Prelude - “Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee ” [Arr. by W. Shield] - Sarah Park
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church - C.J. Delaney
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, everyone online, and everyone downstairs watching our live telecast. We are grateful for all the many ways you can join us for worship on this Lord’s Day.
Today the youth from the Dayton Mission Trip will be leading in worship. We want to thank you for supporting us and we hope today that you feel a sense of hope in what we have to share.
Opening Scripture - Olivia Otto
Romans 15:13
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
*Response - "Weave" #495
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 - Lilly O’Bryant
ONE: We are yearning for the day…
ALL: The day of God’s hope made real! The day when nobody is hungry, nobody thirsty! The day of God’s love flowing freely!
ONE: Shade from Sun and Shelter from the Wind, The Compassionate One guides us to the springs of living water in the Word and in mighty deeds!
ALL: Let us worship our God and Let Love and Hope Flow!
*Opening Hymn - "Great is Thy Faithfulness" #86, v.1-2
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
[Refrain]:
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. (Refrain)
Invitation to Generosity - Faith Brewer
Tornadoes and natural disasters are scary and sad…and they can bring out some of the best in people. Folks of every race, of every religion or no religion, of every class, step up to help those who are hurting; whose lives are in shambles; who may wonder if anyone cares about them in the midst of so much suffering.
They need not wonder though: because there are actually so many people with hammers, screwdrivers, paintbrushes, and resources to help people get people back in their homes, help make sure that families can stay together and have a safe place to recover. And…please know that we are those people whether we’ve been on a mission trip or not. We may not drive a truck or pilot a boat, but we too can help our neighbors in dire need. While we may want to join our hands to those in so many places right, sometimes it is best to stay and pray and offer our resources as best we can.
Every year our church gives to Week of Compassion--our wider church family’s disaster relief ministry--and we were fortunate to have them plan our trip to Dayton. When we give to Week of Compassion and give to our church, we are able to help give hope to people all over the world after bad storms or difficult situations. Thank you for making that possible for us to go to Dayton and make the impact we did.
We will now receive our tithes, gifts, and offerings.
Offertory
Music: “There Comes to My Heart ” [by P. P. Bilhorn ]
The Doxology #46
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offering Prayer - Lizzie Dormann
Dear God, thank you all for all the gifts given today and every Sunday. You give us opportunities every day to give of ourselves to help bring hope to others. Help us to all to embrace those opportunities and serve others as you have called us to. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.
Children’s Moment - Avery Delaney & Aspen Baynes
Pastoral Prayer - Josh Delaney
Loving Creator,
We know that you are with us in every time and place. In all things, you are faithful. But when winds are raging, we may find it hard to hear your voice. When skies are dark, we may struggle to see your face. When all around is chaos, fear and destruction, the peace you promise seems worlds away. And yet we continue to seek you in the storm. And we seek you in the morning after. Surround us with the certainty of your loving presence. To those in raging winds, speak words of calm and comfort. For those in great darkness, send light. For those surrounded by the remains of what was; answer the silence with promises of all that might be.
Hear our prayer, O Lord. Renew our strength for the days ahead. May we hear again your call to be the Church; to speak comfort to those who weep, and to be present with those who suffer. We trust that you have given us every gift we need to meet the needs of this time. Teach us to walk in the way of Christ-- sharing all that we have, and believing in your goodness in all things. Send us in your peace, Holy One. And may there be joy in the morning. Amen.
Communion
Meditation - Ally Bozeka
Communion Hymn - “It is Well with My Soul” #561, v.1
1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll,
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
[Refrain:]
It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer - Ally Bozeka
Words of Institution - Rev. Chad Delaney
Music: “On a Hill Far Away” [by G. Bennard]
Scripture - Olivia O’Bryant
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Youth Mission Trip to Dayton 2022
Aspen Baynes, Avery Delaney, Lizzie Dormann, Josh Delaney, Lilly O’Bryant, Olivia Otto,
Faith Brewer, Olivia O’Bryant, C.J. Delaney
Leaders: Dave & Pam Auble, Chad & Christin Delaney, and Carol Magyarics
*Closing Hymn “Fill the World with Love” #467, v. 1-4
With the vision in our minds of how the world could be
And the fullness of our heart from the suffering we see
When we make all that we are and have part of God’s destiny
We can fill the world with love. We can fill the world with love.
All the people in this world living lives of pain and fear
Crying out into the night, wondering when someone will hear
While there are so many others having so much they can share
Can we fill the world with love? Can we fill the world with love?
We whose spirits long to share, long to comfort and to heal
Know that when we act alone, hope is difficult to feel
But together as we labor God’s compassion to reveal
We will fill the world with love. We will fill the world with love.
Let us hesitate no longer in our doubt and our dismay
There’s a power at work within us that has promised a new day
And the time will surely come, it will not be long delayed
When God fills the world with love. When God fills the world with love.
*Benediction - C.J. Delaney
As we go from here, may God, the source of all hope, infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace, so that, no matter what comes your way in the days ahead, your lives will overflow with confident hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Postlude - “What a Wonderful Change in My Life” Sarah Park [by C. H. Gabriel]