06 Mar Worship Bulletin: 3/9/25
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 9, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m. – Lenten Theme: Eco-Spirituality
First Sunday of Lent – Prayer Pocket Prayer
♫We’ve got the whole world, in our hands♫ X4
♫Gathering Music | “Chorale” | from Cantata No 90 | JS Bach
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | LeRoy Weddle
♫Centering Music | “O the Winter” | arr. Peter Amidon
Bahamas spiritual
Worship Choir
REFRAIN
Oh the winter, Oh the winter, Oh the winter soon be over children.
The winter, Oh the winter, Oh the winter soon be over children.
The winter, Oh the winter, Oh the winter soon be over children
Oh, yes, my Lord
You set your feet on holy ground and ask the Lord for to turn you round. REFRAIN
Paul and Silas bound in jail, one did weep and the other did pray. REFRAIN
You lift your eyes up toward the sky and ask the Lord for the wings to fly. REFRAIN x2
Responsive Opening Words | based on Mark 1:9-15, Luke 4:1-13 | © Chris Heckert
After he was baptized by John, Jesus went by himself to the wilderness where he was tempted.
Forty days in the desert, Jesus was tempted to become relevant, spectacular, and powerful.
Today, we begin to journey with Jesus through the season of Lent, which brings us to face some of our own weaknesses and temptations.
Let us worship God and walk the journey together, seeking the spirit as our guide and companion along the way.
God, you know our hearts. You have knitted our inmost being and you know our deepest desires, fears and worries.
Help us to journey during this Lenten season into a new awareness of your presence in our lives.
Save us from our own temptations, so that we may more freely follow you. Amen
♫Opening Song | “Hamba Nathi” (Come, Walk With Us)
1st time in Zulu, Verses 1 thru 4 in English, 6th time in Zulu
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 | “I Will Guide Thee” | arr. Peter Amidon
chorus words by Nathanial Niles, 1871- verses and tune source unknown
Worship Choir
If you cannot sing like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus, you can say he died for all.
CHORUS
I will guide thee, I will guide thee, I will guide thee with mine eyes,
all the way from earth to heaven, I will guide thee with mine eyes.
If you cannot give your thousands, you can give the widow’s mite,
for the least you do for Jesus will be precious in his sight. CHORUS
Hark the voice of Jesus calling. Who will come and work today?
Fields are ripe and harvest ready. Who will bear my soul away? CHORUS x2
Scripture Focus | Luke 4:1-13 | Jesus is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Humans shall not live on bread alone.’”
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve God only.’”
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: ‘God will command the angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put God to the test.’”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, the devil left Jesus until an opportune time.
♫Scripture Song | “Jesus, Tempted in the Desert”
Message | “40 days” | Kathryn Whitacre
♫Sending Song | “Guide My Feet” | #546
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | Chorus from the Oratorio “Joshua” | GF Handel
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