Worship Bulletin 5/31/26

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, May 31, 2026 - Remembrance Sunday - Celebrating the lives of Church Family who died; June 2025 through May 2026

Spring Congregational Forum immediately after worship – meal provided.

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Welcome Video       

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♫Gathering Hymn | “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” | #328

vs 1-2,5-6

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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♫Gathering Hymn | “Beyond a Dying Sun” | #323

Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Tricia Hartshorn

♫Centering Music | “You Are My All in All” | arr. Bruce Greer

Donna Emmert (keyboard), Ellen Gilbert (piano)

Opening Responsive Litany | “We Remember Them” | Rabbi Sylvan Kamens & Rabbi Jack Riemer

©by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission of the publisher.

ONE:   In the rising of the sun and in its going down - we remember them.

ALL:    In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter - we remember them.

ONE:   In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring - we remember them.

ALL:    In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer - we remember them.

ONE:   In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn - we remember them.

ALL:    In the beginning of the year and when it ends - we remember them.

ONE:   When we are weary and in need of strength - we remember them.

ALL:    When we are lost and sick at heart - we remember them.

ONE:   When we have joys we yearn to share - we remember them.

ALL:    So long as we live they too shall live, for they are now a part of us as we remember them.
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♫Opening Song | “O God, Your Constant Care”

Sing to the tune of “Just as I am, Without one Plea” #516

1.    O God, your constant care and love are shed upon us from above,

Throughout our lives in ev’ry stage, from infancy to later age.

2.    We thank you, God, for dreams of youth, for wisdom leading on to truth,

For mem’ries gathered through the years, and faith that grows from joys and tears.

3.    All time is yours, O God, to give. May we, in all the years we live,

Find that each day of life is new, a celebration, God, with you.

4.    Let not the passing of the years rob us of joy or cause us fears,

And make our faith, O God, hold true, that we may always rest in you.
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Message for the Kids | Lara Schoming

I Am From….

1)    I am from my ____________________________, from____________________________________

           and my__________________________________________________________________________.

           (Think of things you own or things that might be important to you.)

2)    I am from a_______________________________________________________ family and from,

“________________________________________________________________________________.”

           (Describe your family. Is there something that is said often within it?)

3)    I am from_________________________________________________________________________

           whose___________________________________________________________________________.

           (Think of a place in nature you love. What within it do you love most?)

4)    I am from _________________________________ and____________________________________.

           I am from_________________________________ and ____________________________________.

           (What kind of music do you listen to? Is there an artist you resonate with?

            What foods are your favorite?)

5)    I am from ________________________________ and_________________________________ and

           from_____________________________________ and ____________________________________.

           (Who made/makes you, you? Who takes care of you?)

6)    I am from those moments when _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

           (When are you the happiest or most yourself?)

Completed Example:

1. I am from my relationships, from those who interact with me and my life is still unfolding.

2. I am from a(n) imperfect family and from “take the best and leave the rest”.

3. I am from the mountains and the prairie whose peaks, plains and sky fill me with wonder.

4. I am from Rock/Broadway/Jazz/Classical and Mitchell/Gershwin/Crowe/Collier

   I am from Asian anything with rice AND Latin anything savory.

5. I am from family and culture and from self and loved ones.

6. I am from those moments when there is a perfect balance of beauty, justice and leisure.

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♫Remembrance Song | “Your Lone Journey” | Doc & Rosa Lee Watson/arr. Peter Amidon

Worship Choir; Director, Becky Snell

God’s given us years of happiness here, now we must part.

And as the Angels come and call for you, the pains of grief tug at my heart.

Oh, my darling, my darling, my heart breaks as you take your Lone Journey.

The days will be empty, the nights so long without you my love.

And as God calls for you I’m left alone but we will meet in heaven above.

Oh, my darling, my darling, my heart breaks as you take your Lone Journey.

Fond memories of dear and happy ways that on earth we trod.

And when you come we will walk hand-in-hand as one in heaven in the family of God

Oh, my darling, my darling, my heart breaks as you take your Lone Journey.

Remembrance Photos: Lucille Batson, Ron Freed, Claudia Law, Nancy Lengel, Beverly Minnich,

                                        Madonna Reynolds, Emma Ruth Schmidt, Jan van Asselt, Margaret Zimmerman

Responsive Prayer of Remembrance

           ONE:   Loving Creator….

                       We thank you for the lives lived and shared that have enriched and blessed this community.

           ALL:    You are a God of new beginnings, a God of sacred endings - also - of the in-between.

                       We have hope for the journey - because ALL time is in Your hands.

           ONE:   We travel through dangers seen and unseen, we tiptoe through dark nights of the souls,

                       we wrestle against powers that should have kept us down AND yet –

                       we have courage for the journey because time is in Your hands.

           ALL:    Encourage us to dance without fear - when the morning has come,

                       to embrace without dread - the advent of night - confident in the awareness –

                       that all seasons, cycles and time – are in Your hands.

           ONE:   In this present moment, when we are frustrated by all manner of miscarriage of justice;

                       angered by the lack of collective concern for black bodies, brown bodies,

                                   trans bodies and reproductive rights,

                       exasperated with a broken immigration policy,

                       undone by those who call themselves Christians - yet treat others without concern,

                       when racism, sexism, homophobia and mass incarceration – overwhelm civil society,

                       when we deeply grieve the numbers of deaths by gun violence;

                                   increasingly of children and innocents,

                       when war against one another continues to rage across the globe –

                       In these overwhelming moments – as we work tirelessly to address these wrongs –

                       we are blessedly assured by the inevitability of - Your justice - in Your time –God of Grace.

           ALL:    Time stretches before us - full of mystery and surprise.

                       We need You - God of New Beginnings, God of Sacred Endings,

                       God of all the space and time in-between.

                       Thank You for all the saints who have gone before us.

                       Thank You for your eternal presence.

                       We are so grateful that our time - is in Your hands. AMEN
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♫Remembrance Song | “When It’s All Been Said and Done” | by Jim Cowan

Kevin Jones, vocals/piano

                       Verse 1: When it’s all been said and done, there is just one thing that matters:

                       Did I do my best to live for Truth? Did I live my life for You?

                       Verse 2: When it’s all been said and done all my treasures will mean nothing.

                       Only what I’ve done for Love’s rewards will stand the test of time.

                       Verse 3: Lord, Your mercy is so great that You look beyond our weakness,

                       and find purest gold in miry clay, making sinners into saints.

                       Verse 4: I will always sing Your praise here on earth and ever after, for You’ve shown me

                       heaven’s my true Home, when it’s all been said and done. You’re my life when life is gone.

                       Verse 5: When it’s all been said and done, there is just one thing that matters:

                       Did I do my best to live for Truth? Did I live my life for You? Lord I’ve lived my life for You!

Scripture Foci
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             Ephesians 4:16

           16 From Jesus, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and

           builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

           Hebrews 10:24-25

           24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up

           meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as

           you see the Day approaching.

Message | “before us ….” | Kathryn Whitacre

Sending Words

♫Sending Music | “Be Still, My Soul” | Jean Sibelius‍

Ellen Gilbert, organ

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