05 Dec Worship Bulletin – 12/5/21
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, December 5, 2021
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT | CHANGED THROUGH PEACE
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.
Gathering Hymn | “Lo How a Rose” | #211
Welcome
Centering Christmas Music | “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” | arr. by D. Alexander
Dan Masterson and Jean Hendricks, piano
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | LeRoy Weddle
Opening Scripture | Baruch 5:1-9
5:1 Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. 5:2 Put on the
robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; 5:3 for God will show your
splendor everywhere under heaven. 5:4 For God will give you evermore the name, “Righteous Peace, Godly Glory.” 5:5 Arise, O Jerusalem,
stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that
God has remembered them. 5:6 For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried
in glory, as on a royal throne. 5:7 For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled
up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God.5:8 The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God’s
command. 5:9 For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.
Christmas Song | “Bless’d be the God of Israel” | #174
Story for the Children
Invitation to Give
Musical Christmas Offering | “Adagio” | Saint-Saens
Kyle Hopkins, horn; 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 | Luke 1:68-79
1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 1:69 He has raised up a mighty savior
for us in the house of his servant David, 1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 1:71 that we would be saved from
our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 1:72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy
covenant, 1:73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 1:74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might
serve him without fear, 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 1:78 By the
tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Message | “Light unto Our Path” | Jerry Bowen
Christmas Song | “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” | #201
Please be seated after the song
Sending Words
Sending Christmas Music | Fantasia on “Forest Green” | 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
Chancel Decoration Team: Jill Brax, Colleen Gustafson, Michele Johnson, Shane Kirchner & Lara Schoming