Good Morning Everyone!
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church. We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms. We gather not as perfect people, but people on a journey seeking to live and love like Jesus!
Today in worship we will explore a wonderful story in the Gospel of Luke and encounter a quite unexpected example of faithfulness. Jesus’ encounter with this person may move us to reconsider how we might view others in the world around us.
As we prepare to open our minds and hearts for worship, let’s take a deep breath and Light a Candle.
Together we have set this time and space aside for the worship of God. Let’s give to God our joys, worries, and sorrows and open ourselves up to what God has to say to us today. Let us worship the Lord...
SONG - Weave (Pam and Beth)
Weave, weave, weave us together.
Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together.
Weave us together, together in love.
SCRIPTURE READING - Psalm 119:105-107 Laura Parker
OPENING HYMN Standing on the Promises (chalice)
CHILDREN’S MOMENT - Ally Hurd
WEEK of COMPASSION - Chad Delaney
Church Family, this is the time of year when we start preparing as a congregation to give an offering to the Week of Compassion. The Week of Compassion is the disaster relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) partnering with wonderful organizations on the ground all over the world. As a congregation we are part of their Circle of Compassion and every year they appreciate the offerings we give as a congregation. Please pray about and discern with your family what kind of contribution you might want to make to their great work helping the “least of these” around the United States and around the world.
The scripture theme they are using this year is from Isaiah 49:10 which says,
Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty,
shade from the sun, shelter from the wind,
For the Compassionate One guides them,
takes them to the best springs.
Together, Let’s Let Love Flow...
PASTORAL PRAYER - Chad Delaney
To begin our time of prayer I want to offer you this prayer written by Arianne Braithwaite Lehn from her book “Ash & Starlight” called When I need perspective…
In this day, O God…
May I be alert. May I be kind. May I be compassionate.
May I be authentic, May I be generous. May I be forgiving.
May I be honest. May I be brave. May I be forgiving (again).
May I be open. May I be creative. May I be strong.
May I live from my intentions, not simply my habits.
And may I hold closely in prayer the people you bring to my heart and mind right now...
May I focus, may I trust, and, above all, may I be yours. Amen.
God, indeed, you have called us to faithfulness in such a time as this. Empower us with your Holy Spirit to be the people you have called us to be. Open our minds and hearts to ways you are moving in the world. Give us a new awareness to the ways you could be working in ways and in people we wouldn’t expect. Make fertile our hearts to see you and those around us in loving ways. To look at the world through your eyes.
In this season of uncertainty we pray that you be with all those who are shining light and giving love. For the doctors and nurses and first responders and vaccinators. For the scientists and manufacturers and truck drivers and packagers. For teachers and caregivers and cleaners and chaplains. God, move in us so that we might, too, add to the light and not the darkness.
Guide us, hold us, fill us with your grace, forgiveness, and love. In Jesus Name, Amen.
SONG RESPONSE Open My Eyes, Lord (Pam and Beth)
Open our eyes Lord. We want to see Jesus.
To reach out and touch Him. And say that we love Him.
Open our ears Lord. And help us to listen.
Open our eyes Lord. We want to see Jesus.
SCRIPTURE READING Luke 7:1-10
SERMON - Change the Angle - Chad
HOLY COMMUNION - Ruth Anne Ruehr
Communion Song - I need thee every hour (Chalice)
Meditation
Communion Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
Words of Institution
As we gather around Christ’s Table we remember that on the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took the bread and broke it, gave thanks and said to his Disciples, “This is my body which is given for you, eat of it all of you in remembrance of me.” In like manner he took the cup and blessed it saying, “This is the cup of the new covenant in me, as often as you drink of it do so in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s life, death, and resurrection until he comes again. Remember, all...ALL are welcome at the Lord’s Table.
(Share in the Bread and Cup together)
CLOSING SONG O How I love Jesus (chalice)
BENEDICTION - Sarah Smith