Celebrate Easter at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Buckhead April 16

Buckhead’s Covenant Presbyterian Church (www.covpresatlanta.org) continues its Holy Week services with a Maundy Thursday service in the chapel Thursday, April 13 at 7 p.m. The worship service commemorates Jesus’ final Passover celebration with his disciples (the Last Supper), prior to his arrest and crucifixion. It will include a traditional Tenabrae Service which is designed, through the reading of scripture narratives, to recreate the emotional aspects of Jesus’ final days from the gathering in the Upper Room to the crucifixion, to the tomb, and will conclude in darkness as the church lights are dimmed. This solemn service is an important component of Holy Week, according to Rev. Dr. Richard Hill, interim pastor of Covenant Presbyterian, who asks “How can you know the elation of Easter morning without first experiencing the valley of the shadow of death?”

Holy Week concludes with a joyful Easter celebration Sunday, April 16 at 11 a.m., preceded by an Easter Egg hunt for children age 4-elementary school at 10:15 a.m. on the church grounds. The service will feature the full compliment of talent from Covenant Presbyterian’s music ministry. Director of Music and Organist Jeffrey McIntyre will be joined by a brass quintet to accompany the service, and the church’s Handbell Choir will provide a selection for the prelude. The service will feature festival arrangements with organ and brass choir of favorite Easter hymns. The adult choir will sing David Ashley White’s “With a Shining Like the Sun”.

“Holy Week incorporates the full range of emotions associated with Jesus’ final days on earth,” said Dr. Hill. “This past Sunday, we remembered his joyful entry into Jerusalem with rousing music and the waving of palms. Next, we will move to the sobering feeling of Maundy Thursday, when the shadow of Jesus’ impending betrayal hung over his final supper with his disciples. Good Friday focuses on the despair and grief of his crucifixion that appeared to be the end, until finally, the break of dawn on Sunday morning produces the joy of the resurrection, celebrated on Easter. The week of services takes us on a spiritual journey, plunging us into the darkness of reality and bringing us back into the light of hope. We invite everyone to share the journey with us.”

About Covenant Presbyterian Church

For nearly a century, Covenant Presbyterian Church has served the city of Atlanta through its mission of “Equipping the people of God to serve Christ in the world”. The church is led by Interim Pastor Rev. Dr. Richard Hill and Rev. Dr. Jill Ulrici, associate pastor. Located at 2461 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30305, Covenant is home to a welcoming congregation that seeks, serves and celebrates together. The church boasts a lively youth group, hands-on mission work, a women’s spirituality ministry and a strong music program, as well as offering public lectures, social events, educational opportunities and more. Covenant supports numerous organizations including Buckhead Christian Ministry, the Central Night Shelter, ChildSpring International, Habitat for Humanity, The Open Door Community, Earth Covenant Ministry and Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta. Covenant also takes a leadership role in the LaGonave Haiti Partners, a more than 20-year partnership with the Episcopal Church of Haiti. Ongoing Haiti projects include a community health center, as well as programs for education, agriculture, adult literacy and children’s nutrition. www.covpresatlanta.org