A Quest for Freedom: A Vespers Celebration

Page 1

C E L E B R AT I N G T R A D I T I O N F O R B L AC K H I S T O RY M O N T H

A Concert of Prayer Songs Exploring God’s Story Together FEBRUARY 27, 2022

|

6PM


WELCOME A ND OPENING PR AY ER Dr. Richard Kannwischer | Senior Pastor

I. DEPENDENCE | PSA LM 13 Psalm 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Aisha Brooks-Johnson We Are Marching in The Light of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zulu Traditional Jon Goode, Poet We are marching in the light of God. We are dancing… We are praying…

“Dear Jesus I Love” by Walter Hawkins (1976) . . . Rev. Aisha Brooks-Johnson

Congregational Response to Prayer We love you Jesus We depend on you Jesus We trust you Lord Jesus Christ

We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder. . . . . . . . . . . . . Horace Clarence Boyer (2003) Sheldon Michael, Soloist We are climbing Jacob’s ladder, Soldiers of the Cross. Every round goes higher, higher Soldiers of the Cross. Sinner do you love your Jesus, Soldiers of the Cross.

2 | A Quest for Freedom

Lord, let me walk close by your side; I’ll be your sheep, you’ll be my guide Lord, lift me up and let me stand, And I will say at your command: If you love Him, why not serve Him, Soldiers of the Cross.


II. DELI V ER A NCE | PSA LM 14 Psalm 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy McGee I Opened My Mouth to the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arr. Raymond Wise (2004) I opened my mouth to the Lord And I won’t turn back. I will go, I shall go, To see what the end’s going to be.

“I Will Look Up” by Josephine Delphine Henderson Heard (1890) ���������������������������� Jimmy McGee

Congregational Response to Prayer O that salvation for Israel will come out of Zion when the Lord restores his people. Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Total Praise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Smallwood (1996) Lord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills, Knowing my help is coming from You. Your peace, You give me in time of the storm. You are the source of my strength, You are the strength of my life, I lift my hands in total praise to You. Amen.

“A Prayer for Liberation that Leads to Liberating Love” by Frank Madison Reid III (1994) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Oral Moses

A Vespers Celebration | 3


Is There Any Way? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walter Hawkins (1975) Minka Wiltz, Soloist Is there any way that I can make it? Seems I’ve got so far to go. Though it may not be easy, I have this assurance That You promised always To see me through.

Looking back, every time, Seeing mountains I thought I’d climbed, Knowing it was really You, Oh yeah, yes, who carried me right on through.

Every turn a new beginning, Something never dealt with before There I am in the midst of a storm, And I cry, “Lord, I just wanna die, Lord.” Then I fall, Lord, Right back into Your loving arms.

I’ve had some tears and some rain, But I’m going on just the same. God, You promised to be with me, Through the storm and through the rain. Glory, oh glory yeah! You are my everything.

III. DEPLOY MENT | PSA LM 16 Gospel Mass by Robert Ray (1981) Dr. Gregory Broughton, Debi Dixon, and Minka Wiltz; Soloists Kyrie Jon Goode, Poet In the name of the Father, In the name of the Son, In the name of the Holy Spirit, The blessed Three in One. Oh Lord have mercy. Kyrie eleison. Oh Lord have mercy Oh Lord have mercy on me. Send us a Savior, set my soul free. Give us Your word and teach us to pray. I want to praise and serve You always. Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Look down, have mercy upon us. Oh Christ have mercy. Christe eleison.

4 | A Quest for Freedom

Oh Christ have mercy Oh Christ have mercy on me. Send us Your comfort, grant us Your peace. You are the way, the truth, and the light. I love you more each day and each night. Jesus the Rock of salvation, And Light of the World, Have mercy upon us. Oh Lord have mercy. Kyrie eleison. Oh Christ have mercy. Christe eleison.


“Prayer for Consecration” by Charles Price Jones (1906). . . . . . Dr. Oral Moses Gloria Glory to God in the highest, Peace to all men of good will.

All the sins of the world, Receive our prayers.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, We adore Thee, we glorify Thee. We give thanks to Thee For Thy great glory.

Thou who sits at the right hand of God The Father Almighty in heaven Have mercy on us.

Lord God, King, of heaven Father, Almighty One. Glory be to Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, the Father’s only Son Glory to God in the highest, Peace to all men of good will. Thou who takes away All the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Thou who takes away

For only Thou art holy, Only Thou are the Lord. Only Thou art holy. Only Thou art most high. We come to praise Your name today, We want to serve You in every way. Let the loud hosannas ring, Shouting praises to God our King. In the name of the Father. In the name of the Song. In the name of the Holy Ghost. The Blessed Three in One.

