir. Welcome to the City. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscott, 2007.

(d) Lord, I Lift Her To Thee. By T. D. Jakes, Donald Lawrence, and Daniel Weatherspoon
Location:

Jakes, T. D. Sacred Love Songs. Santa Monica, CA: Island, 1999.

(e) God Can. By Shawn Allen and James Fortune
Location:

Fortune, James and Fiya. You Survived. Houston, TX: Worldwide Music, 2004.

(f) Family. By Donald Lawrence
Location:

The Murrills. Family Prayer. New York, NY: Zomba, 2008.

(g) My Soul Seeks to Please Him. Traditional. This selection could be used as a prayer response.
Location:

Bynum, Juanita. A Piece of My Passion. Atlanta, GA: Flow Records, 2006.

(h) Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us. By Dorothy A. Thrupp. Tune, (Bradbury) by William B. Bradbury
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #424

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Hymnal. #278

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #47

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21^st Century Edition. #54

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #545

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #385

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Because You Loved Me. By Diane Warren. This is an instrumental gospel arrangement of a
pop classic.
Location:

Whalum, Kirk. The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III. Nashville, TN: Top Drawer Records,
2008.

(b) The Things We Do. By Robin Scoffield and Keith Thomas
Location:

Adams, Yolanda. Mountain High…Valley Low. New York, NY: Elektra, 1999.

Adams, Oleta. Come Walk with Me. New York, NY: Harmony/Columbia, 1997.

11. Invitational Song
(a) Jesus Is Love. By Lionel Ritchie
Location:

Tankard, Ben. Piano Prophet. New York, NY: Zomba, 2004.

A different version is provided by Heather Headley and Smokie Norful.
Headley, Heather. Audience of One. Brentwood, TN: EMI Gospel, 2009.

(b) So Easy to Love You. By Donald Clay and Michael Grungor
Location:

Israel & New Breed. Live From Another Level (Disc 1). New York, NY: Sony, 2004.

Butler, Jonathan and Juanita Bynum. Gospel Goes Classical (Live). South Africa/Atlanta, GA: Maranatha! Music/Flow Records, 2006.

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) May the Lord God Be with You. By Terry Baker and Simeon Baker
Location:

Pace, Joe. Joe Pace Presents: Worship for the Kingdom. New York, NY: EMI Gospel, 2007.

(b) Falling in Love with Jesus. By Jonathan Butler. This would also be a nice processional song
for couples.
Location:

The Worship Project. South Africa: Maranatha! Music, 2004.

African American Heritage Hymnal. #632

Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #222

Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #69

(d) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. By Johann Sebastian Bach. Arr. By Myra Hess. This selection
can be a piano solo and is also appropriate for processional or recessional.
Location:

Oxford University Press
2001 Evans Road
Cary, NC 27513
Phone: 1-800-445-9714

Online location: www.oup.com

13. Audio Visual Suggestions
(b) Suggestion obtained from the World Marriage Day website: http://wmd.wwme.org/liturgies.html#Vows accessed 17 December 2008

14. Other Recommendations
(d)–(h) Ideas taken from Black Marriage Day website: http://www.blackmarriageday.com accessed 17 December 2008

(i)–(k) Ideas taken from World Marriage Day website: http://wmd.wwme.org/liturgies.html#Vows accessed 17 December 2008