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, October 4, 2026
Welcome Video
♫Gathering Music | “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” | arr. Mark Hayes and Marvin Gaspard
Ellen Gilbert, organ; Nancy Miner, piano
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Kevin Jones
♫Centering Music | “The Swan” | Camille Saint Saens
Bruce Wagoner, cello; Ellen Gilbert, piano
Opening Responsive Words | I Peter 2:4-5, 9-10 | The Living Stone and a Chosen People
ONE: As you come to Jesus, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to God -
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,
offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus.
ALL: We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession,
that we may declare the praises of the one who called us out of gloom
into a marvelous hope. Once we were not a people, but now we are God’s people.
♫Opening Song | “You are Salt for the Earth” | #226
Message for the Kids | Lucy Bowman
Invitation to Give
You may Give online or send a check made payable to "McPherson Church of the Brethren,"
200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 67460
♫Offering Music | “Cornerstone” | Shawn Kirchner
Worship Choir, Becky Snell, director; Jean Hendricks, piano
Amy Hoffman, Melia Jones, Dan Lichty; vocal soloists
Scripture Focus | Matthew 21:33-46 | New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Tenants
33 “[Jesus said], “Listen to another parable:
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built
a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.
34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them
the same way.
37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘
This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’
39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 [Jesus asked,] “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 They replied, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and he will rent the vineyard to other
tenants,who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures[?]:
“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
God has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’!
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kin-dom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
44 Anyone who falls on this stone - will be broken to pieces;
anyone on whom it falls - will be crushed.”
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about
them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people
thought that he was a prophet.
♫Scripture Song | “Christ is our Cornerstone” | #43
Message | "The Sweet Gospel" | Jerry Bowen
♫Sending Song | “For the Fruit of all Creation”
Please be seated for the Sending Words andSending Music
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” | Goss/Smith
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, Janette Hess, Michele Johnson, Shane Kirchner, Marie Neher & Lara Schoming
