September 21 – Prayerful Living

Can’t make it to Ivy Chapel in person? You can join us for 10 am Sunday worship online every week on our YouTube channel through this link.

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

WELCOME

PRELUDE  — How Long Has It Been – Lister

*CALL TO WORSHIP (Inspired by Psalm 113)       
One: Praise the Holy One! From the rising of the sun until its setting, the name of God deserves our praise!
Many: Who is like our God…seated on high?
One: Praise the Most High, who observes all things and remembers the poor and those in need.
Many: God our Righteousness raises the lowly and levels the exalted.
One: Praise the Righteous One, who is just and mighty, who repairs and redeems.
Many: The Redeemer pours out love and justice, compassion and conviction, hope and salvation. Praise the Holy One!

*HYMN — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty — #10

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!
All ye who hear; now to His temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
Shelters  thee under His wings, yea,  so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen How thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth? 

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here  daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with his love He befriend thee.

 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we  adore Him.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION                  
Great God, who gathers us together in spirit and in truth, sanctify our time together. Grant us wisdom and discernment. Open our hearts to receive and to give. Be glorified in our worship and the transformation that moves us forward as your people. In your glorious and precious   name, we pray. Amen.

*RESPONSE — Sweet Hour of Prayer — #166

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known:
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By they return, sweet hour of prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
Thy wings shall my petition bear,
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless;
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His words and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer,

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
May I thy consolation bear,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home, and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
Fare-well, fare-well, sweet hour of prayer,

GOD’S WORD — 1 Timothy 2:1-7    

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE                                                                                 

SPECIAL MUSIC –Spirit — Akers        

GOD’S WORD — Luke 16:1-13 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON — Prayerful Living — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*HYMN — What a Friend We Have in Jesus — #162

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find asolace there.

*BENEDICTION — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE  —  How Great Thou Art — Boberg