29 Mar Worship Bulletin – 3/29/20
McPherson First Church of the Brethren
We invite your active participation in the life of this congregation, as together we continue to grow in grace and seek justice for God’s creation.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Welcome
Centering Music
Scripture Focus | John 11:1-45 | Paraphrased
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus – of Bethany.
Mary and Martha, his sisters, sent a message to Jesus, saying “He whom you love is ill.”
When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he found that Lazarus was dead and had already been in the tomb four days.
Martha said to Jesus,
“If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But – even now – I know that God will
give you whatever you ask.”
Jesus said to Martha,
“Your brother Lazarus – will rise again.”
When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him,
“Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
He said, “Where have you laid him?” Jesus began to weep. Then Jesus, greatly disturbed, said,
“Take away the stone”.
So they took away the stone. And Jesus said,
“God, my father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me, but I have said this
for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.”
Then, Jesus cried with a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out!”
Lazarus came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth.
And Jesus said to the people, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Call to Worship | Rev. Elizabeth Dilley (adapted)
Come out! Jesus commands;
drawing us from the tombs of our existence into the brightness of a new day.
Come out! Jesus cries;
unbinding us from what holds us to our past.
Come out! Jesus compels;
enticing us into a world filled with grace and possibility.
Come out! Jesus cajoles;
coaxing us into a world that desires our life, our breath, our spirit –
into a world that requires the Spirit of God, carried on our lips and in our loving arms.
In a loud voice, Jesus calls; Come out!
Into this world to live as God’s new people, together!
Opening Song | “God the Spirit, Guide and Guardian” | #632
Children’s Time | Dan Lichty
Invitation to Give | based on liturgies by Reverend Eleanor Macalister
Giving Music | Carol Ward
Giving Prayer
Prayer Song | “O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come”
Prayers of the People | based on words by Mark Morrison-Reed
Special Music | “We Shall Be Known” | Elizabeth Alexander
Kendra Flory, Janelle Flory Schrock & Becky Snell
Message | “If Jesus Had Been on Time” | Jerry Bowen
When we jump straight to the miracle of the raising of Lazarus we miss the power of Jesus’ presence
with those who mourn. It is in this presence with one another – this togetherness that we experience;
a new day, a new way, a new life.
Sending Song | “Bless’d be the tie that binds” | #421
Sending Words
Sending Music
Organist/Pianist: Ellen Gilbert
Technical Crew: Eric Goering, Ryan Goering, Shane Kirchner, Doug Lengel, Steve Lolling, Chris Whitacre & Ira Whitacre
Vocalists: Francis Hendricks & Carol Ward
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