Welcome Rev. Chad Delaney
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church
- We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms, building community in a fragmented world.
- We want to welcome everyone who is in the house today and everyone online. We are grateful for all the many ways you can join us for worship on this Lord’s Day.
- REMINDER: We are “masks for gathering” and would encourage everyone to wear masks. The numbers in our county and country are going up significantly and we must be diligent about keeping each other healthy and safe
- This morning our church announcements will be on one sheet at the back of the sanctuary. You may have grabbed it as you came in or please grab it on the way out.
- In worship today…we continue our look at the Psalms. The Psalms are ancient scriptures written for use in worship and song. They express the deepest sorrows and joys of life and today’s reminds us of the way God works in the midst of them.
- Let’s prepare our hearts and minds for worship with our Opening Scripture Reading...
Gathering Music “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” Jan Green By Peter Benjamin
Opening Scripture James 1:2-4
2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
*Response - Weave
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
weave us together, together in love.
*Call to Worship Drema Herron
ONE: O Lord our God, we joyfully come to worship and praise you for all your blessings.
ALL: We come, because we cannot stop thanking God for answering all our prayers.
ONE: We come to sing God’s praises; and we delight in celebrating all God’s goodness.
ALL: We come, because we cannot stop praising God for listening to our cries for help.
ONE: We come to praise and revere God’s holy presence here with us; and to give our thanks to our responsive and responding God; and for all God’s gracious mercies.
ALL: We come, because we cannot stop celebrating God’s holy presence here with us, and we give our thanks for the blessed heritage of our faith in our Listening God. Amen.
© 2016 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year C. Used with permission.
*Opening Hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name #91
1 All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Offering of Praise - Drema Herron
Children’s Moment - Ally Bozeka
Pastoral Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
O Lord our God, we joyfully come to worship, thank and praise you for your many
blessings, and for the way your holy ways bring gifts of love and hope to all—God so very often we are at a loss for words to express our gratefulness to you. To fully express our prayers and songs of praise for all you are to us. So we say to you \now how grateful we are...we can’t stay silent...we are overflowing with thanks to you. Hear now our offerings of thanks and praise! PAUSE
God, we have too often thought that everything in life would just go smoothly, that life would be simple and that we would always know what is best for us and those around us. Give us patience and courage to learn and grow from our life experiences. To take in both the good and bad and see what you might be trying to teach us and show us. We may not always understand, but we trust that you are walking beside us. Hear now those places in our lives where we need you most….PAUSE
For the blessing of your presence in the midst of the struggles of life. For the experiences of joy that surprise us and move us. For even the times of struggle and imbalance that move us to think, re-consider, and pray...we give you thanks knowing that you are always working for the good. Give us courage, give us strength, give us all we need through the power of your Holy Spirit so that we might live and serve as your people In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Communion
Meditation Ruth Anne Ruehr
Communion Hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross v.1&4 #195
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer Ruth Anne Ruehr
Words of Institution Rev. Chad Delaney
Distribution
Scripture Reading Psalm 30
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, ‘I shall never be moved.’ By your favour, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication: ‘What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!’ You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Sermon Holy Reversals Rev. Chad Delaney
Closing Hymn “Amazing Grace!” #546
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like Me!
I once was lost,
But now am found:
Was blind, but now I see.
*Benediction
- Announcements
- Interested in Baptism?
Go now, and live out a Psalm of Praise to our God.
Experience God’s healing and restoring power!
May Christ Jesus touch you and make you whole.
May God’s powerful blessing uphold you like a mountain.
And may the Holy Spirit dance with you in the rhythms of life.
Let’s go in joy and love to serve the Lord,
........In the name of Christ. Amen.
Departing Music “Lead On, O King Eternal” Jan Green
By Gregg Sewell (tune: LANCASHIRE)