04 Jan Worship Bulletin: 1/7/24
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, January 7, 2024 @ 10:15 a.m. Epiphany Sunday – Anointing
Gathering Music | “Star Medley” | arr. Rasley and Shamory
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Video Welcome
Sharing Time | Joys & Concerns | Dan Lichty
Centering Music | “This is My Father’s World” | arr. Cindy Berry
Karlene Tyler, piano
Opening Responsive Litany
Let us seek the Light! Let us journey to the Light, bringing our questions and our gifts.
Let us journey from the Light, taking our answers, holding close that which remains a mystery
and freely sharing our gifts. Let us share the Light!
Opening Song | “As with Gladness Men of Old” | #218
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 | Christmas Eve Kids
Music by Shawn Kirchner – used with permission
PowerPoint by Shane Kirchner
Scripture Focus | Matthew 2:1-12 | The Magi Visit the Messiah
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked,
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked
them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child
was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they
opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their
country by another route.
♫Scripture Song |“Bright and Glorious is the Sky” | #219
Message | “There’s a Star in the East” | Kathryn Whitacre
Invitation to Anointing
Anointing
Prayer
♫Sending Song | “Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies” | #216
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow” | arr. Mark Hayes
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