Prelude - “I’m Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing” [by Anthony Giamaneo] - Jan Green
Welcome to Mantua Center Christian Church
-- a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
Scripture - Psalm 8:3-9 Katie Baird
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honour.
6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
*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 - Katie Baird
One: God was with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.
All: God is with us now.
One: God gave the people hope as they traveled through the desert.
All: God gives us the courage to step out into the unknown in faith.
One: God is with us wherever we go.
All: Come, let us worship God.
*Opening Hymn - “In this Very Room” #295, v. 1-3
1 In this very room, there's quite enough love for one like me
And in this very room, there's quite enough joy for one like me
And there's quite enough hope
And quite enough power
To chase away any gloom
For Jesus, Lord Jesus
Is in this very room
2 In this very room, there's quite enough love for all of us
And in this very room, there's quite enough joy for all of us
And there's quite enough hope
And quite enough power
To chase away any gloom
For Jesus, Lord Jesus
Is in this very room
3 In this very room, there's quite enough love for all the world
And in this very room, there's quite enough joy for all the world
And there's quite enough hope
And quite enough power
To chase away any gloom
For Jesus, Lord Jesus
Is in this very room
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Katie Baird
Offertory “There’s A Spirit in the Air ”[by Matthew McConnell] - Jan Green
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 - Katie Baird
Camp Commissioning
- Nancy Humes and Jon Secaur or Brian Hurd and the campers
NANCY: This morning we are going to commission the following people for church camps: Calvin and Evelyn Brant, Cheryl, Fred Delaney and Lorri Calapa with their grandchildren Anthony Calapa, Delaney Calapa and Clayton Delaney and Avery and Josh Delaney. If you are in the house this morning would you please come forward?
During the next several weeks these young people and adults will be going to camps and it is our prayer that it will be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. You join history today as you become a camper seeking a spiritual experience in a Christian community of faith. From the time of Abraham, Moses and Jesus, people have lived in the outdoors searching for God.
One word of advice is that you don’t search too hard! Allow yourselves time to be still, to listen, to be open for understanding when God is ready to work through you or through another person to reach you.
The friendships you develop during this experience may very well remain throughout years — maybe even your lifetime. The opportunities you will have for worship, for meditation and prayer will be plentiful. Your time for study and questioning will be seriously pursued. The adults who will be there went to be there and are looking forward to your arrival. You will learn much during your time at camp.
REPRESENTING THE CONGREGATION: Jon Secaur or Brian Hurd
Representing the congregation here at Mantua Center we charge you with the following responsibilities.
Participate fully and openly in the life of camp.
Gently listen for the word of God to take form and be renewed within you.
Be an instrument and allow God to work through you during this time at camp and,
Bring back your new learnings, feelings and experiences, and share them with us in forms of worship, service or leadership.
NANCY ADDRESSING THE CAMPERS:
NANCY: Are you thankful to belong to our God and be part of God’s family, the church and to be commissioned by Mantua Center Church? If so, please answer: I AM.
CAMPERS: I am.
NANCY: Will you enjoy yourselves, and be open to growing in your faith?
CAMPERS: I will
NANCY: Will you share your experiences with us when you return.
CAMPERS: I will.
NANCY: I now charge the congregation of Mantua Center Christian Church, with these responsibilities:
Pray for all of the young people and their counselors each day they are at camp.
Pray for their safe travel, for spiritual experiences, and for their ability to be an instrument for the Lord.
Accept with joy and thanksgiving their new learnings upon their return to us and allow each one opportunities to nourish our own spiritual lives.
As we send you off, remember our thoughts and prayers go with you. Your church family back home will await your return.
Let us pray:
Children’s Moment
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer - Katie Baird
Holy Communion
Meditation - Nora Brant
Hymn “These I Lay Down” #391, v.1, 3, 5
1 Before I take the body of my Lord,
before I share his life in bread and wine,
I recognize the sorry things within:
these I lay down.
3 The narrowness of vision and of mind,
the need for other folk to serve my will,
and every word and silence meant to hurt:
these I lay down.
5 Lord Jesus Christ companion at this feast,
I empty now my heart and stretch my hands,
and ask to meet you here in bread and wine:
which you lay down.
Prayer - Brian Hurd
Words of Institution - Brain Hurd
Music -“Dwell, Spirit, in Our Hearts ”[by Michael Shea] Jan Green
Prayer Shawl Consecration
- Kathy Meier & Katie Baird
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY Kathy Meier
AFFIRMATION OF OUR PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY – Katie Baird
Without even knowing who would receive it, each shawl was made specifically for the person who will receive it. May each recipient see the intricate love and care given to this shawl, mirroring the intricate love and care that God bestows upon all people. Each shawl was made to bring warmth to someone who feels a chill. May each person feel the warm breath of the Holy Spirit as they wrap themselves with it. Each shawl was made to bring comfort to someone who feels alone. May each one feel comfort in knowing that someone prayed for them as they pieced it together. Each shawl was made to bring peace to someone in need of prayer. May everyone feel the power of our prayers as they feel the yarn winding through their fingers. Each shawl was made to remind the recipient that they are part of this community. May they all feel touched by our love, moved by our guidance, and held up by our support.
BLESSING THE CREATORS OF THE PRAYER SHAWLS: Katie Baird
Please pray with me:
Most gracious and loving God we come to you this morning asking that you pour out your love onto all of these folks who have taken the time and given of their talents to make these beautiful shawls we are blessing. May they always know how much their gifts are appreciated by those of us who give them and by those who receive them. We ask that you continue to bless them and their hands. We would also ask that you multiply the love that has gone into the creation of the shawls . Amen.
(Jan will you please play some soft music during this time)?
PASSING THE PRAYER SHAWLS FOR BLESSINGS Katie Baird
We are going to pass the shawls down the aisles and we ask that you take a moment or two to add your blessings and prayers as they are passed. We will then have the deacons bring them forward for a unison blessing.
(After they have been brought forward)
Please join with me now in prayer: Katie Baird
Loving & generous God, we thank you for the opportunity of sharing in this unique ministry,
for unique opportunities to work & pray together, as well as unique opportunities
to express our love & concern for others. Bless the fellowship we share, the work of our
hands & the lives of those for whom we create. Grant them Your comfort, hope & encouragement. Amen.
Scriptures - Rev. Dr. Alecia Evans-Hayes
1 John 4:7-8
7Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
John 3:16
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Romans 8:31-39
31What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13
4Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Mark 12:30-31
30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Sermon - “God’s Love” - Rev. Dr. Alecia Evans-Hayes
*Closing Hymn - “God of Grace, God of Glory” #464, v.1, 3-4
1 God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient church’s story;
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
3 Cure thy children’s warring madness,
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy righteous goal,
lest we miss thy righteous goal.
4 Set our feet on lofty places;
fill our lives that we may be
strengthened with all Christ-like graces
pledges to set all captives free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we fail our call from thee,
lest we fail our call from thee.
Benediction - Katie Baird
Postlude - “Sing and Rejoice” [by Lani Smith] Jan Green