Worship Bulletin 4/5/26

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 5, 2026 - Easter Sunday

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Welcome Video

♫Gathering Music | “Easter Rejoicing” | Todd Marchand
Brass Ensemble: Eric Goering, LaMonte Rothrock, trombone; Winona Godfrey, horn; Kirk MacGregor, Lindy Reynolds, trumpet

Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Kevin Jones

♫Centering Music | “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” | arr. Phoebe T.T. Yeung
Handbells; Director Becky Snell

Opening Scripture | John 20:1-10 | The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 

2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said,

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 

5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 

6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 

7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 

8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 

9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 

10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

♫Scripture Song | “Thine is the Glory” |  #269

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Unison Opening Words

           Love has risen like wheat emerging, green. Love lives again.

           Love cannot be slain by hatred. Love lives again.

           When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain – love can call us back to life. Love lives again.

           Fields of our lives that once were dead and bare – rise anew, verdant and full of life. Love lives again.

 ♫Opening Song | “Now the Green Blade Rises”

Message for the Kids | Barbara Wagoner

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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Scripture Focus | John 20:11-18 | Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene‍

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 

12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

She said, “They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him.” 

14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, 

“Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Creator. Go instead to my brothers and tell them,

‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!”

And she told them that he had said these things to her.

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♫Special Scripture Song | “Praise His Holy Name" | by Keith Hampton
Worship Choir

Refrain

Sing till the power of the Lord come down. Shout Hallelujah! Praise His Holy name!

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me;

I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see.

Jesus, Jesus, how I love Thee! Shout Hallelujah! Praise his Holy name!

Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free?

No, there's a cross for ev'ryone and there's a cross for me.

Jesus, Jesus, how I love Thee! Shout Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name!

Refrain

Hallelujah! Praise His Name! Let us Praise His Name, Hallelujah, Lord!

Praise His Holy Name! Hallelujah Oh, oh - Praise High Holy Name! Praise Him!

Message | “crushing grief – ecstatic joy – braided with LOVE” | Kathryn Whitacre

(Both light and shadow are the dance of love –RUMI)

♫Sending Song | “Proclaim the Tidings Near and Far” | #282

Please be seated for the Sending Words and Sending Music

Sending Words

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♫Sending Music | “Fanfare for the Christ King” 
Ellen Gilbert, organ

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