Welcome to worship at the Mantua Center Christian Church. If you are new to our community feel free to reach out to us to learn more about ways you can get involved! This morning we are thinking and praying on what preys on us and tries to distract us from our relationship with God. What is getting in the way of feeling whole within ourselves and with others? We are so glad you have joined us and we hope you come back again! God’s grace and peace be with you in this time of worship!
Introit - Sarah Park
Welcome to Mantua Center Christian Church -- a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms.
Whether online or in the house this morning, we want to welcome you….
INVITATION FOR MISSION UPDATES:
Ministry Leaders and congregants are welcome to come forward to the mic, to give a mission update or share ways for people to get involved in missions and ministries.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Chi-Rho - 5th-8th graders at 12:30p
- Potluck at 11:00 today! Please join us!
- Share your pictures of Loved Ones who have passed away with Jon Secaur by Wednesday. Or send them to me.
Scripture - Romans 12:9-13
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
*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 - Peg Ehrlinger
One: Return to the Lord.
All: Leave behind all the pain. Leave behind all the hate.
Come back to your true life again.
One: Return to the Lord.
All: Abandon your sins. Abandon your fears.
Come back to repentance and hope.
One: Return to the Lord.
All: Discard your old ways. Give up your old sorrows.
Cling to the hope found in Christ.
~ written by Lisa Frenz
*Opening Hymn - “We Gather Together” #276, v. 1 & 3
1 We gather together to ask for God’s blessing, To turn to a wisdom surpassing our own;
The pow’rs that oppress us no cease to distress us. O’God, be present with us, and make your will known.
3 May all sing your praises, Redeemer triumphant, defend us, befriend us, whatever may be.
May your congregation escape tribulation. Your name be praised forever, O God, make us free!
Invitation to Generosity
Invitation - Peg Ehrlinger
Offertory
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 Peg Ehrlinger
Children’s Moment - Rev. Chad Delaney
Halloween sharing!
BLESSING - God of laughter and joy,
We thank you for the joyful abundance of food and fun that comes at this time of year. Keep all children safe as they embark on their Halloween adventures. Light their way through the dark night and enfold them with love. Though dressing up and wearing a mask is great fun, help them to remember you love them just as they are. May the real treat in their lives be the grace and love they feel from you and those who love them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Special Music - Come Thou Fount - Ryan Lind
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
Eileen Kinter wanted to lift up today in prayer all those who are having struggles and then all of the sudden it feels like the roof is falling in. There are many who are struggling greatly and if something can go wrong it does.
LORD, LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING >>>
Merciful God,
We confess that we have not always lived up to the example set by Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We recognize how difficult it is sometimes to truly love the people around us;
to care as deeply for their well-being as for our own,
to delight in their good fortune without feeling envious.
Forgive us. Teach us to whole-heartedly love one another.
We do acknowledge how often we act out of our own self-interest;
putting our needs and desires ahead of the needs of others,
hoarding our resources rather than sharing them freely.
Forgive us. Teach us to live with generosity and compassion.
We confess how easy it is to do what we know is wrong:
to rationalize our bad decisions and behaviors,
to make excuses for our hurtful words and actions.
Forgive us. Teach us to turn away from what is wrong and pursue what is right.
We confess that we find it very difficult to love our enemies:
to pray for their well-being, to act in their best interests,
to leave thoughts of vengeance behind.
Forgive us. Teach us to pray for even those who hurt or offend us.
You call us to turn away from the behaviors and attitudes of the world around us;
and to be renewed and transformed by Your grace at work in our lives.
Through Your Holy Spirit, continue the work that You have begun in us,
so that our words and deeds may bring honor and glory to You.
This day we bring much on our hearts and minds. We lift all to you in silent prayer…
Now hear us as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us to pray…
Holy Communion
Meditation - Nora Brant
Hymn - These I Lay Down #391, v. 1-5
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.
2 The words of hope I often failed to give, the prayers of kindness buried by my pride,
the signs of care I argued out of sight: 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.
4 Of those around in whom I meet my Lord, I ask their pardon and I grant them mine,
that every contradiction to Christ's peace: might be laid 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 - Rev. Nancy Humes
Words of Institution - Rev. Nancy Humes
Music - Sarah Park
Scripture - 1 Peter 5:6-11
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Sermon - Fending Off Attack Rev. Chad Delaney
Today in my Sabbatical recollections I want to tell you about some wildlife we saw. Upon arriving on the Pacific coast we thought a proper introduction would be to take the Hammond Bike trail from Arcata Bottoms to Clam Beach, California. It's a short ride, but a little segment of it takes you along the coast with a beautiful view of the ocean. When the ocean came into view, we looked down where a river enters the ocean waters and along the bank were hundreds of seals. Our view from the trail was too far so we asked the guide if we could get closer.
We had fun watching them gracefully swim and not-so-gracefully lumber around the beach. BUT…as we were standing there watching there was quite a bit of action going on above us. Up from the water’s surface came a large bird with something wriggling from its talons. It flew right above us and then out of nowhere two smaller birds attacked the larger bird.
