The African American Lectionary

Worship Resources

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Brenda G. Hankins, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Music, First Institutional Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ

Worship Planning Notes

The day of Pentecost is considered to be the “birth day” of the church. It is the day that the Church received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s very life, breath, and energy lives in, with, and among us. Share the meaning of Pentecost with your congregation through the songs provided below for this service. Select the offerings that will work best for your church.

Prepare the congregation 1 to 2 weeks prior to Pentecost Sunday by suggesting that congregants wear all red—the liturgical color for Pentecost. The color red signifies fire (“tongues of fire”) which identifies one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Congregants can also wear white—the color used to represent the Holy Spirit.
Have praise teams, liturgical dancers, and choir members process in carrying flags and streamers signifying and celebrating the ascension of the Holy Spirit.
If you have members who can speak in other languages, have them read aloud Acts 2:1-21, or some selected portions, in different languages at the same time. This can be done in the place of the litany below or at other periods during the worship service.

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation
Processional Music
(a) Procession of the Levites. Orchestral Prelude. By Richard Smallwood

Litany
(b) Pentecost Sunday

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, from heaven, there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability.

And they heard one another in their own languages. Egyptians understood Judeans, and Judeans understood Asians, and Asians understood Arabs. They heard each other declare, in their native tongues, the wonderful works of God.

Thus the Church was born on Pentecost Day. We pray for the continued outpouring of your Spirit upon the church so that the fires of Pentecost may anoint us to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.

Thank you for African American churches which have kept the spirit of Pentecost in the forefront of their teaching and religious expression. We remember the Azusa Street revival of Los Angeles, conducted by William J. Seymour. This great revival gave birth to modern-day Pentecostalism.

Bishop Mason, founder of the Church of God in Christ, said, “I prayed earnestly that God would give me above all things a religion like the one I had heard about from the old slaves, and seen demonstrated in their lives.”

Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.”

Lord, as witnesses, we thank you for all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We thank you for fire shut up in our bones.

You have done marvelous things. May your Spirit continually fall fresh on us.

Holy Spirit, we welcome you in this place, in our hearts, in our homes, in our lives, and in our world.

Help us to release the anointing of the Holy Spirit which dwells within us. Let us pour your blessing into the lives of others.

Let us lift up the name of Jesus with power from on high. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Spirit of the Living God. Text and Tune, (Iverson) by Daniel Iverson

(b) Let It Breathe on Me. By Magnolia Lewis-Butts

(c) Blessed Quietness. By W. S. Marshall

(d) Sweet, Sweet Spirit. By Doris Akers

(e) Come Thou Almighty King. By Felice De Giardini

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Kum Ba Ya. Spiritual

(b) Real, Real, Jesus Is Real to Me. By Beatrice Brown

(d) It’s Real. By H. L. Cox

4. Gospel Songs
(a) He Touched Me. By William Gaither

(b) Fire. By Billy Lester

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Music
(a) The Presence of the Lord Is Here. By Kurt Carr

(b) The Spirit of David. By Fred Hammond

6. Anthems
(a) Send Forth Your Spirit. By Andrew Wright

(b) Anthem of Praise. By Richard Smallwood

7. Modern Songs
(a) Pentecost. By Jeff Roberson

(b) Holy Ghost Fire. By DeAndre

(d) Wind of Pentecost. By Don Corey Washington

(e) Holy Visitation. By Charles Hall

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Running Over. By Joe Pace

(b) We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise. By Kirk Dearman

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Speak to My Heart. By Donnie McClurkin

(b) When the Fire Fell. By G.E. Patterson

10. Sermonic Selections
(a) Holy Spirit. By Richard Smallwood

(b) He Touched Me. By William J. Gaither

(d) Sweet Holy Spirit. By Larry Trotter

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) We Offer Christ. By Joel Britton

(b) Come Home. By Kurt Carr

12. Benediction Sung, Spoken, or Instrumental
(a) God Be with You. Instrumental Organ Interlude. By William G. Tomer

(b) The Benediction. By Orim Meikle

(d) Benediction Spoken
Lord, we thank you for the awesome presence of your Holy Spirit; we recognize that you are real and moving in our lives. It is our prayer that we will walk in those gifts that you have empowered us with and that we will stand up and be the church whom you will use to make a difference in this world.

We give you all the honor and glory which you so richly deserve, and we will be ever mindful to give you all the praise.

In the matchless name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the only Son of the Living God, we ask this prayer.

Amen

13. Audio Visual Suggestions
Play sound effects of “mighty, rushing wind” during all readings for this service.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany, Responsive Reading or Invocation
Processional Music
(a) Procession of the Levites. Orchestral Prelude. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

The Praise and Worship Songs…. New York, NY: Verity Records, 2003.

