17 Jul Worship Bulletin: 7/21/24
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, July 21, 2024 @ 10:15 a.m.
♫Gathering Hymn Sing | “We Praise Thee, O God” vs 1 and 2 | #99
“Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” vs 1 and 2 | #229
“The Work is Thine, O Christ” vs 1 | #396
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns
♫Centering Music | “I Love to Tell the Story” | arr. Albin Whitworth
Lois Grove, piano; Ellen Gilbert, organ
Opening Unison Prayer | inspired by Psalm 23 | written by Rev Karla
Loving Shepherd, You lead and guide; You walk alongside. You prepare, You feed.
You call all of your sheep, even those of us who are lost, those of us who stray constantly and those of us who stay close to your comforting staff.
We are grateful for the lush green pastures of our lives and we offer our thanks for the goodness in our lives.
There are so many who walk in the shadows of fear, suffering and despair.
We offer our prayers for the broken and bleeding places in this world.
We offer our prayers for the sheep of our own flocks; our families and friends – in this church and community
O Loving Shepherd, we have all we need – as we live in You. AMEN
♫Opening Song | “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” | #589
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 | “Just As I Am” | arr. Dale Wood
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Scripture | 2 Samuel 7:1-14a | God’s Promise to David
7 After the king was settled in his palace and God had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
3 Nathan replied to the king,
“Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for God is with you.”
4 But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what God says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?
6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.
I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,
did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel,
“Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what God Almighty says:
I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.
9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.
Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest humans on earth.
10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.
Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning
11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘God declares to you that God will establish a house for you:
12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,
and I will establish this ones kingdom. 13 This is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of this ones kingdom forever.
14 I will be as a parent and this one will be as my child.
♫Scripture Song | “Shepherd me, O God” | #519
Scripture | 2 Samuel 7:18-29 | David’s Prayer of Thanks
18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—
and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!
20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord.
21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
22 “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a
name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house.
Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’
And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.
27 “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying,
‘I will build a house for you.’
So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God!
Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken,
and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
Message | “Are We the Ones” | Jerry Bowen
♫Sending Song | “Great is the Lord” | #87
Unison Sending Prayer | Through Light and Shadow | written by Sally | posted on Eternal Echoes
through light and shadow – I am led – I follow – through the ins and outs – the ups and downs – of these days
when my heart is failing – when my spirit rejoices –
when I can barely put one foot in front of the other – still you beckon me on…
when I stumble you support me – when I can go no further you carry me through light and shadow –
in death’s dark vale and on the mountain peaks you lead me –
through tangled webs – on rocky ground- on smoother paths
through light and shadow – you lead me – I follow
may I never – walk alone…
♫Sending Music | “To God Be The Glory” | arr. Albin Whitworth
Lois Grove, piano; 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