Love: Seeking Sanctuary
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church on this 4th Sunday in Advent---the Sunday of Love!
- 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/downstairs. We are grateful for all the many ways you can join us for worship on this Lord’s Day.
- Announcements will be on one sheet at the back of the sanctuary.
- Children’s Coloring Sheet
- Blue Christmas Service coming on Dec 20 at 7:00pm
Scripture Reading - Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise; Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
*Response - Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
*Call to Worship - Tim Bennett
ONE: We are seeking—
ALL: deeper faith, a place to belong, the feeling that God is here in this room.
ONE: We are seeking—
ALL: joy that overflows, the movement of the Spirit, a hand to hold, when alone in the dark.
ONE: We are seeking—
ALL: the freedom to be, the courage to love, the conviction to act in the face of injustice.
ONE: We are seeking, but here in this space,
ALL: We are found.
ONE: Take a deep breath. This is your sanctuary.
ALL: God is here. We are found. Amen.
Advent Candle Lighting - Ryan & Carly Lind
A: God’s love is like an open door.
B: God’s love is the streetlight that guides us home.
A: God’s love is a warm bed to fall into.
B: God’s love is a table with room for you.
A: God’s love is a crackling fireplace.
B: God’s love is the sun that streams through the windows.
A: God’s love is the roof over our heads and the floor beneath our feet.
B: God’s love is a home for you and me, for neighbors and strangers, for family and friends, for enemies and partners.
A: God’s love is a home for all.
B: Today we light the candle of love to remind us of this truth.
A: May it burn brightly in this space and even brighter in our hearts.
B: Amen.
*Opening Hymn - All Earth is Waiting #139, 1-2
All earth is waiting to see the Promised One,
and open furrows await the seed of God.
All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty;
it cries out for justice and searches for the truth.
Thus says the prophet to those of Israel:
'A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel,'
one whose name is 'God with us' our Saviour shall be;
with him hope will blossom once more within our hearts.
Offering of Praise - Tim Bennett
Pastoral Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
Loving and Compassionate God,
Our prayers are often one adventurous act of seeking.
We seek you, we seek belonging, we seek sanctuary.
And what is mysteriously true is that we know, deep in our bones,
that if we knock, we will find you. So today we pause our seeking to simply give you thanks.
We thank you for the Elizabeths in our lives—
the ones who have been there when we needed them most,
the ones who have blessed us with joy, allowing our happiness to take up space, the ones who have opened the door
or us and ushered us in.
And thank you not only for the Elizabeths in our lives, but think of the strangers who have cared for us, for those older and wiser who paved the way before us, and for individuals who share no relation to us, but love us like family. Our lives are undoubtedly better because of them and we give you thanks!
Gracious God, we also pray for those without an Elizabeth in their life.
We pray for those who do not have a hand to hold in the dark,
who do not have a front porch to show up on, or even a porch to call their own. We pray for those in life transitions who carry that fear and anxiety alone, and we pray for all who know loneliness in the face of these hardships.
God of Love, wrap your arms around those individuals. Circle back, again and again, dwelling tenderly in the wounds of their hearts until healing might be found. Open our eyes so that we might see the need in our own backyard. Thank you for being our safe place. We Seek Sanctuary in you and one another…thank you for always welcoming us home.
We lift to you now our joys and concerns in silent prayer….
Communion
Meditation
Communion Hymn - Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming #160
Lo, how a rose, e'er blooming,
from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse's lineage coming
by faithful prophets sung;
it came, a flow'ret bright,
amid the cold of winter
when half-spent was the night.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Words of Institution Rev. Chad Delaney
Distribution
Prayer of Illumination
Holy God,
We come to your Scripture today hoping that it will feel a bit like an open door, like Elizabeth welcoming Mary, like coming home.
We want to fall into it. We want to find sanctuary here.
We want to breathe easier just hearing these words.
And we want to find ourselves laughing because this good news is just too good to keep inside. So hover close to us now, we pray.
Open the door to our hearts so that we might find sanctuary in your words.
Gratefully we pray,
Amen.
Scripture Reading - Luke 1:39-55
39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’
46 And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Meditation - Love: Seeking Sanctuary
A Camp Christian Green Chair
Biking
Singing a beloved hymn in church
Family vacation
Whittling a tree
Waterfall on the Headwaters Trail
Walk in the woods
Time with my wife
A hug from my kids
This is my list.
Carrie Newcomer has a song called “Sanctuary” in which she makes a list of those places where she feels at home. Where she has true sanctuary. For her it is Brown Chapel, a circle of friends, a quiet grove of trees, between two bookends.” She asks, “Will you keep the embers warm when my fire’s all but gone? Be my sanctuary ‘til I can carry on, carry on, carry on.”
What is your list? -- Take just a moment and think of one place you feel at Home, you feel Sanctuary….
We know at least one place that was on Mary’s list so long ago when finding the earth and heaven shaking news that she would bear a son who would be called Holy. This was an astonishing development in her life and within her emerged confusion, fear, and extraordinary courage. To God’s messenger who gave her the announcement she finally said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’
The scripture then says she went with haste to a Judean town where her cousin Elizabeth lived. In a time of great distress and confusion and excitement…..this was the place she knew she could go to. A place of warmth and acceptance. A person she could find some reassurance and love from. There, she knew, she could find sanctuary.
And what did it do for her? After finding this sanctuary amongst those who would listen and love her…Mary bursts into song. An expression of joy and gratitude to God that God would invite her to be a part of God’’s purpose of love and justice and redemption in the world. -- trusting that what God has promised would be made so. It was in that comfort of sanctuary that she had clarity about who she was and who this one was that was stirring inside her. In that sanctuary she knew she was blessed. In that Sanctuary she was at home and it freed her.
Elder Vilmarie Cintron-Olivieri says, “Wherever it is, a place where God’s love dwells freely and abundantly is sanctuary.”
As people of faith may we find sanctuary. A place where God’s love dwells freely to help us feel free to be the people we were created to be. A place to feel warm and safe and loved. People who will really listen and appreciate who we really are. AND may we nurture sanctuary spaces here in our church, in our home, even at work so those who are distressed, confused, and in need of courage will have somewhere to turn. May we provide and BE spaces where God’s love abundantly dwells so that peace, hope, joy and love might flourish and transform our lives and those around us. May it be so! Amen.
Children’s Pageant - Twas the Night before Jesus
Closing Hymn - Go Tell it on the Mountain #167
[Refrain] Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching
o'er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens,
there shone a holy light. [Refrain]
*Benediction Rev. Chad Delaney
- Blue Christmas 7pm, tomorrow night
- Christmas Eve Services - 5:00 & 7:00
- Both streamed
- 5pm Service - Carol Sing and Candle Light
- 7pm Service - Traditional Candle Light
As you leave this service, your service begins:
Comfort the homesick.
Open your doors to others.
Seek sanctuary.
Be brave enough to go home by another way.
And remember that here in God’s house, all are welcomed—so come back soon.
In the name of our Foundation—God, Spirit, and Son—
go in peace.
Departing Music - “The First Noel” - Jan Green (by Robert W. Thygerson)