Holy Week Bulletin by First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta

MARCH 29 - APRIL 1, 2021

Holy Week

LENT 2021

Humbly Following Jesus Christ

7:30 P.M. WORSHIP MARCH 29, 2021

Monday of Holy Week Prelude

Jens Korndörfer

Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott, BWV 721 – Johann Sebastian Bach

Welcome and Call to Worship Hymn

Jamie Butcher

#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.

Prayer of Confession

Chas Gowing

We hold the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in clay jars, but we fear for the jars and withhold our treasures from our neighbors. We serve those who are a part of “we” and neglect those we call “they.” We are guarded against intimacy with people we meet. Help us not to sell ourselves for a great price and steal the money for ourselves. Help us not to be risk averse; help us not to be afraid. Mary broke her jar for you, Lord Jesus Christ, and the beautiful fragrance filled the whole house. You broke your body on the cross and your spirit fills the whole world today. Forgive us for withholding. Help us to release your love and compassion to the world and to bring you triumphant glory.

(Silent Prayer)

In your holy name, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon One: Hear the Good News! God is merciful and just and abounding in steadfast love. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. All: Thanks be to God. Solo

Heather Witt Owens

Lament, from Stabat Mater – Karl Jenkins Feeling all the grief and sorrow, We live life with shadows in our hearts and minds, With tears that wait to fall when sorrow in the world is more than we can truly bear. We hear the cries of children, we see death cast shadows on their hearts and minds, as mothers in their grief stand crying, weeping for this world. On our bed of thorns such sorrow must surely end, our tears can wash away the sins of the world, no more crying, weeping in this world.

Scripture John 12:1-11 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. Sermon

Anointing

Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

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

#201 A Prophet-Woman Broke a Jar – how can I keep from singing A prophet-woman broke a jar, by Love’s divine appointing. With rare perfume she filled the room, presiding and anointing. A prophet-woman broke a jar, the sneers of scorn defying. With rare perfume she filled the room, preparing Christ for dying. A faithful woman left a tomb by Love’s divine commission. She saw; she heard; she preached the Word, arising from submission. A faithful woman left a tomb, with resurrection gospel. She saw; she heard; she preached the Word, apostle to apostles. Though woman-wisdom, woman-truth, for centuries were hidden, unsung, unwritten, and unheard, derided and forbidden, the Spirit’s breath, the Spirit’s fire, on free and slave descending, can tumble our dividing walls, our shame and sadness mending. The Spirit knows; the Spirit calls, by Love’s divine ordaining, the friends we need, to serve and lead, their powers and gifts unchaining. The Spirit knows; the Spirit calls, from women, men and children, the friends we need, to serve and lead. Rejoice, and make them welcome!

Charge and Benediction Postlude

Vater unser im Himmelreich, BWV 737 – Johann Sebastian Bach

7:30 P.M. WORSHIP MARCH 30, 2021

Tuesday of Holy Week Prelude

Victoria Shorokhova

Elegie op. 3/1 – Sergey Rachmaninoff

Welcome and Call to Worship (based on Psalm 71)

Keith Thompson

In you, O Lord, we take refuge. In your righteousness deliver us and rescue us. Be to us a rock, a strong fortress. For you, O Lord, are our hope, our trust. Our mouths are filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long. O God, do not be far from us. We will hope continually, and we will praise you yet more and more. Let us worship God!

Hymn

#213 In the Cross of Christ I Glory – rathbun In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time; all the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime. When the woes of life o’er-take me, hopes deceive, and fears annoy, never shall the cross forsake me; lo, it glows with peace and joy. When the sun of bliss is beaming light and love upon my way, from the cross the radiance streaming adds more luster to the day. Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified; peace is there that knows no measure, joys that through all time abide. In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time; all the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime.

Prayer of Confession God of light, you teach us that all we need to do is walk in you and the darkness will not overtake us. Yet we try to light our own way; we try to fend off that darkness with worldly things. We ignore your voice coming down from the heavens, glorifying the name of Jesus because we think we are wise. We think we understand death. But you destroy the wisdom of this world. You teach us that the message of the cross is foolishness. Help us to understand that your wisdom is not what we think strong. Help us to know that you lift up the lowly and the weak. Open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to the people you love so dearly. The people who we might see as weak, yet they are the ones who know how to walk in your light. Humble us, O God. Remind us that we are not noble. Remind us that we are finite, and you are everlasting.