Credo Jayme Alilaw, Psalm 16 • Jon Goode, Poet I believe in God the Father Almighty. Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost. Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Crucified, died and was buried, He descended into hell. On the third day He arose, He ascended to heaven, From death He was set free. Now he sits at the right hand And he’s waiting for you and me.

He will judge all the world. He will judge you and me. I believe in the Holy Spirit And the Holy Catholic church. I believe, Lord, in one baptism For the remission of sin and rebirth. I believe in the resurrection And the communion of saints in this world. I believe when my life is over I’m going home just to live with my God. I believe.

A Vespers Celebration | 5


“Draw Me, Dear Jesus” by Garfield Thomas Haygood (1928). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Donn Thomas Acclamation Hallelujah; praise the Lord. Hallelujah; praise the Lord. Hallelujah; let us praise the Lord. Praise Him with stringed instruments. Praise Him with dance. Praise Him on the psaltry and harp. Everything that has breath Ought to praise Him.

“Sanctus/Holy” . . . . . . . Schneider Alexis, Uwezo Flewellen, and Mariah Smith Sanctus r efr a in :

Holy, holy Lord God of hosts. Hosanna be to Thee in the highest. Who gave me victory. There was a man sitting by the roadside; He was blind, he could not see. Then the Master of the earth and skies; Touched his eyes and he looked around saying: r efr a in Another man lay by a poolside; Thirty-eight years with his infirmity.

6 | A Quest for Freedom

Then the Lord troubled the water; The man arose and he jumped for joy saying: r efr a in He who comes in the name of the Lord, We will always sing Thy praise. Hosanna in the highest. Sing hosanna in the highest. Like the blind man and the lame man, I was lost, living in sin. Then I opened up my heart one day, I let the Savior in. Now I shout, saying: r efr a in


“A Prayer for Love” by Charles Eric Lincoln (1958). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy McGee

Congregational Response to Prayer from Psalm 16 I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Agnus Dei Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. For You came to die for me, Suffered, bled, and died on Calvary. In Your word You showed us how, We are trying Lord, hear our prayer right now. Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Grant us Thy peace, grant us Thy peace.

A Vespers Celebration | 7


I V. DECL A R ATION | PSA LM 19 Psalm 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Aisha Brooks-Johnson Changed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walter Hawkins (1975) Minka Wiltz, Soloist; Clarence Bell, Ebony Collier, and Sean Savage, Trio A change, a change has come over me. He changed my life and now I’m free. He washed away all my sins. And he made me whole, He washed me white as snow. He changed, my life complete, And now I sit at his feet. To do what must be done I’ll work and work, until he comes.

A wonderful change has come over me Lord you’ve changed my life complete. And now I sit at my Savior’s feet. I’m so glad he changed me To do what must be done. Lord I’ll work and work Until he comes.

BENEDICTION

Dr. Richard Kannwischer | Senior Pastor

Siyahambe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zulu Traditional

Unexpected Togetherness Because the gospel brings everyone to the table. The love of God compels us to leave behind the things that divide us. We experience the fullness of God when we step outside our generational comfort zones, take risks, and challenge ourselves to know and value each other. 8 | A Quest for Freedom


Music and Worship Ministry Staff Dr. Stephen Michael Newby | Minister of Worship Mary Hoffman | Director of Music Ministry Wil Brown | Director of Contemporary Worship • Steven Wooddell | Organist Heather Ellison | Director of Children’s Music • Sarah Dempster | Music Associate Sheldon Michael | Music Assistant • Jason Maynard | Principal Pianist

The Chancel Choir SOPRANO I

ALTO I

TENOR I

BASS

Lynn Barry Kimberlin Bolton* Elizabeth Castillo* Karen DeZearn Susan Di Chesere Wendy Eavenson Staci Graham Janifer Jo Stephanie Kirkpatrick Barbara Malm Nancy Newman

Marie Bowles Ebony Collier* Sarah Dempster Christi Downing Jennifer Hanna* Gala Pope Mary Saville Jeanne Scarborough Tiffany Stewart Jane Trimm Jane Word

Jeff Akana* Steve Bing Sean Savage*

Clarence Bell* Robert Cribb Wendel Stephens*

SOPRANO II

ALTO II

Alex Bragg Sheila Fraser Lara Gaare Alyssa Martin* Katie Messinger Ellen Warden

Alvard Mayilyan* Emily Monroe Kathy Pais Crystal Porter Martha Randolph Kathryn Roberts Cathy Sasser

