Contents of this page:

• Introduction
• Kwanzaa Liturgical Resources
• Children's Resources and Activities for Kwanzaa
• Additional Information

Appreciation goes to the Rev. Barbara Haynes, Pastor of Resurrection Beach MCC and Clergy Representative to the Southwest District Committee, for writing the Kwanzaa Service which follows.

In this Kwanzaa Service, the color red represents the struggle for self- determination and freedom by people of color. Black is the people, the earth, the source of life, representing hope, creativity and faith and denoting messages and the opening and closing of doors. Green represents the earth that sustains our lives and provides hope, inspiration, employment and the fruits of the harvest.¹

[¹Riley, Dorothy Winbush. The Complete Kwanzaa. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. P.24]

Call to Worship
Leader: God says to us: And now bring the first fruits that God has given.
People: Let us place the basket of harvest before the Creator, our God, and bow down before our God.
Leader: We shall enjoy, together with the Levite and the stranger in our midst.
People: All the bounty that God has bestowed upon us and our household.

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 65:17-19
Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.
I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.

Lighting the Seven Kwanzaa Candles
Leader: As we celebrate the festival of Kwanzaa, we recall the seven principles which form the basis of this celebration.
Person 1: We light the candle of Umoja to symbolize the unity of all peoples.
People: May God be with us in unity and peace.
Person 2: We light the candle of Kujichagulia to symbolize our right to determine our community's destiny and future.
People: May God be with us in the struggle for self-determination.
Person 3: We light the candle of Ujima to show the need of our community to work together and to be responsible for one another.
People: May God be with us in the struggle of collective work and communal responsibility.
Person 4: We light the candle of Ujamaa to show the need for our community to improve its economic situation by cooperating with one another.
People: May God be with us as we develop a community based on cooperative economic development.
Person 5: We light the candle of Nia to show our community's resolve - its purpose - to make our people stronger.
People: May god be with us as we go forward with one purpose, to continue the struggle to be truly free.
Person 6: We light the candle of Kuumba to symbolize the creative spirit of all our peoples.
People: May God be the light of our lives.
Person 7: We light the candle of Imani to show our faith in God and our faith in ourselves.
People: May god be with us and strengthen us so that we may continue the struggle for liberation.
Leader: Let us rejoice in the richness of our cultures and traditions before our Creator!
People: Let us all pull together!

Hymn of Meditation: "Precious Lord"

Gospel: Luke 4:13-19
Jesus went to Nazareth, where Jesus had been brought up, and on the Sabbath Day Jesus went into the synagogue, as was His custom.
And Jesus stood up to read.
The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Jesus.
Unrolling it, Jesus found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of God is upon me, because God has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, God has sent me to proclaim freedom for the captives, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of God's favor."

Hymn of Preparation: "Farther Along"

Litany for Kwanzaa
Leader: Let us recall the seven principles upon which this festival of Kwanzaa is based.
People: Let us be joyful and raise up the beauty of our peoples.
Leader: What is the news?
People: There is good news! God's people are many yet are called to dwell together in unity.
Leader: God's people are called to seek their fullness in freedom; to have the right of self-determination.
People: God's people are called to work together for the common good and welfare of the community and to be responsible for one another.
Leader: God's people are called to share together their economic resources for the building up of the community so that none of its members will be in need.
People: God's people are called together to make our goal the building and developing of our community in order to make our people stronger.
Leader: God's people are called to do as much as they can to make the community a better place, more beautiful, and better than we found it.
People: There is good news! God's people are a people bound together in faith.
We are called to service, to believe with all our hearts in our community and to strive for the good of all peoples.

Sermon

Ministry of Music: "God's Eye Is On The Sparrow"

Liberation Statement
Leader: Our ancestors came here, lived, loved, struggled & built here. At this place, their love and labor rose like the sun and gave strength and meaning to the day. For them, then, who gave so much, we give in return. On this same soil, we will sow our seeds, and build and move in unity and strength. Here, too, we will continue their struggle for liberation and a higher level of human life. May our eyes be the eagle, our strength be the elephant, and the boldness of our life be like the lion. And may we remember and honor our ancestors and the legacy they left for us as long as the sun shines and the waters flow.

People: For our people everywhere - for King Shaka and Queen Nzingka and all the others known and unknown who defended our ancestral land, history and humanity from alien invaders.

Leader: Let us remember those who have gone before us in the struggle for freedom.

People: For Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; for Harriet Tubman, Fannie Lou Hamer, Sojourner Truth, and May McLeod Bethune, for Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, and W.E.B. DuBois and the others who dared to define, defend and develop our interests as a people.

Leader: For the children and the fuller and freer lives they will live because we continue the struggle.

People: For Kawaida and the Nguzo Saba, a new system of views and values which gives identity, purpose and direction to our lives.

Leader: Let us remember all those dear to us, who are at rest.

(Pause)
People: God be with us in the struggle to build a new world and for the continuing struggle through which we will inevitably rescue and reconstruct our history and humanity in our own image and according to our own needs.

All: Harambee! Let us all pull together! Harambee! Let us all pull together! Harambee! Let us all pull together! Harambee!

Worship with Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

Doxology: "We Give You But Your Own"

Prayer of Dedication:
God of our Ancestors, whose laws are timeless and whose ways empower the church, we bring to you the results of our labors. We recognize all our moments and days are precious gifts from you. We dedicate ourselves anew to fulfilling your purposes through all you entrust to us, not just through the portion we here return. Bless all that the church seeks to accomplish in Christ's name. Amen.

