About Sandy Springs reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2013)
FAITH Local clergy to deliver straightforward sermons this Easter BY DAN WHISENHUNT danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net The New Testament says Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind and rose three days later. Some local clergy say their Easter sermons won’t need to say much more than that. Christians celebrate resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sun day, which falls this year on March 31. The res urrection is the founda tion of Christian belief, and its celebration of ten draws congregations filled with more than the usual number of guests, nonmembers and infre quent churchgoers. For families gathering from out of town, a highlight is the collective trek to an Easter service. At Calvary Assembly of God, the Rev. Brian Campbell said he wants to make sure his sermon doesn’t upstage his Dunwoody church’s musical cele bration. The Rev. Jim Duffy “Easter, you know, for us, that’s like the Super Bowl of the church,” Camp bell said. “Our whole basis of and the foundation and core value of what we believe is rooted in the resurrection, so the focus of the mes sage and the focus of the day is just a huge cele bration.” Camp bell said his message will be “stream lined” and his preach ing style “practical.” Parishio ners at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Sandy Springs can expect a similar ly straightforward theme. “I have creatively entitled my ser mon ‘The Easter Sermon,”’ the Rev. Aaron Menikoff said. “I keep the same title every year, and I’m preach ing from Mark, chapter 16, verses 1-8, simply a verse-by-verse description of that text focusing on the resurrection.” Menikoff said it’s important to re member that the message might be going out to people who aren’t regu lar churchgoers. “Em aware there may be in dividuals who may not be ad herents, tru ly,” he said. “They may be coming out of ob ligation. I don’t feel pres- but I The Rev. Aaron any Menikoff sure do want to be clear about the essentials of the Christian faith.” The Rev. Jim Duffy of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Brookhaven said Catholics are cel ebrating a little early this year. The The Rev. Brian Campbell Catholic Church has selected an Ar gentinian, the former Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who has taken the name Pope Francis, to succeed Pope Bene dict XVI, who resigned in February. “From our perspective, with the election of our new pope, I maintain Easter has come early, bringing hope and new expectations and joy to our church,” Duffy said. ITe said his sermon will focus on “hope.” “The Paschal candle, the big candle we light on Saturday night, which enters the church, the candle shatters the dark ness and brings light and hope,” Duffy said. “We are the Paschal candle. We are baptized in Jesus and we are the hope of our world. When we en ter the room, we are to illuminate and dispel despair and darkness and bring light and hope.” The Rev. David Michael at Faith Cornerstone Church in Brookhav- CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 COMMUNITIES OF FAITH Celebrate with us! ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ON THE CORNER OF LORIDANS AND PEACHTREE-DUNWOODY Good Friday Service March 29th at noon Please stay for a soup and sandwhich luncheon. No RSVP required. Easter Sunday - March 31 st Sunrise service at 7am Community serve at Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church on the grounds Worship services at 8:45am and 10:45am Come early and enjoy a musical prelude For more information, call the church office at 404-261-3121 i§>atnt parnaba# Unglitan Cfjttrtfj StMual f SUpostoIu f ®raiJttionaI 1928 PooU of Common draper The Right Reverend Chandler Jones, SSC Rector and Bishop Suffragan Reverend Matthew E. Harlow, Curate Please join us this Easter: Saturday, March 30 - Easter Evening Service 8:00 pm (with incense) Holy Communion of the Easter Vigil Sunday, March 31 - Easter Day Services 9:00 am & 11:00 am Holy Communion 4795 North Peachtree Road Dunwoody, Georgia 30338 (across from Brook Run Park) • 770.457.1103 www.stbarnabasatl.org The I week esus DIED Join Us As We Follow Christ Through The Week That Changed The World. Monday, March 25 11:30 a.m. Devotion: Dr. Mark Wilbanks $5 lunch Tuesday, March 26 11:30 a.m. Devotion: Rev. Matt Sapp $5 lunch Wednesday, March 27 11:30 a.m. Devotion: Rev. Bill Givens $5 lunch Thursday, March 28 11:30 a.m. Devotion: Joel Mills $5 lunch Thursday, March 28 Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 p.m. Chape] Friday, March 29 Good Friday Service 12:00 p.m. Peachtree Presbyterian Church Saturday, March 30 North Atlanta Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 a.m.-12:00p.m. Easter Sunday, March 31 Bible Study - 9:30 Worship - 11:00 Wieuca Road Baptist Church 3626 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30326 404.814.4460 wieuca.org www.ReporterNewspapers.netl MARCH22—APRIL4,2013 | 21
