10 May Worship Bulletin – 5/10/20
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 10, 2020
Nurture/Mother’s Day
To nurture is to care for, encourage, strengthen, tend & nourish the growth & development of self & others.
Nurture yourself, nature, neighbors, enemies & your relationship with God.
Welcome
Centering Music
Nurture Yourself
Scripture | Psalm 139: 1-14a | The Inescapable God
“You have searched me, God, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, God, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Witness | Joanna Davidson Smith
Litany
Our Creator blesses us that we might give birth and nurture New Life.
We join with God and one another in nurturing the Love we have of Self.
We are created in God’s image. Loving self is loving God.
Sing | “There are Many Gifts” | #304 (all three verses)
Nurture Nature
Scripture | Psalm 33:5 | Earth is Full of God’s Unfailing Love
“God loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of God’s unfailing love.”
Scripture | Romans 1:20 | God is clearly revealed in Creation
“Ever since the creation of the world God’s eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have
been understood and seen through the things God made.”
Witness | Jim Stevens
Litany
Our Creator blesses us that we might give birth and nurture New Life.
We join with God and one another in nurturing the Love we have of Creation;
God created and God saw that it was GOOD!
Sing | “Morning has Broken” | #648 (all three verses)
Children’s Time
Special Music | “Faith is the Bird That Feels the Light” | Elizabeth Alexander
Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.
Kendra Flory, Janelle Flory Schrock, Becky Snell
Invitation to Give
Giving Music | Handbell Solo | Kendra Flory
Giving Prayer | Poetry by Jan Richardson (gently adapted)
Give online or send a check made payable to “McPherson Church of the Brethren,” 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 67460
Nurture Enemies
Scripture | Luke 6:27-42
“To you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High …”
Witness | Shane and Anne Kirchner
Litany
Our Creator blesses us that we might give birth and nurture New Life.
We join with God and one another in nurturing the Love we have of our enemies –
who are also – created in God’s image.
Sing | “Healer of our Every Ill” | #377 (verses 3 & 4)
Nurture Neighbors
Scripture | Matthew 22: 39b
“…and the second commandment is like the first: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Witness | Marty and Carol Ward
Litany
Our Creator blesses us that we might give birth and nurture New Life.
We join with God and one another in nurturing the Love we have of friends and family;
created in God’s image.
Sing | “Bless’d be the Tie that Binds” | #421 (verses 1, 3 & 6)
Nurture Your Relationship With God
Scripture | Matthew 22: 37-38a
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
This is the greatest and first commandment.
Witness | Linda Miller
Litany
Our Creator blesses us that we might give birth and nurture New Life.
We join with one another in nurturing the Love we have of God;
who is the Creator of all that was and is and will be forevermore.
Sing | “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” | #71 (verses 1, 2 & 3)
Sending Prayer | written by Jann Aldridge-Clanton (adapted)
God, our Creator, you continually offer us new life.
We pray to be receptive – as you nourish us and teach us to live into – the fullness of who you created us to be.
We pray to be receptive to your power & love – that others may draw life from us.
We pray that we will have the courage and determination to join you in giving birth to
new life – to continually nurturing – all of creation. May it be so! AMEN
Sending Music