12/26/10

Lord, Be An Epiphany

For the musical score, see the PDF file at
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=67985041


Lord, Be An Epiphany

Lord, I want your light to lead me, too,
the light that led the *wise men straight to you,
Bright as brightest star, show me where you are;
Lord, be an epiphany to me.

Shine your light where you would have me see;
Illuminate each opportunity
to serve and worship you in spirit and in truth;
Lord, be an epiphany to me.

Like you, Lord, let me be a surprise;
Let someone see kindness in my eyes,
Love in my embrace, charity and grace;
Lord, be an epiphany through me.

Until hunger ceases to exist,
'Til justice reigns where evil now persists;
'Til war shall be no more, peace on earth restored;
Lord, be an epiphany through me.

     *The word "magi" may be substituted for "wise men."


Copyright 2009 Kenneth Athon. All rights reserved and retained worldwide. Used by permission.

12/25/10

Responsive Reading: The Magnificat, Luke 1:46

See the music score for the refrain at http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=67953766


Refrain: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

Leader: For God has looked with favor upon the lowliness of his servant.
    Women:  Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
                   for the mighty One has done great things for me,
            All:  and holy is his name.

Refrain

Leader: God's mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
      All:  He has shown strength with his arm;
             he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
Leader: He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.
      All: God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

Refrain

Leader: God has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
      All:  according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
             to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

Refrain

-------------------------------------
Lectionary Reference: Yr A, 3rd Sunday of Advent
Scripture quotation from the NRSV of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This treatment of responsive reading and original music © 2010 Kenneth Athon. All rights reserved worldwide.
See the music score for the refrain at http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=67953766

11/28/10

Adapting hymns for responsive readings

Have you considered how responsive readings can be incorporated into worship in the following ways:
  • for small groups without an accompanist, in lieu of songs, and
  • when the text is appropriate, but all the “slots” for hymns have been “taken.”
Responsive readings give additional speakers and lay leaders opportunities for participation, and incorporate even the tone-deaf laity who tend to participate less in congregational singing.

When copyright laws permit and the theological purpose is sound, treatment of hymns as responsive readings also allows substitutions of new words (contemporary in place of archaic, inclusive instead of gender-exclusive, non-rhyming in place of contrived rhymes, etc.) that would otherwise not fit the meter of the hymn tune and cannot be printed in the pew hymnal. Compare the following to the original texts in your hymnal to see how some  - not all – archaic text has been updated, and how a call to worship has been changed to an affirmation of praise.

When resources are limited, the part for Leader 2 can also by read by Leader 1.


Christmas Responsive Readings



What Child Is This?

Leader 1: What Child is this who lays at rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Leader 2: Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?

All:       This is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing!
 We haste to bring Him praise: the Babe, the Son of Mary.

Leader 1: Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Leader 2: Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

All:       This is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing!
 We haste to bring Him praise: the Babe, the Son of Mary.

Leader 1: Bring Him incense, gold and myrrh! Come peasant and king to own Him!
Leader 2: The King of kings salvation brings! Let loving hearts enthrone Him!

All:       This is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing!
 We haste to bring Him praise: the Babe, the Son of Mary.

(Original text by William C. Dix, 1837-1898. This responsive reading treatment copyright ©2010 by Kenneth Athon. All rights reserved worldwide.)



Here’s another example of adapting a hymn to a congregational responsive reading. Note some (italicized) words are adapted to affirm our common intentions and describe our congregational actions.

Some Children See Him

Leader 1: Some children see Him lily white,
Leader 2: The baby Jesus born this night.

All :     Some children see Him lily white,
            With tresses soft and fair.

(portion omitted from this example for copyright protection)

Leader 2: We lay aside each earthly thing
Leader 2: And give our hearts as offering.

All       We worship now the infant King.
            'Tis love that's born tonight!

(Original text by Wihla Hutson, 1901-2002, copyright ©1954, 1957 by Hollis Music, Inc. International copyright secured. All Rights Reserved. )

11/13/10

Responsive Reading: Opening Affirmation

Opening Affirmation 


Suggested Uses: 
Lent ● In conjunction with a Psalm reading, such as Psalm 23, 27, 32, 40, 80, 121, or 130, as examples  ●  Black History Month ● Funeral ● In coordination with a choral arrangement or congregational hymn use of When The Storms of Life Are Raging (STAND BY ME).


LEADER:  When the world is tossing me
          ALL: like a ship upon the sea, 
LEADER:  The One who rules the wind and water
          ALL: will stand by me.

LEADER:  When the hosts of sin assail, 
          ALL: and my strength begins to fail,
LEADER:  The One who never lost a battle
          ALL: will stand by me.

LEADER:  When my life becomes a burden,
          ALL: and I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
LEADER:  The Lily of the Valley
          ALL: will stand by me.


Credits: Adapted by Kenneth Athon (adaptation © 2010) from When The Storms of Life Are Raging (STAND BY ME) composed by Charles A. Tindley, 1856-1933, African-American preacher and hymnwriter.

Additional Information: When The Storms of Life Are Raging (STAND BY ME) composed by Charles A. Tindley, appears in some United Methodist hymnals and has been recorded by various artists including Elvis Presley.

Lectionary References: Various Sundays after Epiphany and several Sundays in Lent, Year A (2011).

Tags: Affirmation, Tindley, When The Storms of Life Are Raging, STAND BY ME, Lent, Black History Month, Psalm 23, courage, endurance, perserverance.

Comments: Offer your suggestions for using this worship element, or report when / how you used this in worship. 

10/17/10

PSALM 65 Antiphon for Year C: Proper 25 (30) Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost (Oct 24, 2010)

Psalm 65

Response 1: Sing Praise to God who reigns above, to God be praise and glory.

Leader:   Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
All: O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.
Leader:   When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
All: Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts.
Leader:   We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
All: By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

Response 2: Our ever-present help and stay, to God be praise and glory.

Leader:   By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.
All: You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves,
 the tumult of the peoples.
Leader:   Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
All: you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

Response 3: The God of power, the God of love, to God be praise and glory.

Leader:   You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it;
All: the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
Leader:   You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges,
All: softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
Leader:   You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
All: The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
 the hills gird themselves with joy,
Leader:   the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
All: they shout and sing together for joy.

Response 4: All earth sings out this grateful song: to God be praise and glory.

(The responses may be spoken by All, or sung by All or Choir to the first five measures of the hymntune, MIT FREUDEN ZART. )

For the responses and music, see this PDF file: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/61445199/Psalm-65

This treatment of responsive texts (from the hymn, Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above, public domain) and scripture is copyright ©2010 Kenneth Athon. All rights reserved.
Scripture texts are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.