Worship Bulletin – 5/5/20

Worship Bulletin – 5/5/20

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, May 3, 2020
National Senior High Sunday
Through my Fear, I Trust God” | Psalm 40:1-11

Introduction | Pastor Jerry Bowen

Welcome | Abbey Paulsen
“I am a member of the youth team.  We want to thank you for supporting us. Without your prayers and support, our faith journeys would not be what they are. Thank you. Today comes with mixed emotions, as this is not the way we envisioned our school year ending. Many of us missed out on prom. Our seniors will miss an official graduation celebration. Some of us had college visit plans and hopes to begin plotting that part of our journey. All of us miss our friends and school communities. All of us have had moments of fear and anxiety. We have lost sleep. We have cried. We have felt anger and confusion and sorrow. AND YET! Through it all we knew that we had our church family. You remain our anchor and our refuge. You are the ones we lean on for guidance and wisdom. You are the shoulders we can cry on, and you have offered listening ears when we need someone to talk to.  More than that, though, you brighten our days with your love and smiles and welcome. This was not as we had envisioned our youth Sunday going, but like so many in the world right now, we are adjusting and adapting and offering our best in this uncertain time. Today we come to you from our different homes, each person recording their own element of worship ahead of time. We ask, whether you are in person helping with worship, or you are joining online or on Channel 13, we ask you to journey with us into the mysterious grace and care of God. Join with us as we walk side by side, leaning on each other, trusting our Creator to guide us through this current age, and we will bring glory to God and work for our neighbor’s good. Let us dive deep into the great mystery of God, together, and let us all see what God can do through us. AMEN”

Cantering Music | “I Can See Clearly Now” | by Jimmy Cliff – arr. tomplay
Caleb Samland – Saxophone

Call to Worship | Jonah Scott
Blessed are you who call on God and surrender to the Divine . . .
Blessed are you who give up the world’s riches and chase after our Creator . . .
Blessed are you who seek the Shalom of God leaving the violence of the world behind . . .
Blessed are you who leave stale religion behind and take up the mantel to be Jesus’ hands and
feet in this world . . .
Blessed are you who work for justice and peace proving to all that God’s Light burns brilliantly . . .
Finally . . .
Blessed are WE who choose to count well the cost and follow Jesus: Peacefully. Simply. Together.
AMEN

Song of Welcome | “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” | #8
Grace van Asselt & Kaitlyn van Asselt – Song Leaders

Invitation to Give | Elissa Nelson
“On behalf of our entire church family, we want to, once again, highlight how all can financially support the ministries at the McPherson Church of the Brethren. There is a link on the website that you can click on and designate how best to use your financial gift. If you want to mail in your tithe, please continue to do so at 200 North Carrie. And if you are out walking about, honoring social distancing and happen to have a check you need to drop off, go ahead and slip it into the mail slot. Let us all meditate on this morning’s invitation to give. Many of us made New Year’s resolutions. Some of us wanted to lose weight. Others wanted to have a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God. And still others vowed to spend more time with friends and family. Two months later, we all faced a different struggle. Who could have known that 2020 would bring such mountains to move, but move they must.  And WE WILL move them! Together – Side by side – Hand in hand – Guided by God – Anchored in our faith. Your financial gifts and your dedicated time and talents ensures we, as a church family, continue to move whatever mountains are before us. AMEN”

Giving Music | “Andante et Allegro” | J. Guy Ropartz.
Matthew Powers – Trombone

Giving Prayer | Maddie Skytte
“Loving Creator, we lay our offerings before you, praying that you not only accept them, but that you, o God, will use them. Use them to enable us to create ministries of love for our neighbors. Use our gifts to create a more just world, a world saturated with your peace. And use our tithes, Gracious God, to empower us to care for ALL of creation. In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN”

Prayer Song | “Praise, I Will Praise you, Lord” | #76

Children’s Time | Sage Koelling

Scripture Focus | Psalm 40:1-11 | Kyra Byrd, Kade Kaufman, Aubree Martens, Cat Palacios, Izzy Palacios
I want to invite you to close your eyes and hear Psalm 40:1-11
I waited patiently for the Lord; God turned to me and heard my cry.
The Lord lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
God put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our Creator.
Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in the Divine.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire – but my ears you have opened –
burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

Then I said, “Here I am, I have come – it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.

Message | “Stories of Hope” | Maggy Adolf, Kyra Jackson, Malia Pfeiff, Sequora Pfeiff

Sending Song | “I Need Thee Every Hour” | #555

Sending Words | Ashlyn Shugart
May you all experience God’s light in even the darkest times. 
May you all feel God’s peace when turbulence rocks your world.
May you all know God’s love when isolation and loneliness linger.
May you all sense God’s hope when despair lurks.
May you all be aware that God is everywhere and in all things.
And
May you all have eyes to see and ears to hear God in the little things as well as the big things.
May you all be covered in love and peace and comfort. AMEN

Sending Music


Technical Assistance: Eric Goering, Ryan Goering, Doug Lengel, Steve Lolling, Shane Kirchner, Chris Whitacre
Music Coordinator/Organist/Pianist: Ellen Gilbert