I looked over at our guide who was already observing the same thing. Lucky for us, his wildlife specialty in college was birds and he knew just what was happening.
He said what we had here was a Bald Eagle who had just snatched a lamprey eel out of the water for lunch and then two ravens attacking from both sides. The ravens attacked strategically to try to get baldy to drop lunch for them. The bald eagle was trying to avoid and fight off the ravens, while still holding onto the eel. We couldn’t see who won, but I felt for the bald eagle.
Here we were in this beautiful setting, a gorgeous vista, the ocean, seals, and bald eagles. And then a stark reminder of dog-eat-dog, harsh world we live in.
What was interesting is that clearly the ravens would be overmatched by the Bald Eagle. Supposedly, however, the Raven is the only bird that will even mess with them. Not as a predator of course, but to possibly swipe a meal or two from them. Distract them, pester them, steal from them…and they show up when they are most vulnerable.
The Bald Eagle reminded me of our opening passage this morning in Romans 12:9 -- 9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;”
Often in life we are trying to fend off attacks…and hold on to what is good.
Do you have Ravens that attack you? Any one or anything that seems to attack you when you are at your most vulnerable and try to get you to drop what’s important? To distract you and pester you and even steal from you?
In our scripture today in 1 Peter, we have dynamic imagery given to illustrate this danger. “Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.” The urgency to be ever vigilant of the evil that lurks, that temptations present, the distractions from what is good which will come.
Now, I don’t believe in “the devil” in a literal, man with horns-sense, but evil is a reality in the world. The great Howard Thurman put it this way:
“No one is ever free from the peculiar pressures of their own life. Each one has to deal with the evil aspects of life, with injustices inflicted upon them and injustices which they wittingly or unwittingly inflicts upon others. We are all of us deeply involved in the throes of our own weaknesses and strengths, expressed often in the profoundest conflicts within our own souls.”
The early Christians saw the devil in those who would persecute and kill them. They lived their faith in secret, always fearing for their lives. In this fear, they may be tempted to live in a way which doesn’t represent the way of Christ– to violence, to idolatry, to give in to the pressures around them. So Peter warns them to be alert to what might devour them.
There are devils attacking on all sides which might try to chase us and devour us. What is it for you?:
Prejudice and Racism
Hatred of enemies
Apathy and indifference
Rage
Lust
Revenge
Addiction
Sloth
Pride and Perfection
Me and Mine
Our phones
Or the devil of busy-ness.
Ravens trying to peck away at us while we are just trying to eat, drink, and be merry. Lions looking to devour us as we try to love and take care of our families. To live and love as Jesus did. To be God’s people.
So Peter exhorts the church in several ways:
First, he says…Humble Yourselves
Part of this whole thing is recognizing our vulnerability. We are not perfect and vulnerable to attack. We are not completely in control of our lives and the situations we find ourselves in. Let’s remember to stay humble and cast our cares on God and our community. .
Second he says, “He also says to “Discipline yourselves; and keep alert. Resist him”
In what we say and do. In how we interact with people, let’s remember who we are and whose we are. There will be times of stress, frustration, and anxiety that will come. We know this about life. So then, how do we prepare ourselves for these moments? Do we fortify ourselves with prayer? Do we have a plan? Do we have accountability within ourselves or with someone close to us? Often we know where we are vulnerable to attack…it is our responsibility in faith to prepare for it.
Third, he reminds the church that we aren’t alone in this.
In life and love, there will be suffering that comes in various ways. It is a part of life and one of the ways we learn and grow. What we might remember is that our fellow human beings and church family undergo the same kinds of suffering. We have each other to lean on, to learn from each other, and to support each. Will we suffer in silence, dealing with our devils alone…or will we reach out to one another with compassion and care? To listen without judgment? To share without fear?
Ephesians 6:13-18
13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
ALL THE WHILE…through all of it remembering that God hears us, knows us, and sees us. Peter reminds us, “the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.” So then, may we move forward boldly, resisting the evil and temptation around us in whatever form it comes. Together to trust in God and to cling to what is good! May it be so.
*Closing Hymn - Breathe on Me, Breath of God #254, v. 1-4
1 Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.
2 Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will to do and to endure.
3 Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.
4 Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.
Benediction
Thank you for joining us online and in the house.
Please join us downstairs for coffee downstairs
And stay for the last church potluck of 2023 at 11:00
Join us this week on Wednesdays
Happy Halloween!
Let’s not just pretend to love others—really love them.
Resist what is wrong and pursue what is good as if our lives depended on it.
Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers.
Let’s not lose our zeal for God, but serve God passionately and with enthusiasm.
And let’s not forget to rejoice, for forgiveness is yours and hope is always just around the corner!
And may the blessing of God, the love of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit strengthen and sustain you in all things.Now and Always. Amen.
Postlude - Sarah Park