Church Family, this is the Day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church. Thank you for being here and we hope you are blessed by your time with us today. Today we will remember Dr. King and be challenged by Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes. May God fill you with hope and joy in this time of worship! If you have any questions about our church or need information, check out our website or reach out to us!
Prelude
“Take the name of Jesus With You” [by W.H.Doane] - Sarah Park
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church on this Peace Sunday.
We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
Thank you for joining us here in the house and online. Welcome to everyone!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Sister, let me…” & “Make Me a Blessing”
Scripture Reading - Romans 12:1-2 - Rev. Chad Delaney
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Welcoming Song - “Sister, Let me Be Your Servant” - #490, v.2
We are pilgrims on a journey, fellow trav'lers on the road.
We are here to help each other, walk the mile and bear the load.
*Call to Worship - Pam Baynes
One: We gather to worship God,
All: Who creates us and loves us;
One: Who gifts us with diversity and makes us for community;
All: Who gives Jesus Christ to show us how to live;
One: Who inspires children, youth, young adults, and people of all ages,
All: To seek justice, share power, and live together in love and equality;
One: Who invites us to join the struggle for wholeness and wellbeing for all,
All: and whose presence, grace, and love sustain us in our living. To God be all glory, honor, and praise!
*Opening Hymn - In Christ There is No East or West - #687, v.1, 3-4
1 In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north,
but one community of love throughout the whole wide earth.
3 Join hands, disciples of the faith, whate'er your race may be;
all children of the living God are surely kin to me.
4 In Christ now meet both east and west, in him meet south and north:
all loving hearts are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.
Invitation to Generosity
- Invitation - Pam Baynes
- Offertory
- Music: “When Peace Like a River Attendeth my [by P.P.Bliss] - Sarah Park
- *Response - “Make Me a Blessing”
[Refrain]
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.
- Offering Prayer - Pam Baynes
Children’s Moment - Rev. Chad Delaney
Special Music
“A New Song” [by Dennis Eliot] Jan Green
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
Holy God, on this new day you have made, help us to hear your voice. In the clatter of the day, in the stillness of night, you speak to us and call to us. Help us to listen.
We see that life brings trials and turbulence, struggles and straining, steady us with your loving presence. Hold us--the fragile and weak, the overconfident and zealous, the tired and lonely--with your strength and steadfastness. Amplify our joy, our gifts, our talents, our passions to serve you and love our neighbors. May our lives, our gifts, and offerings be transformed into sustenance, wholeness, and peace for others. By your spirit remove the barriers that keep us from one another, barriers we’ve constructed with our own hands, thoughts, and ideas. Barriers of skin color, race, gender, religion, nationalities, and politics. May we see one another as you see us and expand our love for your world.
As we worship you this morning we are mindful of the many prophets that speak your truth with Power, we especially remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s reminder of what it means to live in beloved community with each other. Of our deep connectedness with one another and your world. That we are all made in your image, each one sacred regardless of race, religion, or creed. We are bound together by our common humanity. And You call us into your holy work of justice, peace and love.
Loving God, on this day please take our fears, our worries, distractions, and all. We give them to you, turn them into grace and mercy. Be with those heavy on our hearts as we lift their names up to you in silence…
Hear us now as we pray together the prayer Jesus taught us to pray saying….
Communion
- Meditation - Nora Brant
- Communion Hymn - Take our Bread - #413, vs. 1-2
[Refrain]
Take our bread, we ask you; take our hearts, we love you;
Take our lives, O Dear God, we are yours, we are yours.
1 Yours as we stand at the table you set;
Yours as we eat the bread our hearts can’t forget
We are the sign of your life with us yet
we are yours, we are yours. [Refrain]
2 Your holy people standing washed in your blood,
Spirit-filled yet hungry we await your food.
We are poor, but we’ve brought ourselves the best that we could,
we are yours, we are yours. [Refrain]
- Prayer - Rev. Nancy Humes
- Words of Institution - Rev. Nancy Humes
- Music: “On a Hill Far Away” [by G. Bennard]
Scripture - Matthew 5:1-11
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Sermon - Expanding our Well - Rev. Chad Delaney
A story by Anthony de Mello:
"The Frog in the Well":
Once upon a time, there was a frog who lived at the bottom of a deep well. He had spent his whole life there and believed that the well was the entire world. One day, a frog from the sea hopped into the well, and the well frog asked, "Where are you from?"
The sea frog replied, "I come from the great ocean."
The well frog scoffed, "The great ocean? How big is it? Is it as big as my well?"
The sea frog smiled and said, "No, my friend, it's much bigger than your well."
The well frog couldn't comprehend this idea and said, "Nonsense! Nothing is bigger than my well. I've been all around it, and I can tell you, there's nothing more extensive."
The sea frog, trying to convey the vastness of the ocean, said, "You have a small world. Come with me, and I'll show you the ocean."
But the well frog was resistant, convinced that his well was the only reality. He refused to leave and remained in his confined perspective.
