Saying Goodbye to Rev. Dr. Alecia Evans-Hayes
Prelude - “O Worship the King all Glorious Above”[Arr. by W. Gardiner] - Sarah Park
Welcome to Mantua Center Christian Church -- a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
- Whether online or in the house this morning, we want to welcome you to our service today as Dr. Rev. Alecia Evans-Hayes brings us a word from God. Please take a few moments and greet those seated near you.
- Announce the Pot Luck Dinner happening after worship.
- INVITATION FOR MISSION UPDATES:
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. - ANNOUNCEMENTS
Scripture - Psalm 105:1-4 - Brian Hurd
1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
*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 - Brian Hurd
One: To those who creep towards the kingdom
All: God says welcome.
One: To those who rush towards the kingdom
All: God says welcome.
One: To all of you, however you come, in speed or sloth,
All: God says welcome.
One: God calls us to this place — this place of worship
All: This place of open hearts, open minds and open arms.
One: Amen.
*Opening Hymn - All Creatures of our God and King #22, v.1, 3-4
1 All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O burning sun with golden beam,
O silver moon with softer gleam:
Refrain:
O praise God, O praise God,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
3 O flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for your God to hear,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blazing fire who lights the night,
providing warmth, enhancing sight,
4 And all forgiven tender hearts,
forgiving others, take your part,
sing praises, alleluia!
You who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God, who knows your ev'ry care.
Invitation to Generosity - Brian Hurd
Invitation
Offertory - I’d Rather Have Jesus” [by G. B. Shea] - Sarah Park
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 - Brian Hurd
Children’s Moment - Brian Hurd
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer - Brian Hurd
Holy Communion
Meditation - Sally Hoffman
Hymn - Eat this Bread #414 (3x)
Eat this bread, drink this cup. Come to me and never be hungry.
Eat this bread, drink this cup. Come to me and you will not thirst
Prayer - Steve Bozeka
Words of Institution - Steve Bozeka
Music - “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour” [By W. H. Doane] - Sarah Park
Special Music
“Save the People” [from Godspell - By Stephen Schwartz] - Jon Secaur
Scriptures - Rev. Dr. Alecia Evans-Hayes
Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-38, I Corinthians 11:23-25
Matthew 26:17-29
17On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. 20When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Mark 14:12-25
12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ 13So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” 15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ 16So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
17 When it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’ 19They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’ 20He said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread* into the bowl* with me. 21For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’
22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ 23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the* covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’
Luke 22:7-38
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8So Jesus* sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.’ 9They asked him, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for it?’ 10‘Listen,’ he said to them, ‘when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters 11and say to the owner of the house, “The teacher asks you, ‘Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ” 12He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.’ 13So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I tell you, I will not eat it* until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ 17Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ 19Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 20And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.* 21But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ 23Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28 ‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 ‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded* to sift all of you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ 33And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ 34Jesus* said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’
35 He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’ 36He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was counted among the lawless”; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’ 38They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough.’
I Corinthians 11:23-25
23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for* you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 25In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’
Sermon - “Don’t Forget” Rev. Dr. Alecia Evans-Hayes
*Closing Hymn - “Spirit Song ” #352, v. 1-2
1 O let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love.
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.
O let him have the things that hold you, and his Spirit like a dove
will descend upon your life and make you whole.
Refrain:
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
2 O come and sing this song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy.
Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.
O give him all your tears and sadness, give him all your years of pain,
And you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name. (Refrain)
A Litany of Parting - Brian Hurd
LEADER: Lord, you have called Dr. Rev. Alecia Evans-Hayes back to her community after serving with us for the past two months.
PEOPLE: We are sad to see her go, but we recognize that just as she has been your gift to us she returns to her community of faith taking with her a part of us.
LEADER: We pray for each other now as our once-parallel roads of pilgrimage and ministry diverge.
PEOPLE: We thank you for all that we have done or learned and shared together.
LEADER: We pray for her as she goes from here to continue on her journey.
PEOPLE: May she grow in your grace and in the knowledge of your love that she may be a blessing to many.
LEADER: We pray for the community to which she returns. That they will continue to value her support her, learn from her and encourage her.
PEOPLE: We pray for ourselves as we stay here, that you will keep us faithful to the vision we have shared, and that you will continue to expand our vision of ourselves within your world-wide community of faith.
LEADER: As we part, we reaffirm that it has been your Spirit that brought us together in the first place, your Spirit who has enlivened our fellowship and that is your Spirit that helps us prepare for Chad’s return.
PEOPLE: It is your Spirit that keeps us all together in the worldwide family of your church.
LEADER: Thanks be to God. Amen.
Benediction - The Elders
LEADER: Please join with me now in our benediction.
Go now in peace, with our love, and our prayers supporting you.
Go in strength with the gifts we have shared in our time together.
Go in joy with the assurance that the bonds of our love in Christ cannot be broken.
You are a part of our family. Here you will always be at home.
Go in peace. Amen.
Postlude - “My Soul Today is Thirsting for Living Streams” [by H. I. Gilmour] - Sarah Park