07 Dec Worship Bulletin: 12/10/23
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, December 10, 2023 @ 10:15 a.m. – 2nd Sunday in Advent – PEACE
Music of the Season | Lois Grove
Gathering Music | “Rise Up, Shepherd” | arr. Gerald Peterson
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Video Welcome
Sharing Time | Joys & Concerns | Jean Hendricks
Centering Music | “Emmanuel” | Steve Angrisano
Worship Band | Oregon Catholic Press (OCP)
Refrain
Come, come, Emmanuel! Son of God, appear. Heaven and earth, rejoice!
Salvation is drawing near. Salvation is drawing near.
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Refrain
O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain
O come, O Rod of Jesse’s stem; from ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of humankind;
Make all our sad divisions cease, and be for us the King of Peace Refrain
Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. X2
Opening Responsive Litany | Veni | New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Appear God – in the holy advent of peace enfleshed
Appear God – in the waiting of your people and the bending of light
Appear God – in angels’ songs that echo deep in imagination
Appear God – in the spaces between the words where silence lies unspoken
Appear God – in every place where life and faith are thin
Appear God – in silence and song – bring peace to your people
Opening Song | “Come and Find the Quiet Center”
Story for the Children | Cara Hudson
Mack Kids Ring | “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Director, Carolyn Schrock
Mack Kids Sing | “Go Tell It on the Mountain” | African American Spiritual
Director, Carol Ward
CHORUS
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born
1. While shepherds kept their watching, o’er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens, there shone a holy light CHORUS
2. The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo, above the earth
Rang out the angel’s chorus, that hailed our Savior’s birth CHORUS
3. Down in a lowly manger, our humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation, that blessed Christmas morn 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 | “O Little Town of Bethlehem” | arr. Jack Shrader
Kaitlyn van Asselt, flute; Ellen Gilbert, piano
Scripture Focus | Isaiah 40:1-11 | Comfort for God’s People
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand – double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for God; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of God will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of God has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of God blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”
10 See the Sovereign God come with power and rule with a mighty arm. God’s reward is with God, and God’s recompense accompanies God.
11 God tends the flock like a shepherd: God gathers the lambs and carries them close to the heart; God gently leads those that have young.
♫Scripture Song | “Put Peace into Each Other’s Hands”
Message | “Peace in the Midst” | Kathryn Whitacre
♫Sending Song | “It Came upon a Midnight Clear” | #195
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “God Rest Ye Merry One and All” | arr. Geoffrey T. Bell
Worship Choir
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