Week of Compassion
This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! To all of our online community, welcome to our service of worship! If you have any questions or want to learn more about our ministries please check out our website or reach out to our pastor ([email protected]). Today we are celebrating the Week of Compassion and their ministry to those in need over the last 80 years. The Week of Compassion is our denominational fund to offer aid to those who are suffering from natural or humanitarian disaster. Thank you for giving generously and for supporting this amazing ministry. Welcome to worship!
Prelude - “My Lord What a Morning ” - MCCC Handbells
Welcome - Rev. Chad Delaney
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
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 this afternoon
- New welcoming song
- Coin boxes at children moment
Scripture Reading - 1 John 3:16-19 - Rev. Chad Delaney
6We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
*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: Come! Let us worship God, who provides a shepherd for all the sheep.
All: We’re here to listen to the voice of One who cares for us and for all of God’s beloved.
One: There will be one flock, one shepherd.
All: Tho’ we, like sheep, have gone astray, the shepherd will call us back.
One: Our shepherd willingly laid down life, itself, for us!
All: Let’s rejoice in the shepherd who guards and guides us all.
*Opening Hymn - “Gather Us In” #284, vs. 1 & 4
1. Here in this place, the new light is streaming, shadows of doubt are vanished away.
See in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us in; our spirits inflame.
Call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
4. Not just in buildings, small and confining, not in some heaven light years away,
Here in this place the new light is shining; now is God present, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own;
Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Karly Lind
Offertory
Music: “Come into my Heart,Blessed Jesus” [by H. D. Clarke] - 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
- Coinbox collect
Special Music
“I Do Believe” [by James Southbridge] - Jan Green
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
Loving God, reveal your compassion…
Bring your wholeness to all.
A prayer written by Bruce Prewer
God of all things seen and unseen, if you had insulated yourself from the pain of the world, then your name could not be love and our we would be without hope. Thank you for being intertwined in history, for revealing your presence in Jesus of Nazareth. Through him we pray with hope, in him we pray with love.
God of Compassion, let your healing love be known this day by all who suffer ailment of body, or distress of mind, or agony of spirit. Let your intimate love be known today by all who feel forgotten or lost, and all who are walking in the dark valley of despair.
Loving God, reveal your compassion…
Bring your wholeness to all.
Let your fierce love this day redress the wrongs of all who suffer exploitation, injustice, abuse, neglect, violence or unwarranted imprisonment. Let your nurturing love today encourage those who are gathering resolve to make tough decisions, take on new responsibilities, or break free from some bondage.
Loving God, reveal your compassion…
Bring your wholeness to all.
Let your relentless love this day upset congregations that have become self-centered or even contemptuous of other churches. Let your reconciling love today gather together the separated Christians, and make them aware of the fellowship and mission of the one, universal body of Christ
Loving God, reveal your compassion…
Bring your wholeness to all.
Let your inspiring love this day rejuvenate pastors, priests and prophets who have become weary to the very roots of their souls. Thank you for hearing us, most loving God. With the whole body of believers in time and eternity, we want to love, praise and serve you, today and always. We want to embody your compassion and give our gifts for your glory.
Loving God, reveal your compassion…
Bring your wholeness to all.
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 - Katie Baird
Communion Hymn - “Because He Lives” #562, v.1-2
1 God sent his Son, they called him Jesus. He came to love, heal, and forgive
He bled and died to buy my pardon.
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
[Refrain]
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know he holds the future, And life is worth the living
just because He lives
2 How sweet to hold our newborn baby; and feel the pride and joy that gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives [Refrain]
Prayer - Cathy Hakala-Ausperk
Words of Institution - Cathy Hakala-Ausperk
Music: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” - MCCC Handbells
Scripture - Luke 20:45 - 21:4
45 In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes and who love respectful greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.
47 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
21 1He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them, 4 for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Sermon - “The Scribe or the Widow?” - Rev. Chad Delaney
There is a parable passed down from our Native American friends that you likely have heard before. It highlights an age-old human struggle
An old man was teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old man simply replied, “The one you feed.”
In our passage today we are presented by the Gospel of Luke with a stark contrast in how we operate as human beings. Many times the story of the Widow’s mite is read without its context within the Gospel. Of course, the story can easily stand on its own, but when the Widow and the Scribes are placed next to one another we get a deeper picture of what the Spirit might be saying to us today.
The Scribes are authoritative teachers and leaders in the first century world of Judaism. They are knowledgeable, can interpret the scripture, and have power in the community. But some of them--as far as Jesus is concerned--are missing it. Some would use religion to empower and enrich themselves, rather than serve others. Jesus pointedly advises the crowd to beware of them -- they will don their long flowing robes, enjoy all the attention, have the best seats at all the banquets and worship services, and say long prayers----but God will not be impressed.
