Prelude -“Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee” [by J. B. Dykes] - Sarah Park
Welcome to Mantua Center Christian Church -- a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
Ministry Leaders and congregants are welcome to come forward to the mic, to give a mission update or share ways for people to get involved in missions and ministries.
Scripture - Isaiah 55:10-13 Rev. Nancy Humes
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
*Response - Weave #495
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 - Rev. Nancy Humes
One: We are called to love the Lord our God.
All: We are called to love with all our heart and soul.
One: We are called to love the Lord our God.
All: We are called to love with all our mind and strength,
One: We are called to love the Lord our God
All: And we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves.
One: Come, let us love our God
All: And share God’s love in this time of worship!
*Opening Hymn - Rejoice, You Pure in Heart #15, v.1-2, 4
1 Rejoice, you pure in heart; lift praises to the sky; your festal banner wave with joy,
the cross of Christ raise high!
Refrain: Rejoice (rejoice), rejoice (rejoice), rejoice, give thanks and sing.
2 Bright youth and seasoned age, strong souls and spirits meek, raise high your free, exulting song, God’s wondrous praises speak. [Refrain]
4 Yes, on through life’s long path, still chanting as you go, from youth to age, by night and day, in gladness and in woe; [Refrain]
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Rev. Nancy Humes
Offertory - “There Comes to my Heart” [by P.P.Bilhorn]
Response -“Give Thanks” #528
Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ his Son. Give Thanks!
Offering Prayer - Rev. Nancy Humes
Children’s Moment - Karli Lind
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer - Rev. Nancy Humes
Holy Communion
Meditation - Katie Baird
Hymn -For the Bread Which You Have Broken #411, v. 1-3
1 For the bread which you have broken,
for the wine which you have poured,
for the words, which you have spoken,
now we give you thanks, O Lord.
2 By these pledges that you love us,
by your gift of peace restored,
by your call to heaven above us,
consecrate our lives, O Lord.
3 In your service, Lord, defend us,
help us to obey your word;
in the world to which you send us
let your will be done, O Lord.
Prayer - Rev. Nancy Humes
Words of Institution - Rev. Nancy Humes
Music - “Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee” [Arr By. W. Shield] - Sarah Park
Special Music - “Brighter Days” [Blessing Offer * Sam Ellis] - Vince Meier
Scripture - Revelation Chapter 12 - Rev. Dr. Alecia Evans-Hayes
1 A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. 3Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 5And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule* all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; 6and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
7 And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, 8but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
‘Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Messiah,*
for the accuser of our comrades* has been thrown down,
who accuses them day and night before our God.
11 But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.
12 Rejoice then, you heavens
and those who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you
with great wrath,
because he knows that his time is short!’13 So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued* the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. 16But the earth came to the help of the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.
18 Then the dragon* took his stand on the sand of the seashore.
Sermon - “Hope” - Rev. Dr. Alecia Evans-Hayes
*Closing Hymn - Restless Weaver #658, v.1-3
1 Restless Weaver, ever spinning threads of justice and shalom; dreaming patterns of creation where all creatures find a home; gathering up life's varied fibers, every texture, every hue; grant us your creative vision. With us weave your world anew.
2 Where earth's fragile web is raveling help us mend each broken strand. Bless our urgent, bold endeavors cleaning water, air and land. Through the Spirit's inspiration offering health were there once was pain-strengthen us to be the stewards of your world knit whole again.
3 When our violent lust for power ends in lives abused and torn, from compassion's sturdy fabric fashion hope and trust reborn. Where injustice rules as tyrant, give us courage, God to dare. Live our dreams of transformation. Make our lives incarnate prayer.
Benediction - Rev. Nancy Humes
Postlude - “Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus” [by W. J. Kirkpatrick] - Sarah Park