(Silent Prayer)

Assurance of Pardon One: All:

Friends, the light is with us. If we believe in the light, we may become children of the light and the darkness will not overtake us. This is the good news of the Gospel. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Anthem

Wade Thomas

Ah, Holy Jesus – Arr. Richard Walters Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended, that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended? By foes derided, by thine own rejected, O most afflicted. Who was the guilty who brought this upon thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee. ’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee: I crucified thee. For me, kind Jesus, was thine incarnation, thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation: thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, for my salvation. Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee, I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee, think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, not my deserving.

Scripture John 12:20-36

Rachal Little

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Sermon

Foolishness and Weakness

Affirmation of Faith (from the Confession of Belhar) We believe that God has revealed God’s self as the one who wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people; that God, in a world full of injustice and enmity, is in a special way the God of the destitute, the poor and the wronged; that God calls the church to follow God in this; for God brings justice to the oppressed and gives bread to the hungry; that God frees the prisoner and restores sight to the blind; that God supports the downtrodden, protects the stranger, helps orphans and widows and blocks the path of the

ungodly; that for God pure and undefiled religion is to visit the orphans and the widows in their suffering; that God wishes to teach the church to do what is good and to seek the right; that the church must therefore stand by people in any form of suffering and need, which implies, among other things, that the church must witness against and strive against any form of injustice, so that justice may roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream; that the church as the possession of God must stand where the Lord stands, namely against injustice and with the wronged; that in following Christ the church must witness against all the powerful and privileged who selfishly seek their own interests and thus control and harm others. Therefore, we reject any ideology which would legitimate forms of injustice and any doctrine which is unwilling to resist such an ideology in the name of the gospel. We believe Jesus is Lord. To the one and only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be the honor and the glory for ever and ever. Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn

#214 You Are My Refuge, Faithful God – morning song You are my refuge, faithful God; you shelter me from shame. I put my spirit in your hands and call upon your name. Deliver me from hidden snares, from sorrow, pain, and strife. When troubles seems to smother me, take heed, and save my life! Be gracious, God, in my distress, and dry my bitter tears. My life is spent in misery; I sigh away my years. I am a wretched sight to see: a broken, empty thing, with only terror all around, and deathly whispering. And yet I trust in you, O God; your covenant still stands. Redeem me, in your faithful love: my life is in your hands.

Charge and Benediction Postlude

Adagio (from the Sonata op.65/1) – Felix Mendelssohn

7:30 P.M. WORSHIP MARCH 31, 2021

Wednesday of Holy Week Prelude

Jens Korndörfer

Herzlich tut mich verlangen, BWV 727 – Johann Sebastian Bach

Welcome and Call to Worship Opening Prayer Hymn

“How Shall I Pray?” by Ted Loader From Guerillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1984)

#218 Ah, Holy Jesus – herzliebster jesu Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended, that we to judge thee have in hate pretended? By foes derided, by thine own rejected, O most afflicted! Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee. ’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; I crucified thee. Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered; the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered; for our atonement, while we nothing heeded, God interceded. For me, kind Jesus, was thine incarnation, thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation, thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, for my salvation. Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee, I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee, think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, not my deserving.

Chris Holmes Kalecia Wright

Scripture Isaiah 50:4–9a The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; the one who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? Anthem

Pie Jesu, from Requiem – Gabriel Fauré Dona eis requiem. Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem sempiternam

Maria Valdes Pious Lord Jesus, Give them rest. Pious Lord Jesus, Give them everlasting rest.

Sermon

Like Those Who are Taught

Hymn and Pastoral Prayer #471 O Lord, Hear My Prayer – hear my prayer (Soloist leads congregation in simple refrain in between moments of prayer by liturgist) O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me. O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me. The Lord’s Prayer

Charge and Benediction Postlude

O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig – Johann Sebastian Bach

7:30 P.M. WORSHIP APRIL 1, 2021

Thursday of Holy Week Prelude

Victoria Shorokhova

Adagio (from the Sonata in c, K 457) – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Welcome and Call to Worship

Rebekah LeMon

Call to Worship (adapted from Thom Shuman’s Lectionary Liturgies) Leigh Bonner One: All:

Why is this night different? Though we are scattered in this building, in homes, apartments, households, still we can gather in God’s heart.

