It is wonderful to have you join us online this morning for worship. If there is any other ways we might connect with you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to add you to our prayer and info chains if you are interested. Thank you for being an important part of our church community! This Sunday we will explore the wonderful story of Naomi from the book of Ruth. Naomi clearly was going through a lot as she grieved the circumstances of her life…what would you say to her? What does our religion have to say to her? So much to think about and reflect on in this wonderful passage. Again, thank you so much for being here and may God bless you in this time of worship.
Prelude - “Sing Them Over Again to Me” [by P. P. Bliss] - Sarah Park
Welcome to Mantua Center Christian Church!
We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
Scripture - Matthew 9:35-38
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’
*Response - Weave
Weave, weave, weave us together, Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together, weave us together, together in love.
*Call to Worship - Allie Owen
ONE: We worship the God who inhabits our world and indwells our lives. We need not look up to find God,
ALL: We need only to look around: within ourselves, beyond ourselves, into the eyes of another.
ONE: We need not listen for a distant thunder to find God,
ALL: we need only listen to the music of life, the words of children, the questions of the curious, the rhythm of a heartbeat.
ONE: We worship the God who inhabits our world
ALL: The One who knows us, loves us, and indwells our lives.
Hymn - Help Us Accept Each Other #487, v.1&4
1 Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.
4 Lord, for today's encounters with all who are in need,
who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread,
we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on;
renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Allie Owen
Offertory
Music: “Come to the Saviour, Make No Delay” [by G. F. Root]
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
Children’s Moment - Rev. Chad Delaney
Pastoral 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 call to us. Help us to hear your call and respond. Help to follow you and love as you love.
Life brings trials and turbulence, struggles and straining, steady us with your loving hands. Hold us--the fragile and weak--with your strength and steadfastness. Be our strength, work in and through us. That the fruits of our lives might be bread, clothing, shelter, fire, water--our gifts and offerings 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 hear, and follow, graciously. May we love as you love.
As a nation this week we have been reminded 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. That economic justice matters, that equity in schools matter. As we people of faith and as human beings…we are all bound together by our common humanity. Give us ears and hearts and minds to LISTEN to the hurts and cries of those experiencing inequality and injustice in the world. And call us into your faithful work of justice and peace.
Loving God, on this day takes 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 aloud and in silence...
In Jesus Name, we pray. Amen.
Communion
Meditation -Beth Schabel
Hymn - In Remembrance of Me #403
In remembrance of Me eat this bread. In remembrance of Me drink this wine.
In remembrance of Me pray for the time when God's own will is done.
Take, eat and be comforted, drink and remember too.
That this is my body and precious blood shed for you, shed for you.
In remembrance of Me search for truth.
In remembrance of Me always love.
In remembrance of Me don't look above,
but in your heart, look for God. Do this in remembrance of Me
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer - Beth Schabel
Words of Institution - Rev. Chad Delaney
Music: “Have You Been to Jesus” [by E. A. Hoffman]
Scripture - Ruth 1:1-22
1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. 3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4 The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband. 6 Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.
8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.
10 “No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? 12 No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? 13 Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.”
14 And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. 15 “Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”
22 So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Sermon - "Many Naomis"
The story of Naomi & Ruth is a powerful one and we’ve only read just the beginning. Normally, we might focus on Ruth…but today we will take a closer look at Naomi’s experience and see if there is something for us to learn. A famine had pushed Naomi and her husband Elimilech and their two sons out of the land of their ancestors to Moab. Elimilech dies and Naomi is left with her two sons. Her sons Mahlon and Kilion meet and marry Moabite women -- Orpah and Ruth -- and settle into life. But 10 years later both sons died leaving these three women without their husbands.
Unfortunately this left them in a precarious position. Naomi -- born a Hebrew of another land -- was now vulnerable with no ability to own land and prosper on her own. She would need to go back home to Bethlehem. Her daughters-in-law were also at risk, but had some options closer by. Orpah takes the option to return home, however, Ruth, clings tightly to her mother-in-law and goes back to Bethlehem with her.
Undoubtedly this heartened Naomi, but she is still clearly weighed down by the circumstances of her life. She is shrouded with grief at the deaths of her husband and sons. She is feeling the weight of the oppression of women in her time and culture wondering if she has a future without a husband. We hear this grief and discouragement come out in her return to Bethlehem.
“Is it really Naomi?” the women asked. 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”
What would your response to Naomi be? What would you say to her?
