Church Family! Welcome to Mantua Center Christian Church to all our guests and visitors. We’re so grateful that you joined us for worship this morning. Today we welcome Ryan Lind to the pulpit who will be preaching on 1 John 5:1-6. We are God’s people called to express God’s love in all we do--work and play! Thank you for being a part of our community and we hope God’s grace will surround you in this time of worship!
Prelude - “Create in Me a Clean Heart” by Tracey C. McKibben - Jan Green
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 welcome Ryan Lind to the pulpit
- During our Lenten season our theme was a Time to Grow…
Thank you for joining us here in the house and online. Welcome to everyone!
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Sarah is taking a Sunday off and Jan Green
- Continued progress on our church building. Many working hard to make that happen.
Scripture Reading - Psalm 19:1-4 Rev. Chad Delaney
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
*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 - Travis Brant
ONE: We gather to worship the One who crafted creation out of chaos,
ALL: our cries of joy join the anthems of the universe.
ONE: We gather to lift our praise to the God who gives us voice,
ALL: we bring the songs which have echoed in our hearts all week long.
ONE: We gather as the children of God, our joy unbroken in God's love.
ALL: Let’s sing and proclaim God’s story!
*Opening Hymn - For the Beauty of the Earth #56, vs. 1-2, & 4
1 For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies,
for the love which from our birth over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
2 For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise
4 For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Travis Brant
Offertory
Music: “Love Is Flowing” [by Darlene Sims] - Jan Green
*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 - Travis Brant
Children’s Moment - Rev. Chad Delaney
We will work with each other we will work side-by-side
We will work with each other we will work side-by-side
And will guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our Love.
Special Music - “I Love Thee, My Lord” [by Hugh S. Livingston, Jr. (from “Christian Harmony”) ] - Jan Green
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
- Prayers for Emmy
- Prayers for Firefighters
- The United States Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort to remember America's fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the tax-exempt, nonprofit Foundation has developed and expanded programs to honor our fallen fire heroes and assist their families and coworkers. The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be held Sunday, May 5, 2024, to honor firefighters who died in the line of duty.
Gracious and loving God,
We come before You to celebrating Your great goodness and grace, and we lift our prayers to You--the parts of our lives that we need your presence.
Help us, Lord, to live out our faith in Jesus Christ. Help us to recognize that we are your children and we are called to live in your likeness. May this truth shape our lives, instilling in us a deep love for You and a commitment to follow your way. Grant us the strength to walk in the way, knowing that Your commandments are not burdensome but are rooted in Your love for us. That your requirements are to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you.
Lord, we lift up all who work for your glory. For farmers and all those who work the land. Bless their efforts, O God, and grant them wisdom and discernment as they steward the earth. For teachers who are stewards of the education and hearts of children…who are additional eyes and ears to help young people in our world. For nurses and healthcare workers who offer their intellect and compassionate presence to bring healing and strength in their patience. For these and all who use their gifts in their vocations and professions…and within their families and communal relationships.
On this day, Lord, we pray for those who are hurting in the world, Lord. Comfort them with Your presence, O God, and surround them with Your love and compassion. Be near to the brokenhearted and bring healing to the wounded. May Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, fill their hearts and minds, granting them hope and strength for the journey ahead.
God of Life, we thank You for the victory that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. Help us to live as healers in this world, empowered by Your Spirit and grounded in Your truth. May we boldly proclaim Your love and grace to a hurting and broken world, offering hope and redemption to all who seek You.
In Your mercy, hear our prayers, O Lord, and grant us Your grace and peace as we seek to follow You faithfully. Amen.
In your mercy, hear our silent prayers of celebration and sorrow…
Join us together now in your spirit as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us saying…
Communion
Meditation - Sally Hoffman
Communion Hymn - “All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly” #419, vs. 1-2
1 All who hunger gather gladly; Holy manna is our bread.
Come from wilderness and wand’ring. Here in truth we will be fed.
You that yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food.
Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
2 All who hunger, never strangers, seeker, be a welcome guest.
Come from restlessness and roaming. Here, in joy, we keep the feast.
We that once were lost and scattered in communion’s love have stood.
Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
Prayer - Kathleen Lewarchick
Words of Institution - Kathleen Lewarchick
Music: “When There Is Love at Home” by Roger C. Wilson - Jan Green
Scripture - 1 John 5:1-6
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
Sermon - “Community Supported Agriculture and other Potential Miracles (or Against Self Checkout)” - Ryan Lind
*Closing Hymn - “Take My Gifts” #381, vs. 1-3
1 Take my gifts and let me love you, God who first of all loved me,
gave me light and food and shelter, gave me life and set me free,
now because your love has touched me, I have love to give away;
now the bread of love is rising, loaves of love to multiply!
2 Take the fruit that I have gathered from the tree your Spirit sowed,
harvest of your own compassion, juice that makes the wine of God;
spiced with humor, laced with laughter--flavor of the Jesus life,
tang of risk and new adventure, taste and zest beyond belief.
3 Take whatever I can offer--gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen, talents of the hand and mind,
things made beautiful for others in the place where I must be:
take my gifts and let me love you, God who first of all loved me.
Benediction by Colin Curtis
- God is Good!
- Thanks to Jan!
- Please have some coffee and join for conversation in our wonderful classes led by Nancy Humes, Jon Secaur, and Carol Buzbee
- Thank you for all that came and/or donated to the Soup Supper & Auction!
Ryan will now offer a closing benediction…
Postlude - “The Love of God Is Steadfast” by Colin Curtis - Jan Green