25 Sep Worship Bulletin: 9/25/22
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, September 25, 2022 @ 10:15 a.m.
Gathering Hymn
Video Welcome
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Centering Music | “Do Not Leave Your Cares at the Door” | Elizabeth Alexander
Poem by Norman V. Naylor – Adapted by Elizabeth Alexander
Do not leave your cares at the door. Do not leave them there when you come into this place.
Be open to forgiveness and transformation – come on in; you are welcome here;
and do not leave your cares at the door.
Bring your pain and sorrow and joy, there’s a place for them upon the altar of life.
Be open to forgiveness and transformation – come on in; you are welcome here;
and do not leave your cares at the door.
This is a place of grace, of losing and finding the way upon the winding road, meeting and parting,
stumbling and starting over. Every journey is sacred here, even yours.
Do not leave your cares at the door. Do not leave them there when you come into this place.
Be open to forgiveness and transformation – come on in; you are welcome here;
and do not leave your cares at the door.
Opening Words
Opening Song | “For Everyone Born”
Verse 1
For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread, a shelter, a space,
a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead. REFRAIN
Refrain
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace: yes,
God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy!
Verse 2
For woman and man, a place at the table, revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for woman and man, a system that’s fair. REFRAIN
Verse 3
For young and for old, a place at the table, a voice to be heard, a part in the song, the hands of a child
in hands that are wrinkled, for young and for old, the right to belong, REFRAIN
Verse 4
For just and unjust, a place at the table, abuser, abused, with need to forgive, in anger, in hurt,
a mindset of mercy, for just and unjust, a new way to be live, REFRAIN
Verse 5
For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be, to work, to speak out,
to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free, REFRAIN
Story for the Children | Paul Ullom-Minnich
Video Invitation to Give
Give online or send a check made payable to “McPherson Church of the Brethren,” 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 67460
Musical Offering | “It Is Well with My Soul” | Bethany McDonald
Ellen Gilbert | piano
Scripture Focus | Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the
dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father
Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now
he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those
who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not
also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Message | “Money & Possessions” | Kathryn Whitacre
Please take a moment to contemplate the scripture and message.
Sending Song | “When I Needed a Neighbor”
When I needed a neighbor were you there? I was hungry and thirsty, were you there?
I was cold, I was naked, were you there? When I needed a shelter, were you there?
When I needed a healer, were you there? When they put me in prison, were you there?
Wherever you travel, I’ll be there. And the creed and the color and the name won’t matter, were you there?
Sending Words
Sending Music | “To God be the Glory” | arr. Tom Birchwood
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