Easter Choir Cantata
April 10, 2022 Palm Sunday; Ten Thirty in the morning
Presented by John Calvin Presbyterian Church
with Chinese Presbyterian
and Little Farms UCC
Ministers: The Reverand Susan Lassalle
and The Reverend Aaron Ochart
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
* indicates to stand in body or in spirit
GATHERING
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN: “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah!”
Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
WORDS OF WELCOME
PRELUDE Trumpet Processional in G by David German
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP (Zecharia 9:9)
ONE: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
MANY: Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
ONE: Lo, your king comes to you;
MANY: triumphant and victorious is he,
ONE: humble and riding on a donkey,
MANY: on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
PRAYER OF THE DAY:
God of honor and celebration, together we cry, “Hosanna!” to your son, who rode willingly and bravely into Jerusalem. Hear us as we celebrate your anointed one, Jesus Christ. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained, and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth.
Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen.
KYRIE #572
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*HYMN “My Song is Love Unknown” LOVE UNKNOWN
- 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.
- He came from heaven’s throne salvation to bestow;
the world that was his own would not its Savior know.
But O, my Friend, my Friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend!
- Sometimes we strew his way,
and his sweet praises sing,
resounding all the day hosannas to our King.
Then “Crucify!” is all our breath,
and for his death we thirst and cry.
- Unheeding, we will have our dear Lord made a way,
a murderer to save, the prince of life to slay.
Yet steadfast he to suffering goes,
that he his foes from thence might free.
- Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine:
never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine.
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.
PROCLAMATION
THE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE:
SCRIPTURE READING John 12:12-27
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
the King of Israel!’
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!’
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’
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.
EASTER CANTATA
“A Living Hope”
Written and Arranged by Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi
Music Director/Accompanist: Sam Garnett
Assistant Music Director/ Choir Director: Kelly Cuppett
Narration: Dr. Alfred ‘Sonny’ Hew Jr, Nancy Lauland, and Rev. Susan Lassalle
Choir: Bill Bottomley, Lila Crotty, Sandy Cranfill, Pat Ellzey, Will Ellzey, Cheryl Emery, Sharon Fortin, Lorraine Hicks, Dennis Lauland, Lenny Nelson, Aaron Ochart, Paula Palermo, Ron Palmisano, Evelyn Tobey, Ann Trapani, Betty Wan, Theo Wan, and Dee Watkins.
Forward From the Publisher
Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who,
according to His great mercy has given us rebirth into A Living Hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
(1 Peter 1:3, adapt)
During the journey from Palm Sunday to Easter, we witness extraordinary images of hope gained, hope lost, and hope reborn. We begin in Jerusalem, standing among the crowds shouting “Hosanna!” as King Jesus- the Messiah, the Living Hope- rides triumphantly by. Remarkably, only a few days later, we watch as incomprehensibly, the Hope of the World is put on trial, condemned to death, crucified on Galgotha’s hill, and buried in a dark tomb- the Light of Hope seemingly extinguished.
Hope. Even Jesus’ closest friends doubted His promise: “In three days I will rise again.” But death was swallowed up in victory, and through His death and resurrection, we who follow Jesus receive new birth into a Living Hope.
Inspired by this cornerstone of our faith, Tom Fettke and Thomas Grassi have created a cantata distinguished musically by its use of 19th Century American sources. The opening chorus, which is reprised as the finale, sets the tone for a lively tune from the Christian Lyre. The Shaker melody, Followers of the Lamb, is the perfect fit for the Palm Sunday chorus; the choir’s antiphonal “shouts” are especially effective.
The melody from Wayfaring Stranger, paired with Barron Stone’s remarkable text, is the perfect choice for the scene at Galgotha. Easter dawns with a little gem of a spiritual, One Sunday Morning, that recounts the biblical narrative with utter simplicity and spine-tingling drama. The resurrection chorus dances in triumph with the hymn tunes Nettleton and Diademata, and lyrics from Wordsworth, Crosby, and Bridges. And traditional folk hymns plus the joy of salvation in Our Living Hope: I know that my Redeemer lives; glory, glory hallelujah! What joy his blest assurance gives; glory, glory hallelujah!
Scripture is filled with references to “hope,” and Fettke’s six scripture-based narratives both instruct and inspire today’s listener.
“The Glories of Christ”
Words by Ken Bible and John Bakewell, 1721-1819 written and arranged by Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi Incorporating “Pleading Savior” From Christian Lyre, 1831
Glory and honor, glory and honor!
