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, May 24, 2026
Welcome Video
♫Gathering Music | Prelude Number 14, Opus 81 | S. Heller
Jean Hendricks, piano
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Ann Stover
♫Centering Music | Prelude Number Two | G. Gershwin
Opening Scripture | Acts2:1-21 | The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
7 Utterly amazed, they asked:
“Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome
11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs - we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to
what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
♫Opening Song | “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” | #356
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
♫Offering Music | “Sonata XIII, movement 3, Larghetto” | G.F. Handel
Olivia Gehring, piano; Westen Gehring, saxophone
Scripture Focus | John 20:19-23 | Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked
for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw
the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said,
“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
22 And with that he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven;
if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
♫Scripture Song | “Move in our Midst” | #418
Message | "Is Peace Viable?” | Jerry Bowen
Invitation to Share the Bread and Cup
Words for the Bread and Cup:
We eat this bread in memory of the Living Bread –
who calls us to peacefully feed ALL and ANY who are hungry.
We drink this cup in memory of the Living Cup –
who calls us to peacefully offer drink to ALL and ANY who are thirsty.
May we remember and may we peacefully answer God’s call.
Communion is Offered
Communion Prayer
♫Sending Song | “Go Forth into the World in Peace” | John Rutter
Worship Choir, Becky Snell, Director
Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage, hold fast that which is good;
render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted;
honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the pow’r of the Holy Spirit.
And the blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen. Amen
♫Sending Music | “When Peace Like a River” | P. Bliss/arr. M. Ham
Calendar Dates of Note:
May 29th-31st Come Along with Me – Camp Mt. Hermon
31st Remembrance Sunday – honoring those members who died the past 12 months
31st-6th Jr. High – Camp Colorado
June 7th-13th Sr. High – Camp Colorado
7th-11th Pre-Junior/Junior – Camp Mt. Hermon
14th-20th Jr. High/Sr. High – Camp Mt. Hermon
14th-20th Junior – Camp Colorado
21st-25th Pre-Junior – Camp Colorado
25th-28th Camp Colorado Reunion Weekend & Family Camp
28th-2nd Annual Conference – Fort Wayne, Indiana
July 8th Faith Quest #1
15th Faith Quest #2
22nd Faith Quest #3
24th-26th Western Plains District Conference
29th Faith Quest #4
Aug 2nd Faith Quest Celebration Worship
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