One: All:

Why is this worship different? We still cannot gather as God’s full household, yet we can still find ourselves together in God’s heart and love.

One: All:

Why is this meal different? In a smaller group gathered here, alone, with family, with just our pets, during this year, we began to understand the weariness, the uncertainty, the questions which sat around that table long ago with Jesus and his friends.

One: All:

Why is this night, this worship, this meal the same? We are still God’s beloved, who is with us in these moments, these days, these nights. We are still the followers of Jesus, who would wash our hearts of our doubts and fears. We are still comforted by the Spirit, who blesses the meal we will share this night.

Hymn

#202 An Upper Room Did Our Lord Prepare – o waly waly An upper room did our Lord prepare And after supper he washed their feet, for those he loved until the end: for service, too, is sacrament. and his disciples still gather there In Christ our joy shall be made complete: to celebrate their risen friend. sent out to serve, as he was sent. A lasting gift Jesus gave his own: to share his bread, his loving cup. Whatever burdens may bow us down, he by his cross shall lift us up.

No end there is! We depart in peace. He loves beyond our uttermost: in every room in our Father’s house Christ will be there, as Lord and Host.

Prayer of Confession

Jesus, you called your disciples to wash each other’s feet. This is too close for us. This is too dirty for us. This is too menial for us. But it is not too close for the healthcare worker to bathe our loved ones as they lie ill. It is not too dirty for the school custodian who cleans up the children’s mess. It is not too menial for the housekeeper to pick up our dirty towels. Forgive us for being distant from you and our neighbor. Forgive us for thinking too highly of ourselves. Forgive us for betraying you.

(Time for Silent Confession)

Assurance of Pardon One:

Jesus washed Peter clean, even before he betrayed him, even before Peter knew what he would do. So Jesus has already washed us clean, freeing us from sin and death, even before we knew of our captivity.

All:

Know and rejoice in this: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.

Anthem

Brendan Callahan-Fitzgerald

Ingemisco from Verdi’s Requiem – Giuseppe Verdi Ingemisco tamquam reus, culpa rubet vultus meus; supplicanti parce, Deus. Qui Mariam absolvisti, et latronem exaudisti, mihi quoque spem dedisti. Preces meae non sunt digne, sed tu, bonus, fac benigne, ne perenni cremer igne. Inter oves locum praesta, et ab haedis me sequestra, statuens in parte dextra.

I groan as a guilty one, and my face blushes with guilt; spare the supplicant, O God. You, who absolved Mary Magdalen, and heard the prayer of the thief, have given me hope, as well. My prayers are not worthy, but show mercy, O benevolent one, lest I burn forever in fire. Give me a place among the sheep, and separate me from the goats, placing me on your right hand.

Scripture Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. O Lord, I am your servant;

I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord! John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Sermon

Do As I Have Done

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper Invitation Great Prayer of Thanksgiving One: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord. One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Words of Institution Communion Closing Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer 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

Charge and Benediction Postlude

Choral prelude op. 103/2 – Mikael Tariverdiev

Information Livestream at 7:30 p.m. MINISTERS: ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH PARTICIPATING IN WORSHIP LEADERSHIP TODAY Leigh Bonner, Director of Global Mission

Rachal Little, Director of Youth Ministry

Jamie Butcher, Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Formation

Heather Witt Owens, Alto

Brendan Callahan-Fitzgerald, Tenor

Victoria Shorokhova, Music Intern

Chas Gowing, Seminary Intern

Wade Thomas, Bass

Dr. Chris Holmes, Stembler Scholar and Director of Biblical and Theological Education

Keith Thompson, Associate Pastor for Young Adults and Youth Formation

Dr. Jens Korndörfer, Director of Worship & the Arts, Organist

Maria Valdes, Soprano

Rebekah Close LeMon, Executive Pastor

Kalecia Wright, Intern for Youth Formation

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

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

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

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