Glory and praise, Hallelujah!
Glory and honor, praise and blessing
be to Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Lamb once slain for our redemption,
Prophet, Priest, and King adored.
Power, riches, strength and wisdom,
all are His and His alone.
He who shared our human weakness
shares the Father’s sov’reign throne.
Fix our eyes on Christ our Savior.
Find our living hope in Him,
holy freedom, full forgiveness,
peace with God and peace within.
Share His faith in God our Father.
Share His death, and breathe His life.
Rise with Him and share his glory.
Bathe in everlasting light.
Look to Christ, the Man of Sorrows.
See His suff’ring feel His pain.
Share the joy of love that changes
greatest loss to greatest gain.
Healer, teacher, friend and shepherd,
ever glad to guide and bless,
in our desert, living water, manna in our wilderness.
Glory, honor, praise and blessing
Christ is worthy to receive.
Highest praises without ceasing,
right it is for us to give.
Help us, bright angelic spirits;
join with us your voices raised.
We will sing our Savior’s merits;
we will give King Jesus praise!
Sing glory, honor and praise to Christ, our King!
“He Comes in the Name of the Lord”
Words by Theodulph of Orleans, 750-821 written and arranged by Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi Incorporating a Shaker melody Flowers of the Lamb, 1847
All glory, laud and honor, all glory, laud and honor,
all glory, laud and honor to Thee, Redeemer King,
to whom the lips of children,
to whom the lips of children,
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!
Shout! Hosanna! Blessed the King of Israel!
Shout! Hosanna! He comes in the name of the Lord!
Shout! Hosanna! Blessed the King of Israel!
Shout! Hosanna! He comes in the name of the Lord!
To Thee before Thy passion, to Thee before Thy passion,
To Thee before Thy passion
they sang their hymns of praise.
To Thee now high exalted, to Thee now high exalted,
to Thee now high exalted, our melody we raise.
Shout! Hosanna! Blessed the King of Israel!
Shout! Hosanna! He comes in the name of the Lord!
Shout! Hosanna! Blessed the King of Israel!
Shout! Hosanna! He comes in the name of the Lord!
The company of angels, the company of angels,
the company of angels are praising Thee on high,
and we with all creation, and we with all creation,
and we with all creation in chorus make reply.
Shout! Hosanna! Blessed the King of Israel!
Shout! Hosanna! He comes in the name of the Lord!
Shout! Hosanna! Blessed the King of Israel!
Shout Hosanna! He comes in the name of the Lord!
He comes in the name of the Lord!
He comes in the name of the Lord, the Lord! Hosanna!
“Behold the Love, the Grace of God”
Words by Barton W. Stone, 1772-1844, Adapted by Tom Fettke written and arranged by Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi Incorporating WAYFARING STRANGER
Behold the love, the grace of God,
displayed in Jesus’ precious blood;
my soul’s on fire, it yearns to prove
the fullness of redeeming love.
Our God is love, O leap my soul! Let alleluias freely roll!
Love gave a Son to save our race,
and Jesus died through Sov’reign grace.
And Jesus died through Sov’reign grace.
The cross I view, O wondrous love!
My sins expire, my fears remove;
my inborn hateful feelings slain,
I’m reconciled, I’m born again.
What love has done, sing earth around!
The angels sing the endless sound.
Lo, Jesus bleeding on the tree!
It’s there the love of God I see!
It’s there the love of God I see!
Our God is love, O leap my soul! Let alleluias freely roll!
Love gave a Son to save our race,
and Jesus died through sov’reign grace!
What love has done, sing earth around!
The angels sing the endless sound!
Lo, Jesus bleeding on the tree!
It’s there, the love of God I see!
“One Sunday Morning”
written and arranged by Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi Traditional Spiritual
It was on one Sunday morning,
Sunday morning, Sunday morning;
It was on one Sunday morning just at the break of day,
an angel came down from heaven,
down from heaven, down from heaven;
an angel came down from heaven
and rolled the stone away.
Sister Mary, she came a running,
came a running, came a running;
sister Mary, she came a running and found an empty tomb.
Jesus rose that Sunday morning,
Sunday morning, Sunday morning;
Jesus rose that Sunday morning. He reigns forever more;
“His Glory Now We Sing”
Words by Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885, Fanny Crosby, 1820-1915, and Matthew Bridges, 1800-1894 written and arranged by Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi Tunes NETTLETON (trad) and DIADEMATA, by George J. Elvey, 1816-1893
Blessed day of resurrection,
glorious day of hope divine,
from the cross of pain and anguish
see the star of mercy shine.
