Worship Bulletin – 3/21/21

Worship Bulletin – 3/21/21

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, March 21, 2021
FIFTH 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 time Jesus withdrew to the desert.

Welcome

Centering Music | “Ave Verum” | Charles Gounod
Ellen Gilbert, organ

Lighting of the Candles
During Lent, we remember the events that led up to the crucifixion. Jesus had come to bring hope and light to
the world, but at every step there were those who could not accept the power of the light. He came and turned
the world upside down, changing all expectations. The people were confused and often misunderstood Jesus.

In the twelfth chapter of John we hear these reversals.
12:20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.
12:21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

12:22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
12:23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
12:24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single
grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
12:25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

12:27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say–‘ Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this
reason that I have come to this hour.
12:28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
12:29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder.
Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
12:30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.
12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
12:33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

Jesus reversed the order of this world – so it might become the Order of God’s World.
The people misread and misinterpreted – and a little of the light that had come into the world was put out.

Hymn | “O, Jesus, I Have Promised” | #447 HWB
Kendra Flory, vocal; Ellen Gilbert, piano

Children’s Story

Invitation to Give
Offering Music | “I’d Rather Have Jesus” | Reah Miller/George Beverly Shea
Inspire: Ellen Gilbert, Dawn Hoffman, Deb Wagoner, Jenny Williams
PowerPoint Presentation, Jan Hurst
Give online or send a check made payable to “McPherson Church of the Brethren,” 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 6746

Scripture Focus | John 12:20-33

Message | “the up side – is down” (the attitude of Jesus – the attitude of the Empire) | Kathryn Whitacre

Prayer | excerpted from Sara Miles in A Hunger Beyond Food @ http://www.seedspublishers.org/
Inspired by Luke 1:47-55
“He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.” Luke 1:53

Hymn | “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” | #577 HWB
Deb van Asselt, Grace van Asselt & Kaitlyn van Asselt; Ellen Gilbert piano

Sending Words
Go out from here
as workers in God’s upside-down world,
where the last are first and the first are last,
where needs are met and justice is served – in miraculous ways,
and there is grace and love – enough for all!


Sending Music | “Overture” to The Messiah | G.F. Handel
Ellen Gilbert, organ


Videography and Editing: Eric Goering
Music Coordinator: Ellen Gilbert

Technical Crew: Eric Goering, Ryan Goering & Shane Kirchner