JESUS AND WOMEN (March is Women s History Month)

Sunday, March 14, 2010 JESUS AND WOMEN (March is Women s History Month) MUSIC & WORSHP RESOURCES Pamela Jean Davis, Guest Lectionary Liturgist Director of Worship Arts, Fountain of Praise Church, Houston, TX Worship Planning Notes Women are and always have been special to the Savior. On this Sunday, instill in women that they matter to Christ, to the church, and to the world. Without the presence and labor of women, all churches would close. The practices and policies of churches speak loudly to women about whether they matter. Sexist church practices, including those practiced by women against women, lessen the belief by women that they matter to Christ and in the world. The church must not perpetuate such thinking. 1

This is not a worship service for Women s Day, which is an important annual celebration. Instead on this Sunday, women, those with and without church positions, are to be nurtured and encouraged in their relationship with Christ, in their personal lives, in their service to humanity, and in their service to the Church. Following are some way to do this: Make the service women-friendly. Let women lead in carrying out the service if that is their preference. Have women participate in the planning of the worship service. Display pictures of women in the church (young and old) on screens throughout the service. Gather all women of the church during altar prayer and have a special time of consecration. Three weeks prior to this service during Bible Study (including Bible study for teen girls) and Sunday School, include books and films for and about women. 1. Litany Black Women Today, O Lord, we honor black women carriers and cultivators of culture. In a lush African garden, your hands fashioned her as Mother of Creation. Bless her now as she continues to pass culture on to future generations. Thank you for black women, Lord. Their descendents have blessed the earth. We remember some of the African queens: Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, Makeda, Nzingha, and Yaa Asantewa. Through the centuries they grew in wisdom and strength. Fertile minds were formed at their knee. They nurtured kingdoms as queen rulers of mighty nations. Bless black women now, Lord, as they continue to educate and lead their people. Strengthen black women, Lord. Their genius has enriched the earth. We remember Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Pauli Murray, and Rosa Parks. The black woman was treated as property during enslavement and the Middle Passage. Yet she survived and her vision of freedom ignited a determination to struggle for human and civil rights. Bless black women now, Lord, as they fight against injustice through strategies for hope, survival, and advancement. Empower black women, Lord. Their bravery has ennobled the earth. We remember Augusta Savage, Katherine Dunham, Marian Anderson, Mahalia Jackson, and Meta Warrick Fuller. They birthed black literacy and artistic traditions. Through autobiography, quilts, sculpture, dance, song and poetry, the once muffled voices of black women ring clear with creative power. Bless them now, Lord, as their moans and hums, whispers and shouts make our land beautiful. Inspire black women, Lord. Their beauty has adorned the earth. 2

We remember Rahab, Zapporah, Jarena Lee, Julia Foote, and Zilpha Elaw. Black women prayed and preached, healed and helped faithfully at all times. As prayer warriors, they knew how to trust you, O God, especially in times of trouble. Their triumph has sparked fire in our souls. May the light that radiates from you today cast beautiful patterns on our lives through them. We rejoice now, O Lord, with black women everywhere. Thank you, Lord. Their work blesses the earth. 2. Hymns and Congregational Songs (a) Make Me a Channel of Your Peace. By Sebastian Temple. Tune by Mark Bernard. For SATB choir and congregation YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=67hczayqkqm (b) How Great Is Our God. By Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Jesse Reeves (c) Savior, More Than Life to Me. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (MORE THAN LIFE), by William H. Doane 3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs (a) Give Me Jesus. African American Spiritual (b) The Lord Is Blessing Me Right Now. Traditional (c) He Knows. By Pamela Jean Davis 4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams (a) Peace and Favor Rest on Us. By Kurt Carr (b) I Am the One. By Kurt Carr (c) Grateful. By John W. Stevenson (d) Think of His Goodness. By Debra L. Perry 5. Liturgical Dance Music (a) You Pulled Me Through. By Diane Warren (b) More Than I Can Bear. By Kurt Franklin (c) Here I Am to Worship. By Tim Hughes 6. Anthems (a) Hallelujah Chorus. By G. F. Handel (b) The Word Was God. By Rosephanye Powell. For SATB with divisi, a cappella (c) Lift Up Your Heads. By Emma L. Ashford 3

