McPherson Church of the Brethren | Worship Bulletin: 3/26/23

23 Mar Worship Bulletin: 3/26/23

Posted at 16:29h in Worship Bulletin by Joanna Davidson Smith

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 26, 2023 @ 10:15 a.m. | Fifth Sunday in Lent

Gathering Music | “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” | arr. David Hegarty
“Day by Day” | arr. David Paxton
piano, Dan Masterson

Video Welcome

Holy God, Creator of Life, you call us out of our dark places, offering us the grace of new life.
When we see nothing but hopelessness, you surprise us with the breath of your spirit.

Call us out of our complacency and routines, set us free from our self-imposed bonds, and
fill us with your spirit of life, compassion, and peace,

In the name of Jesus, your anointed one, we pray. Amen.

Opening Song | “This is a Day of New Beginnings” | #640
piano, Dan Masterson

Story for the Children | Barbara Wagoner

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 | “Serenade to Spring” | Rolf Lovland
Resonance Trio: Bryan Hess, violin; Bruce Wagoner, cello; Dan Masterson, piano

Scripture Song | “Veni Sancte Spiritus” | #298

1. Come, Holy Spirit, from heaven shine forth with your glorious light. Veni Sancte Spiritus.
2. Come from the four winds, O Spirit, come breath of God; disperse the shadows over us, renew and
strengthen your people. Veni Sancte Spiritus.
3. You are our only comforter, peace of the soul. In the heat you shade us; in our labor you refresh us,
and in trouble you are our strength. Veni Sancte Spiritus.
4. Kindle in our hearts the flame of your love that in the darkness of the world it may glow and reach to all
forever. Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Scripture Focus | John 11:1-45

The Death of Lazarus
11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister
Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord
and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s
Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that
Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back
to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble,
for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to
wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his
disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may
believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with
him.”

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less
than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of
their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at
home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even
now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they
die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and
is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet
entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with
Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing
she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had
been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply
moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the
entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there
four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard
me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may
believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his
hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Message | “Loving Life” | Kathryn Whitacre

Please take a moment to contemplate the scripture and the message

Sending Song | “Move in our Midst” | #418
piano, Dan Masterson

Responsive Sending Words | Inspired by John 11:1-45 | Rev. Elizabeth Dilley

Come out! Jesus commands,
Calling us from the tombs of our existence into the brightness of a new day.
Come out! Jesus cries,
Unbinding us from the chains of our past.
Come out! Jesus calls,
Enticing us into a world filled with grace and possibility.
So: Let us Go Out!
Into a world that needs our life, our breath, our spirit!
Let us Go Forth!
Into a world that needs the Spirit of God, carried on our lips and in our loving arms.
Let us Go Out!
Into the world to live as God’s resurrected people!
Let us Go Out!
On the breath of God’s holy wind!

Sending Music | “Called or Not Called” | Kirchner/Harrison
piano, Dan Masterson

Called or not called, God is there. The hand of the Maker is everywhere

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