Prelude - “I Hear Thy Welcome Voice ” [by L. Hartsough ] Sarah Park
We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms, building community in a fragmented world. Welcome to the Mantua Center Christian Church on this World Communion Sunday
Creator God—as we come to worship from our homes, workplaces, and communities, may Your Spirit open our eyes anew to the vastness and splendor of Your beauty all around us.
May we hear, and smell, and see, and touch
Your glory evident here in this place and in one another.
Above all, let us experience Your beauty -- in the music, the songs, the scripture, the words, the silence, in the brokenness and joy we share in this place, in coming to the table with people all over the world…As we ALL await the experience of redemption that comes In knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let us revel in the beauty of life and love with you as we come to worship. Amen
Opening Scripture - Colossians 3:16-17
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
*Response - Weave
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 Cheryl Delaney
ONE: God of Creation, in praise and adoration our spirits dance before you today.
ALL: You have created this wondrous universe and all the magnificent things within it.
ONE: God of Light! You have blessed us with so much throughout our lives, even to this day of praise and thanksgiving.
ALL: You have blessed us with so much throughout our lives, even to this day of praise and thanksgiving.
ONE: God of Love! We celebrate your love and presence with us!
ALL: Let us worship the Lord with hearts, hands, and voices!
~ written by Nancy C. Townley
*Opening Hymn - Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee #2, v.1-2, 4
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive our fear and doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.
All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee.
Mortals, join the happy chorus; stars of morning, take your part;
love divine is reigning o'er us, binding those of tender heart.
Ever singing, move we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
joyful music lifts us sunward in the triumph song of life.
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Cheryl Delaney
Offertory - “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine ” [by P. P. Knapp]
The Doxology #46
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offering Prayer - Cheryl Delaney
Children’s Moment - Rev. Chad Delaney
- World Communion Sunday
- Give me Oil in my Lamp
Pastoral Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
Pastoral Prayer by Bruce Prewer
- Nov 6th Re-Centering Event - please stay in prayer
- Hurricane Ian - so much flooding and devastation
- Russian War on Ukraine
- Members of our community in need of prayer…
I will sing to my God, so wonderfully victorious, the arrogance of evil is drowned in the waves.
God is my life’s energy and my music, and has become my liberation and healing.
This is the only Friend I will ever worship, my family’s God in whom I delight!
I will sing to my God, so wonderfully victorious, the arrogance of evil is drowned in the waves.
Who else could possibly compare with you?
Who else could be more beautiful and more holy??
Your handiwork is awesome, your ways are wonderful,
with your wounded hands you overcome all evil.
With relentless love you lead your redeemed,
you guide your people all the way to your holy home.
I will sing to my God, so wonderfully victorious, the arrogance of evil is drowned in the waves.
When you show your hand, evil is in shock, there’s nothing it can do, no where to go.
But your own children go freely on their way, the family whom you have redeemed.
You uplift them to the heights of your love, to the home you have prepared for them,
in the heavenly realm, the sanctuary of love, from where you will reign for ever and ever!
I will sing to my God, so wonderfully victorious,the arrogance of evil is drowned in the waves.
Gracious God, on this World Communion Sunday, unite us again through your Holy Spirit. Empower us for good. We confess before you and all people that we have not always been who you have called us to be. As human beings, we have misused and abused the creation. We have wounded one another by division and hostility. There is environmental degradation, poverty, racism, war and genocide. We need you. Fill us with your forgiving power and lead us to actions of healing, love, and restoration. Work through us as your church and unite us together in your body and blood to share your good news…in the flesh.
Loving God, hear the cry of our hearts on this day. Prayer for those we love and for our enemies. Prayers for the hurting and tired. The depressed and lonely. Hear our prayers for those on our hearts and minds this day…
Communion
Meditation - Rev. Nancy Humes
Communion Hymn - Fill My Cup, Lord #351, v.1-2
1 Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that could not satisfy;
and then I heard my Savior speaking; “Draw from my well that never shall run dry”
Refrain: Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord! Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of Heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more - fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
2. There are millions in this world who are craving the pleasure earthly things afford;
but none can match the wondrous treasure that I find in Jesus Christ my Lord. [Refrain]
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer - Rev. Nancy Humes
Words of Institution - Rev. Chad Delaney
Music: “What Can Wash Away My Sin” [by R. Lowry]
Scripture - Exodus 15:1-11, 20-21
God, source of all light, by your Word you give light to the soul. Pour out on us the spirit of wisdom and understanding that our hearts and minds may be opened. Amen.
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
‘I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.
4 ‘Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he cast into the sea; his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea. 5 The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power—your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.
7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries; you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble. 8 At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up, the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.” 10 You blew with your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.11 ‘Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendour, doing wonders?
20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 21And Miriam sang to them:
‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.’
Sermon - Horse and Rider into the Sea
Some of my favorite times as a high schooler was going to the Friday night basketball games. Way back in the 90s we were good and even went to the state championship. The gym was rocking and it was always fun to hear the fight songs before and after the game. The Band playing Hang on Sloopy and the alma mater. I have always been partial to a little Eye of the Tiger by Survivor and the Queen anthems. We will Rock You before the game and (hopefully) We are the Champions after the game. Or maybe you are a Phil Collins Tonight, Tonight fan, Welcome to the Jungle by Guns & Roses, or the Final Countdown. Or maybe more recent ones like Remember the Name by Fort Minor or Lose Yourself by Eminem. What are your favorites? Music has a way of touching us mind, body, and soul to pump us up and remind us of who we are or what is at stake.
