Week of Compassion
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church! We are grateful that you joined us for worship this morning. This morning we will start our Week of Compassion and think together about what it means to follow in the likeness of Christ with our words and actions. What sort of people are we? If you have questions about our church, feel free to contact the pastor anytime and he would be glad to meet you. God’s blessings be with you and welcome to worship!
Prelude - Take the Name of Jesus with You [by W.H.Doane] - Sarah Park
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church
Good Morning!
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church
We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
Today we begin our Week of Compassion…
- Offering this week and next
- In a few moments we'll watch a short video about Week of compassion
Thank you for joining us here in the house and online. Welcome to everyone!
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Thank you for your adjustments coming into worship
- CYF Auction
- New welcoming song
Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:16-20 - Rev. Chad Delaney
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
*Welcoming Song - “Here We Gather” #294
Here we gather as God’s people with our friends from far and near;
Let our voices sound with praises knowing Christ has called us here.
Now we seek and greet each other, now in joy approach our friends.
Here we mingle, bound together as to all our love extends.
*Call to Worship - Karly Lind
One: We gather to worship the God of all creation–
All: Our hearts are open, and our minds are receptive.
One: We gather in unity as a hope for the world–
All: Our lives are connected, and our love has no bounds.
One: We gather to share in the grace and love of Jesus–
All: Our hope is built on the love of Christ, living on in each of us.
One: No matter our backgrounds, our faults, or our leanings–
All: We are bound together in discipleship and by the power of the Holy Spirit!
*Opening Hymn - “Christ is Risen, Shout Hosanna!” #222, v.1-2
1 Christ is risen! Shout hosanna! Celebrate this day of days!
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder: all creation is amazed.
In the desert all-surrounding, see, a spreading tree has grown.
Healing leaves of grace abounding bring a taste of love unknown.
2 Christ is risen! Raise your spirits from the caverns of despair.
Walk with gladness in the morning. See what love can do and dare.
Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant, but a friend.
Jesus is our strong companion. Joy and peace shall never end.
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Karly Lind
Offertory
Music: “I Come to the Garden Alone”[by C. A. Miles] - Sarah Park
*Response - Accept, O God, The Gifts We Bring #379, 2 lines
Accept, O God, the gifts we bring of spirit and of clay,
transform them into blessings on those we serve today.
Offering Prayer - Karly Lind
Children’s Moment - Rev. Chad Delaney
- Week of Compassion and that everyone has Gifts
- What is Uniquely Yours to offer?
- Show Week of Compassion handout
Anthem - Take the World, but Give Me Jesus” [Words by Fanny Crosby, Music by Larry Shackley]- MCCC Choir
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
God of eternal light and everlasting glory, we pray that you might once again send your Spirit upon us that we may be transformed as you people. That we might get a taste of your glory and learn what it means to be your children. You have moved your Church in every time and place to see the light of the Gospel, to hear the call of Jesus, to respond with loving compassion to all in need. Beckon us by your Holy Spirit to seek out the tired and hopeless. Help us hear your call to recognize those in our very midst who need a hand extended or a listening ear.
Lord, we are especially mindful today of the ministry and work of the Week of Compassion. We are thankful for their stewardship in sharing resources, for their willingness to partner with ecumenical bodies, for their leadership in promoting sustainable ways of dealing with disease, hunger, and poverty. Give their staff, wisdom and courage as they teach, preach, and make critical decisions about where money and resources must go. We thank you that they have worked so hard to ensure that the money given is used to its absolute fullest. We are so thankful that so many lives have been touched through the sharing of this part of the body of Christ. Help us to offer our blessings as a blessing to others. Help us to show compassion where compassion is needed. Help us to love as Jesus loved.
God you hear and know the cries of your people. You know the pain throughout the world and even in this very place today. Be with those who grieve for lost loved ones. Be with those who are struggling with depression and addiction. Be with those struggling with patience and courage. Be with those who are lost and lonely. Be with those who are sick and in need of comfort. Those who are hungry and thirsty....
Today, Lord, we lift up our nation and world leaders. We are on edge as the world watches the conflict in the middle east. Give wisdom and courage. Where there is violence, may your transformational peace be ushered in.
In your mercy, hear our silent prayers of celebration and sorrow…
Join us together now in your spirit as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us saying…
Communion
Meditation - Ally Bozeka
Communion Hymn - “Be Known to Us, In Breaking Bread” #398, vs. 1-2
1 Be known to us in breaking bread, but do not then depart;
Savior, abide with us, and spread thy table in our heart.
2 There sup with us in love divine; thy body and thy blood,
that living bread, that heavenly wine, be our immortal food.
Prayer - Katie Baird
Words of Institution - Katie Baird
Music: “Jesus, my Lord, to Thee I Cry” [by I.D.Sankey] - Sarah Park
Special Music
“Voluntary” [by John G. Barr] - Jan Green
Scripture - John 21:1-17
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ 6He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. 8But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ 16A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ 17He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.
Sermon - “New Patterns” - Rev. Chad Delaney
A famous passage in the Bible is when Jesus called the first Disciples who were fishermen.
I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men
I will make you fishers of men if you follow me
If you follow me, if you follow me.
I will make you fishers of men if you follow me.
