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, August 23, 2026
Welcome Video
♫Gathering Music | “With One Voice” ( CCLI#4512912) | Ricky Manalo
Congregation and Worship Band
1. Take the Word and go out to every land. Shine the light of Christ for all to see.
May the lives of those we touch sing praise to God above. Let us sing, we’ll sing.
Refrain
With one voice we’ll pass the Word along. With one voice, bring justice to the world.
And with all the angels, we’ll spread the goodness of God.
With all power and glory the Word of God shall reign.
2. Take the Word to our neighborhoods and streets. Shine the light of Christ for all to see.
May we all set out to live in peace and harmony. They will see and sing…Refrain
3. Take the Word to the people in despair. Shine the light of Christ for all to see.
May our actions and our deeds bring comfort to their needs. And they’ll know and sing.
Refrain
4. Take the Word to the nations everywhere. Shine the light of Christ for all to see.
May the witness of our lives transform the world anew. And we’ll shine, we’ll shine.
Refrain…Refrain (extended)
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Tricia Hartshorn
♫Centering Music | “Ayre” | Georg Philipp Telemann
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Unison Opening Prayer
God of the earth: You treasure every mountain, river, tree and creature that dwells herein.
God of the sky: You hold the wild wind and the soft rain – the freezing snow and the blazing heat.
God of all life: You watch over little babies, aging wise ones and those in the throes of mid-life.
God of us all: You embrace each one of us with welcome, compassion, mercy and grace.
Today: may we experience, know and feel your love. AMEN
♫Opening Song | “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
Presentation of Bibles by Faith Formation | Malia Pfeiff
Message for the Kids | Barbara Wagoner
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 | “How Glorious Is Thy Name” | Mozart/arr. Simone
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Scripture Focus | Exodus 1:8-2:10
8 … A new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. He said to his people,
9 “Look, the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal
shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join
our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they [forced them to
build] Pithom [PEE-thohm] and Rameses [RAM-uh-seez] as store cities for Pharoah.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to
dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in
brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked
them ruthlessly.
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,
16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see
that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”
17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they
let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them,
“Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”
19 The midwives answered Pharaoh,
“Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth
before the midwives arrive.”
20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more
numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, God gave them families of their own.
22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people:
“Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile but let every girl live.”
The Birth of Moses
2 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to
a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide
him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the
child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 [The man’s] sister stood at a distance
to see what would happen to [the baby].
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the
riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it
and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him and said,
“This is one of the Hebrew babies.”
7 Then [the baby’s watchful aunt] asked Pharaoh’s daughter,
“Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
8 [Pharoah’s daughter answered,]
“Yes, go.”
So [she]went and got the baby’s mother.
9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her,
“Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.”
So the woman [the babies mother] took the baby and nursed him.
10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son.
She named him Moses, saying,
“I drew him out of the water.”
♫Scripture Song | "Long Ago, When Pharaoh's Daughter" | by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Sung to the Tune of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” #521 in your pew hymnals
Verse 1
Long ago, when Pharaoh's daughter walked along the riverside,
In a basket in the water was a baby, snug and dry.
Tiny baby! Did his mother give him up so he might live?
Love that gives to save another is a mighty love to give.
Verse 2
Christ, you offered us a blessing — what our life in you can be:
"When a child is given welcome, then you also welcome me."
In a world where children suffer and where all need love and care,
Love that leads us to each other is an answer to our prayer.
Verse 3
God, you call us your own children; we're adopted! We're reborn!
We rejoice that through adoption, human bonds are also formed.
Bless the ones who welcome children; bless the ones who let them go.
May each child be loved and welcomed; may each church help families grow.
Message | “When Obedience to God Brings Consequences” | Jerry Bowen
♫Sending Song | “Here I am, Lord” | #395
Please be seated for the Sending Words and Sending Music
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Carry the Light” | Twila Paris
Worship Band
Verse 1
In this world of darkness we are given light.
Hope for all the dying; how will they know, how will they know
that Jesus loves them and He died to save them.
Chorus
Carry the Light. Carry the Light. Go and tell the children they are precious in His sight.
Carry the Light. Carry the Light. Go and preach the gospel 'til there is no more night.
In the name of Jesus Christ, carry the Light.
Verse2
Count them by the millions, blinded slaves to sin.
Inside they are dying; how will they know, how will they know
that Jesus loves them and His heart is breaking.
Ending
Go ye into all the world. Go ye into all the world and carry the Light; the Light. Carry the Light!
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
