22 Aug Worship Bulletin: 8/25/24
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 25, 2024 @ 10:15 a.m.
♫Gathering Music | “Prelude #19” | by Heller
Jean Hendricks
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover
♫Centering Music | “The Lord’s My Shepherd” | Gardiner/arr. by M. Ham
Jean Hendricks
Opening Responsive Words of Blessing | Prayers from the Iona Community
May God give blessing – To this sacred space and all who come here.
May Jesus give blessing – To this place of sanctuary and all who come here.
May Spirit give blessing – To this holy dwelling and all who come here.
May all who come here give blessing – To this faith community and to all they meet here.
Both roof and frame – Both brick and beam.
Both window and timber – Both foot and head.
Both gate and door – Both coming and going.
Both gendered and non-gendered – Both parent and child.
Both young and old – Both wisdom and youth.
Both guest and host – Both stranger and friend.
Peace on each window that lets in light – Peace on each corner that holds the roof.
Peace of the Creator, Peace of the Son, Peace of the Spirit – Peace of All; each and every one.
♫Opening Song | “What is this Place” | #1
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 | “Give Me Jesus” | arr. by Brian Buda
Bruce Wagoner, cello; Jean Hendricks, piano
Scripture Focus | 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43
The Ark Brought to the Temple
1 Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families,
to bring up the ark of God’s covenant from Zion, the City of David.
6 The priests then brought the ark of God’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.
10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, a cloud filled the temple of God. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of this cloud, for the glory of
God filled the temple.
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of God in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said:
“God, O God of Israel, there is no God like you – in heaven above or on earth below –
You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants – who continue wholeheartedly in your way –
24 You have kept Your promise to Your servant David my father; with Your mouth You have promised and with Your hand You have fulfilled it – as it is today.
25 “Now God – the God of Israel – keep for Your servant David – my father – the promises You made to Him when You said,
‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’
26 And now, God of Israel, let Your word that You promised Your servant David – my father – come true.
27 “But will You really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built!
28 Yet – give attention to Your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, God, O my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying in Your presence this day.
29 May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’
so that You will hear the prayer Your servant prays toward this place.
30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place.
Hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.
41 “As for the foreigner – who does not belong to Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name
(42 for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm) –
when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place.
Do whatever the foreigner asks of You, so that all the peoples of the earth May know Your name and [submit to You in awe],
as do Your own people Israel, and know that this house I have built bears Your Name. [AMEN]
♫Scripture Song | “They Did Not Build in Vain”
Message | “A Holy Prayer” | Jerry Bowen
♫Sending Song | “Renew Your Church” | #363
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” | Beethoven/Bach/arr. by M. Ham
with “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”
Jean Hendricks
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