20 Feb Worship Bulletin: 2/23/25
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, February 23, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m.
♫Gathering Music | “Praise to God, Immortal Praise” | arr. Douglas Wagner
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover
♫Centering Music | “Fantasia on Forest Green” | arr. Lloyd Larsen
Bell Choir; Becky Snell, director
Unison Opening Words of Affirmation | Keri K. Wehlander
Like a rock, God is under our feet.
Like the starry night sky, God is over our head.
Like sun on the horizon, God is ever before.
Like the river runs to the ocean, our home is in God evermore.
♫Opening Song | “How Firm a Foundation” | #567
Story for the Children | Malia Pfeiff
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 | “Simple Gifts” | arr. Douglas Wagner
Ellen Gilbert, piano
Scripture Focus | Luke 6:39-49
He also told them this parable:
39 “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take
the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the
speck from your brother’s eye.
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers.
45 A good human brings good things out of the good stored up in their heart, and an evil human brings evil things out of the evil stored up in their heart. For the mouth speaks
what the heart is full of.
The Wise and Foolish Builders
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they
are like. 48 They are like a human building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake
it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a human who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The
moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
♫Scripture Song | “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man”
Message | “dualities” | Kathryn Whitacre
♫Sending Song | “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” | #439
Unison Prayer | Rev. Adam Hood, Church of Scotland (lightly adapted)
God of all Creation, Spirit of the Multiverse; we give thanks in all things.
We pray to seek new perspective – to find fresh strength
We surrender to you our hopes and fears.
Accept our confession of wrongdoings; our judgements, pretence of righteousness and arrogance.
Help us to find our hearts burning with a fiery love and devotion to You so that,
kneeling at your feet, we might hear the tender whisper of your call upon our lives.
Open our minds to learn; that in listening we might hear, and in hearing we might respond
May we go forth, renewed, rejuvenated – doing your work – returning again and again to YOU! AMEN
♫Sending Music | “Hour of Prayer” | arr. Donald R. Frederick
Bell Choir; Director, Kendra Flory
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