(St. Mark A.M.E.Z Church in Chicago)

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Charles B. Cotton, Jr., Young Adult Lectionary Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Church Anniversary is one of the most important days in the life of the African American Church. On this day, we reflect and thank God for the good and bittersweet moments within our church bodies. I would like to challenge you to think creatively. Generally, worship on this day can be very busy. This year think about keeping worship simple but profound. Consider the following examples to guide your thinking.

• The Old-time Way: In our modern-day forms of worship, praise worship is our time for worshipping God through song. Today, think about having the deacons lead the worship moment of praise and worship.

• Consider the songs that brought us over. In each of our churches these songs will be different.
• While planning worship, poll your congregation to see which songs resonate in the hearts and minds of the worshipers you serve.

• Hope for Tomorrow: Church Anniversary this year should be a time where you celebrate the past, the present, and the future.

• Allow your youth and young adult ministry to play key roles in the worship service. Assign them the tasks of doing the call to worship, the Scripture, the prayer, etc.
• Connecting youth ministries to this special day will engage the youth ministry of your church and celebrate their importance in the history of the church.

• Show the Generations: Generally, there is an anniversary color for the worship service. This year allow the generations to dress in a color that will represent their generation. This will allow for representation from each generation during the worship service. This is a different and non-traditional idea. You may have as many as seven generations in your church and seven colors would be used.

Minister:
We’ve come this far by faith
Leaning on the Lord
Trusting in His Holy Word
He’s never failed us yet.

Congregation:
I will lift up mine eyes to the hills
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

Minister:
The earth is the Lord’s
And the fulness thereof
The world and those that dwell therein

Congregation:
On this day, we celebrate and give glory to our Living God.
We declare in one resounding voice

All:
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord
Praise Ye the Lord!

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. By Joachim Neander. Tune, (LOVEE DEN HERREN).

(b) The Church’s One Foundation. By Samuel J. Stone. Tune, (AURELIA), by Samuel S. Wesley

(c) Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan

(d) The Solid Rock. By Edward Mote. Tune by William B. Bradbury

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) High Praise. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux

(b) Precious Jesus. By Thomas A. Whitfield

(c) God Is a Good God. By Keith Hunter. Arr. by Stephen Key and Nolan Williams, Jr.

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) God Great God. By Kurt Carr
 
(b) One God. By Darien Dennis

(c) How Great Is Our God. By Chris Tomlin

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) You Are Great. By Juanita Bynum

(b) God Is Here. By Israel Houghton, Meleasa Houghton, and Martha Munizzi

(c) Show Me Your Glory. By Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff and Israel Houghton

6. Anthems
(a) Anthem of Praise. By Richard Smallwood

(b) Even Me. Traditional. Arr. by Michael McElroy

(c) Let Everything That Hath Breath. By Jeffrey Ames

(d) It Pays to Serve Jesus. Arr. by Nathan Carter

(e) Psalm 150. Arr. by Alberto Randegger

7. Modern Songs
(a) Marvelous. By Kevin Bond

(b) Hallelujah, You’re Worthy to Be Praised. By Judith McAllister

(c) High Praise. By J. J. Hairston

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) He Has Done Great Things for Me. By Jessy Dixon. Tune, (GREAT THINGS), by Jessy Dixon. Arr. by Stephen Key

(b) My Offering. By Nolan Williams Jr.

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Fill My Cup, Lord. By Richard Blanchard. Tune, (FILL MY CUP).

(b) This Day. By Edwin Hawkins. Arr. by Stephen Key

(c) I Need Thee Every Hour. By Annie S. Hawkes. Tune, (NEED), by Robert Lowry

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Only What You Do for Christ Will Last. By Raymond Rasberry. Tune, (LASTING TREASURES). This selection can be done as a solo.

(b) In Christ Alone. By Keith Juillian Getty and Christopher Townsend. This selection can be done as a solo.

(c) He’s Been Faithful. By Carol Cymbala

(d) I Believe God. By Kurt Carr

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) I Surrender All. By Judson W. Van De Venter. Tune, (SURRENDER), by Winfield S. Weeden

(b) Christ Is All. By Kenneth Morris

(c) I Give Myself Away. By Sam Hinn and William David McDowell

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) As You Go, Tell the World. Anonymous. Arr. by Valeria Foster

(b) The Lord Bless You and Keep You. Arr. by Peter Lutkin

(c) I Need You to Survive. By David G. Frazier

(d) Till We Gather Again. By Stephen F. Key

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Materials Listed

1. Call to Worship. By Charles B. Cotton, Jr. with excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech