WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
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 accompanied, known, and loved by God.
Today in worship we will explore Jesus’ sermon in his hometown of Nazareth. You would think they would have been proud, but they end up quite upset with him. You’ll see how upset…..but why? It is a wonderful story that can speak into all our lives in these difficult days.
As a nation, this weekend, we are also recognizing the extraordinary contribution of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to our country and world. In our world today when discrimination, racism, and white supremacy are still very much present and where economic disparity is extraordinary...his work, words, actions, and testimony to the love and justice of God still speak truth.
As we prepare 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 146:1-7 Julien Russo
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith for ever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
OPENING HYMN Wonderful Words of Life (chalice)
CHILDREN’S MOMENT - Ally Hurd
PASTORAL PRAYER - Sarah Smith
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 4:14-30
SERMON - Clinging to the Truth
HOLY COMMUNION
Communion Song - When You Do This Remember Me
Meditation - Nora Brant
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 give 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 Trust and Obey (chalice)
BENEDICTION - Chad Delaney
Church Family, thank you so much for joining us today in worship. In the flurry of activity in our lives, in our nation, and the world...it is good for us to set aside this Sabbath time. To try to refocus our minds, hearts, and Spirit so we can be our best selves for our families, our jobs, the world we live in. We hope you were able to gather some focus & purpose, some strength and peace by our time together today.
Church Family, I want to close with a prayer by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Let us pray…”Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.” Amen.
May the Love of God surround you, the Holy Spirit keep you, and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ sustain you, now and forevermore.