15 Aug Worship Bulletin: 8/18/24
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, August 18, 2024 @ 10:15 a.m.
♫Gathering Music | “Lord God of Hosts” | Thomas Morley
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Roger Schrock
♫Centering Music | “Adagio” from Morceau De Concert | Camille Saint Saens
Kyle Hopkins, horn; Ellen Gilbert, piano
Words Unison Opening | Psalm 119:169-175b | NIV (paraphrase)
May my cry come before you, God; give me understanding according to your Word.
May my supplication come before you God; deliver me according to your promise.
May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your pronouncements
May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are good.
May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your teachings
I long for your restoration, God, and your law gives me delight. Let me live that I may praise you…..
♫Opening Song | “O Lord, our Lord, How Majestic” | #112
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 | “Lied ohne Worte” | Oscar Franz
Kyle Hopkins, horn; Ellen Gilbert, piano
Scripture Focus | 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel – seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
3 Solomon showed his love for God by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David,
except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5 At Gibeon God appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart.
You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.
8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.
9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 God was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him,
“Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do
what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you
have not asked for—both wealth and honor – so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and
commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
♫Scripture Song | “Thy Word is a Lamp”
Message | “between here and there” | Kathryn Whitacre
Unison Prayer of Sending | Jan L. Richardson; posted on The Painted Prayerbook (lightly adapted)
based on Psalm 51; “6But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.”
Not just in my heart – but in the secret space it holds.
In the heart of my heart. In the place where I am myself
In the space that I protect the most and share the least.
In the hidden chamber that I sometimes close off – even from myself.
In the hidden chamber that I sometimes close off – even from myself.
In the realm where you wait and watch, where you see each thing that lies in shadow,
where you know the names of all that makes its home in me.
Here in my secret heart; teach me to move with your wisdom,
to open the doors that will draw me deeper still, to live in the truth that you desire;
here let me open the windows wide so that those who pass by will see you – looking out.
♫Sending Song | “Christ Be in My Mind” sing twice
Words of Blessing
♫Sending Music | “Mighty is Our God” | arr. Cindy Berry
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