Alleluia! Alleluia! All our doubts and fears have fled.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ has risen from the dead.
Now the iron bars are broken,
Christ from death to life is born,
glorious life and life immortal,
on this resurrection morn.
Christ has triumphed,
and we conquer by His mighty enterprise;
we with Him to life eternal by His resurrection rise!
His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring
and lives that death may die!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Hearts to heav’n and voices raise;
sing to God a hymn of gladness,
sing to God a hymn of praise.
He who, on the cross as Savior,
for the world’s salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,
now is risen from the dead.
He is alive, alive! Alleluia!
“Our Living Hope”
Words and music adapted by Tom Fettke written and arranged by Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi Traditional American Folk Hymn
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb,
my perfect spotless righteousness.
the changeless One, the Great I AM,
the King of glory and of grace.
One with my Lord I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by his blood,
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God.
I know that my Redeemer lives; glory, glory hallelujah!
What joy this blest assurance gives;
glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
He lives to bless me with His love;
glory, glory hallelujah!
He lives to plead for me above.
Glory, glory hallelujah! Glory, glory hallelujah!
He lives all glory to His name! Glory, glory hallelujah!
He lives, my Savior, still the same;
glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory Hallelujah! Glory, glory Hallelujah!
“The Glories of Christ (Reprise)”
Words by Ken Bible and John Bakewell, 1721-1819 written and arranged by Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi Incorporating “Pleading Savior” From Christian Lyre, 1831
Fix our eyes on Christ our Savior.
Find your living hope in Him, holy freedom,
full forgiveness, peace with God and peace within.
Share His faith in God our Father.
Share His death, and breathe His life.
Rise with Him and share His glory.
Bathe in everlasting light.
Look to Christ, the Man of Sorrows.
See His stuff’ring feel His pain.
Share the joy of love that changes greatest loss
to greatest gain.
Healer, teacher, friend, and shepherd,
ever-glad to guide and bless,
in our desert, living water, manna in our wilderness.
Glory, honor, praise, and blessing
Christ is worthy to receive.
Highest praises without ceasing,
right it is for us to give.
Help us, bright angelic spirits;
join with us your voices raised.
We will sing our Savior’s merits;
we will give King Jesus praise!
Sing glory, honor and praise to Christ, our King!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
RESPONSE
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Theological Declaration of Barmen
- “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matt. 28:20.) “The word of God is not fettered.” (II Tim. 2:9.)
The church’s commission, upon which its freedom is founded, consists in delivering the message of the free grace of God to all people in Christ’s stead, and therefore in the ministry of his own Word and work through sermon and Sacrament.
We reject the false doctrine, as though the church in human arrogance could place the Word and work of the Lord in the service of any arbitrarily chosen desires, purposes, and plans.
RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY All Hail, King Jesus arr. Chuck Sinclair
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy, tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary fo
*HYMN 223 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
- When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
- Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ my God;
all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
- See from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
- Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small;
love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
*PARTING PRAYER
Gracious God, our way in the wilderness, guide us, by your Word, through these forty days, and minister to us with your Holy Spirit, so that we may be reformed, restored, and renewed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*RESPONSE #363 “I Want Jesus To Walk With Me”
I want Jesus to walk with me;
I want Jesus to walk with me;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
A special thanks to Little Farms United Church of Christ and Chinese Presbyterian Church for joining us this morning for worship, and sharing in worship leadership and choir members.
Participating in today’s service are Rev. Susan Lassall, Pastor of Little Farms UCC; Rev. Aaron Ochart, Pastor John Calvin Presbyterian Church; Louise Ochart, CE Leader; Sam Garnett, Music Director; and Kelly Cuppett, Asst. Music Director. Appreciation to Dennis Lauland. Mike Fortin, and David Garland for the video production of today’s service.
The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.
JOHN CALVIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
For more information, visit our website at www.JohnCalvinChurch.org
or find us @JohnCalvinMetairie on Facebook and Instagram
CHINESE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
For more information, visit our website at www.cpckenner.org
or find us on Facebook
LITTLE FARMS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
For more information, visit our website at www.lfucc.org
or find us @littlefarmsucc on Facebook