FATHER'S DAY

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Father's Day evokes many different emotions—some good, some negative. This special day is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the gift of our earthly fathers, grandfathers, and father-figures. Consider these ideas as you plan your Father's Day Service:

• Involve as many fathers as possible in the service—doing readings, leading in prayer, etc.
  
  
• Share experiences. Let members of the congregation speak of their experiences of being a father or of being fathered. Before the sermon (or as part of it) it might be possible and appropriate to include such an element of 'testimony.' This might include, for instance:

• A panel of three fathers at three different stages on the joyful and challenging journey of fatherhood;
  
  
• Having a new dad describe the difference being a father has made to his life and his faith;
  
  
• Inviting someone to share their experience of having a father who let them down badly, and the difference that knowing God's love has made to them;
  
  
• Inviting a grandfather to speak about what it is like to be a grandparent, including any advice he has for new parents, or any things he wishes he had done differently when his children were young;
  
  
• Inviting a single dad to talk about what support he has received (i.e., men's ministry retreats, seminars, etc.) from the church to help him rear his child/ren.

• Do a spotlight on a specific group of fathers in the service (i.e. newly baptized/new members who are fathers, oldest father, youngest father, father with the most children, father with adopted/foster children, father who is the longest married, newly married father, men who have played the role of a father in someone's life, etc.).
  
  
• Include a special dedication or consecration of fathers during the service and present each father with a copy of the book God's Man: A Daily Devotional Guide to Christlike Character by Don M. Aycock
  
  
• Combine traditional hymn tunes with newer praise choruses to demonstrate the value of the past and its influence on contemporary music:

• "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" (2c) with "I Sing Praises to Your Name" (4c)
  
  
• "How Firm a Foundation" (2b) with "Firm Foundation" (4d)
  
  
• "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" (2d) with "Mighty You Are" (4a)
  
  
• "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" (2e) with "Praise the Father, Praise the Son" (4g)

• Design your bulletin to include quotes from kids saying why their dad is the best or why they want to be like their dad.
  
  
• Incorporate multicultural elements in the service if other cultures are represented in your congregation.
  
  
• Don't forget to remember dads in the military who may currently be deployed.
  
  
• Highlight specific programs, activities, resources, etc. for fathers that are facilitated by your church ministries. Put these in the bulletin and on screens, along with contact information for the ministry leaders.

1. Call to Worship, Litany, or Congregational Reading

Call to Worship

(a) Scriptural Call to Worship for Fathers' Day. By Christine Longhurst*

Scriptural Call to Worship for Fathers' Day

Come, let us worship God our Father,
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing
that comes from heaven: (Eph. 1)

who knew us and chose us before the world began; (1 Pet. 1, Eph. 1)

who loves us so much that he calls us his own children; (1 Jn. 3)

who has brought us from darkness into light
and filled us with his glorious power; (Col. 1)

who has prepared an inheritance for us
that will never spoil or fade; (1 Pet. 1)

who encourages and strengthens us
in every good deed and word; (2 Thes. 2)

who comforts us in our troubles
so that we can comfort others. (2 Cor. 1)

This is our God,
the ultimate source of all good things,
and the One for whom we live. (1 Cor. 8)

Come, let us worship God, our Father, together!

Music for Call to Worship
(b) Welcome to My Father's House. By V. Michael McKay

(c) Fill This House. By John P. Kee

(d) Glorify Thy Name. By Donna Adkins

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Just When I Need Him. By William C. Poole. Tune, (GABRIEL), by Charles H. Gabriel

(b) How Firm a Foundation. Text from "K" in Rippon's Selection of Hymns. Tune, (FOUNDATION).

(c) All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name. By Edward Perronet. Tune, (CORONATION), by Oliver Holden

(d) I Sing the Mighty Power of God. By Isaac Watts. Arr. by Roberto Burton. For SSAATTBB
Audio Sample :http://resources.giamusic.com/mp3s/7529.mp3

(e) Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. By Joachim Neander. Tune, (LOBE DEN HERREN), by W. Sterndale Bennett

(f) O God, Our Help in Ages Past. By Isaac Watts. Tune, (ST. ANNE), by William Croft

3. Spirituals and Traditional Songs
(a) He Is King of Kings. Spiritual

(b) Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Traditional

(c) Guide My Feet. Spiritual

(d) I Want Jesus to Walk with Me. By Todd Ledbetter. Instrumental for saxophone

(e) Done Made My Vow. Spiritual. Arr. by Frederick Young. For SATB choir
Audio Sample: http://resources.giamusic.com/mp3s/4857.mp3

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs or Praise Teams
(a) Mighty You Are. By Darrell Walls

(b) Father Me. By Paul Oakley

(c) I Sing Praises to Your Name. By Terry MacAlmon

(d) Firm Foundation. By Jamie Harvill and Nancy Gordon

(e) Just When You Need Him. By Norman Hutchins

(f) God Is Faithful. By Jennifer Holliday, Keith Williams, and Raphael G. Warnock

(g) Praise the Father, Praise the Son. By Chris Tomlin

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Ministry Music
(a) The Father's Song. By Matt Redman

