Sharon L. Fuller, Guest Lectionary Liturgist
Minister of Music, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC; Ministry Consultant and HIV/AIDS Educator/Counselor, B.O.S.S. Ministries Incorporated; and Producer and Host, The Soap Box: Reel Talk for Real People
Worship Planning Notes
Introduction
African Heritage Sunday has been set aside to direct the focus of the church to the presence of Africa in world history, including Judeo-Christian Scripture. The black Church must NEVER forget the important contributions of our ancestors. Allow your worship arts ministry to breathe the fresh breath of knowledge via sharing our African heritage with them.
Challenge
Be creative. Create the right atmosphere with the usage of banners, drumming, incense, and décor that depicts the themes of Africa and of resurrection season. Think outside of the box and utilize all facets of the symbolic nature of the Levitical order to achieve this ministry endeavor.
Our task is simple: to facilitate pride in our African heritage and history. History takes place each and every day that God gives. The Creator presents diverse groups of people to serve all creation.
1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation
*******SOFTLY BEGIN AFRICAN DRUMMING.
Speaker 1:
Ethiopia: the cradle of civilization provides the birth place for the world’s Abrahamic connections in the world of religion.
Many:
We acknowledge our African roots.
Speaker 2:
The face of the sun-kissed one provided light in a dark situation.
Many:
We acknowledge our African roots and embrace our spiritual presence as a strong light in this world.
Speaker 3:
As the Ethiopian spoke out for righteousness to take place, we should do the same when our brothers and sisters face oppression in our community and anywhere in the world.
Many:
We acknowledge our African roots and embrace our spiritual presence as a strong light in this world. We will speak out against inhumane actions against our brothers and sisters.
Speaker 4:
When we find ourselves in a dismal situation, we expect deliverance.
Many:
We acknowledge our African roots and embrace our spiritual presence as a strong light in this world. We will speak out against inhumane actions against our sisters and brothers. We must know that deliverance is always available.
Speaker 5:
There is always someone in the enemy’s camp who will stand up for righteousness.
Many:
We acknowledge our African roots and embrace our spiritual presence as a strong light in this world. We must always speak out against inhumane actions against our sisters and brothers. We must know that deliverance is always available. We will stand up for righteousness.
Speaker 6:
Just a small group of people who are wise and have support can lift many from places of oppression.
All:
We will remember to speak up and stand up so that social justice can take place. We acknowledge our African roots and embrace our spiritual presence as a strong light in this world. We will speak out against inhumane actions against our sisters and brothers. We must know that deliverance is always available. We must honor and stand up for righteousness so that many can be delivered from oppression.
LIBATIONS An Affirmation of Our Ancestors by Sharon Laverne Fuller
Observe a moment of silence out of respect for our African Ancestors.
Light each candle in silence.
Pour Libations (water and oil) after each saying:
For our ancestors (Pour Libations)
For the legacy left by our ancestors (Pour Libations)
For the glorious cloud of witnesses (Pour Libations)
For the traditions left us by our ancestors (Pour Libations)
For the genius and ingenuity of our ancestors (Pour Libations)
For the courage and fortitude of our ancestors (Pour Libations)
For the power, promises, and presence of the everlasting Deliverer (Pour Libations)
While observing the reading of the Litany, African drumming should take place. The media team and or the mime ministry should create a presentation to reflect the theme: Affirmation of African Heritage. Applicable images should be displayed throughout the presentation.
Please note: A live performance or prerecorded music can be rendered of African drumming.
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) I Need Thee Every Hour. By Annie S. Hawkes. Tune by Robert Lowry
(b) I Trust in God Wherever I May Be. By W.C. Martin
(c) The Hills of Life (The Lord Will Make the Way). Text and Tune by Charles Albert Tindley
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Children Don’t Get Weary. Text and Tune by Edward Boatner
(b) I Will Trust in the Lord. Negro Spiritual
(c) It’s Me.Text and Tune by A. M. Townsend
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a)Not Forgotten. By Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey
(b) God Has Done So Much for Me. By Jimmy Dowell
(c) Hold On, Help Is on the Way. By Kenneth Paden
(d) He Will Supply Your Needs. By Trinity Temple
(e) Hold On. By Lawrence Matthews and Pam Sharp-Reagan
(f) To Be Encouraged. By William Becton
(g) You Can Make It. By Percy Gray
5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) Not Forgotten. By Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey
(b) Sinking. By Tye Tribbett
6. Anthems
(a)Ethiopia’s National Anthem. By Assefa Gebre-Mariam Tessama
(b) Something Inside So Strong. By Labi Siffre
7. Modern Songs (Written between 2005–2010)
(a) Everything Will Be Alright. By Tye Tribbett
(b) He’ll Make a Way. By Larue Stewart and Ernest Collins, Jr.
