McPhail Weblog Nov 14, 2021

McPhail Baptist Church

"The Message of Pilate's Wife" by James Tissot

Prelude: “Offertory on ‘Slane’”

Hymn: “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”

A Prayer of Confession

O God of peace, we turn aside from an unquiet world, seeking rest for our spirits and light for our thoughts. We bring our work to be sanctified, our wounds to be healed, our sins to be forgiven, our hopes to be renewed and our better selves to be quickened.

O Thou, in whom there is harmony, draw us to thyself and silence the discords of our sometimes troubled lives. Thou who art one in all, and in whom all are one, take us out of the loneliness of self, and fill us with the fullness of thy truth and love.

Thou whose greatness is beyond our highest praise, lift us above our common littleness and our daily imperfections. Send us visions of the love that is in Thee and of the good that is in us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

(Adapted from St. Augustine)

Special Music: "Après un Rève"(Gabriel Fauré)

Margot Lange (Violin)

Hymn: “It Is Well With My Soul”

Scripture Reading: Matt 27:15-23 (NRSV)

15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[h] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Special Music: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

Organ/Piano Duet