Worship Bulletin – 10/24/21

Worship Bulletin – 10/24/21

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, October 24, 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Leadership Team requires masks during worship to address continued COVID-19 concerns.
Singing will be allowed with masks; musicians will perform 12 feet away from the masked audience.


Welcome

Gathering Music | “Fairest Lord Jesus” | arr. Smith and Hustard

Ellen Gilbert, organ; Dan Masterson, piano

Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover

Opening Scripture | 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 | Jerry Bowen
“ . . . What no eye has seen,
What no ear has heard,
And what no human mind has conceived –
The things God has prepared for those who love him.”
These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

Opening Prayer #677 | Jerry Bowen
O living Christ,
come to us in the glory of your risen power;
come to us in the humility of your wondrous love.
Come and reign among us!
Let new life course through our veins,
new love bind us together,
And new vision spur us on to follow you forever.
Even so, come Lord Jesus. AMEN

Opening Hymn | “Great is the Lord” | #87

Children’s Story | Barbara Wagoner

Strategic Plan 2030 | GOAL and related ACTIONS for Young Adults & Youth | Julia Largent

Invitation to Give

Musical Offering |
“O, Divine Redeemer” | Ch. Gounod
Lindy Reynolds, trumpet; Ellen Gilbert, piano
Give online or send a check made payable to “McPherson Church of the Brethren,” 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 67460

Scripture Focus | Jerry Bowen
Acts 9:3-9; 17-19                  
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the
ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul
asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be
told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did
not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they
led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus,
who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled
with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up
and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples
in Damascus.

II Corinithians 12:5-12
5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should
choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of
me than is warranted by what I do or say. 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great
revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with
the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That
is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak,
then I am strong. 11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am
not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12 The things that mark an apostle – signs,
wonders and miracles – were done among you with great perseverance.

Message | “Eyes Have Not Seen, Ears Have Not Heard . . . ” | Dr. Herb Smith

Sending Hymn | “Blessed Assurance” | #332
Please be seated after the song

Sending Words | Jerry Bowen

Sending Music | “Sing to The Great Jehovah’s Praise” | Nikolaus Herman/arr. L. Smith
Ellen Gilbert, organ




Videography and Editing: Eric Goering
Music Coordinator: Ellen Gilbert

Choir Director: Becky Snell
Technical Crew: Eric Goering, Ryan Goering, Shane Kirchner, Steve Lolling & Chris Whitacre