02 Jan Worship Bulletin: 1/12/25
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 12, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m.
Epiphany Remembrance with Anointing
♫Music of the Season | “Wondrous Star of the East” | Amanda Kennedy
Lois Grove, piano
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | LeRoy Weddle
♫Centering Music | “The Journey” | Louise Frier
Handbell and Percussion Ensemble
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
Christmas Eve Kids | Power Point by Shane Kirchner – Music by Shawn Kirchner (used with permission)
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 | “Carol of the Star” | Carl J. Nygard, Jr.
Worship Choir
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the east, the horizon adorning, guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining, low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, star of the morning and Savior of all.
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Shall we adore Him with pearls from the ocean, gems from the mountain or gold from the mine?
Greater by far is the heart’s true devotion, purer than gold like a star it will shine.
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning, guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Scripture Focus | John 1: 1-18
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 Through the Word all things were made;
without the Word nothing was made that has been made. 4 In the Word was life, and that life was the Light of all humankind. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the Light – so that through John all might believe.
8 John was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light.
9 The True Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 The Light was in the world, and though the world was made through the Light, the world did not
recognize the Light. 11 The Light came to that which was its own, but the Light’s own did not receive the Light. 12 Yet to all who did receive the Light, to those who believed, the
Light gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a human’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen the glory of the Word, the glory of the One and only, who came from God, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning the Light. John cried out, saying,
“This is the One I spoke about when I said, ‘The One who comes after me has surpassed me because the One was before me.’”)
16 Out of the fullness of the One, we have all received grace in place of grace already given. |
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God but the One – who is [also] God and is in closest relationship with God – has made God known.
♫Scripture Song | “Arise, Your Light is Come”
Message | “The Nintendo Gospel” | Jerry Bowen
Invitation to Anointing
Anointing
Prayer
♫Sending Song | “Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies” | #216
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Behold That Star” | 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