Prelude - “All Creatures of our God and King” [by Geistliche Kirchengesäng] Sarah Park
Happy New Years! Welcome to Mantua Center Christian Church! We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
Scripture - 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Call to Worship
ONE: We wake up in the morning and see the sunrise:
ALL: how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
ONE: We are warmed by the sun; the rain cleanses all creation:
ALL: how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
ONE: We are renewed and refreshed by your Holy Presence:
ALL: how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Hymn - Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee #2, v.1-2
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive our fear and doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.
All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountaincall us to rejoice in thee.
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Allie Owen
Offertory
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 - Allie Owen
Music: “When Peace Like a River Attendeth My Way” [by P. P. Bliss]
Pastoral Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
As this new year begins we come to you longing for your guidance and presence.
You call us to be Your children; You gift us to serve all people; You send us to proclaim your good news to all; You are our creator and we seek to give you glory.
We know Lord that you are sometimes undercover around us. Sometimes we entertain angels without knowing. Sometimes your son the Christ is found in those we least suspect.
This year…when you are lonely, we have a chance to visit you;
when you are hungry, we can share our food with you;
when you are naked we can give you the clothes off our backs;
when you are sick, we can nurse you back to health:
May we see you in one another and recommit ourselves to serve in your likeness.
So then may your Holy Spirit guide us and lead us to faithfulness.
You offer a Good Word to inspire us to love
You fill our souls with your Spirit so we may serve;
You lead us into the kingdom, so we may live with You:
In this hour we feel the new year upon us. In these moments of silent prayer give us hope, give us determination, give us resilience. Give us Focus to be the person you have called us to be
In these moments of silent prayer we give to you our joys and concerns. Our struggles and gratitude.
We pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Blessing for the Children— written by the Rev. Elsa A. PetersGrace and peace to you, our children.
We will always give thanks for you.
We pray for you constantly because we love you.
We love you just as God loves you.
We know, children of God, that God loves you so much.
There are no words to express it.
There are no wonders we can perform.
But, we know that the power of God is in you.
We can see it upon your faces.
You remind us of God’s love.
Teach us to see the world as you do.
Surprise us with the wonders you see.
Show us what gifts God has given you.
And we will bless you, and protect you,
and we will always give thanks for you.
We will bless you in the name of our God.
We will bless you again and again.
Grace and peace to you, our children.
Grace and peace to you who show us God’s glory
shining through your faces. Amen.
Communion
Meditation - Roger Cram
Communion Hymn - “Let us Break Bread Together” #425, v.1
1 Let us break bread together on our knees; (on our knees)
let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees)
[Refrain:]
When I fall on my knees,
with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me. (on me)
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer - Roger Cram
Words of Institution - Rev. Chad Delaney
Music: “On a Hill Far Away” [by G. Bennard]
Scripture - Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
9 What gain have the workers from their toil? 10I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. 11He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; 13moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. 14I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him. 15That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.
Reflection - “Time for What?”
Some of us fell asleep early last night and it was just another night, others may have stayed up to watch the Ball Drop in Times Square. Some years we’ve missed it, but this year we caught it. I wondered about this tradition…where did it come from?
Rev. Jeff Strite compiled some interesting history and anecdotes about the famous ball drop:
- The 1st "time-ball" was installed on top of England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1833
- After the success of that event, approximately 150 such time-balls were installed around the world. But few survive and still work.
- New York actually held a New Years celebration as early as 1904, but it wasn’t until 1907 that they “dropped” an iron and wood ball and adorned with a hundred 25-watt light bulbs. It was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds
- Over the years, it has advanced. The “time-ball” has undergone about 4 re-designs – the most recent one was created for the Millennial celebration in the year 2000 by Waterford Crystal. It’s a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, and weighing approximately 1,070 pounds. It’s covered with a total of 504 crystal triangles that vary in size and likely cost over $1 million.
Why do we do this? What is so important about this? This is an especially elaborate and spectacular way to mark a particular recurring moment of history and for only one timezone. Yet, it is an iconic tradition, it is fun and an opportunity for celebration. There is eating and drinking and kissing! It serves as a symbol of hope, a new start, and a fresh look at the year…or even just a few moments to escape from the realities of the world.
After reading Ecclesiastes I’m not sure what the author would think of this whole thing.
Tradition says Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon later on in his life to share the wisdom he gained over his lifetime. In some ways you could interpret him as a bit of a pessimist. One phrase that occurs over and over again is---“All is hevel.” The word hevel is used 38 times in the book and is a nearly untranslatable Hebrew word. Almost every Bible you read will have a different translation of it. It could mean vanity,, delusion, meaninglessness, mist, smoke. “All is smoke...a chasing of the wind” the ancient teacher writes. So…Having a big ball drop and throwing a big party would be a huge vain, meaningless, waste of time and energy.
However, the author also coined the very famous phrase--”eat, drink, and be merry.” In Ch. 8:15, he says, “So I commend enjoyment, for there is nothing better for people under the sun than to eat, and drink, and enjoy themselves, for this will go with them in their toil through the days of life that God gives them under the sun.” This idea comes up multiple times--Look…y’all basically no matter your station in life you are going to have to work and toil to live….might as well take some time to enjoy yourselves and be happy. So maybe the whole New Year’s thing is right on target?
I think you could see it a number of different ways. Ultimately though, I think for Ecclesiastes, as hard as it is for us to hear, the best approach to our present and future is a balanced and level-headed one. Probably not advisable to have an unchecked, almost delusional optimism or pessimism.
As we sit here on New Years Day, we may have some feelings about the next year. Perhaps we have resolved to make big plans and seize the moment to make some changes. This is our year and we have HIGH HOPES. Perhaps we are guarded and cautious about our expectations--even indifferent.
What our passage shares with us today is that most likely the next year will contain…well everything. A variety. There will be a time to plant and a time to reap. A time to break down and time to build up. A time to embrace and a time to withdraw. A time to be silent and a time to speak. There will be lots of different times -- some good, some bad, and everywhere in between. Things will happen. Life keeps going and moving forward.
How do we embrace that we are alive? As Ecclesiastes 9:4 says, “4But whoever is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
What we might pray for as we begin this New Year for wisdom to seize the moments God has given us under the sun. What TIME is it for you? What is something that it is about TIME you did something about? What TIME do you want to embrace with those you love or lose time with things you don’t value as much. What TIME will you have to eat, drink, and be merry--to throw caution to the wind and LIVE in the moment? What TIME will you give to your relationship with God.
We will have 525,600 minutes that we already know will carry a variety of the good and the bad and the ugly…may God give us wisdom, courage, and faith to use our time to have ejoy life, to love, and to give glory to God! May it be so.
*Closing Hymn - In the Bulb there is a Flower #638, v. 1-3
1 In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
2 There's a song in every silence,seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,something God alone can see.
3 In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
in our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Benediction - Rev. Chad Delaney
Let us go from this time of song and communion, to be God's voice,
to speak out for the oppressed of our communities and world.
Let us go from this time of community, to be Jesus' faithful,
to feed the hungry, to visit the sick, to be a friend to the prisoner.
Let us go from this sacred space, to share the peace of the Spirit,
to work for reconciliation in our neighborhood,
To be the people Christ has called us to be. Amen.
Postlude - “My Soul is Thirsting for Living Streams” [by H. L. Gilmour] - Sarah Park