23 Jan Worship Bulletin: 1/26/25
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 26, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m.
♫Gathering Music
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover
♫Centering Music | “Andante” | Mozart/Kendall
Ellen Gilbert, piano
Unison Opening Prayer | Inspired by Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:1 | by Rev Gord (lightly adapted)
God of Jubilee, God of freedom from oppression and healing for the afflicted,
we gather to share your Good News – we gather to be changed as the world is transformed.
In this time of worship may we be fed in body and soul.
As we sing and pray may Your Spirit fall upon us, may we be refreshed, anointed, and empowered.
And when our time of worship is ended, may we return to the world
to proclaim and dance the Good News of the ‘year of Your favor’ – of Jubilee!
♫Opening Song | “Lord of the Dance”
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 | “Jesus, Lover of my Soul” | arr. Lyndell Leatherman
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Scripture Focus | Luke 4: 14-21
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up,
and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Sovereign God is on me, because God has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
God has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the *year of God’s favor*……” (Isaiah 61:1-2)
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
“the year of God’s favor” is referring to a time when God is particularly gracious and extends special favor to the people, often associated with a time of redemption, liberation, and restoration, similar to the concept of a Jubilee year in the Old Testament (Leviticus 25:8-55) where debts were forgiven and slaves were released
♫Scripture Song | “Live into Hope” | Tune, Truro; Text, Jane Parker Huber

Message | “We can Dance … if We Want To” | Jerry Bowen
♫Sending Song | “You Shall Go Out with Joy” | #427
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Days of Elijah” | Robin Mark
Kevin and Melia Jones
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