This is the Day that the Lord has Made! Let us Rejoice! Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church.
- We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms, building community in a fragmented world.
- We want to welcome everyone who is in the house today and everyone online. We are grateful for all the many ways you can join us for worship on this Lord’s Day.
- The bathrooms and nursery are open.
- In worship today…we will continue our work with the Fruits of the Spirit. The Fruits of the Spirit are “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control…” Today is FAITHFULNESS as we ...
Gathering Music “The Lower Lights” By Roger C. Wilson (based on the gospel song by P.P. Bliss) Jan Green
Welcome (live) - Chad
*Opening Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-6 - Read by Pam Auble
1 My child, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 for length of days and years of life
and abundant welfare they will give you.
3 Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute
in the sight of God and of people.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Let’s sing together Weave
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 - Pam Auble
ONE: All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.
ALL: God is all that is good.
ONE: Although sometimes we experience such darkness that we lose our energy, God wants us to know that we shall not be overcome.
ALL: The fullness of joy is our birthright.
ONE: There will be well and there will be woe. With faithfulness may we know God in all places.
ALL: The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything.
ONE: It is our ignorance of love that causes all trouble.
ALL: Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within us.
ONE: As we worship in this time and space may we find sufficient faith to believe that all shall be well.
~ written by Pam Auble
*Offering of Praise - Chad Delaney
Please remain standing as we sing together, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.”
*Opening Hymn Leaning on the Everlasting Arms #560
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
[Refrain:]
Leaning (leaning on Jesus), leaning (leaning on Jesus),
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning (leaning on Jesus), leaning (leaning on Jesus),
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Children’s Moment Rick Painley
Pastoral Prayer Pam Auble
Lord, let not our souls be busy inns that have no room for You and Yours. Instead, let us be quiet homes of prayer and praise, where You may find fit company. May the needful cares of life be wisely ordered and put away, and wide sweet spaces kept for You. May holy thoughts pass up and down and fervent longings watch and wait for Your coming.
God, your goodness is full and complete, and in it there is nothing lacking. We pray to understand the passion, death and resurrection of Christ which come from your goodness. We pray for the strength exemplified from the cross, which also comes from Your goodness. We pray to you, God, with the help of all the saints who have gone before us - which again, came from your goodness. Amen
Communion
Meditation (live) - Liz Meeker
Communion Hymn Abide With Me #636
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens, God, with me abide:
when other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer (live) - Liz Meeker
Words of Institution (live) - Sarah Smith
Distribution
Scripture Reading Lamentations 3:19-26 Linda Idoine
19 The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
is wormwood and gall!
20 My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
Sermon "And All Shall Be Well"
Based on the book “Julian of Norwich” by Matthew Fox, and presented by the following:
Linda Idoine – Introducing Julian
Rick Painley – Introducing Norwich
Vince Meier – Reading from Pg. 89
Beth Schabel – Creation theology
Ann Patella – Story of the book cover and hazelnut
Jon Secaur – Our 2 duties in life
Closing Hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness #86
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
*Benediction Pastor Sarah Smith
Departing Music “He Leadeth Me! O Blessed Thought” By Eric Lewis (tune: BRADBURY) Jan Green