(b) My Father's House. By Damita Haddon and Deitrick Haddon

6. Anthems
(a) Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. By Robert Robinson. Arr. by R. Bryant Braxton. For TTBB

(b) He Stooped to Bless. By Edward Margetson. For SATB
Audio Sample: http://www.giamusic.com/mp3s/6497.mp3

7. Modern Songs
(a) Our God Strong and Mighty. By Milton Biggham

(b) He Is My God. By James Johnson

(c) Through the Eyes of Faith. By Stephen A. Hurd

(d) Glorify Your Name. By Terrell Hunt

8. Songs for Children
(a) He Knows My Name. By Tommy Walker

(b) Hallelujah/Your Love Is Amazing. By Brian Doerksen

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Thank You Lord. By Vincent Tharpe

(b) Thank You. By Dale Ciceron

(c) God Is Good. By Jason Nelson and Jevon Hill

(d) The Name. By Kirk Whalum

10. Prayer, Song, or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
Prayer
(a) Our Father. Matthew 6:9-13

Music
(b) It's Me Oh Lord (Acapella Praise). By Tarrian LaShun Pace

(c) Your Grace Still Amazes Me. By Connie Harrington and Shawn Craig.Instrumental, for piano

(d) Glorify Thy Name. By Donna Adkins. Arr. by Mark Payne. For piano

(e) If My People. By Brandon Waddles. For TTBB
Audio Sample: http://resources.giamusic.com/mp3s/7548.mp3

(f) The Overflow (Fill Me Again). By Anthony Brown

(g) Cover Me. By Andrew Merritt

(h) Draw Me Close/Thy Will Be Done. By Marvin Winans

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) Father I Worship You. By Earnest Pugh

(b) The Promise. By PJ Morton

(c) Cast All Your Cares. By Kevin Johnson. For SSA choir, with soprano solo
Audio Sample: http://resources.giamusic.com/mp3s/5626.mp3

(d) Father of the Fatherless. By Jason Upton

(e) Holy Is Thy Name. By Joel Boyce, Jr. Arr. by Lloyd Mallory, Jr. For SATB
Audio Sample: http://resources.giamusic.com/mp3s/6564.mp3

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Arr. by Allen Toussaint. For piano

(b) Wrap Me in Your Arms (Reprise). By Michael Gungor

(c) The Father's Song. By Matt Redman

(d) His Eye Is on the Sparrow. By Civilla D. Martin. Arr. by Tedde Gibson. Instrumental/for organ

(e) Lord in You. By Rudolph Stanfield, Jr.

(f) What Wondrous Love Is This. By Ramsey Lewis Trio. Instrumental

13. Benediction Spoken, Sung, or Instrumental
Benediction Prayer
(a) Benediction for Father's Day. Based on Psalm 103 and Romans 8. By Michelle Riley Jones

As you go from here, remember this:
God's love is from everlasting to everlasting,
as far as the East is from the West,
and from generation to generation.
Our Father has compassion on his children.
We are His sons and daughters;
Made from the dust of the earth,
and adopted into His family.
He has compassion on those who fear Him,
who listen to his voice, and who do His will.
We are His heirs, and fellow heirs with Christ.
Go out in the knowledge
that the everlasting love of God,
our Father, goes with you
wherever you go.
Amen.

Benediction Music
(b) God Is On Our Side. By Andra and Luther "Mano" Hines

(c) My Peace I Leave with You. By Wendell Craig Woods. For SATB choir

(d) You God. By Daniel Weatherspoon

14. Audio Visual Suggestions
Videos
(a) Develop a video tribute to fathers who are deceased. Use "Dance with My Father Again" performed by Nuttin' But Stringz as the background music.

(b) Single Father Documentary.

(c) Color Him Father. By Richard Spencer Lewis
Here's a wonderful music/video resource to honor stepfathers, father-figures, etc., as sung by The Winstons. The D.C.-based group sold over a million copies of this song, which was certified gold, and won a Grammy for Best R&B Song in 1970. The son recounts the consistent way the father provides for the family and shows love and respect to his mother. As the song continues, it's revealed that the man is actually his stepfather who selflessly married a widow with seven children. As a result, the stepson colors him "love."

(d) A Father's Day Welcome. By Floodgate Productions
This video is designed to be displayed before a worship service, during the offering, or as the invocation.

15. Other Suggestions
Have the music team plan a concert for fathers. Intersperse the music with selected Scriptures and readings about fathers using one or more of the following themes:

• The role of the father
• Parenting
• Fathers as spiritual examples
• Leadership
• Correction/Discipline
• Children as a blessing
• Biblical fathers
• Creating a legacy
• Setting a good example
• Not discouraging children
• Men of faith
• Celebration of adoptive/foster and mentor fathers
• MY DAD IS THE GREATEST!—Celebrating characteristics of great dads

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

Worship Planning Notes

Aycock, Don M. God's Man: A Daily Devotional Guide to Christlike Character. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1998.

1. Call to Worship, Litany or Congregational Reading