21 Jun Worship Bulletin: 6/25/23
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, June 25, 2023 @ 10:15 a.m.
Gathering Music | “When Morning Gilds the Skies” | #644 Verses 1 & 4
“Let the Whole Creation Cry” | #51 Verses 1 & 4
Video Welcome
Sharing Time: Joys & Concerns
Centering Music | “O How I Love Jesus” | arr. John Rasley
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Opening Scripture | excerpts from Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 | A prayer of David
Hear me, God and answer me, for I am poor and needy … save your servant … have mercy on me, for I put
my trust in you … listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me …
no deeds can compare with yours … For you are great and do marvelous deeds …
Opening Song | “I Need Thee Every Hour” | #555
Story for the Children
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 | “Be Ye Glad” | arr. M.K. Blanchard
van Asselt Family
Scripture Focus | Genesis 21: 8-21 | Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away
8 The child [Isaac] grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great
feast. 9 But Sarah, [Isaac’s mother] saw that [Ishmael] the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to
Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that
woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly
because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave
woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be
reckoned. 13 I will make [Ishmael] – the son of the slave – into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”
14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them
on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of
Beersheba. 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then
she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And
as she sat there, she began to sob. 17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar
from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying
as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”
19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and
gave the boy a drink. 20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an
archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of [pay’-run] Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.
Scripture Song | “O Lord, Hear My Prayer” X2 | #348
Unison Prayer of Devotion and Commitment | Devoted to You | written by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Inspired by Psalm 86:2 – Preserve my life, or I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
To you, O God, I lift up my soul:
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you;
Guard my heart, for I love you with all my choices;
Guard my mind, for I fix my thoughts on following you;
Guard my body, for I give it to be your temple;
Guard my relationships, for I center my conversations on you.
Hear my prayer, O God.
To you, O God, I lift up my soul:
I offer my eyes to you, to behold your beauty;
I offer my lips to you, to speak your praises;
I offer my ears to you, to listen to your words;
I offer my steps to you, to follow your movements;
I offer my life to you, to honor you alone.
Hear my prayer, O God.
Message | “When the Desert is Too Much ” | Jerry Bowen
Sending Song | “Fill Us with Your Feast” | #309 Voices Together
Weary and tempted we enter the desert, desp’rately seeking your face –
lives that are thirsty and hearts that are lonely, we will seek your embrace.
REFRAIN
Find us empty and wandering: we, the lost and the least.
Find us in the wilderness then fill us with your feast.
Deep in our darkness you enter in stillness, offering comfort so bright.
Gathered together within your safe shelter, darkness welcomes the light. REFRAIN
Seeking and trusting, we turn from destruction, wondering what you will bring.
God of the present, the past, and the future, come and do a new thing. REFRAIN
Sending Words
Sending Music | “How Majestic is Your Name” | arr. Fred Bock
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