25 Mar Worship Bulletin – 3/28/21
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
This worship begins with the Celebration of Palm Sunday; the Triumphal Entry.
This worship closes by ushering in the beginning of Holy Week; the Passion of Christ.
This is the week Jesus traveled the long and lonely road to his crucifixion on the cross.
Welcome
Centering Music | “Coronation” | arr. Robert Lau
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Lighting of the Candles
During Lent, we remember the events that led up to the crucifixion. Jesus had come into the world to bring
hope and light, but at every step there were those who could not accept the power of that light. He came to
create a new relationship between God and human beings, but there were those who had other ideas.
Because he could not be manipulated, they sought to kill him.
In the Gospel of Matthew we read:
When Jesus had finished teaching, he said to his disciples, “In two days, as you know, it will be the Passover
Festival, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified. The chief priests and the elders met together
in the palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest, and made plans to arrest Jesus secretly and put him to death. “We
must not do it during the festival,” they said, “or the people will riot.” Then one of the twelve disciples the one
named Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked, “What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?”
They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to him. From then on, Judas was looking for a good chance
to hand Jesus over to them.
Betrayed by a kiss from a friend for thirty pieces of silver … anyone could have been the one to betray. Jesus
came as the truth, but it was too brilliant for those who hid in the dark. As the small bag of coins was traded
from hand to hand, a little of the light that had come into the world – went out.
Fanfare of the Palms
On this beautiful Palm Sunday – let us re-hear the scripture account of the Triumphal Entry –
the waving of the palms – from Mark 11
Scripture of the Triumphal Entry
Mark 11:1-11 | Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany – at the Mount of Olives – Jesus sent
two of his disciples, 2 saying to them,
“Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever
ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and
will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing
there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”
6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus
and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread
branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts.
He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Hymn of the Palms | “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” | #238 HWB
Kendra Flory, vocal; Ellen Gilbert, piano
Children’s Story
Invitation to Give
Offering Music | “All Glory, Laud and Honor” | arr. Cathy Moklebust
Bell Ensemble: Deb van Asselt, Kaitlyn van Asselt, Kendra Flory & Janelle Flory Schrock
Give online or send a check made payable to “McPherson Church of the Brethren,” 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 6746
Scripture Focus
Message | Kathryn Whitacre
Prayer
Hymn of the Passion | “Go to Dark Gethsemane” | #240 HWB
Dawn Hoffman, vocal; Ellen Gilbert piano
And now as we prepare to enter Holy Week – hear the Matthew Scripture account of; the Passion of Christ
Scripture of the Passion | Mark: 1 thru 15:47 – excerpts
14:1 It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the
scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him;
14:2 for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”
14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.
14:11 When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look
for an opportunity to betray him.
14:17 When it was evening, Jesus came [to be] with the twelve. 14:18 And when they had taken their places
and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”
14:19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?”
14:26b … [after the meal] they went out to the Mount of Olives.
14:27 And Jesus said to them,
“You will all become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
14:28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
14:29 Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.”
14:30 Jesus said to him,
“Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
14:32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
14:33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.
14:34 And said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”
14:35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour
might pass from him. 14:36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me;
yet, not what I want, but what you want.”
14:41b …[and then he said] The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
14:42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
14:43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a
crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
14:44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
“The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”
14:45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.
14:46 Then they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
15:1b … They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.
15:2 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.”
15:3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things.
15:4 Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.”
15:5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
15:6 Now at the festival Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked.
15:7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the
insurrection.
15:8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom.
15:9 Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”
15:10 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over.
15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.
15:12 Pilate spoke to them again,
“Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”
15:13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
15:14 Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”
15:15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them;
and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified
Sending Music | “Were You There”
Eric Goering, Trombone
Videography and Editing: Eric Goering
Music Coordinator: Ellen Gilbert
Technical Crew: Eric Goering, Ryan Goering & Shane Kirchner