06 Jun Worship Bulletin: 6/9/24
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, June 9, 2024 @ 10:15 a.m.
♫Gathering Music | “This is My Father’s World” | Sheppard/Hayes
Ellen Gilbert, piano
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Roger Schrock
♫Centering Music | “At the Name of Jesus” | arr. Douglas Wagner
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Opening Unison Prayer of Affirmation and Commitment | text, HWB #537 (adapted)
Sacred Creator, You are within us, present wherever we live and breathe, closer than all our sighing.
You are inside our bodies, pulsing in our very life blood. Your rhythm is in each and every heartbeat.
We feel You in our suffering and in our happiness; fighting for our welfare, sharing Your love and grace.
O God of earth and heaven;
we serve You where we are, we love You in all people, we praise You in your world!
May we be Your Captive, God!?
♫Opening Song | “Make Me a Captive, Lord” | #539
Story for the Children | Malia Pfeiff
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 | “Pie Jesu” | arr. Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lara Schoming & Dan Lichty, vocalists; Ellen Gilbert, piano
Translation:
Merciful Jesus, Father, who takes away the sins of the world.
Grant them rest.
Lamb of God, Father, who takes away the sins of the world.
Grant them everlasting rest.
Scripture Focus | 1 Samuel 8:1 – 21 | Israel Asks for a King
8:1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.
2The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.
3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5 They said to him,
“You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
6 But when they said,
“Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to God. 7 And God told him:
“Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out
of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them
solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
10 Samuel told all the words of God to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said,
“This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights:
He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.
12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to
plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.
15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.
16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use.
17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but God will not answer you in that day.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel.
“No!” they said.
“We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before God. 22 God answered,
“Listen to them and give them a king.”
Then Samuel said to the Israelites,
“Everyone go back to your own town.”
♫Scripture Song | “Lead Me, Lord” | #538
sing twice
Message | “Samuel Responds” | Kathryn Whitacre
♫Sending Song | “When We Walk with the Lord” | #544
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Fanfare” from the Fourth Concerto | JS Bach
Ellen Gilbert, organ
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