And so they did. This event is reported in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke and in each one they leave their nets right then and there to follow Jesus. "Follow me” Jesus says, “and I will make you fish for people." From that point on they would go on to witness the life and ministry of Jesus. They would learn to talk like Jesus, to walk like Jesus, to be like Jesus. And then after Jesus is crucified and risen from the dead, he would commission them to continue his ministry. The Gospel of John says that the Holy Spirit would be sent to guide their teaching and serving and living in the name of the Risen Christ.
What an absolutely incredible experience for them. To be there at the Wedding at Cana. To hear the Sermon on the Mount. To see the healings. To be there during the feeding of the 5000. How could they not be completely changed and transformed people?
Have you had an incredible experience that changed your life forever?
For me it was when I went to Nogales, Senora Mexico as a Junior in college. Due to this experience I saw poverty differently. I saw my role in the cycle of injustice differently. I better understood how our lives are inextricably linked to one another and our neighbor. As a result of what I experienced there I couldn’t return to be the same person. There was the pre-Mexico me and the post-Mexico me. I would think, pray, act, and live differently. Forever changed.
What was it for you? Perhaps it was a week at camp? A special worship service? Your baptism? The birth of your child? A book you read? A place you traveled? Your wedding? Something simple a loved one or stranger said to you? Perhaps all of these were ways the risen christ appeared to you.
Whatever it was for you it was an experience where you couldn't NOT be changed. An experience where you renewed your commitments and made new ones to be who God created you to be.
If we had a chance to sit down with the Disciples of Jesus I would imagine they would have a whole slew of these kinds of stories! Powerful, life-transforming moments with the Savior of the world!
All of which makes our passage today in John 21 all the more fascinating…
With great expectations we turn to the 21st chapter ready to see what wonderful new adventure the Disciples are embarking on after already experiencing the Resurrected Christ. Perhaps they are performing miracles in Jerusalem? Perhaps they are preaching on the Temple Mount? Perhaps they are feeding the poor and healing the sick?
But we see that the disciples are sitting around in their hometown by the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberius in Latin) and Peter says, "Welp, I'm going fishing." "Sounds good" says the others.
Interesting right? A little anticlimactic. They pick back up their nets. They go back to the boats. They go back to where they started.
Now maybe they just wanted to get outside and relax. Maybe they were confused and waiting for further instructions. Or maybe…old habits and patterns are just harder to break than we think. This new reality hadn’t quite set in yet. Their actions hadn’t quite caught up to what was happening in their hearts and souls.
And unsurprisingly we get to see the result of their efforts. The scripture says “They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” As “changed” people called to share the Gospel…going back to their old patterns didn’t bear any fruit.
So as to be expected, the Risen Christ comes to them in disguise. A stranger on the beach who tells them to change things up. Put the nets out on the other side of the boat and it will go differently. He doesn’t scold them, punish them, or give them a hard time. Just gently reminds them that life is different now, the way they do things needs to be different. It works, they finally recognize him.
And then Jesus directs some questions toward Peter. This one who didn’t get it, who denied him, who was supposed to be the Rock on whom God would build the church who suggested to the other Disciples that they go fishing. Jesus asks him, “Do you love me?” 3 times. And this time, instead of denying him thrice he would say he loved him. And Jesus says, “Feed my sheep.” Time to put down the nets and become apostles. To share the living Word and Good News.
Having known and learned from, having experienced and beared witness to the Risen Christ…life needed to change. We all have our own habits and ways of doing things. What does it look like for us to try putting our nets out on the other side of the boat? What big and small changes do we need to make in our lives to more deeply reflect our commitment to following Jesus?
Have our commitments to following Jesus been laid aside like a well-intentioned New Years Resolution?
- Have we forgotten how important it is to forgive?
- To let our light shine
- To be wary of anger
- To keep our vows
- To let go of revenge
- To love our enemies
- To store up treasure in heaven
- To be people of compassion, faith, and hope
- To feed and serve and love the least of these?
As we seek to respond to the Resurrection of Christ in this season of Easter may we remember our own commitment to follow what God has placed on our hearts. In this Week of Compassion, may we remember our call to Feed Christ’s Sheep and to give generously. In this culture of division and distraction, may we remember that we are ambassadors for Christ, called to live and love in his likeness.
Together let’s go of old habits and make NEW PATTERNS in the way of Jesus Christ. To live into these words of the Apostle Paul: “17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” May it be so!
*Closing Hymn - “He Lives” #226, vs. 1-3
1 I serve a risen Savior, he's in the world today;
I know that he is living, whatever others say.
I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer,
and just the time I need him, he's always near.
[Refrain]
He lives (he lives) he lives (he lives), Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives (he lives) he lives (he lives), Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.
2 In all the world around me I see his loving care,
and though my heart grows weary, I never will despair.
I know that he is leading through all the stormy blast;
the day of his appearing, will come at last. [Refrain]
3 Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek him, the help of all who find;
none other is so loving, so good and kind. [Refrain]
Benediction - Rev. Chad Delaney
- God is Good!
- Choir & Jan Green
- Please have some coffee and join for conversation in our wonderful classes led by Nancy Humes, Jon Secaur, and Carol Buzbee
We gathered for worship - Now let us go to serve.
We gathered for praise - Now let us go to love.
We gathered in unity - Now let us go to light up the world.
With all that we have, all that we are, and all that we hope to be -
Let us offer our lives to God in this day and always!
Postlude - “God Sent His Son” [by W. J. Gaither] - Sarah Park