MCCC Sanctuary Worship Order 2024
July 7, 2024
Welcome in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! We are so thankful you joined us today and hope today’s service will be a blessing to you wherever you are. If you are interested in learning more about our church or want to connect to our ministries in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Pastor Chad ([email protected]) with any questions. We’d love to have you as part of our church wherever you are on your faith journey. Today, we offer one another space for our grief and are reminded of God’s abiding presence leading us every step we take. Welcome to worship!
Prelude “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” Sarah Park
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church
Good Morning!
Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church
We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
Share something you are grateful for….
Thank you for joining us here in the house and online. Welcome to everyone!
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Day of Kindness next week!
- Still tabulation a few votes on our new welcoming statement
- Excited that in early August we hope to hear from our Youth Missions team and on August 25th we are going to have a Baptism service. Linda Head will be renewing her baptismal vows through baptism. If you desire to be baptized I’m sure she would be grateful to have others join her!
Scripture Reading Psalm 146:1-7
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 forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.
*Welcoming Song “Here We Gather” #294
Here we gather as God’s people with our friends from far and near;
Let our voices sound with praises knowing Christ has called us here.
Now we seek and greet each other, now in joy approach our friends.
Here we mingle, bound together as to all our love extends.
*Call to Worship Kathy Meier ONE: God is Here! Don't place your trust in that which fades away ALL: We will sing a song of praise to the One who fills
our lives with joy.
ONE: God is here! Don't stop trusting in the one who knows and loves you
ALL: We will sing a song of gratitude, to the One who
draws closer to us.
ONE: God is here! Don't stop trusting in the one who is
your sustainer and keeper
ALL: We will sing a song of peace to the One who is
the peace that passes all understanding
*Opening Hymn This is My Father’s World #59, vs. 1-3
1 This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas his hand the wonders wrought.
2 This is my Father's world: the birds their carols raise;
the morning light, the flowers bright, declare their Maker's praise.
Our God has made this world and shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear God pass, who speaks to me everywhere.
3 Our God has made this world: oh, let us ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
God trusts us with this world, to keep it clean and fair.
All earth and trees, the skies and seas, God's creatures everywhere.
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation Kathy Meier
Offertory
Music: “We Shall be like Him” Sarah Park
[by C. H. Gabriel]
*Response Accept, O God, The Gifts We Bring #379, 2 lines
Accept, O God, the gifts we bring of spirit and of clay,
transform them into blessings on those we serve today.
Offering Prayer Kathy Meier
Children’s Moment Rev. Chad Delaney
- Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
- Oh How I love Jesus
God of Life and Love!
Today, we lift up the children of our church, community, and world to You. Bless them with hearts full of joy and laughter. Let their days be filled with good times of discovery and play. Guide them as they learn about the world You have created, exploring its wonders and mysteries with curious minds and open hearts. May they always feel the warmth of Your presence and the assurance of your love. Bless their friendships and family bonds, and let your light shine brightly in their lives. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Chad Delaney
The flowers this morning are in memory and honor of Emmy Doles
God, we come into Your presence with praise and thanksgiving for Your faithful love. Your love never fails—and even when we turn from you, you invite us back into relationship again.
We bring our grief to You with confidence, knowing that You hear our cries
We pray for the world You created, and for all your children who share it with us:
- for countries caught up in war or violent conflict,
- for those whose homes and lives are threatened by natural disaster;
We pray for our local community—the people of Mantua and all the cities and towns surrounding us
- We pray for those who are unemployed,
- for those in prison,
- for those who are hungry,
- for those who are alone and afraid,
- For all our neighbors, both known and unknown to us, Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our congregation—our brothers and sisters in Christ,
- for those who are ill, or whose loved ones are ill,
- for those who are anxious about the future,
- for those struggling with their faith,
- For those filled with grief and sorrow
- for those who minister among us, For all Your people in this place, Lord, hear our prayer.
Pour out Your Spirit on us! Fix our hearts and minds on what is true and honorable and right. Give us the joy and peace that comes from knowing and doing Your will. Keep us faithful to the call we have received in Christ Jesus, our Lord, extending Your loving invitation to the world around us.
Now hear us as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us saying…
Communion
Meditation Ally Bozeka
Communion Hymn #411, vs.1 & 3
For the Bread, Which You Have Broken
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.