Have you ever been confined by your own understanding of the world? Your own limited perspective? Life is full of such opportunities in this day and age. What is our reaction to those who would try to expand it?
Way back in the 60s, it was an fascinating and tumultuous time in the history of our country. The presidency of John F. Kennedy, the Civil Rights Movement, Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War tensions, the beginning of the Vietnam War. Many cultural shifts happening were seen as counter-cultural. A lot going on.
And…of course, during that time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prominent and influential voice in the country’s wrestling with the issue of segregation and racism. Today, we revere Dr. King and still are challenged by his words and actions. The “I have a Dream” speech is seen as one of the most spectacular and inspiring in our nation’s history.
Yet, we also know that people didn’t always appreciate Dr. King's message. In the early 60s, Gallup conducted multiple polls of the American people after several important events involving Dr. King. The first was in 1963 after King’s Birmingham Campaign (which challenged segregation at lunch counters, restrooms, and drinking fountains). At that time only 41% of polled Americans had a favorable opinion of him.
And then some incredible events happened after this…
In August 1963, King delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington calling for a true equality of people.
In December 1964, he received the Nobel Peace Prize
In March 1965, he led a civil rights march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery.
With these events and so many more, Dr. King was making an imprint on American society. Fighting racism and injustice with non-violence, inspiring words, and faithful action. Despite this, the public perception of him got worse. By 1966, 63% viewed him unfavorably, including 44% who viewed him highly unfavorably. King was seen by many as a threat to the existing social order. He was seen as moving too fast and too radical. Seen as an instigator and rabble-rouser.
It wasn’t until after King’s assassination views on him changed. By 2011 when the MLK memorial was put up, over 94% of the country had a favorable opinion.
Now there are so many factors that go into a change like that. Times change, minds change, people learn more, get used to ideas and adapt to them. The world keeps on turning and hopefully turning toward justice. Also true, is that--very often--people will take a great deal of time to try to domesticate and tame the words of prophets and world-changers. Keep the parts that are warm and fuzzy and let history drown out the harder ones.
What is clear, however, is that in the moment, for most people Dr. King’s words were challenging. They confronted the status quo and people generally don’t roll out the red carpet for those who would show a different path, a different way. It is MUCH more comfortable to stay in the well.
As we read the Beatitudes today, I wonder if there is a similar dynamic going on. Today we may see the Beatitudes as poetic, beautiful, and warming…but what was it like for those listening to Jesus at that time? What would Jesus’ favorability polls look like among the poor and among the privileged?
What did the poor and pressed down think about his lifting their circumstance?
What did the rich think about blessed are the poor?
What did the Romans think about “Blessed are the persecuted.”
What did the merciless think about Blessed are the merciful?
Astonishingly, Jesus says in the Beatitudes that those who have been cast out, left out, pushed down…Jesus says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is yours.” Jesus challenges the status quo. Flips power on its head. Up is down. Left is right. Over is under. The Apostle Paul would later write to the Corinthians about this paradox: “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls those listening that day, “startled witnesses.” Some startled to receive such life-giving, encouraging news to be known and heard, seen and loved by God. Others startled at how Jesus disturbed the social order. Disruptive. Radical. In other words, this would be Good news to some…but resisted strongly by others. Comforting words to some, fighting words for others.
So then, how does the scripture startle us today? How does it widen our well? What might shift within us in how we see others? How does it impact the way we respond to those around us--especially those today who left out and pushed out? The Migrant risking travel. The trans kid looking for acceptance. The children of Israel and Gaza victimized by war? The aging ones longing to be known. The poor in our midst--whether in material or spirit? Those deeply impacted by racism still present?
To whom belongs the Kingdom of Heaven that may surprises us? Challenge us?
Change is hard for us. Changing mindsets after generations takes strength and wisdom and courage. Today as we listen for a word from God within this passage, may we resist domesticating the power, impact, and radicality of Jesus’ message. May we welcome Christ when he shares a message that is unfamiliar, unfavorable, or unwelcome to our convention. May we feel the power of his words and expand our wells. Amen.
*Closing Hymn - O for a World - #683, vs. 1-5
1 O for a world where everyone respects each other's ways,
where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.
2 O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved,
where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved.
3 We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice
that opens us to unity and gives our vision voice.
4 The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise.
Tell all who mourn, outcasts belong, who perishes will rise.
5 O for a world preparing for God's glorious reign of peace,
where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.
Benediction - Rev. Chad Delaney
Stay for fellowship and Sunday School
Wonderful conversations on Wednesdays.
Benediction by Abigail Reichard drawn from the writings of Martin Luther King, Jr.
We refuse to believe that we are unable to influence the events around us.
We refuse to believe we are bound by racism, war, and injustice.
We believe those around me are my brother and my sister.
We believe in dignity every day and that our brokenness can be healed.
We believe we can overcome oppression and violence, without resorting to it.
This means we seek to reject revenge and retaliation.
We remember, “Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can.”
We go with the Love of God and the Banner of Justice by our side. Amen.
Postlude - “Standing on the Promises” [by R. K. Carter] - Sarah Park