Oct 26-Consecration Sunday
October 24, 2025 by Kara White
Filed under Featured, Livestream Links and Order for Worship
Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ! Let us rejoice and praise God! All are invited to join us In Fellowship Hall following worship for a Consecration Luncheon when we will celebrate all of the gifts offered to God this day.
All of our music is linked below or you can get a pdf of all music together by clicking here.
WELCOME — Valerie Waterman
PRELUDE — O God, Our Help in Ages Past
*CALL TO WORSHIP — Jim French
One: Some of us have been in this congregation for a long time. We remember many eras before this one. Some of them we miss.
All: God brings us together in one community.
One: Some of us have been in this congregation for a short time. We are searching for a place to call home.
All: God brings us together in one community.
One: All of us are seeking the restoration that only God can provide.
All: God brings us together in one community. Let us worship the God of restoration and transformation.
*HYMN — God of Our Life #614
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION — Jim French
Gracious God, thank you for the ways you have sustained our church through many different challenges. We thank you for your gifts of faith and hope for the future. Be with us as we join together to share our gifts to bring healing and renewal. God, you are transforming Your church into a new future. Show us how we can be a part of that future. Help us to put our faith in Your dream for us. Let us make those dreams real with the gifts we bring today. Amen.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
“May the peace of Christ be with you.” (Response) “And also with you.”
*RESPONSE — Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart — Ivy worship booklet p.42
GOD’S WORD — Romans 12:1-3,9-13 — Jim French
STEWARDSHIP SONG Dream God’s Dream — Insert (verses 1-3)
STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE Dreaming God’s Dream – Connection– JoAnn Moody
*HYMN — Something for Jesus #441
SCRIPTURE — Luke 10:25-37— Jim French
SPECIAL MUSIC — I Surrender All arr., Joel Raney
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive-see Insert) — Valerie Waterman
The Congregation responds with “Hear our prayer” following “God in your mercy……”
Ending with Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)
THE ACT OF CONSECRATION
We offer God our expressions of intended giving, asking God to consecrate them. All are invited to offer God your commitment supporting Christ’s ministries at Ivy Chapel UCC during the singing of the final hymn by placing your 2026 Estimate of Giving Card in the designated offering basket.
Dream God’s Dream!
*HYMN — We Give Thee but Thine Own #622
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION — John Weiland
One: Please join me in prayer as we ask God to consecrate these pledges.
All: Creator God, we give you thanks for supplying all our needs. In gratitude, we offer back to you our tithes and offerings. Today we pledge to you our intentions to support the ongoing ministries of Ivy Chapel. May you bless our gifts and our pledges. May we utilize them with your guidance to meet the needs of our community and our world. Amen.
*POSTLUDE — Trumpet Tune on “Simple Gifts” Phil Lehenbauer
Oct 19- Dreaming God’s Dream-Education
October 18, 2025 by Kara White
Filed under Featured, Livestream Links and Order for Worship
Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ!
Giving joyfully and extravagantly is our faithful response to God’s abundant gifts!
May the Love of Christ fill us to overflowing as we journey toward God’s ever-new horizons…
Dreaming God’s Dream
WELCOME
PRELUDE Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet M. W. Smith/A. Grant
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: God brings us together in the word.
All: We are grateful to be part of God’s story.
One: God brings us together in stewardship.
All: We are grateful to be part of God’s community.
One: God brings us together in a vision for the future.
All: We are grateful to be part of God’s dream. Amen.
*HYMN Be Thou My Vision #400
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Ever Present God, we thank you for your love that never lets us go. Thank you for the privilege of gathering in this space to worship you. We do not come merely to open the doors of the church,
but we come that our hearts might be opened to you and to one another. As we worship you today, may we be transformed from individuals to members of your one body. Energize us to utilize our gifts for the strength of all humanity. Empower us to share our time, talents, and treasures as we seek to envision your dream for us and your world. Be with us as we continue to search for your dreams and fulfill your visions as we create your Realm here on earth. Amen.
*RESPONSE SeekYe First the Kingdom of God #61
(Sing twice)
GOD’S WORD Psalm 119:97 – 105
STEWARDSHIP SONG Dream God’s Dream Insert
(verses 1 & 2)
STEWARDSHIP MOMENT Dreaming God’s Dream– Education
SPECIAL MUSIC Hymn of Promise setting by John Carter
ALL GOD’S CHILDREN JoAnn Moody
SCRIPTURE READING 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5
SERMON Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Rev. Dr. Carol Trissel
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)
*HYMN Open My Eyes #174
*BENEDICTION Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
*POSTLUDE Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing arr. Diane Bish
Immediate Marshmallows
October 16, 2025 by Kara White
Filed under What If? blog
by Vince Amblin — published on Oct 16, 2025
[Jesus said,] “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that [it] is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” Matthew 24:32-34 (NRSV)
My daughter’s brain works differently from mine. I am a planner. An expert at delayed gratification. I got an A++ on the Marshmallow Test. (The marshmallow is probably still sitting there today!) Her, not so much.