(c) Keep On Making a Way. By Percy Gray, Jr.
(d) Rescued Me. By Luke Mercer, Jr.
(e) Jesus. By Latoska Travis and Daniel Witherspoon
(f) You Raise Me Up. By Lovland Graham
8. Music for Children and Youth
(a) Jesus Loves the Little Children. Anonymous. Tune by George Root
(b) Love. By Kirk Franklin
(c) Ransomed. By Micah Stampley and Heidi Stampley
9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
My Name Is Victory. By Jonathan Nelson and Justin Savage
10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) If It Had Not Been for the Lord on My Side. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux
(b) Holy One. By Kirk Franklin
11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Live and Not Die. By Lucinda Moore
(b) The Corinthian Song. By V. Michael McKay
12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) He Loves Me. By Dr. C. Ronald S. Williams II
(b) Life Shall Never Be the Same. By Adrian B. King
(c) The Redeemed Praise. By V. Michael McKay
(d) What Love. By Milton Biggham
13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Always Remember. Text and Tune by Andraé Crouch
14. Audio Visual Suggestions
1. Creating and distributing a newsletter is a wonderful way to keep the congregation and friends informed of upcoming events. Each month you can celebrate a different event. (You could title the newsletter Celebrate (insert name of event)!) For February, celebrate Black History.
2. Have your Mime Ministry create a special performance using the song “Hold On, Help Is on the Way.”
3. Perform a skit. Bring the song “I Am Not Forgotten” performed by Israel Houghton and New Breed to life with your distinctive artistic touch. Approximate performance time: 10 minutes.
4. Creative Learning Exercises
a. Use Social Networking Sites. Prepare an eCommercial to promote your African Heritage service. Post the media on various networking sites such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, etc., for evangelism purposes.
b. Use Public Access Television. Produce a television program that provides history for all of the ethnic constituencies in your community. This program can be shown to a local viewing audience via the Public Access station in your area. Public Access television provides an avenue for local residents to express their opinions or message over a special cable channel. Utilize this free service as an electronic forum to get your message to a diverse audience. This creative learning exercise can only be used as a true evangelism tool to reach the masses.
c. Crafts and Tapestry. Embrace the usage of crafts and tapestry as a viable worship medium.
Make banners to provide a visual display of symbols and colors pertaining to the season.
Create red, gold, and green arm bands for the congregation to wear. These colors are represented in the flag of Ethiopia. Each time the band is looked upon, members are to remember the Ethiopian presence in the Bible.
Africa is the birthplace of civilization. This time is set aside to celebrate the positive aspects of the presence, position, purpose, and posture of our African ancestors, including the story in today’s text. Prepare a listing of traditions, symbols, and books to share with the congregation so that they can gain a better understanding of African culture during the time of this text.
Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed
2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a)I Need Thee Every Hour.By Annie S. Hawkes. Tune by Robert Lowry
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #451
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. Nashville, TN: A.M.E. Zion Publishing House, 1996. #466
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. Nashville, TN. Triad Publications, 2005. #303
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. #305
(b) I Trust in God Wherever I May Be. By W.C. Martin
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #144
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #84
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #53
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #139
(c) The Hills of Life (The Lord Will Make the Way). Text and Tune Charles Albert Tindley
Location:
Beams of Heaven: Hymns of Charles Albert Tindley. General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church. New York, NY: GBGMusik, 2006. #12
3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Children, Don’t Get Weary. Text and Tune by Edward Boatner
Location:
Spirituals Triumphant Old and New (Revised and Enlarged). Nashville, TN: Sunday School Publishing Board, National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc., 1967. #80
(b) I Will Trust in the Lord. Negro Spiritual
Location:
African American Heritage Hymnal. #391
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #75
Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #232
Cleveland, J. Jefferson, and Verolga Nix. Songs of Zion. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1981. #14
The New National Baptist Hymnal 21st Century Edition. #285
Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #333
(c) It’s Me. Text and Tune by A. M. Townsend
Location:
Spirituals Triumphant Old and New (Revised and Enlarged). #10
4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Not Forgotten. By Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey
Location:
Israel and New Breed. Alive in South Africa. New York, NY: Sony/Epic, 2005.
Zion Still Sings for Every Generation. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2007. #221