Litany
(b) Pentecost Sunday
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #69 Used with permission.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Spirit of the Living God. Text and Tune, (Iverson) by Daniel Iverson
Location

African American Heritage Hymnal. #320

The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2000 Edition.
Memphis, TN: CME Publishing House, 2000. #124

The New Broadman Hymnal. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press and the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., 1972. #136

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN: Triad
Publications, 2005. #124

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985. #672

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. #197

(b) Let It Breathe on Me. By Magnolia Lewis-Butts
Location:

The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2000 Edition. #119

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #119

Yes Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #412

African American Heritage Hymnal. #374

The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2000 Edition. #122

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #122

Yes Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #202

(d) Sweet, Sweet Spirit. By Doris Akers
Location

African American Heritage Hymnal. #326

The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2000 Edition. #123

The New Broadman Hymnal. #255

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #123

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #262

Yes Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #192

(e) Come Thou Almighty King. By Felice De Giardini
Location

Timothy Wright and the New York Fellowship Mass Choir. Come Thou Almighty King. Jackson, MS: Savoy, 1994.

African American Heritage Hymnal. #327

The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2000 Edition. #4

The New Broadman Hymnal. #2

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #4

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. #71

Yes Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #16

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Kum Ba Ya. Spiritual
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #437

The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2000 Edition. #506

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #506

(b) Real, Real, Jesus Is Real to Me. Traditional
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #501

African American Heritage Hymnal. #527

(d) It’s Real. By H. L. Cox
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #417

The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2000 Edition. #154

The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #154

Yes Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #108

4. Gospel Songs
(a) He Touched Me. By William Gaither
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #273

Yes Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #469

(b) Fire. By Billy Lester
Location:

Billy Lester & The Anointed Women of Praise. Praize’M. Indianapolis, IN: Aleho International Music, 2002.

Shekinah Glory Ministry. Jesus. Harvey, IL: Kingdom Records Inc., 2007.

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Music
(a) The Presence of the Lord Is Here. By Kurt Carr
Location:

Cage, Byron. The Prince of Praise. Inglewood, CA: Gospocentric, 2003.

(b) The Spirit of David. By Fred Hammond
Location:

The Spirit of David. Southfield, MI: Verity, 1996.

6. Anthems
(a) Send Forth Your Spirit. By Andrew Wright
Location:

Mawby, Colin and Andrew Wright. Hymns and Anthems for the Church Year. Portland, OR: OCP Publications, 2007.

(b) Anthem of Praise. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

Persuaded: Live in D.C. New York, NY: Verity, 2001.

Hinshaw Music Publishers
P.O. Box 470
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-0470

Online location: www.hinshawmusic.com

7. Modern Songs
(a) Pentecost. By Jeff Roberson
Location:

Roberson, Jefferey. The Bethesda Project. New York, NY: Long Island Gospel Sound Records, 2006.

(b) Holy Ghost Fire. By DeAndre
Location:

Going Over. St. Louis, MO: Triumph Records, 2005.

Come Let Us Worship. New York, NY: Artemis Strategic, 2005.

(d) Wind of Pentecost. By Don Corey Washington
Location:

Provenance: …from the Original. Newark, NJ: Provenance Music Group, 2004.

(e) Holy Visitation. By Charles Hall
Location:

Stampley, Micah. A Fresh Wind, The Second Sound…. Sugarland, TX: Levitical Records, 1999.

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) Running Over. By Joe Pace
Location:

Joe Pace Presents….Sunday Morning Service. Mobile, AL: Integrity Gospel, 2004.

(b) We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise. By Kirk Dearman
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #529

African American Heritage Hymnal. #530

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Speak to My Heart. By Donnie McClurkin
Location:

Donnie McClurkin. New York, NY: Word Entertainment, 1996.

(b) When the Fire Fell. By G.E. Patterson
Location:

Patterson, G. E. Singing the Old Time Way. Memphis, TN: Podium Records, 2005.

Chicago Mass Choir. Calling on You Live. Nashville, TN: New Haven Records, 2001.

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Holy Spirit. By Richard Smallwood
Location:

Healing, Live in Detroit. New York, NY: Verity, 1999.

(b) He Touched Me. By William J. Gaither
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #273

Kee, John P. and The New Life Community Choir. Wash Me. New York, NY: Verity, 1991/2004.

(d) Sweet Holy Spirit. By Larry Trotter
Location:

What’s to Come Is Better Than What’s Been. Indianapolis, IN: Tyscott Records, 1999.

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) We Offer Christ. By Joel Britton
Location:

African American Heritage Hymnal. #355

(b) Come Home. By Kurt Carr
Location:

Come Let Us Worship. New York, NY: Artemis Gospel, 2005.

Joe Pace Presents….Sunday Morning Service. Mobile, AL: Integrity Gospel, 2004.

12. Benediction Sung, Spoken, or Instrumental
(a) God Be with You. Instrumental Organ Interlude. By William G. Tomer
Location:

Joe Pace Presents….Sunday Morning Service. Mobile, AL: Integrity Gospel, 2004.

(b) The Benediction. By Orim Meikle
Location:

Meikle, Orim M. and Rhema Worship and Praise. The Experience. Nashville, TN: Alliant Music Group, 2004.

Adoration: Live in Atlanta. New York, NY: Jive Records, 1996.

(d) Benediction Spoken. Prayer by Brenda G. Hankins

13. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Sound effects of rushing wind
Location: