21 Feb Worship Bulletin – 2/21/21
McPherson First Church of the Brethren
Welcome to Worship at the McPherson 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, February 21, 2021
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
From Ash Wednesday through the day before Easter; not including Sundays;
Lent is a season of reflection and contemplation in preparation for the Easter Celebration of New Life.
This 40 day journey mirrors the 40 days Jesus withdrew to the wilderness.
Welcome
Centering Music | “Prelude in C Minor” | J.S. Bach
Ellen Gilbert, organ
The Light of Jesus
During Lent, we remember the events that led Jesus to his crucifixion. He had come into the world to bring
hope and light, but at every turn there were those who sought to extinguish that light. He offered healing and
wisdom, yet his gifts were often challenged or outright rejected. Even his close allies, like his cousin John,
were threatened and imprisoned.
We read in Mark chapter one, verses nine thru fifteen:
1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by [his cousin] John in the Jordan.
1:10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending
like a dove on him. 1:11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well
pleased.” 1:12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
1:13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels
waited on him. 1:14 [And then,] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good
news of God, 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the [reign] kingdom of God has come near; repent,
and believe in the Good News.”
A little of the light which had come into the world was snuffed out by people like those who imprisoned John
and were slow to understand the call to repentance and the call to belief in Gods Promises.
Hymn | “Come, Holy Spirit Dove Divine” | #445 HWB
Eric Johnson, vocal; Ellen Gilbert, piano
Children’s Story
Invitation to Give
Offering Music | “This is My Song” | arr. Cathy Moklebust
Deb van Asselt, Kendra Flory, Kaitlyn van Asselt & Janelle Flory Schrock, bells
Give online or send a check made payable to “McPherson Church of the Brethren,” 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 6746
Scripture Focus | Genesis 9:8-17 (Mark 1:9-15)
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your
descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the
wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my
covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a
flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you
and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the
clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the
earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living
creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the
rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living
creatures of every kind on the earth.” 17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have
established between me and all life on the earth.”
Message | “Promise” | Kathryn Whitacre
Prayer
Hymn | “What Does the Lord Require” | #409
Sending Words
Sending Music | “Clarinet Concerto, Op. 36: III. Rondo” | Franz Krommer
Kento Aizawa, clarinet; Dorothy Janzen, piano
Videography and Editing: Eric Goering
Music Coordinator: Ellen Gilbert
Technical Crew: Eric Goering, Ryan Goering & Shane Kirchner