30 May Worship Bulletin – 5/30/21
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.
9:55 a.m. – OUTDOOR HYMN SING
Sunday, May 30, 2021
MEMORIAL WEEKEND
Honoring those who serve; Military, Diplomatic Corps, Conscientious Objectors
Gathering Hymn
Welcome
Centering Music | “A Holy Offering”
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover
Centering Hymn | “For the Healing of the Nations” | #367
Children’s Story | Barbara Wagoner
Invitation to Give | “Near to the Heart of God/It is Well with My Soul” | arr. Gary Prim
Karlene Tyler, piano
Offering Music
Give online or send a check made payable to “McPherson Church of the Brethren,” 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 674
Message | “God looks at the heart.” | Kathryn Whitacre
Using David (military)
Using the tiny mustard seed (diplomacy)
Using a sprig of the Cedars of Lebanon (Conscientious Objection – alternative service)
Scripture Foci
1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 (David)
Mark 4:26-34 (mustard seed)
Ezekiel 17:22-24 (sprig of Lebanon cedar)
1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 | NIV
15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 15:35 Samuel did not
see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And God was sorry to have made
Saul king over Israel. 16:1 God said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him
from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for
I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 16:2 Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he
will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 16:3
Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I
name to you.” 16:4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city
came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 16:5 He said, “Peaceably; I have come to
sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his
sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 16:6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the
Lord’s anointed is now before the LORD.” 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his
appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as mortals
see; they look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” 16:8 Then Jesse called
Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 16:9 Then
Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 16:10 Jesse made
seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”
16:11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is
keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes
here.” 16:12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. God
said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed
him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of God came mightily upon David from that day
forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
Mark 4:26-34 | NIV
4:26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 4:27 and would
sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 4:28 The earth
produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 4:29 But when the grain is ripe,
at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” 4:30 He also said, “With what can we
compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 4:31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when
sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 4:32 yet when it is sown it grows up
and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can
make nests in its shade.” 4:33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to
hear it; 4:34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Ezekiel 17:22-24 | NIV
17:22 Thus says GOD: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break
off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.
17:23 On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and
become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged
creatures of every kind. 17:24 All the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD. I bring low the high
tree, I make high the low tree; I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have
spoken; I will accomplish it.
Hymn | “Will You Let Me Be Your Servant” | #307
Sending Words
Sending Music | “To God Be the Glory” | arr. Tom Doran
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Videography and Editing: Eric Goering
Music Coordinator: Ellen Gilbert
Technical Crew: Eric Goering, Ryan Goering, Shane Kirchner, Steve Lolling & Chris Whita