APRIL 2, 2021
Worship Service
Humbly Following Jesus Christ
ON THE FRONT COVER Pietâ, (1876) William Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) Oil on Canvas Dallas, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts
WILLIAM ADOLPHE BOUGUEREAU was a French painter in the Academic tradition. He was brought up as a devout Catholic and at age 14, went to study for the priesthood at a Catholic college. It was here that he learned to draw and paint. In his lifetime, he became widely known as one of the greatest painters in the world, although his family life was fraught with tragedy and loss. At a time in history, where art education was rarely available for women, Bouguereau taught at the Académie Julian, a co-ed art institution. Many years after the death of his first wife, he married his most famous pupil, Elizabeth Gardener. In his career, he maintained a rigorous work ethic, working every day from the earliest light to the last, painting at least 822 works in his lifetime. Even as an old man, he continued painting with rigor. Near the end of his life he described his love of his art: “Each day I go to my studio full of joy; in the evening when obliged to stop because of darkness I can scarcely wait for the next morning to come ... if I cannot give myself to my dear painting I am miserable.” Bouguereau’s highly polished academic style fell out of favor with the rise of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in France. Henri Matisse, one of his pupils, rebelled against the style, as did many others. Appreciation for Bouguereau’s artwork has steadily risen again since the 1970s. Comments (Holly Henson): To me, this masterpiece of art, reflects both the fulfillment of God’s promise to the world through the death of Jesus, and the true human tragedy and suffering of his death. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget the full humanity of Jesus and gloss over the horrific and inconceivable pain, humiliation, and torture he suffered. Furthermore, Mary is often depicted as a humble and obedient servant, offering her dead son to the world in a superhuman feat of emotional and psychological strength. The painting is stunning in its execution but brings home the reality of the anguish that both Jesus and Mary must have suffered.
Throughout history and across cultural barriers, some of the most evocative and captivating art has been created around the theme of Lent. We invite you to reflect on Christ’s suffering through this masterwork that has been selected by members of the Arts Council.
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12:00 P.M. WORSHIP APRIL 2, 2021
Good Friday Prelude
Jens Korndörfer
Aria (from the Goldberg Variations) – Johann Sebastian Bach
Welcome and Preparation for Worship
Tony Sundermeier
Introit
Choir
O Sacred Head Now Wounded – Passion Choralel
Call to Worship One: All: One: +Hymn
#221 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded – passion chorale O sacred head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down; now scornfully surrounded with thorns, thine only crown; O sacred head, what glory, what bliss till now was thine! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine. What thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain: mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve thy place; look on me with thy favor, and grant to me thy grace.
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Rob Sparks
Jesus said: If any of you want to be my disciples take up the cross and follow me. Those who seek to save their lives will lose them, but those who give their lives for Christ’s sake will be saved. Come, let us worship the crucified Lord!
What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend, for this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end? O make me thine forever; and should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.
+ Prayer of the Day Loving God, you sent Jesus Christ to save us. We have betrayed him. We have denied him. We have abandoned, mocked, and crucified him. Have mercy, O God, have mercy on us; through Jesus Christ, our only hope. Amen. (Time for Silent Confession) Anthem
Choir
Surely He Hath Borne Our Grief – Heinrich Graun
+ Prayer for Illumination
Rebekah LeMon
Holy God, our hope and strength, we give thanks for your Word made flesh— for the life that death cannot destroy, and for the light that darkness cannot overcome. Enlighten our minds and enliven our hearts by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that we may testify to your light share the life of Christ with a hurting world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Reading
Isaiah 52:13—53:12
See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals— so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.
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Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
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Second Reading
Katie Sundermeier
Hebrews 10:16-25 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
One: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.
+Hymn
#215 What Wondrous Love Is This – wondrous love What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul! When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul! To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing, to God and to the Lamb, I will sing; to God and to the Lamb who is the great I am, while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing; while millions join the theme, I will sing! And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on; and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and through eternity I’ll sing on.
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Gospel Reading for Four Voices Anthem
Choir
My Song is Love Unknown – Edwin Childs My song is love unknown, My Savior's love to me; Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be. O who am I, That for my sake My Lord should take Frail flesh and die? Sometimes they strew his way, And his sweet praises sing; Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King: Then ""Crucify!"" Is all their breath, And for his death They thirst and cry.