Richard Ellison Gene Horn Sheldon Michael* Timothy Parham* Evans Scarborough

TENOR II Sam Grisham Jonathan Hart* Stephen Rogers Don Sheffield

BARITONE

Guest Musicians Emily Dagget Smith | Violin Jessica Stinson | Violin Benito Thompson | Violin Jessica Wu | Violin Yinzi Kong | Viola Katerina Rakestraw | Viola

Guang Wang | Cello Robert Henson | Double Bass Joel Morris | Percussion Emrah Kotan | Percussion Rex Crawford | Electric Bass

*denotes Staff Singer

A Vespers Celebration | 9


Guest Speakers and Artists

Rev. Aisha Brooks-Johnson The Reverend Aisha Brooks-Johnson is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Music from Temple University. After spending a significant time as youth director at Wayne Presbyterian Church, she obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Aisha served as the mission pastor for Wayne Presbyterian while she was also serving as the Organizing Pastor for The Common Place, a faith-based arts and education center in Southwest Philadelphia. In 2018, Aisha began her role as the Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. She is honored and overjoyed to serve as an encourager to the congregations and leaders within a presbytery filled with a deep cultural diversity and a vast theological landscape. She believes that it is her part of her call to support healthy and vital congregations and to equip healthy and innovative leaders to live into their passion and purpose as the people of God.

10 | A Quest for Freedom


Dr. Gregory Broughton Dr. Gregory S. Broughton is an Associate Professor of Music at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia. He was awarded the General Sandy Beaver Teaching Professorship in 2011. He is a member of the UGA Teaching Academy, a UGA Senior Teaching Fellow, and a recipient of the UGA Sarah Moss Fellowship. He is also the director of the UGA African American Choral Ensemble, which last year celebrated its golden anniversary. This group’s mission is the performance and preservation of works composed and/or arranged by African American composers. Broughton’s performance career has included concert, oratorio, and operatic engagements in the Northwest, Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast. He has been engaged for world premieres of works by such composers as Adolphus Hailstork, David Baker, Stephen Newby, Roger Vogel, Alan Shockley, and Ja Jahannes. He has toured the United States, Brazil, and Spain as a featured artist with the American Spiritual Ensemble.

Debi Dixon Debi Dixon’s ministry encompasses five words; powerful, melodious, anointed, and highly favored. She has shared the stage with Grammy and Stellar Award winners such as Richard Smallwood, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, and Don Moen. She was nominated for Best Female Vocalist, and Album of the Year at the 2005 and 2009 Atlanta Gospel Choice Awards. In May of 2016, Debi was featured at the White House for National Day of Prayer under the first African American president, President Barak Obama. In 2018, Debi coordinated a global project “The Colors of Your Grace” bringing together worshipers from Africa, Asia, and the United States. She released her 1st single in 2019 entitled “No Longer Slaves” and in 2020, her 2nd single entitled “The Colors of Your Grace” and in 2021 her Christmas single entitled “What About the Child.” Debi presently resides in New York where she is currently Minister of Music and Worship Leader at The New Jerusalem Worship Center.

A Vespers Celebration | 11


Minka Wiltz Minka is a trained classical singer, professional stage actor, voiceover actor, and writer. Throughout her career Minka has collaborated extensively on new and developing works written by playwrights including Robert O’Hara, Marcus Gardley, Tanya Barfield, Darren Canady and Kia Corthron. She has performed on the stages of The Alliance Theater, Horizon Theater, The Actors Express, Synchronicity Performance Group, Working Title Playwrights, The Atlanta Opera, San Diego Repertory Theater, and The Atlanta Symphony. She has been honored by Emory University with their Community Artist Impact Award. She is a recipient of the Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Lead Female Performance in a Musical.

Jon Goode Jon Goode is an Emmy nominated writer residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Jon’s work has been featured in CNN’s Black in America, and HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. He has appeared in commercials, vignettes and interstitials for VH-1 and TVLand / Nick@Nite. Jon’s work earned him the 2006 Promax Gold for the best copyright in North America. His collection of poems and short stories, Conduit, was #1 on Amazon for 16 weeks. Jon’s debut novel, Mydas, debuted as a #1 new title on Amazon.com. Jon is a Fellow of AIR and the host of The Moth Atlanta.

