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 30, 2026
Welcome Video
♫Gathering Music | “Fantasia” | Johann Pachelbel
Ellen Gilbert, organ
Sharing Time – Joys and Concerns | Kevin Jones
♫Centering Music | “This is My Father's World” | arr. Phillip Keveren
Olivia Gehring, piano
Opening Responsive Words
ONE: The Hand of Moses represents
ALL: active courage, rising up against injustice in the material world, and accepting a divine
mandateto lead without hiding one's power or potential.
ONE: The Hand of Humility represents
ALL: the understanding that we are merely vessels, ensuring that our strength remains
anchored in reverence rather than personal ego or arrogance.
ONE: False humility ‘plays small’ to make others comfortable,
ALL: Real humility acknowledges inner greatness while relinquishing the ego's need
to be the hero.
May God give us the wisdom to know the difference and act accordingly; embracing
the world with both the Hand of Moses and the Hand of Humility.
♫Opening Song | “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” | #120
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
♫Scripture Music | Cait Nishimura: Golden Hour
Westen Gehring, clarinet; Olivia Gehring, piano
…The “golden hour” is the magical period of time just before sunset when the sun is low in the sky and
casts a beautiful, warm glow across the horizon. This piece was inspired by an exciting and rewarding
journey through Yosemite National Park to reach the Glacier Point overlook before sundown. Driving up
the steep mountain roads felt like a race against time, with the sunset already in progress. Along the
way, we experienced jaw-dropping vistas over the edge of rocky cliffs; the colors in the sky shifted from
vibrant blue and orange to hazy pink and purple….
Scripture Focus | Exodus 3:1-15 | Moses and the Burning Bush
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock
to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the
Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it
did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought,
“I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When God saw that Moses had gone over to look, God called to Moses from within the bush,
“Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said,
“Here I am.”
5 God said,
“Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is
holy ground.” 6 ….. I am the God of your [forebearers], the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac
and the God of Jacob.”
At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. But God said,
7 “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because
of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come to rescue
them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up - out of that land into a good and
spacious land - a land flowing with milk and honey - the home of the Canaanites, Hittites,
Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me,
and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you
to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God,
“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said,
“I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you:
When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God,
“Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your [forebearers] has sent me to
you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is this god’s name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses,
“I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am -has sent me to you.'"
15 …“Say to the Israelites, ‘God, the God of your [forebearers] - the God of Abraham, the God
of Isaac and the God of Jacob - has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever - the name you
shall call me from generation to generation.
♫Scripture Song | “Be Still and Know that I am God”
Message | “You’re Playing Small” | Jerry Bowen
♫Sending Song | “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” | #582
Please be seated for the Sending Words andSending Music
Sending Words
♫Sending Music | “Go Down, Moses” Spiritual | arr. Mark Hayes
Ellen Gilbert, piano
Go down Moses, way down in Egypt land. Tell old pharaoh to let my people go.
Now, when Israel was in Egypt land - let my people go –
oppressed so hard they could not stand - let my people go.
So the Lord said "Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land. Tell old pharaoh to let my people go"
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
