10 Apr Worship Bulletin: 4/13/25
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, April 13, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m. – Lenten Theme: Eco-Spirituality
Palm/Passion Sunday – Prayer Pocket Prayer
♫“Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”♫ ~ Joni Mitchell
May we nurture nature – rather than pave it over, cut down the trees and spray it with chemicals!
♫Gathering Music | “Coronation Fanfare” (All Hail the Power of Jesus Name) | arr. Robert Lau
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover
The Triumphal Entry – the Palms
Opening Scripture | Luke 19:28-40
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
. . . Jesus . . . went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.
Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you,
‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,
the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
He replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
♫Centering Music | “The Holy City” | arr. Robert Thygerson
Ellen Gilbert, piano
Responsive Opening Words | Knowing | written by Roddy Hamilton
(inspired by Luke 19:39-40)
Did the stones know
they would soon have to shout ‘Hosanna’ because those who had first shouted it
would soon be shouting ‘Crucify’?
Did Jesus know
that those who followed in this fickle crowd would soon turn their backs
on the only hope they had
Did Jesus tell the stones
that they would be needed to shout for they alone knew the secret of tombstones
Do we know
when to shout and when to hold silence as Jesus struggles for love and
love struggles with him
♫Opening Song | “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” | #238
Child Dedication | Delle Margaret Hoffman
Mother, Amy Hoffman; Grandparents, Dawn & Dan Hoffman; Great-Grandmother, Joanna Hoffman;
Uncle, Dave Hoffman; Uncle & Aunt, nephews/nieces, Matt & Abby Hoffman (Brady, Mya, Payton, Avery)
Congregational words in support of Delle, her mother Amy and her extended family & friends.
We welcome Delle as God’s gift. We receive her with our blessing and we pledge our support as you seek to provide a loving home for her
♫Child Dedication Song | “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise” | #620
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 | “Romance” | Charles Lefebvre
Kyle Hopkins, horn; Ellen Gilbert, piano
♫Scripture Song | “O Little Children, Gather” | #489
Verses 1, 2 & 5
Message | “Do You Remember?” | Jerry Bowen
The beginning hours of the ‘Passion’ of Jesus
Scripture Reading | Luke 19:41-42
(paraphrased)
. . . as he came near the city, he wept over it, saying,
the things that make for peace are hidden from your eyes”
♫Scripture Song | “When Jesus Wept” | arr. Philip L. Roberts
Worship Choir
Scripture Reading | Luke 19:45-47 and 20:1,19-20, 23, 26
(paraphrased)
he entered the temple and drove out those selling things
“my house is a house of prayer – you have made it a den of robbers”
every day he was in the temple the: chief priests, scribes & leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him
one day as he was teaching in the temple the: chief priests, scribes and elders said to him,
“by what authority are you doing these things, who gave you this authority. . ”
the scribes and Chief priests wanted to lay hands on him that very hour
they watched him and sent spies in order to trap him
but he perceived their craftiness and they were not able to trap him
♫Scripture Song | “And I Will Raise You Up” | #596
Scripture Reading | Luke 21:8, 12-13, 16-17, 22, 34
(paraphrased)
he said, “beware that you are not led astray: for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he.’
The time is near! Do not go after them
. . . they will persecute you and you will be brought before Kings and Governors
because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify.
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends . . .
You will be hated . . . because of my name for these are days of vengeance . . .
. . . be on guard . . . be alert at all times . . .
♫Scripture Song | “In Your Sickness” | #585
Scripture Reading | Luke 22:1, 8, 10-12
(paraphrased)
Now the festival of Unleavened Bread (Passover) was near.
Jesus said to Peter and John,
“go and prepare the Passover meal for us.
. . . when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you;
follow him into the house he enters and say,
‘where is the guest room, where we may eat the Passover?’
he will show you a large room upstairs . . . make preparations there
♫Scripture Song | “Let us Break Bread Together” | #453
Verses 1 & 2
Scripture Reading | Luke 22:14, 17, 19, 39, 41-42
(paraphrased)
. . . when the hour came he took his place at the table
he took a cup and after giving thanks and he said,
‘take this and divide it among yourselves’
then he took a loaf of bread and when he had given thanks for it he broke it, gave it to them and said
‘this is my body which is given for you – do this in remembrance of me
and he said the same about the cup’
he got up … and went out to the Mt. of Olives, he knelt down and prayed,
‘Creator God, if you are willing, remove this cup from me and yet not my will – but Yours – be done’
♫Scripture Music | “Thy Will, Not My Will” | Robert & Cindy Sterling
Mona Lange-Wisdom, soloist; Ellen Gilbert, piano
The lonely night of shadows; a chill hangs in the air.
The sinless Man of Sorrows is kneeling in despair.
His anguish breaks the silence, “Please Father take this cup.”
As tear drops stain His face, he shoulders saving grace.
His pray’r is offered up; “Thy will not my will.”
The Savior cries, in spite of suffering to come, “Thy will not my will.”
Tho’ He must die, he prays, “Thy will not my will be done, thy will not my will be done!
Scripture Reading | Luke 22: 45-47, 52, 54, 63
(paraphrased)
when he got up from prayer – he found the disciples sleeping
he said to them . . . ‘get up! and pray’
while he was speaking, a crowd came . . . Judas was leading them
Jesus said to the chief priests, elders and temple police,
‘have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit?
they seized him and led him into the high priest’s house
they mocked him and beat him and blindfolded him
♫Scripture Song | “Go to Dark Gethsemane” | #240
Verse 1
Scripture Readings | Luke 22:66 and 23:1, 3-7
(paraphrased)
when day dawned the elders, chief priests and scribes gathered and put him before them –
they questioned him . . .
then – they rose and brought him before Pilate – a pagan and the Roman Governor of Judea
Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the King of the Jews’, Jesus answered, “You say so.”
Pilate said, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’
But they were insistent saying, he stirs up the people throughout Judea from Galilee (where he began) even down to this place.
when Pilate heard this – he asked if the man was Galilean –
and learning that he was he determined that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction and sent him off for Herod to deal with
(Herod was himself in Jerusalem at the time).
Luke 23:8-9, 11-12
(paraphrased)
when Herod saw Jesus – he was glad – he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he
had heard about him and was hoping to see him ‘perform’ some sign
Herod questioned Jesus but Jesus did not answer
Herod treated him with contempt, mocked him, put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
That same day Herod and Pilate became friends – before they had been enemies
♫Scripture Song | “Go to Dark Gethsemane” | #240
Verse 2
Scripture Reading | Luke 23:13-16, 18, 20-21, 23-24
(paraphrased)
Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders and the people and said,
‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence
and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
Neither has Herod, and in fact he sent him back to us. In fact, he has done nothing to deserve death.
I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”
But – they shouted “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas!
Pilate wanted to release Jesus so he attempted to once again address the crowd
but they kept shouting … and ‘their voices’ – prevailed.
SO – Pilate gave his verdict – he released the man they asked for and handed Jesus over – to be put to death!
♫Sending Music | “Were You There”
Janelle Flory Schrock, Kendra Flory, Becky Snell, handbells
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