January 21 – Follow Me

January 21 – Follow Me

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ!

Following worship today, we will gather in Fellowship Hall for “Open and Affirming Reflection,” hosted by Ivy Chapel UCC Council. This will be an opportunity for everyone to share together in dialogue, spiritual reflection and spiritual discernment regarding the Proposed Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ Open and Affirming Covenant which will be considered and voted on at our Annual Meeting next Sunday, January 28.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Pastorale (First Movement) – J. S. Bach

*CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 62)
One: For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from God.
All: God only is my rock and my salvation. I will not be shaken.
One: Pour out your hearts before God. Trust in God at all times.
All: Our trust is in God, Maker of heaven and earth!

*HYMN – O Worship the King, All Glorious Above – #90

O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love:
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Wose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail.
Thy mercies, how tender, how firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of all times and places, may we receive your message this day. As your Word is proclaimed, sometimes we do not like what we hear. Yet we are aware that you call on us to listen. Although we may try to make distinctions which favor us; your message is true and universal. You call us out of our comfort zones to try new things and to live courageously! Rejoice; welcome; forgive; heal; love. These are acts of faith that you teach everyone to put into practice. Faithful God, you command us to reach out to all people, especially people with whom it may seem that we have little in common.
Still-Speaking God, you call us to accompany you on the sacred path of ‘living grace.’ Lead us to learn from you, Jesus, and to respond by living as you teach us to live. Then we will follow you by carrying what we have received from you to the places you send us and to the people you summon us to love. Amen.

*RESPONSE – We Have Come Into His House – #36

We have come into His house
and gathered in His name to worship Him,
We have come into His house
and gathered in His name to worship Him;
We have come into His house
and gathered in His name to worship Him;
O, worship HIm, Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Let’s forget about ourselves,
and magnify His name and worship Him,
Let’s forget about ourselves,
and magnify His name and worship Him;
Let’s forget about ourselves,
and magnify His name and worship Him;
O, worship HIm, Jesus Christ, the Lord.

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 62:5-12

SPECIAL MUSIC — Bist Du Bei Mir (When You Are Near) — J. S. Bach

GOD’S WORD — Mark 1:14-20

SERMON — Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – Here I Am, Lord – worship booklet, pp. 46-47

I, the Lord of sea and sky I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save.
I have made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Refrain:
Here I am, Lord Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, If You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide ‘Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them, they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Little Prelude and Fugue in F – J. S. Bach