July 23- Wheat and Weeds Together

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ! What a great joy God offers all people as our Savior Jesus Christ!

View today’s worship.

Thank you to Bob Meinz for serving as our worship musician this morning!

 WELCOME   
                                             
 PRELUDE   
          
*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                   
 One:  Come, sisters and brothers, everyone is welcome here!
 All:  God's people are many   –    of every land and every race; 
          of every age and every condition.
 One:  We gather to celebrate God's unbounded love.
 All:  God joins all people together into one community.  
                All people are God’s people!  Let us worship God together!

*HYMN -- All Things Bright and Beautiful -- #65 
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flow’r that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings. [Refrain]

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky; [Refrain]

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them, ev’ry one. [Refrain]

He gave us eyes to them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well. [Refrain]
                                    


*PRAYER OF INVOCATION                                                          
        Living God, Maker and Caretaker of all life; the whole universe shouts with joy, praising you!  You have made us and we are yours.  We are blessed each time we are able to serve as your instruments.
        You fill the world with stunning beauty.  We are blown away by your artistry and your power, God.  The most exquisite works on earth shout your praises. 
        What a Kind and Gracious Savior you are!  Thank you, God, for gathering us today.  We are ready for action.  Teach us your ways, and lead us in living them!  Amen. 
  

*PRAISE RESPONSE  -- El Shaddai   -- #18 
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
El-elyon na Adonia,
Age to age you're still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
Erkamka na Adonai,
We will praise and lift you high,
El Shaddai.
  
 GOD’S WORD                               Psalm 86:11-17      
                            
 SPECIAL MUSIC                                                                                                        
 GOD’S WORD -- Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

 SERMON -- Pastor Dan        
       
 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

*HYMN -- Hymn of Promise   -- #277 
In the bulb, there is a flower
In the seed, an apple tree
In cocoons, a hidden promise
Butterflies will soon be free

In the cold and snow of winter
There's a spring that waits to be
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see

There's a song in every silence
Seeking word and melody
There's a dawn in every darkness
Bringing hope to you and me

From the past will come the future
What it holds, a mystery
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see

In our end is our beginning
In our time, infinity
In our doubt, there is believing
In our life, eternity
In our death, a resurrection
At the last, a victory

Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see

*BENEDICTION -- Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE