04 Sep Worship Bulletin: 9/7/25
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, September 7, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m.
♫Gathering Music | “Hold Thee Intangible” | Susan Ashton
Kevin and Melia Jones
You’ve heard the stories; you’ve read the message in the pages.
You consider crucifixion: is it fact or fiction for the ages?
Did He really appear like they say that He did? Does it conquer the fear?
Did He die so that we could live? You’d like to think that it’s true.
CHORUS
Oh, but you want to hold the intangible; to fashion the darkness into familiar shape,
to see with your eyes, to know in your mind. Oh, ye of so little faith.
Only the heart can hold the intangible.
There is a chamber in the soul of the believer. It holds reason in defiance.
The demanding hand of science may not enter.
But let’s just suppose how it would be to trade all you know for one ounce of true belief.
Then you’d learn the peace of that place. CHORUS
Video Welcome
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | JD Bowman
A Brief History of the Stained Glass Windows:
The 125th anniversary book, McPherson Church of the Brethren: Our Story, 1885-2010, tells the history of
the Stained Glass Windows (pgs. 12-14).
“In the fall of 1924, while the church was being built, donations from church members were sought
to buy stained glass windows to be installed in the outside walls. The church board of trustees signed
a contract with The Western Art Glass Works Company of Wichita, KS. All nine of the large ‘memorial’
windows and all twenty-four smaller ‘medallion’ windows were successfully funded by individuals and
Sunday School classes. The windows were to be made of ‘the best grade of opal glass set in lead’ and provided with ‘enough steel bars to brace windows against ordinary winds and storms.’
They were installed during the year 1925.
A Brief History of the Original Road to Emmaus Window:
The window design was from an unknown artist, perhaps a stained-glass craftsperson.
The original cost for this window was $275.00. The scripture referenced is Luke 24:13-16.
The Road to Emmaus window was presented by the Men’s Bible class to honor John Henry Bashor
Williams (J.H.B. Williams, 1883-1921), who was characterized as “a man who also walked with Christ on
many roads during his short lifetime.”
As secretary of the General Mission Board of the Church of the Brethren, he was with a deputation team
attempting to find a place for a mission in which the McPherson Church could work.
William’s death occurred from typhoid fever in Mombasa, Kenya (previously British East Africa).
He was 38.
Here are brief biographies of the artists who created the new interpretations of the Road to Emmaus:
Ivanka Demchuk was born in 1990 in Lviv, (lə-VEEV), Ukraine.
Here is a paraphrase of what she explains about her art.
“An important aspect of my work is the modern reflection of sacred art. This is for the spiritual enrichment
of a person and creates a new reflection of the religious essence of the original without losing its sacred meaning; a sacred work should preserve its spirituality in each new iteration. An Icon can and should
develop, change and embody the best aesthetic achievements of its time. Then as it becomes closer to
the perceptions of a modern person, they become more interested in it.
Searching for the new means of expression in the process of my work,
I use both modern and ancient technologies to create interesting color effects and textures.
He Qi [huh chee] was born in Nanjing, China. He grew up in the Cultural Revolution and escaped hard labor by painting propaganda images of Mao Zedong. When he came upon an old art magazine with a
print of a painting of Madonna and child, he mysteriously experienced a feeling of peace, having no idea
that the painting was connected to Christianity. He continued to paint Mao by day, but at night he began
painting the Madonna. Thus began a spiritual journey, culminating in his baptism in 1989.
He is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Fuller Theological Seminary (CA) and a Distinguished Visiting
Professor at the Art Institute of RUC (Renmin University of China, Beijing).
♫Centering Music | “Thy Will Be Done” | Benton Price
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Unison Opening Words
Jesus walked. Tirelessly on dusty roads with aching feet; he taught and served.
Come Jesus, walk with us on our road. Help us to be your feet.
Jesus hugged and held the lost, the least; those most in need. His hands healed.
Come Jesus, walk with us on our road. Help us to be your hands.
Jesus saw the face of God in everyone. Reflecting unconditional love; he offered welcome to all.
Come Jesus, walk with us on our road. Help us to be your heart.
♫Opening Song | “The Risen Christ”
Sing to the tune of Spirit of God
1 The risen Christ, who walks on wounded feet from garden tomb through darkened city street,
unlocks the door of grief, despair, and fear, and speaks a word of peace to all who hear.
2 The risen Christ, who stands with wounded side, breathes out his Spirit on them to abide
whose faith still wavers, who dare not believe; new grace, new strength, new purpose they receive.
3 The risen Christ, who breaks with wounded hand the bread for those who fail to understand,
reveals himself, despite their lingering tears, enflames their hearts, then quickly disappears.
4 May we, Christ’s body, walk and serve and stand with those oppressed in this and every land,
till all are blessed and can a blessing be, restored in Christ to true humanity.
Story for the Children | Barbara Wagoner
Invitation to Give Video
Give online or send a check made payable to “McPherson Church of the Brethren,” 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 67460
♫Musical Offering | “On the Road to Emmaus” | Jeff Steele
Ellen Gilbert, Melia Jones, Deb & Allan van Asselt, vocals; Kevin Jones, piano
Scripture Focus | Luke 24:13-35
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from
Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked
and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but
they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them,
“What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him,
“Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
They replied,
“About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they
crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women
amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body.
They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did
not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them,
“How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the
Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the
Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus
continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly,
“Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.”
So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks,
broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he
disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other,
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the
Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them,
assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he
broke the bread.
♫Scripture Song | “Hamba nathi (Come, Walk with Us)”
Melia Jones and Mona Lange-Wisdom, leaders
Message | The Road to Emmaus | Jerry Bowen
♫Sending Song | “Open My Eyes (Abre mis ojos)”
Verses 1 – 3 Congregation – led by Melia Jones and Mona Lange-Wisdom
Verse 4 Melia Jones (in English)
Verse 5 Mona Lange-Wisdom (in Spanish)
Verse 5 Congregation (in English or Spanish)
Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see your face.
Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see.
Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear your voice.
Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear.
Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love like you.
Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love.
And the first shall be last, and our eyes are opened, and we’ll hear like never before.
And we’ll speak in new ways, and we’ll see God’s face in places we’ve never known.
Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see your face.
Open my eyes. Lord, Help me to see. REPEAT vs. 5
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Canticle of Praise” | David Paxton
Ellen Gilbert, piano
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