When talking to our Wednesday group about this passage, we were all taken with Naomi’s deep grief in these moments. In her mind, she went away from Bethlehem with an empty stomach, but FULL with a husband and two sons…now she returns home well-fed, yet feels empty and bitter. She said that the Lord had done this to her and caused her to suffer. She wonders why the Almighty would bring such a calamity upon her. She is filled with bitterness, grief, and fear in the face of all she’s experienced AND she’s wondering if God has it out for her.
As someone asked in our group… “Why does she think that?” What led her to that belief? A compassionate question from a compassionate group.
- What is her experience of God? What did she learn about God growing up?
- What is her experience as a woman? She now deals with the social-cultural injustice pressed down upon her and must find a way to survive.
Naomi is grieving, hurt, and pressed down…so what would your response be to her?
In 1949, Howard Thurman wrote the incredible book “Jesus and the Disinherited.” An African-American mystic he was the theological forerunner to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. He begins his book asking a powerful question to Christians during his time:
“Masses of people live with their backs constantly against the wall. They are the poor, the disinherited, the dispossessed. What does our religion say to them?”
In my observation, so often in the world today…the “religious response” is not always helpful. Perhaps even does violence to those who are hurting. Often it is judgmental and has the overall response: “Stop complaining…Get over it”
- To the Grieving -- “It was a part of God’s plan--move on and get over it.”
- To those experiencing abuse - “Turn the other cheek and be faithful. It will get better.”
- To those experiencing sexism - “Everything is equal now and greatly improved so give it up already. God made things this way”
- To those experiencing racism - “God helps those who help themselves. Racism is over, stop complaining”
What is our religion saying to those with their backs against the wall?
What would we say to Naomi as she laments?
- We could say, “Wow…you are bitter. Its bad but you are being dramatic.”
- We could say, “Well God must be mad at you if all these bad things are happening.”
- We could philosophize--- “Well, you know Naomi, your perception of God is wrong---God doesn’t control those things, you have free will. You should really re-think your theology.”
- We could say, “Now Naomi, God only helps those who help themselves. Pick yourself up by your bootstraps and stop complaining.
- We could just ignore Naomi and hope her misery doesn’t become too much our problem.
What does our religion have to say to those with their backs against the wall?
Howard Thurman reminded us that in times of great crisis…of oppression, poverty, violence, tragedy…those who are hurt and dispossessed will understandably react strongly. The frustration and fear and grief build as they constantly have to deal with the pain of their circumstance. He wrote his book to help encourage people in that space…and to help people understand and listen to the depth of grief and fear that hurting people experience in the midst of racism and discrimination.
So…When hearing the pain of our fellow human beings
- Those who have experienced racism or prejudice
- Those who deal with homophobia
- Those who have undergone the violence of war
- Those grieving and in a system of oppression
Are we inclined to be dismissive? Skeptical? Judgmental? Indifferent? Behind the observed fear and bitterness and rage…do we feel the grief and lost dream? Have we tried to feel what they feel?
In the ensuing chapters of Ruth, we see the response of Boaz -- the wealthy merchant in Bethlehem. Of all people he gets it. He takes time to learn Naomi & Ruth’s story. He listens to what they’ve experienced and grieved. He shows compassion and extends hospitality, generosity, and kindness.
In the world today, Empathy, Listening, Respect, Understanding -- seem to be a lost art in a religiously and politically violent world. Let’s offer them anyways…the world is harsh enough. Might we bring a little light?
Family of God, there are many Naomi’s in the world today -- people tired and grieving. Those subjected to the alive-and-well --isms of our day. Many filled with questions and bitterness towards humanity and even God. When we encounter the hurting, the oppressed, the tired, the angry, the bitter… how will we respond?
For we will find many struggling to our left, to our right, behind, and before…May we have compassion. May we extend hospitality and generosity and understanding. May we turn towards them to listen and learn….and love. Amen.
*Closing Hymn - Sister Let Me Be Your Servant #490, v. 1-3
1. Sister, let me be your servant. brother, let me walk with you;
Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too.
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.
3. I will weep when you are weeping. When you laugh, I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we've seen this journey thro'.
Benediction - Rev. Chad Delaney
Let us listen to one another as we pursue justice, hope, and love for all people. And what does God require of us, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God? As we depart this place to the Christ’s Hands and Feet in the world….
May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you now and always. Amen.
Postlude- “I am Thine O Lord” [by W. H. Doane] - Sarah Park