27 Feb Worship Bulletin: 3/2/25
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, March 2, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m.
Please honor the hard work of these two musicians by holding your conversation until after the worship. Enjoy this piano and organ duet.
♫Gathering Music | “O Worship the King” | arr. Owen Griffin
Dan Masterson, piano; Ellen Gilbert, organ
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover
♫Centering Music | “Morning has Broken” | arr. John Carter
Ellen Gilbert, piano
Unison Opening Call to Worship | John Heap of Birds | (text HWB #9)
Jesus, how joyful you have made us to come together here with you now!
In your mercy you have called us. You say, “I am the way.”
We hear you call us. We ask you, “Come lead us day-by-day.”
We will follow your way.
♫Opening Song | “Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” | #405
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 | “My God is so Great!” | Mack Kids
Mack Kids directed by Malia Pfeiff
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty! There’s nothing my God cannot do!
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty! There’s nothing my God cannot do!
The mountains are His. The rivers are His. The stars are His handiwork too!
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty! There’s nothing my God cannot do!
Scripture Focus | Luke 7:1-17, 36-50
The Faith of the Centurion
7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum.
2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.
3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.
4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him,
“This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”
6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him:
“Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.
But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that
one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said,
“I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”
10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.
12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out – the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said,
“Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said,
“Young man, I say to you, get up!”
15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. They said,
“A great prophet has appeared among us. God has come to help the people.”
17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
♫Scripture Song | “There is a Balm in Gilead” | arr. R Kevin Boesiger and Mary McDonald
Worship Choir
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus [spoke], “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
Simon said, “Tell me, teacher,”
[Jesus taught,”]
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other [owed him] fifty.
42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
Jesus said, “You have judged correctly.”
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
♫Scripture Song | “Healer of our Every Ill” | #377
Message | “Healing, Compassion, Forgiveness” | Kathryn Whitacre
♫Sending Song | “Go, My Children” | #433
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Praise the Lord of Hosts” | Mark Williams
Ellen Gilbert, organ
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