Jonah the Reluctant Prophet:Prayers from the Belly of the Whale

April 25, 2021

The Worship of GodThe Fourth Sunday of Easter

There is a place for you at Northside Church to know the love of God, to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and to go into the world to serve others.

Please rise in body or spirit when you see this symbol, and join in reading aloud text in bold.

Lyrics are included for your Christian encouragement. We ask that you refrain from singing as we continue to care for one another’s health.

The Chiming of the Hour

The Prelude | Sonata in D Major, IV. Allegro | G. F. Handel Ms. Helen Kim, violin

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, & Mr. Joshua McClure, piano ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

–Psalm 29:1–2

The Welcome Rev. Catherine Boothe Olson

The Call to Worship 8:00am | Rev. Boothe Olson

Pastor: 11:15am | Dr. Ann Brightwell McCord

People:Pastor:People:Pastor:People:Pastor:People:

The Opening Hymn | Christ for the World We Sing Chancel Choir Staff Singers

Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring, with loving zeal;the poor, and them that mourn, the faint and overborne,sin-sick and sorrow-worn, whom Christ doth heal.

Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring, with fervent prayer;the wayward and the lost, by restless passions tossed,redeemed at countless cost, from dark despair.

Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring, with one accord;with us the work to share, with us reproach to dare,with us the cross to bear, for Christ our Lord.

Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring, with joyful song;the newborn souls, whose days, reclaimed from error's ways,inspired with hope and praise, to Christ belong.

The Lord be with you.And also with you.Gather this day in silence and hope.We wait for God’s word for us.Let your hearts and spirits be open.God is our strength and salvation.Wait patiently for the Lord.With willing hearts and spirits we wait for the Lord. Praise be to God. Amen.

The Affirmation of Faith | Apostles' Creed 8:00am | Mr. Michael J. Devine

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; 11:15am | Dr. Brightwell McCord

and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and thelife everlasting. Amen.

The Choral Affirmation | Six-Fold Amen | Michael Devine Chancel Choir Staff Singers

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism | 11:15am Dr. Bill Burch

Thomas Rhodes

The Congregational Response | 11:15am Dr. Brightwell McCord

With God's help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ,that [name], surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith,and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.

The Baptism Response | Child of Blessing | 11:15am Chancel Choir Staff Singers

Child of blessing, child of promise, baptized with the Spirit's sign.With this water God has sealed you, unto love and grace divine.

The Giving of God's Tithes and Our Offerings Rev. Boothe Olson

Give online at www.NorthsideUMC.org/donate or text NorthsideATL to 73256.

The Offertory | Draw Me Near | arr. Mary McDonald Chancel Choir Staff Singers

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me; & Ms. Kim, violin

But I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to Thee.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the pow’r of grace divine;Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine.

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side.

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend,When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know till I cross the narrow sea;There are heights of joy that I may not reach till I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side.

The Doxology Chancel Choir Staff Singers

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Prayers of the People and Lord's Prayer Rev. Jeff Rogers

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Anthem of Preparation | Out of the Depths I Cry to You Chancel Choir Staff Singers

Out of the depths I cry to you; O Lord, now hear me calling. Incline your ear to my distress in spite of my rebelling. Do not regard my sinful deeds. Send me the grace my spirit needs; without it I am nothing.

All things you send are full of grace; you crown our lives with favor. All our good works are done in vain without our Lord and Savior. We praise the God who gives us faith and saves us from the grip of death; our lives are in God's keeping.

The Scripture | Jonah 1:17–2:10 Dr. Burch

Pastor:People:

The Sermon | “Jonah the Reluctant Prophet: Prayers from the Belly of the Whale” Dr. Burch

The Sending Hymn | We Gather Together Chancel Choir Staff Singers

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; he chastens and hastens his will to make known.The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing. Sing praises to his name; he forgets not his own.

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant, and pray that thou still our defender wilt be.Let thy congregation escape tribulation; thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

The Celebration of Dr. Ann Brightwell McCord's Ministry | 11:15am Dr. Burch & Dr. Brightwell McCord

The Benediction Dr. Burch

The Postlude | Improvisation on Kremser | arr. McClure Mr. McClure

ClergyDr. Bill Burch, Senior Pastor • Rev. Catherine Boothe Olson, Associate Pastor

Rev. Jeff Rogers, Associate Pastor • Dr. Ann Brightwell McCord, Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care

Affiliated ClergyDr. G. Gil Watson, Pastor Emeritus • Rev. Jim Hollis, General Evangelist

Rev. Martha Forrest, Retired • Rev. Maryann Chapman, Retired

Traditional Music MinistriesMichael J. Devine, Director of Music Ministries • Joshua McClure, Associate Director of Music & Organist

Northside Church is a Stephen Ministry Congregation2799 Northside Drive NW · Atlanta, Georgia 30305 · 404.355.6475 · www.NorthsideUMC.org

The flowers on the altar are given to the Glory of God:

In honor of Dr. Ann Brightwell McCord, for her 13 years of ministry here at Northside Church.

This is the Word of God for the people of God.Thanks be to God.