Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
"Father, forgive them!" Jesus, you prayed;
Even at death, your love was profound.
You were rejected, you were betrayed —
Yet in your word here, mercies abound.
Two hung beside you, dying in pain;
One saw, in faith, your love's sacrifice.
You told that man who called on your name,
"You will be with me in Paradise."
"This is your mother... This is your son."
You blessed the life your loved ones would share.
So in your church, you give to each one
Love's healing bonds — an answer to prayer.
You prayed a Psalm that everyone knew:
"Why have you left me here all alone?"
Did you recall that Psalm's ending, too? —
God will deliver! Let it be known!
You cried, "I'm thirsty!" suffering Lord.
Who would give comfort? What would they do?
Teach us again: When we serve the poor,
We too are giving water to you.
"It is completed!" All was fulfilled.
You had been faithful, living God's way.
You knew the truth: Love could not be killed;
There would be triumph on the third day.
"Father!" You cried out, praying to God,
"Into your hands my spirit I give."
Then on the cross, as love's final Word,
You died so all God's children might live.
This hymn is copyrighted and is not covered by any organization (such as CCLI or OneLicense) that gives churches permission to use church music. If you would like to use this hymn, please make a reasonable amount for your church to pay. We will ask that you make your donation to C.A.R.E.S., ("Children are Reading, Earning, Succeeding"), a project educating Honduran children. See www.carolynshymns.com/cares.html for more information on this project.
God, What a Faith-Filled Mystery lifts up the many biblical images of the atonement.
Consider buying these books for yourself, your church library and your public library, where they have the potential of touching the lives of people you might never meet.
- The Death of the Messiah, From Gethsemane to the Grave, Volume 1: A Commentary on the Passion Narratives in the Four Gospels (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library) and The Death of the Messiah, From Gethsemane to the Grave, Volume 2: A Commentary on the Passion Narratives in the Four Gospels (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library) by Raymond E. Brown is the most in-depth study on the death of Jesus. Raymond E. Brown was Auburn Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and two popes appointed Father Brown as the sole American on the Pontifical Biblical Commission.
- A Crucified Christ in Holy Week: Essays on the Four Gospel Passion Narratives by Raymond E. Brown is a short summary of Brown's insights on Holy Week.
- Feasting on the Word: Year A, Vol. 2: Lent Through Eastertide edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor is the wonderful preaching resource that offers four views (theological, pastoral, exegetical and homiletical) by four different writers for each of the lectionary texts for each Sunday.
- Christians at the Cross: Finding Hope in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus by N. T. Wright. This gifted scholar's insights are offered in this brief book.
- Thank God It's Friday: Encountering the Seven Last Words from the Cross by William H. Willimon is a popular preacher's sermons on Jesus' words from the cross.
- Cross-Shattered Christ: Meditations on the Seven Last Words by Stanley Hauerwas are reflections by one of the most influential writers on Christian ethics today.
- 24 Hours That Changed the World by Adam Hamilton is a gifted preacher's insights on the last twenty-four hours that Jesus lived before he died on the cross.
- The Seven Last Words From The Cross by Fleming Rutledge offers powerful sermons by a gifted Episcopal priest.
- The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan brings two popular writers together again for their unique way of interpreting the Bible's most important week.
- Christian Doctrine by Shirley Guthrie: This book, originally written for an adult Sunday School class, became a bestselling overview of the Christian beliefs. Carolyn had it as a college textbook; it was later revised and it has been used for adult classes in two churches where she has been a pastor. This book has an excellent chapter understanding the Atonement.