July 20 — Welcome!

This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and celebrate together. We welcome Rev. David Arndt, who will be leading us in worship today. David Arndt is a retired United Church of Christ who worshipped with us a few Sundays ago. He says he is delighted to return today.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Take My Life and Let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee

*CALL TO WORSHIP — Inspired by Psalm 15 — Ann Molyneaux
One: Yahweh, who may enter your Temple? Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?
All: A person who obeys God in everything, always does what is right, and does not slander others.
One: Such a person does no wrong to friends and does not spread rumors about neighbors.
All: Such a person makes loans without charging interest and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent. Whoever does these things will always be secure.

COMMENT — Welcome to Ivy Chapel — David Arndt

HYMN — Just As I Am, Without One Plea — 387

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot.
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee I find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

PRAYER OF INVOCATION — Ann Molyneaux
Holy Spirit, alive among these children of God, thank you for abiding with us, for welcoming us, and for inspiring us to live as fully in the faith as we are humanly able.

RESPONSE — Into My Heart — 391

Into my heart, into my heart,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

Into my heart, into my heart,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

OLD TESTAMENT READING — Genesis 18:1-10a — Ann Molyneaux

CHILDREN’S SERMON — How to welcome angels — Rev. David Arndt

EPISTLE READING — Colossians 1:15-28 — Rev. David Arndt

SPECIAL MUSIC — Sweet Hour of Prayer

GOSPEL READING — Luke 10:38-42 — Rev. David Arndt

ADULT SERMON — How to welcome Christ — Rev. David Arndt

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE — Rev. David Arndt

OUR LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN — I Sing a Song of the Saints of God — Ivy worship booklet. p. 52-53

I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.

They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.

They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.

BENEDICTION — II Corinthians 13:13, adapted — Rev. David Arndt

POSTLUDE — Rondeau — Joseph Mouret