7. Modern Songs (a) My Name Is Victory. By Jonathan Nelson and Justin Savage (b) Praise Him in Advance. By Deon Kipping (c) We Bless Your Name. By Nolan Williams, Jr. 8. Offertory Song or Instrumental (a) You Can t Beat God Giving. By Doris Akers (b) Count Your Blessings. By Timothy Wright (c) You Are Great. By Eva Lena Hellmark 9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer (a) I Am Just One Prayer Away. By Gregory Curtis (b) A Touch. By Steven Ford (c) Mighty Wind. By Andraé Crouch 10. Sermonic Selection (a) Give Me Jesus. Spiritual (b) Hide Me. By Steven Ford (c) Because He Lives. By Gloria Gaither and William J. Gaither. Tune, (RESURRECTION), by William J. Gaither 11. Invitational Song or Instrumental (a) He s Working It Out for Your Good. By Montage Pheolan (b) Jesus Saves. By Priscilla J. Owens. Tune, (JOYFUL SOUND/WE HAVE HEARD A JOYFUL SOUND), by William J. Kirkpatrick 12. Benediction Song or Instrumental (a) Blest Be the Tie That Binds. By John Fawcett. Tune, (DENNIS), by Hans G. Naegeli (b) Be Blessed. By James Harris III, Terry Lewis, James Q. Wright, and Yolanda Adams (c) Right Now Praise. By Jonathan Nelson and Justin Savage 13. Audio Visual Suggestions On screens and on Church bulletins, show images of Jesus and women. Some examples are: Jesus and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, holding Jesus in her arms Jesus and Mary, the sister of Lazarus Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well 4

Jesus and Mary of Magdala 14. Other Recommendations Sunday School, and teaching options include: If It Wasn t for the Women : Black Women s Experience and Womanist Culture in Church and Community by Cheryl Townsend Gilkes Righteous Discontent: The Women s Movement in the Black Baptist Church, 1880 1920 by Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham Just a Sister Away: A Womanist Vision of Women's Relationships in the Bible by Renita Weems Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed 1. Litany Black Women. African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 2001. #70. Used with permission. 2. Hymns and Congregational Songs (a) Make Me a Channel of Your Peace. By Sebastian Temple. Tune by Mark Bernard. For SATB choir and congregation Unity Music Press Distributed by Sheet Music Plus 1300 64th Street Emeryville, CA 94608 Phone: 1-800-743-3868 Online location: www.sheetmusicplus.com (b) How Great Is Our God. By Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Jesse Reeves Nelson, Jonathan. Right Now Praise. New York, NY: Integrity Media, 2008. (c) Savior, More Than Life to Me. By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (MORE THAN LIFE), by William H. Doane African American Heritage Hymnal. #475 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. Nashville, TN: A.M.E. Zion Publishing House, 1996. #289 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. #324 3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs (a) Give Me Jesus. African American Spiritual 5

African American Heritage Hymnal. #561 Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, 1987. #280 (b) The Lord Is Blessing Me Right Now. Traditional African American Heritage Hymnal. #506 Zion Still Sings for Every Generation. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2007. #125 (c) He Knows. By Pamela Jean Davis Rizen. Rizen, Vol. 2. Nashville, TN: Artemis Gospel, 2005. 4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams (a) Peace and Favor Rest on Us. By Kurt Carr Just The Beginning. New York, NY: Zomba Records, 2008. (b) I Am the One. By Kurt Carr Just The Beginning. New York, NY: Zomba Records, 2008. (c) Grateful. By John W. Stevenson The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass Choir. Embracing The Next Dimension. Nashville, TN: Light Records/Tehillah Music Group, 2008. (d) Think of His Goodness. By Debra L. Perry Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Mass Choir. Daughters of the Promise. Nashville, TN: Light Records, 2003. 5. Liturgical Dance Music (a) You Pulled Me Through. By Diane Warren Hudson, Jennifer. Jennifer Hudson. New York, NY: Arista, 2008. (b) More Than I Can Bear. By Kurt Franklin God s Property. God s Property. Santa Monica, CA: Interscope, 1997. (c) Here I Am to Worship. By Tim Hughes Headley, Heather. Audience of One. New York, NY: EMI Gospel, 2009. 6. Anthems 6