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 Steve Hurd
Words of Institution Steve Hurd
Music: “I Hear the Saviour Say” Sarah Park
[by J. T. Grape]
Scripture Isaiah 43:1-3
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Sermon Fill the Space Rev. Chad Delaney
During most of our vacation trips a puzzle gets made. I’m not much for puzzles but Christin (or someone in the family) will usually set one up. When we were in Maine last week, we certainly had one going. On one of our trips a few years ago we were all standing over the table trying to put that particular puzzle together. We got the edges in place, piled similar colors together, and enjoyed watching the image appear. But, when we were almost finished that dreaded scenario occurred…we were missing a piece. We looked in the box, searched the floor, searched everywhere... but to no avail. Now what? Would there be finger-pointing? Should we make our own piece and try to stick it in there? Would we be able to just ignore the hole in the puzzle and pretend it doesn’t bother us? What could we do?
Later I thought about how this can mirror our experience of grief. The missing piece leaves a noticeable gap in the puzzle, the death of a loved one leaves an undeniable void in our lives. We search for ways to fill it, and often feel a sense of panic and helplessness when we can't find a way to make the picture whole again.
We have all watched others endure the pain caused when death leaves our lives with a “missing piece.” We watch as they experience everything from anger to blame, explaining, and avoiding. The stages of grief are real and can happen in any order and pop up at any time. It is not a linear process. While people try to fill this hole in their lives we can also see people and even the church around them scurrying around trying to fill the gaps for them. Friends, family, and strangers come to them trying to fill their empty space with theories, explanations, and justifications for what has happened. Well-intentioned people want to complete the picture for them--make it understandable and acceptable--but the result is often more hurtful than helpful.
A good case study on this is the story of Job from the book in the bible of the same name. Job suddenly loses his children, health, and livelihood. He is understandably upset and airs out his dissatisfaction with God. In his time of deep hurt, several of his friends come to be with him and, at first, they do exactly what was needed. “They met together to go and console and comfort Job... They sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” (Job 2:11-13). But then something terrible happened...they opened their mouths. Over the course of the next thirty chapters (or so) they give Job advice, explanations, and scolding that just make matters worse. All their attempts come up woefully short and Job is left exhausted, confused, and alone.
When we experience loss, we are often surrounded by well-meaning individuals who feel compelled to say something, anything, to ease our pain. To offer platitudes and explanations that fall short of addressing the depth of our sorrow. But Proverbs 25:20 gives an apt description to what this can feel like. It says, "Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart." It does no good to force-feed joy or explanations upon someone who is grieving. It underscores the importance of presence and empathy over words.
Death and grief are a part of what it means to love and to be human. It is part of what makes life terrifying and astonishingly beautiful.
The 11th Century poet Yehuda HaLevi wrote a beautiful poem which highlights this deep truth:
‘Tis a fearful thing to love what death can touch.
A fearful thing to love, to hope, to dream, to be –to be,
And oh, to lose.
A thing for fools, this,
And a holy thing,
a holy thing to love.
For your life has lived in me,
your laugh once lifted me,
your word was gift to me.
To remember this brings painful joy.
‘Tis a human thing, love,
a holy thing, to love what death has touched.
Tragic instances will happen in the world around us, leaving us puzzled with the “how and why” of things. We each will wrestle with it in different ways. Let’s be sensitive to one another’s process and grief. Let’s make room for their painful joy. Romans 12:15 advises, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." -- meet them where they are and walk with them. We do far better by sitting with, praying for, and comforting. By giving people space to grieve rather than trying to fill their space.
And let’s remember that God walks with us through our own grief, too. Psalm 34:18 assures us, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Isaiah 43 proclaims: 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
In a world of hurt and unexplainable tragedy, as people of faith, may we enter those difficult spaces bearing God’s grace, love, and peace. As followers of Christ, may we offer our presence more than our words, our empathy more than our explanations. And may each of us trust that the missing pieces of our lives are held tenderly in the hands of a loving God who understands our grief and promises us comfort. As 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." May it be so…Amen
*Closing Hymn He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought! #545, v.1-2
1 He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
[Refrain]
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
2 Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since 'tis thy hand that leadeth me. [Refrain]
Benediction Rev. Chad Delaney
Family of God, as you encounter the joys and sorrows in the world, remember God’s promise to us: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;”
May God’s steadfast love lead you and sustain you. May God’s grace uphold you, and God’s everlasting hope assure that you are never alone.
Go forth with the courage to face each day, to offer loving presence to those around you, and trust that the Lord is always with you.
In the name of the Creator, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Postlude “Come to the Saviour, Make no Delay” Sarah Park
[by G. F. Root]