The passage that we read today, amazingly, is likely one of the oldest preserved songs in the Hebrew tradition. With the help of the 6 heroines we mentioned a few weeks ago, Moses was able to fulfil his task that God called him to. The people were freed from their bondage in Egypt! It was, however, not without its messiness. It wasn’t like Moses went to Pharaoh and said “Let My People Go!” and he responded, “You know what. You’re right. Let’s work together to get folks outta here by the end of the week.” Instead it was messy -- lice, flies, frogs, and locusts. Hail, darkness, and water that turned to blood. The pharaoh was cruel and indecisive. Ultimately he did let them go but then sent his army to destroy them. This gave Moses his moment, with God’s help he parted the waters and the Hebrews walked through, but then the waters crashed down on the pursuing Egyptian army. The people celebrated! The song is a celebration of the triumph over the Egyptians. Led by Moses and Miriam. Miriam cited here as one of the very first Prophets in the biblical story. Side note: Anyone who only talks of men when discussing biblical leadership has not read the Bibile. Women and men were prophets--God’s chosen who shared and spoke God’s word to the people.
Miriam and Moses lead the people with music and tambourines declaring God’s greatness: ‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.’
Now, as exciting as this all is, we might be a bit troubled by their song. Whether envisioned through the stories of the Old or New Testament, the image of God as Warrior is probably not in your Top 5 favorite images of God. In the passage God is shattering their enemies, making them sink like lead in the waters. God sent out his fury and made them like stubble! And the people sing: “11‘Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?”
Perhaps like yours, my discomfort arises at the very idea that God might take sides. And upon taking sides to wreak violence against the other. Didn’t God have some other options?
Yet, I’m also uncomfortable with my discomfort because surely there are times when action must be taken. If God had not taken action what would we think? Some of you may have seen the Marvel show DareDevil which explores the extent for which violence can be called for and taken. In the opening episode, the disguised Matt Murdock does not kill, but takes down a child trafficking syndicate with punishing fists of fury. Asking politely would not have worked. And so it has been in history with slavery, human trafficking, genocide, the Holocaust. Perhaps under extreme circumstances…would it make us 99.99% pacifist. When victory is had over such heinous atrocities…we likely would have been clapping and singing along thanking God for saving us. As Walter Brueggemann wrote, “God’s use of force against the power of oppression is not experienced as violent by those who are, in fact, oppressed.” What the Israelites saw in this warlike imagery, was that finally someone, had defended them, had come to their rescue, stood up and fought for them against slavery, brutality, and death.”
Though more understandable if viewed in this lens, it is still hard to read. Singing joyful songs about the deaths of others does not really resonate with the overwhelming teaching of the Old and New Testament scriptures. Yet it is there so is there another way to see it?
Like Zipporah’s reminder to Moses a few weeks ago that the Egyptian in him needed to die, perhaps there is fruit here when thinking of drowning the enemies in our midst. We can surely recognize that there are enemies among us, that we would gladly see drowned in the Red Sea and rejoice in the face of it. No….not people, but those enemies found within and without that pursue us and chase us down. That just when we think we are turning the corner they catch up with us and seek our demise.
Would that God would drown the crippling self-doubt and shame that entraps some of us?
Would that God would drown our lust and greed for more?
Would that God drown the lingering racist ideas with us and around us?
Would that God drown the vestiges of stigma towards those with mental illness?
Would that God drown the pervasive homophobia that plagues our youth and young adults trying to find themselves in this world.
Enemies needing to be destroyed with God’s help. So we pray and educate. We grow and learn. And we have Fight Songs too. Songs to remind us of the struggle and what is most important.
I think of fight songs of the LGBTQ community like “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper -- “I see you true colors shining through” encouragement to keep fighting to be the true self
I think of the civil rights fight song like “We Shall Overcome” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
We too, have songs of hope and inspiration, hymns that light a fire under us and move us to action. Be Thou My Vision! Seek ye First the Kingdom of God! Great is thy Faithfulness!
As people of faith, on this World Communion Sunday, reflecting on our common witness as God’s people…might envision the picture of Miriam and Moses standing on the shoreline singing and dancing and celebrating as a profound and longed-for image of HOPE! That someday the powers of oppression and greed, violence and hatred might be vanquished from the face of the earth. That every day God might give us Oil in Our Lamp to keep us burning. Working with hope toward justice and freedom. That God, through the power of the Holy Spirit might move us to fight for wholeness and peace for ALL of God’s creation. That our Fight Songs might move us to overcome the enemies within and without. That we might work for the day that we might stand with Moses and Miriam on the shoreline to “‘Sing to the Lord, for the Lord has triumphed gloriously;horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.’
*Closing Hymn - Lift Every Voice and Sing #631, v.1
Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty;
let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies; let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;
sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on, till victory is won.
Benediction - Rev. Chad Delaney
- Stay after for Sunday School
- Wednesday, Day Time Bible Study and Wednesday Evening Life Study
Go out from here as workers in God’s upside-down kingdom,
where the last are first and the first are last,
where needs are met in miraculous ways, and there is grace enough for all!
And may you find BEAUTY in the mess of Life
May you drown the enemies of hatred, violence, and sin with you.
May you find kinship, connection, and service with the Body of Christ
And may the blessing of God, the love of Jesus Christ,
and the presence of the Holy Spirit
surround you and sustain you now and always. Amen
Postlude - “Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus ” [by W. J. Kirkpatrick] Sarah Park