Why, what has my Lord done To cause this rage and spite? He made the lame to run, And gave the blind their sight. What injuries! Yet these are why The Lord most high So cruelly dies, My Savior dies, My song of love So cruelly dies. Here might I stay and sing Of him my soul adores. Never was love, dear king, Never was grief like yours! This is my friend In whose sweet praise I all my days Could gladly spend, My song is love.
Sermon
A Sermon for Good Friday
Two Voice Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer
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Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
+Hymn
#228 Were You There – were you there Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (Were you there?) Were you there when they crucified my Lord? O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (Were you there?) Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? (Were you there?) Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? (Were you there?) Were you there when they pierced him in the side? (Were you there?) Were you there when they pierced him in the side? O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they pierced him in the side? (Were you there?) Were you there when the sun refused to shine? (Were you there?) Were you there when the sun refused to shine? O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when the sun refused to shine? (Were you there?) Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (Were you there?) Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (Were you there?)
Charge and Benediction Depart in Silence
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Information Worship and Livestream at 12:00 p.m. MINISTERS: ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH PARTICIPATING IN WORSHIP LEADERSHIP TODAY Dr. Daniel Bara, Co-Director of the Choir and Orchestra Dr. Jens Korndörfer, Director of Worship & the Arts, Organist Rebekah Close LeMon, Executive Pastor Rob Sparks, Associate Pastor for Care Katie Sundermeier, Parish Visitor and Executive Director of Samaritan Counseling Center
Dr. Tony Sundermeier, Senior Pastor Dr. George B. Wirth, Pastor Emeritus PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN MILITARY SERVICE Lt. Karim Abu-Akel Captain Alexandria Miller-Anderson Lt. Col. Charles Ayers Pvt. Forrest “Woody” Bass Lt. Benjamin S. Bondurant Maj. Jamison Bowman, Chaplain
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ABE3 Gregory Bridges Captain Steven Brinkley Captain Ryan Dick SPC Mason Fox AM3 Glenn Thomas Johnson HA Robert Louis Johnson Staff Sgt. Kevin Lee Lt. Jg. Rachel Dudley McKenzie
Lt. Troy McKenzie Lt. Wilson M. McManus Maj. John Warren Robey Captain Gabriel Rulewicz Maj. General Russell Sanborn Captain Ryan Tewell Col. Roderick G. Turner III
Welcome
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Founded in 1848, First Presbyterian is the Atlanta church known for balancing spiritual conviction and tangible compassion. Our sermons, Sunday school classes, small groups, and courses lead people to challenge assumptions and lean into their faith. At the same time, we deeply invest in and serve the members of our congregation, the Atlanta community and beyond. With robust and holistic ministries serving the poor and vulnerable of our city; with global partners in Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and Kenya; and with spiritual formation opportunities for all ages, First Presbyterian Church’s purpose is to humbly follow Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us in worship today! For more ways to connect, keep reading below. GET CONNECTED Sign Up for our Email Blast: youbelong@firstpresatl.org Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/firstpresatl Pastoral Care: Rev. Rob Sparks, rsparks@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7763 Membership: Stephanie Lane, slane@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7757 How to Give: Peggy McCurdy, pmccurdy@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7707 Children’s Ministry: Sarah Kate Bumgarner, skbumgarner@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7709 Youth Ministry: Rachal Little, rlittle@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7751 20s/30s Young Adult Ministry: Rev. Keith Thompson, kthompson@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7719 Sunday School and Small Groups: Rev. Jamie Butcher, jbutcher@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7718 Senior Pastor’s Office: Matthew Pearson-Dawe, mpearsondawe@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7715 Arts & Music: Dr. Jens Korndoerfer, jkorndoerfer@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7731 Community Ministries: Marie Wandera, mwandera@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7746 Global Mission: Rev. Leigh Bonner, lbonner@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7723 Epiphany/Social Ventures: Rev. Rebekah LeMon, rlemon@firstpresatl.org 404-228-7714 JOINING The next new member class, On Ramp, is June 13, 2021. Contact Stephanie Lane at slane@firstpresatl.org to register.
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MISSION
First Presbyterian Church is a community of humble followers of Jesus Christ who choose, by God’s grace, to live by love, seek continual transformation, and equip all to be servant leaders in Atlanta and throughout the world. W E VA L U E
Community Spiritual home Enduring commitment Authentic diversity Love Radical hospitality Mutual care Restorative relationships Transformation Continual conversion Joyful worship Theological formation Servant Leadership Bold humility Just generosity Missional living
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta is one of more than 9,000 Presbyterian Church U.S.A. congregations.
1328 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, Georgia 30309 www.firstpresatl.org