(a) Hallelujah Chorus. By G. F. Handel G. Schirmer, Inc. Distributed by Sheet Music Plus Phone: 1-800-743-3868 Online location: www.sheetmusicplus.com (b) The Word Was God. By Rosephanye Powell. For SATB with divisi, a cappella Gentry Publications Fred Bock Music Company P.O. Box 570567 Tarzana, CA 91357 Phone: 818-996-6181 Online location: www.fredbock.com (c) Lift Up Your Heads. By Emma L. Ashford Lorenz Publishing 501 E. Third Street Dayton, OH 45402 Phone: 937-228-6118 Online location: www.lorenz.com 7. Modern Songs (a) My Name Is Victory. By Jonathan Nelson and Justin Savage Nelson, Jonathan. Right Now Praise. New York, NY: Integrity Media, 2008. (b) Praise Him in Advance. By Deon Kipping Sapp, Marvin. Thirsty. New York, NY: Zomba, 2007. (c) We Bless Your Name. By Nolan Williams, Jr. inspiration. Washington, D.C.: NEWorks Productions, 2006. 8. Offertory Song or Instrumental (a) You Can t Beat God Giving. By Doris Akers African American Heritage Hymnal. #671 (b) Count Your Blessings. By Timothy Wright Wright. Timothy Rev. & The New York Fellowship Mass Choir. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. New York, NY: Koch, 2007. 7

(c) You Are Great. By Eva Lena Hellmark Bynum, Juanita. A Piece of My Passion. Atlanta, GA: Flow Records, 2006. 9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer (a) I Am Just One Prayer Away. By Gregory Curtis Adams, Yolanda. Yolanda: Live in Washington. New York, NY: Verity, 1999. (b) A Touch. By Steven Ford Parham, Bruce Rev. Hide Me. Middleton, D.C.: S. Ford Music, 2004. (c) Mighty Wind. By Andraé Crouch Mighty Wind. New York, NY: Zomba, 2006. 10. Sermonic Selection (a) Give Me Jesus. Spiritual African American Heritage Hymnal. #561 Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. #280 (b) Hide Me. By Steven Ford Parham, Bruce Rev. Hide Me. Middleton, D.C.: S. Ford Music, 2004. (c) Because He Lives. By Gloria Gaither and William J. Gaither. Tune, (RESURRECTION), by William J. Gaither African American Heritage Hymnal. #281 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #193 Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #265 11. Invitational Song or Instrumental (a) He s Working It Out for Your Good. By Montage Pheolan Chicago Mass Choir. Project Praise: Live in Atlanta, 2005. (b) Jesus Saves. By Priscilla J. Owens. Tune, (JOYFUL SOUND/WE HAVE HEARD A JOYFUL SOUND), by William J. Kirkpatrick African American Heritage Hymnal. #558 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #273 8

Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #485 12. Benediction Song or Instrumental (a) Blest Be the Tie That Binds. By John Fawcett. Tune, (DENNIS), by Hans G. Nageli African American Heritage Hymnal. #341 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. #493 Yes, Lord! Church of God in Christ Hymnal. #34 (b) Be Blessed. By James Harris III, Terry Lewis, James Q. Wright, and Yolanda Adams Adams, Yolanda. Day by Day. New York, NY: Atlantic Recording, 2005. (c) Right Now Praise. By Jonathan Nelson and Justin Savage Nelson, Jonathan. Right Now Praise. New York, NY: Integrity Media, 2008. 14. Other Recommendations Gilkes, Cheryl Townsend. If It Wasn t for the Women : Black Women s Experience and Womanist Culture in Church and Community. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2000. Higginbotham, Evelyn Brooks. Righteous Discontent: The Women s Movement in the Black Baptist Church, 1880 1920. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994. Weems, Renita. Just a Sister Away: A Womanist Vision of Women's Relationships in the Bible. Nashville, TN: Publishing Editing Network, 1988. 9