02 Nov Worship Bulletin: 11/5/23
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, November 5, 2023 @ 10:15 a.m. – National Jr. High Youth Sunday
Luke 10:40-42
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked,
“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” Jesus answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things
are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Gathering Music | “A Spiritual Medley” | arr. M. Bober
Jean Hendricks, piano
Video Welcome
Sharing Time: Joys & Concerns | Brielle Rothrock & Laila Samland
Centering Music | “My Lighthouse” | by The Rend Collective
Worship Band & Students
Verse 1 In my wrestling and in my doubts In my failures You won’t walk out Your great love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea whoa oh You are the
peace in my troubled sea
Verse 2 In the silence You won’t let go In the questions Your truth will hold Your great love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea whoa oh You are the
peace in my troubled sea
Chorus My Lighthouse my Lighthouse Shining in the darkness I will follow You oh My Lighthouse my Lighthouse I will trust the promise You will carry me safe to shore Safe to
shore safe to shore safe to shore
Verse 3 I won’t fear what tomorrow brings With each morning I’ll rise and sing My God’s love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea whoa oh You are the
peace in my troubled sea CHORUS
(Bridge) Fire before us You’re the brightest You will lead us Through the storms (hey) (REPEAT 3X) CHORUS
Opening Responsive Words | written by Briana Bass | led by E.J. Griffith
One: We come to this place, distracted by our to-do lists and responsibilities, overwhelmed by the busyness of our lives.
All: We are troubled about many things.
One: We come like Martha, anxious to serve, but preoccupied with the work of this world.
All: We yearn for only what is necessary.
One: We come like Mary, sitting at Christ’s feet, eager to learn from the one we call “Teacher and Lord.”
All: We seek to focus on the one who is essential!
Opening Song | “Here in This Place” | #6
Story for the Children | “Ruby Finds a Worry” | written & illustrated by Tom Percival
Hannah Wilgers & Reyna Bowen
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 | “Oceans (Where Feet May Fall)” | arr. Stephen DeCesare
Reyna Bowen, Laila Samland, Hannah Wilgers, vocals; Jean Hendricks, piano
Unison Congregational Prayer | led by Oliver Bowman | Inspired from prayer on page 117 from “For All Who Minister”
Loving God, God that runs after us and God who sits with us, hear our prayers.
You call us to sit and be still, especially when life feels chaotic and out of control.
But when our plates are full and our calendars packed, stopping seems impossible.
So we pray that you grant us the faith to stop and rest in you,
trusting that even if the world keeps spinning, when we rest in you, we find peace.
We pray that you calm the storms in our lives, so that we can know peace.
Ease our anxieties, free us from the need to do it all, so that we can live in the moment and enjoy the time we have.
We plead with you, O God, that you remind us of what is important in our lives, time with family and friends,
and then liberate us from packed schedules so that we can eat meals together, laugh together, share life together.
And finally, Gracious Creator, teach us to take our shoes off so that we can feel your Creation
tickle our skin, so that we can feel Your Amazing energy flow into us, binding us to all of Creation, granting us a life that is whole and holy.
We pray this in Your Name. Amen.
Scripture Jam | Luke 10: 40-42 | written by Becky Ullom-Naugle
read by Nathan Friesen, Laila Samland, & Harper Rierson
2: Who went on their way?
3: Now it came to pass, as they went,
2: Um, hello? ….still don’t know who is on the trip….?
1 & 3: THE Disciples AND JESUS.
2: Oh. Well why didn’t you just say so? (indignant)
1 & 3: he entered a certain village and a woman named Martha welcomed him.
2: so the “he” is…..?
1 & 3: ….Jesus.
2: Right, right. I figured. Ok so Jesus and the disciples show up at Martha’s house. Go on…
3: And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
1: She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’s feet and listened to what he was saying.
2: Wait….like she actually sat at his feet? That’s kinda weird.
(1 & 3 turn silently to watch as 2 talks it through. 2 thinks for a moment and then continues)
Weren’t Jesus’ feet probably dirty and smelly from the journey? (still thinking. Then gets it!)
Aw snap this is symbolism, isn’t it? Mary may have actually been sitting at his feet, but more importantly we are just supposed to
know that Mary was really tuned in, really listening to Jesus right?
(1 & 3 wait a beat, then nod silently for a beat or two, then face forward and continue.)
Ok cool, so Mary is listening to Jesus. What’s Martha doing?
3: But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said,
“Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.”
2: (turning to 1) cumbered? Like Martha’s serving cucumbers?
1: But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?
Tell her, then, to help me.”
2: Ew….Awkward! (starts thinking)
3: (continuing quickly) And Jesus –
2: (interjecting, unaware)…And totally relatable. (thinking)
1: And Jesus….(comically waiting to see if 2 is going to interrupt again, then continues)….And Jesus said-
2: (interjecting again, unaware. 1 & 3 react)…This is why I hate group projects. (1 & 3 turn silently to watch 2)
There is always someone with a spreadsheet or a To Do list and I just want to be with people
and try to get my head around things before we worry about the nitty gritty, you know?
1: (wait a beat, then face forward and continue. 3 continues to look at 2)
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed –indeed only one.
2: (silently takes out phone and starts scrolling/texting/playing, obviously distracted.)
3: (face forward when 1 finishes) And Jesus answered and said unto her,
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.“
1: “Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.“
1 & 3: (silently turn to 2 and watch)
2: (after a beat or two) What? I was just…ohhhh I missed it, didn’t I?
1: (teasing) Missed what?
2: (turning to 3) The better part.
3: The one thing….
1: …which will not be taken away from her.
2: (thinking. 1 & 3 turn to watch 2 work it out.)
Wait….are the better part and the one thing…the same thing?
1 & 3: (Smile broadly at 2 and nod.)
2: (continuing on quickly)….and the better part and the one thing – which are the same thing – is Jesus?
1 & 3: (continuing to nod and smile as they face forward. Stop smiling and nodding when 2 continues.)
2: OH! (Excitedly/celebrating, then quickly “realizes”)
Ohhhh…………so what we are saying here is that a relationship with Jesus should take priority?
1 & 3 (think, then affirm)
2: (with wide eyes) Oh. (pausing) That’s a good and difficult lesson, isn’t it?
1 & 3. (in knowing agreement) Yes.
Scripture Song | “Christ be in my Mind” x2
Message | “Can We Fit More Into Our Bag?” | a series of short skits by the middle school youth
Sending Song | “O, Let the Son of God Enfold You”
Sending Words | read by Ashleigh Coyle
May we have the joy within us to stand in the rain and laugh.
May we have the peace within us to take our shoes off and let the cool grass soothe our souls.
May we have the hope that we can make a difference and that we matter.
May we have love within us to join our lives with all.
And may we have the faith to live as Christ’s light for the glory of God and our neighbor’s good.
Amen.
♫Sending Music | “Shout to the Lord” | words & music by Darlene Zschech
Worship Band and Jr. High Students sing first time (congregation join in – second time)
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