And--Jesus makes the point to say that………they devour widow’s houses. They were a uniquely vulnerable group in that time with no legal, economic, or cultural status without a husband. The most religious and supposedly pious people, however, were taking advantage of them. They forgot the most vulnerable around them. For the Scribes “Comfort is King…and it really doesn’t matter at whose expense.”
Greed. Self-preservation. Comfort
On the other hand…we have the widow. Rev. Dr. Dawn Weaks wrote: “For Jesus, the widow offering her very last pennies at the temple treasury exemplified a faithfulness that the Scribes couldn’t touch. Many of the rich and connected were only focused on self-promotion.” As one of our folks at the study, Muir said, “How much they gave didn’t affect them.” The scribes would only give what made them look good, the widow gave til it hurt.
Generosity. Self-Sacrifice. Abundance.
There is much and more to learn from this story for us as we contemplate our own faithfulness. It is very tempting for us to identify solely with the Widow and vilify the Scribes. But really they are like the two wolves within ourselves. The one crying out for comfort and piety theater…and the other to self-sacrifice and giving for the service of others. We have them both.
We might also see how they represent us as a whole church.
Many years ago I met with a leader of a non-profit who was looking to help the most vulnerable in the community and partner with local agencies. They were working with the tired, the hungry, the job less, the homeless. I asked them what it was like to work with the churches in the area and her answer was discouraging. She said “They come for the show, but don’t stick around for the long-haul. It's hard to get them to commit to the cause.”
Greed. Self-preservation. Comfort.
Yet today we are celebrating a wonderful example of the Week of Compassion because they are all in. They have been working for over 80 years offering relief to those facing humanitarian and political disasters. They are on the ground with hundreds of partners and making every last nickel count to help the least of these. Their overhead is small and their reach is wide. They pride themselves on the idea that they may not be the first ones there, but they are the last to leave.
Case in point, their presence in Western Kentucky where our CYF youth are going this summer. After devastating tornadoes went through there in 2021, they are still there building and re-building. Here is a description of their work:
“In Mayfield and the surrounding county, more than 70% of tornado damage occurred to rental housing…From partners of the Week of Compassion, survivors now can lease the property at considerably reduced costs, while completing courses in home ownership and financial management; then they can purchase the home far below market value. Week of Compassion focuses on long-term recovery with the steady presence of volunteers, and the ongoing gift of accompaniment as people rebuild and return to their homes and routines.”
Week of Compassion represent us--as a church--with Generosity. Abundance. Self-Sacrifice.
They do a lot with a little.
Through them we give so others can live. The tired and hungry. Refugees and disaster-struck.
And here in our neck of the woods we have choice, too. We have a long tradition of giving and sharing and serving and accompanying the least of these. And…still, as individuals and as a church, every day we will wrestle inside with who we are as God’s people. To follow in the way of Jesus Christ…
So…which wolf do we feed?
- The one craving outward appearances, power, reputation, comfort, and greed?
- Or--like the widow--toward generosity, faithfulness, and service?
Amen.
*Closing Hymn - “Ours the Journey” #458, 1-2, & 4
1 In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways.
Who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering in their separate ways?
[Refrain]
God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar,
We your people, ours the journey now and ever more.
2 Through the flood of starving people, warring factions and despair,
Who will lift the olive branches? Who will light the flame of care? [Refrain]
4 Should the threats of dire predictions cause us to withdraw in pain,
May your blazing phoenix spirit, resurrect the church again. [Refrain]
Benediction - Rev. Chad Delaney
- God is Good!
- Thank you for your gifts to the week of compassion
- Bells & Jan Green
- Please have some coffee and join for conversation in our wonderful classes led by Nancy Humes, Jon Secaur, and Carol Buzbee
- Come to the Soup Supper & Auction!
Our Small Difference ~ written by John van de Laar.
We may not be able to confront queens, or challenge presidents;
We may not have the capacity to divert huge resources, or uplift communities;
We may not have the voice to silence the noise of war,
or the words to negotiate peace between armies;
But, as we follow you, O Christ, we are able to do something.
And so, we pray that you would inspire us
to commit to and act on the small difference we can make:
May we bring peace through small acts of gentleness and reconciliation;
May we bring wealth through small contributions and collaborations;
May we bring safety through small acts of consideration and acceptance;
May we bring wholeness through small acts of care and service.
And in the small ways, O God,
may our small difference make a big contribution
to your saving work in our world. Amen.
Postlude - “God Sent His Son” [by W. J. Gaither] -Sarah Park