12 | A Quest for Freedom


Jayme Alilaw Jayme Alilaw is celebrated for her lush and vibrant tone throughout operatic, classical, and musical theater repertoires. Operatically, Jayme is equally at home in traditional and contemporary repertoire. Most recently, Jayme premiered the role of Alice Bolden in the digital presentation of Jeff Crompton’s Buddy Bolden, The Opera. Committed to elevating the voices of Black creators, Jayme has produced performance art including La Femme Noire, a celebration of the contributions of African American womxn as composers, poets, and singers. As a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Jayme frequently sang for military ceremonies throughout the United States and Middle East.

Jimmy McGee James (Jimmy) McGee resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is the CEO/President of the The Impact Movement, Inc., a 501(c)3 ministry that is focused on reaching Black students in the academy. Previously he worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and served Black students who attended the Atlanta University Center. In his role as the Director of the program Pilgrimage for Reconciliation, he led a program to help InterVarsity grow deeper in its intent to become a welcoming organization to all ethnic communities by looking at racial/ethnic conflict domestically and globally through the lens of Shalom Theology. Jimmy is also the founder and president of The Bitumen Group, Inc., an organization that seeks to be the preserver of life and narrative of ethnic groups.

A Vespers Celebration | 13


Dr. Oral Moses Oral Moses, bass-baritone, performs regularly throughout the United States and Europe singing with special emphasis on the Negro Spiritual and Art Song repertoire by African-American composers. He has recorded several CDs of Art Songs and Spirituals by African-American composers, among which is his CD entitled, Oral Moses sings... songs of America. As a solo recording artist for Albany Records, his premiere CD, Deep River: Songs and Spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh, is featured in the PBS film documentary Antonin Dvorak in America. His latest CD, Come Down Angels and Trouble the Water, is a collection of Spirituals celebrating the Negro Spiritual as a National Treasure. He is a contributing author in both the third edition of Notable Black American Women and the second edition of Notable Black American Men, both published by Gale Press. He is a frequent guest lecturer and clinician on the Negro Spiritual and presenter at workshops and conferences. Still a very active and exciting performer, Oral Moses is retired Professor Emeritus of Voice and Music Literature at Kennesaw State University.

Dr. Eddie Robinson Eddie Anthony Robinson is a songwriter based in greater metro Atlanta. His songwriting gift has allowed him to pen hits for such artists as Dottie Peoples, The Gospel Music Workshop of America Mass Choir, Patrick Lundy, and the Ministers of Music, Alvin Darling and others. He has serves on the staff of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, the National Baptist Convention, USA Music Auxiliary, and the Gospel Music Workshop of America. He has compositions in the Total Praise Hymnal, published by the National Baptist Convention, and the Ecumenical Hymnal, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, published by GIA Publications. He has ten recordings to his credit with one project winning two Rhythm of Gospel Awards for Traditional Song of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year in 2015. His most recent recording, Truly Been Good, was released in July of 2019. Dr. Robinson currently serves as the Minister of Music and Director of Worship and Arts at Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers, Georgia.

14 | A Quest for Freedom


Bishop Donn Thomas An ordained minister, Donn is a self-described “musicianary” (musician, composer, and missionary). Previously, Donn has served on ministry boards like College of Prayer, founded and led by Rev. Dr. Fred A. Hartley, III. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of Renovaré International, a Christian nonprofit that models, resources, and advocates fullness of life with God experienced, by grace, through the spiritual practices of Jesus and of the historical Church. Donn has also written many songs that the worldwide church sings weekly, such as “A Shield About Me” and “Anointing Fall On Me.” Donn Thomas is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary and has lectured and preached in churches and schools as well as performed concerts both inside and outside the United States of America. Donn currently serves as a pastor at large at Lilburn Alliance Church in Tucker, Georgia.

Special Thanks to our Creative and Communications Team Dan Johnson | Creative and Communications Director Amy Anderson | Art Director • Bryan Benitez | Video Producer Chad Benson | Creative and AV Tech • Katlin Buck | Graphic Designer Mitch Reed | Print Shop Manager • Quan Stallings | Video Producer Mickey Whitehead | Assistant Print Shop Manager

Dr. Teresa Hairston | Consultant to the Minister of Worship Office

A Vespers Celebration | 15


Upcoming Events A T

P E A C H T R E E

A Musical Quest: Old Testament Journey Sunday, March 27 | 4:00pm

Maundy Thursday Service April 14 | 7:00pm

Easter at Peachtree Saturday, April 16 | 5:00pm Sunday, April 17 | 8:00am

| 9:30am | 11:00am

Organ Dedication Concert Wednesday, May 18 | 7:00pm

Summer Pops Concert Sunday, June 12 | 5:00pm

3434 Roswell Rd NW | Atlanta, Georgia 30305 PeachtreeChurch.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.