Worship Bulletin 4/26/26

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.
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Sunday, April 26, 2026 - Earth Day - "Our Power, Our Planet"

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Welcome Video

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♫Gathering Music | “Waltz in A Minor" | Frederick Chopin
Brielle Rothrock, piano 

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Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover

♫Centering Music | “Ave Verum Corpus” | Mozart
McPherson College Choir; Andrew Voth, director; Brett Janssen, piano

Hail, true Body, born of Mary the Virgin; truly suffering, sacrificed on the cross for humanity;

from whose pierced side flowed water and blood.

Be to us a foretaste at death’s trial, O sweet Jesus, O loving Jesus, O Jesus Son of Mary.

This motet was written in 1791 and is often performed during Eucharistic adoration or on Holy Thursday.
A motet is a polyphonic choral composition, primarily featuring sacred Latin text, that originated in the 13^thcentury
and was a key musical form through the Renaissance. It is typically sung acappella.

Invitation to Worship

Centering Music | “If you Love Me” | Thomas Tallis
McPherson College Choir; Andrew Voth, director; Brett Janssen, piano

If you love me keep my commandments and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may ‘bide with you forever – that he may ‘bide with you forever;

e’en the spirit of truth – e’en the spirit of truth – e’en the spirit of truth.

Responsive Opening Words

           One:    God calls us to care for this good earth, a sacred task entrusted to our hands.
           All:       We accept this calling with simple hearts, honoring the divine beauty in all creation.

           One:    Let us worship by committing ourselves to restore and protect this sacred, interconnected web of life.
           All:       May our hands and hearts be dedicated to the healing and renewal of our shared home.

♫Opening Song | “All Things Bright and Beautiful” | #156

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Message for the Kids | Cara Hudson                                 

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 ‍Invitation to Give Video

‍ You may Give online or send a check made payable to "McPherson Church of the Brethren,"
200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 67460

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♫Offering Music | "Crowded Table" | arr. Andrea Ramsey
McPherson College Choir; Andrew Voth, director; Brett Janssen, piano

You can hold my hand when you need to let go. I can be your mountain when you’re feeling valley-low.

I can be your streetlight showing you the way home. If you can hold my hand when you need to let go.

REFRAIN

I want a house with a crowded table and a place by the fire for everyone.

Let us take on the world while we’re young and able and bring us back together when the day is done.

If we want a garden we’re gonna have to sew the seed. Plant a little happiness, let the roots run deep.

If it’s love that we give then it’s love that we reap.

If we want a garden we’re gonna have to sew the seed.  RERAIN

The door is always open. Your picture’s on my wall. Everyone’s a little broken and everyone belongs –

everyone belongs - yeah everyone belongs.  REFRAIN … and bring us back together when the day is done…

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Scripture Focus

Psalm 24:1 The earth is God’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it‍

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Psalm 24:1 (paraphrase)

The earth belongs to God, and therefore, it is entrusted to humanity collectively

rather than to individuals, making us stewards - responsible for its care.

♫Message in Music | “The Earth Song” | Michael Jackson/arr.Kevin Jones
Worship Band, Kevin Jones accompanist/director

What about sunrise, what about rain, what about all the things that you said we were to gain?

What about killing fields, is there a time?

What about all the things that you said was yours and mine?

Did you ever stop to notice all the blood we’ve shed before?

Did you ever stop to notice the crying earth, the weeping shores?

What have we done to the world, look what we’ve done?

What about all the peace that you pledged your only son?

What about flowering fields, is there a time?

What about all the dreams that you said was yours and mine?

Did you ever stop to notice all the children dead from war?

Did you ever stop to notice the crying earth, the weeping shores?

I used to dream. I used to glance beyond the stars.

Now I don’t know where we are, although I know we’ve drifted far.

Hey, what about yesterday? What about the seas? The heavens are falling down. I can’t even breathe.

What about the bleeding Earth? Can’t we feel it’s wounds? What about nature’s worth? It’s our planet’s womb.

What about animals? We’ve turned kingdoms to dust. What about elephants? Have we lost their trust?

What about crying whales? We’re ravaging the seas. What about forest trails, burnt despite our pleas?

What about the holy land? Torn apart by greed? What about the common man? Can’t we set him free?

What about children dying? Can’t you hear them cry? Where did we go wrong? Someone tell us why.

Message in Words | “Whatabout ...” | Kathryn Whitacre

♫Sending Song | “New Earth, Heavens New” | #299

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Please be seated for the Sending Words and Sending Music

Sending Words | Kevin Jones

♫Sending Music | “Pollution” | Tom Lehrer/arr. Kevin Jones
Worship Band, Kevin Jones accompanist/director; Saxophone, Westen Gehring

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