11 May Worship Bulletin: 5/14/23
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, May 14, 2023 @ 10:15 a.m.
Gathering Music
Video Welcome
Sharing Time: Joys & Concerns | Dan Lichty
Centering Music | “Umoja Tunaimba” – Swahili | (United We Sing) – English | Victor Johnson
Percussionists: Lindy Reynolds, Grace van Asselt
Umoja Tunaimba! United we sing!
Umoja Tunaimba! We stand as one in unity! (X2)
We lift our voices and we join our hearts singing songs of justice and peace.
We stand together as the children of God bringing hope to humanity.
Umoja Tunaimba! United we sing!
Umoja Tunaimba! We stand as one in unity!
Imba kwa amani! Imba kwa furaha! Imba kwa upendo! Imba! (X3)
We will sing for peace! We will sing for joy! We will sing for love! We will sing! (X3)
Umoja Tunaimba! United we sing!
Umoja Tunaimba! We sing in unity!
Umoja Tunaimba! We stand as one in unity! We stand as one in unity! We stand as one in Unity!
Opening Words
ONE: Jesus says, “If you Love me, keep my commands.”
ALL: How will we keep Jesus’ commands?
ONE: Jesus says,
“I will ask God to give you an advocate to help you and be with you – The Spirit of Truth!
ALL: What will the Spirit of Truth ask of us?
ONE: To stand united.
ALL: We will stand in Unity!
ONE: To lift your voices.
ALL: We will sing songs of justice and peace.
ONE: To stand together.
ALL: As children of God we will bring hope to humanity.
ONE: Stand as one in Unity!
ALL: We will sing for peace, for joy, for love! We will sing! We will stand as one in unity!
Opening Song | “You are Salt for the Earth” | #226
Story for the Children | Barbara Wagoner
Special Music | “Lighthouse” | Mary Rice Hopkins
Ritter & Mona Lange, vocals
Well if I am salt of the earth, I’ll make sure my salt shaker works
And if I am a light on a hill, I will not run when I need to be still
‘Cause salt can lose its flavor and a light can grow dim
I wanna be salt of the earth and a light to the world and my friends
Chorus:
I’ll be a lighthouse shining above
I’ll be a lighthouse sharing His love
And if my flame flickers and my well runs dry, I know Jesus lives inside my lighthouse
I can’t hide it, oh no, like a seed, my roots need to grow
I’ve gotta share it, oh yes and tell others just how I’ve been blessed
And they can come to the harbor of light if they’re shipwrecked again
‘Cause I wanna be salt of the earth and a light to the world and my friends (Chorus)
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 | “For the Beauty of the Earth” | arr. John Purifoy
Ellen Gilbert, piano
“Thanks be to God for our Mothers!”
“For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”
Scripture Focus | John 14: 15-21 | Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask God, and God will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot
accept the Spirit of Truth, because it neither sees nor knows the Spirit of Truth. But you know the Spirit of Truth, for it lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as
orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in
God, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by God, and I too will love
them and show myself to them.”
Scripture Song | “Come, Holy Spirit” (sing twice) with “Spirit of God, Descend upon my Heart” (first verse only) | adapted from arrangement by Jack Schrader
Spirit of God! Descend upon my heart. Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art, and make me love thee as I ought to love.
Message | “Jesus is Coming!” | Jerry Bowen
Sending Song | “You Shall go out with Joy” | #427
Sending Words
Sending Music | “To Walk in God’s Ways” | arr. Lani Smith
Ellen Gilbert, piano
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