THE LORD'S SUPPER

The Symbols of Kwanzaa
Leader: The educational goals of this festival are reflected in the symbols used for Kwanzaa.
Person 1: Mazao (crops) represent the historical roots of the holiday itself and the rewards of collective productive labor.
Person 2: Mkeka (straw mat) is the symbol of a tradition which is the foundation of the community.
Person 3: Kinara (candle holder) is the symbol of those forebears and ancestors of continental Africa.
Person 4: Muhindi (ear of corn) represents the children and thus each household.
Person 5: Zawadi (gifts) are symbolic of the seeds sown by the children and the fruits of labor.
Person 6: Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup) symbolizes the primary principle of Kwanzaa which is unity.
Person 7: Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles) represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Communion Hymn: "Let Us Break Bread Together"

Comforting Words:
Beloved in Christ, as we draw near to this table we gratefully recall the words of Christ, when Jesus said: "Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. I am the living bread which came down out of Heaven. If anyone eat this bread which I shall give them, they shall live forever. Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Words of Institution:
For in the same night in which Jesus was betrayed, Jesus took bread, and having given hanks broke it and gave it to the disciples saying: "Take and eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Likewise after the Supper, Jesus took the cup and after giving thanks, gave it to them saying: "Drink this all of you. This is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for the remission of sin. Do this as often as you shall drink it in remembrance of me."

Prayer of Consecration:
Let us pray. We most humble beseech you O most merciful God to hear us and of your goodness to bless and sanctify with your words and Holy Spirit, these your gifts and creatures of bread and the fruit of the vine. That we receiving them according to our Savior Jesus Christ's holy institution in remembrance of Christ's passion and death, may be partakers of Christ's most blessed body and blood. Amen.

Acclamation:
Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ shall come again. Alleluia.

Sharing of Communion:
The table has been prepared. All are welcome, whether you are a member of a Metropolitan Community Church or no church at all. Come and let us celebrate the gift of God's love in Christ Jesus our Sovereign.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Farewell Statement:
Leader: Let us continue to strive for dedication and achievements in all we do.
People: Dare to struggle and to sacrifice and to gain the strength that comes from this. Build where we are and dare to have a legacy that will last as long as the sun shines and the waters flow.
Leader: Practice daily the seven principles of the Nguzo Saba: unity; self- determination; collective work and responsibility; cooperative economics; purpose; creativity; and faith. And may the wisdom of our ancestors always walk with us.
People: May the year's end meet us laughing and stronger. May children honor us by following our example in love and struggle. And at the end of next year, may we sit again together, in larger numbers, with greater achievement and closer to liberation and a higher level of human life.
All: Harambee! Harambee! Harambee! Harambee! Harambee! Harambee! Harambee!

Hymn of Dedication: "We Shall Overcome"

Benediction and Greeting of Peace:
May the Grace of our Sovereign Jesus Christ be with you all till we meet again.

The following resources and activities are provided from the UFMCC Southwest District Conference workshop on Kwanzaa presented by the Rev. Barbara Haynes and Ms. Pamela Fairbanks.

Kwanzaa books
Let's Celebrate Kwanzaa: An Activity Book for Young Readers by Helen Davis-Thompson
The African American Celebration of Kwanzaa by Maulana Karenga
Kwanzaa: An Everyday Resource and Instructional Guide by David A. Anderson
Kwanzaa, An African American Celebration of Culture and Cooking by Eric Copage

Kwanzaa website
http://www.melanet.com/kwanzaa

Kwanzaa crafts

*Weave a Mkeka (Mat):
Materials needed (per child):
11 x 17 inch sheet (or two attached 8 ½ by 11 sheets) of black construction paper
5 11 x 1 ½ inch strips of red construction paper
5 11 x 1 ½ inch strips of green construction paper
stickers related to Kwanzaa, images of Africa, words of Kwanzaa

Cut 5 horizontal slits in the black construction paper, beginning and ending about an inch into the paper. Have the children weave the red and green paper strips into the black sheet of paper. Decorate with stickers and images.

Discussion point: Talk about the meaning of the colors and images used

*Make Muhindi (an ear of corn):

Materials needed (per child):
1 8 inch paper plate
tape
1/2 sheet yellow tissue paper
1/4 sheet green tissue paper
glue
Have the children roll up the paper plate and tape it in place. Then cover the rolled paper plate with the yellow tissue paper, glueing it in place. Use the green tissue paper to make leaves at the bottom of the ear and glue them in place.

Discussion point: Talk about the corn as representing children. What does the phrase, "it takes a whole village to raise a child," mean?

*Make a Kinara (candleholder):

Materials needed (per child):
A manila folder, cut in 2
stapler and staples (for adult use)
scissors
red, green, black and yellow construction paper
glue
Have the children bend the folder to make a table like shape and have the adult secure with staples. Cover the folder with construction paper and designs. Cut out candles in the appropriate colors, topped with yellow paper to make flames. Attach the candles to the folder with glue or by cutting slits in the folder.

Discussion point: the meaning of the colors, how the candles are lit and what they signify.

For additional information, contact:

The Rev. Justin Tanis, Director of Clergy Development
James N. Birkitt, Jr., Director of Communications
UFMCC
8704 Santa Monica Blvd., 2nd Floor
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Tel. (310) 360-8640
Fax: (310) 360-8680