29 Jun Worship Bulletin: 7/2/23
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, July 2, 2023 @ 10:15 a.m.
Gathering Music | “Marvelous Grace of our Loving Lord” | #151 | Vs 1 and 3
“For Christ and the Church“ | #116 | Vs 1 and 3
Video Welcome
Sharing Time: Joys & Concerns
Centering Music | “Lasst Uns mit Jesu Ziehen” (Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus) | JS Bach
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Opening Scripture | Jeremiah 28:6-9 (8-9)
8 From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.
9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by God only if the prediction comes true.”
Opening Song | “Strong, Righteous Man of Galilee” | #540
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 | “We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder” Spiritual | arr. Cindy Berry
Ellen Gilbert, piano
Scripture Focus | Romans 6:12-23
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather
offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and
offer every part of yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness.
14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!
16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey –
whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or [slaves] to obedience, which leads to righteousness.
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, —- you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your
allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so
now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?
Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Righteousness:
The qualities of decency, integrity, goodness – that help bring all creation – into full relationship with God.
A way of being that is closest to being a reflection of God.
A way of being that is a reflection of the covenant of relationship between the creator and the created
Scripture Song | “Lord, I Need You” | #155 | Voices Together
Lord, I come, I confess. Bowing here, I find my rest.
And without you, I fall apart. You’re the one that guides my heart.
REFRAIN
Lord, I need you, oh, I need you. Ev’ry hour I need you.
My one defense, my righteousness; O God, how I need you.
Where sin runs deep, your grace is more. Where grace is found is where you are.
And where you are, Lord, I am free. Holiness is Christ in me. REFRAIN
BRIDGE
So, teach my song to rise to you when temptation comes my way.
And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on you. Jesus, you’re my hope and stay. REFRAIN X2
Message | “Slaves & Soldiers” | Kathryn Whitacre
Sending Song | “Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” | #405
Sending Words
Sending Music | “America the Beautiful” | Samuel Ward/Berry
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