Good morning and welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church! We are grateful for your presence with us this morning and if you have any questions or want to get more involved in the church please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! This morning we will be hearing some passages in 1st Samuel about the familiar story of David and Goliath and Facing the Giant. We welcome the Rev. Terry Bartlett to our pulpit this morning. Welcome to worship!
Prelude “ The Lord is on My Side” Jan Green
[By Tom Birchwood]
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.
Today we are celebrating ….
Thank you for joining us here in the house and online. Welcome to everyone!
Scripture Reading Psalm 9:1-2
1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
*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 Rev. Nancy Humes ONE: Come, let us open our hearts and minds to the Living God,
ALL: For God is worthy of all our praise.
ONE: Let us lay aside our burdens and distractions,
ALL: And focus on the One who gives us life.
ONE: We are invited into God’s Holy presence,
ALL: With love that renews and transforms.
ONE: Let us worship with joy and gratitude,
ALL: For the Living God is among us!
*Opening Hymn O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing #5, v.1-3
1 O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and king,
the triumphs of God's grace!
2 Jesus, the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life, and health, and peace.
3 My loving Savior and my God,
assist me to proclaim
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation Rev. Nancy Humes
Offertory
Music: “Arabesque in F ” Jan Green
[by Gerald Peterson]
*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 Rev. Nancy Humes
Children’s Moment Rev. Terry Bartlett
Meditation on Prayer “Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer” Jan Green
[by May F. Lawrence]
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Nancy Humes
Communion
Meditation Steve Hurd
Communion Hymn When you Do this, Remember Me #400, 1-2
1 You my friend, a stranger once,
do now belong to heaven.
Once far away, you are brought home
into God's family.
""When you do this, remember me.""
2 Now my Lord is also yours,
my people are your own;
embraced together in God's arms,
I enfold you now in mine.
""When you do this, remember me.""
Prayer Brian Hurd
Words of Institution Brian Hurd
Music: “Have You Any Room for Jesus? ” Jan Green
[By Roger C. Wilson]
Scripture I Samuel 17:1-50 selected verses Rev. Terry Bartlett
Sermon Facing the Giant Rev. Terry Bartlett
*Closing Hymn Leaning on the Everlasting Arms #560, v.1-2
1 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.
2 O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms. [Refrain]
Benediction Rev. Nancy Humes
- Please have some coffee and join for conversation
Postlude “Postlude on ‘Showalter’” Jan Green
[by Stephen L. Aber]