Often, I spend my days trying to get her brain to work like mine. Wouldn’t you rather tackle that homework now so it’s done? She wouldn’t. Don’t you want to practice your taekwondo kicks so you’re ready for the belt test? She doesn’t.
And slowly, a team of experts is trying to teach me: the future doesn’t exist for her in the same way it does for you. She isn’t driven by the fear of eventual consequences or the promise of distant rewards. For her, this moment is everything.
Which sounds familiar. Jesus is always telling folks: the end is near. The kingdom is coming. Don’t worry about tomorrow.
It leads him to make all kinds of impractical suggestions, er, commandments: Give to all who ask of you. Don’t store up your treasure. Lay down your life for a friend. Or the worst: Do not worry.
Act without considering the consequences? Give without counting the cost? Live in the moment with no concern for what may happen next? That’s just not how my brain works.
Luckily, I have someone to teach me.
Prayer
Thank you for giving us into each other’s care.
This article can be found on the United Church of Christ’s website under Daily Devotionals.
Oct 12- Dreaming God’s Dream- Action
October 10, 2025 by Kara White
Filed under Featured, Livestream Links and Order for Worship
Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ!
Giving joyfully and extravagantly is our faithful response to God’s abundant gifts!
May the Love of Christ fill us to overflowing as we journey toward God’s ever-new horizons…
Dreaming God’s Dream
For a pdf of all of the music in today’s worship, please click here.
WELCOME
PRELUDE Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We join together, each with different needs.
All: God meets every need with blessing.
One: We join together, each with different gifts.
All: God welcomes every gift as blessing.
One: We have come together to dream God’s dream.
All: No gift is too small, no dream is too big. Amen.
HYMN– We Are God’s People #117
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Inspiring God, be with us today as we gather together in stewardship. We are grateful to be a part of your community. Open our hearts to your gifts. Surprise us with new learning and renewed community. Bring us together in a vision for the future. Encourage us to welcome every gift, so that we might dream every dream. Amen.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
“May the peace of Christ be with you.” (Response) “And also with you.”
*RESPONSE —We Are a New Creation Ivy worship booklet, p.91
(verses 3 and 4 only)
GOD’S WORD James 2:14-17
STEWARDSHIP SONG– Dream God’s Dream (verse 1)
STEWARDSHIP MOMENT Dreaming God’s Dream –Christian Action
SPECIAL MUSIC Simple Gifts arr. Russell Schulz-Widmar
GOSPEL READING Matthew 25:31-40
SERMON Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
*HYMN—Take My Life and Let It Be #436
*BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee arr. Matt Limbaugh
Special Fellowship Coming Up!
October 9, 2025 by Kara White
Filed under What If? blog
The Interim Transition Team is hosting a time of fellowship on the 1st and 3rd Sundays.
Join us in the Fellowship Hall for coffee and a light snack!
October 5- World Communion Sunday
October 3, 2025 by Kara White
Filed under Featured, Livestream Links and Order for Worship
Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC
God loves all people, and God rejoices that you are here.
On this World Communion Sunday, we are blessed to be joining with Christians everywhere in the worship of God! Together, let us come to the Table of our Living Savior.
For a link to all of the music for today please click here.
Each song is also linked to their specific sheet music.
WELCOME
PRELUDE – For Those Tears I Died – Marsha J. Stevens
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We gather as God’s people to celebrate the beauty of our diversity.
All: Let us love each other as God loves us, beautifully and wonderfully made in God’s image.
One: We give thanks for who we are, Beloved of God.
All: Let us open our hearts to God’s spirit of love and unity.
One: We celebrate the gifts of all gathered here today.
All: Let us worship God with all we are and celebrate the beauty of all God’s creation.
*HYMN- In Christ There Is No East or West #137
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Majestic God, your realm encompasses the universe, the earth, and our community. All creation declares your glory. May we unite with our kin around the world in celebrating you and the connections we share. As we gather in your name, may we remember those we join in faith, hope, and worship on every continent representing every tradition. May we declare in spirit and in truth…one bread, one body…the church striving to be one as you, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Spirit are one. Amen.
*RESPONSE – Bind Us Together #130
GOD’S WORD – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE JoAnn Moody
SPECIAL MUSIC – In The Garden – C. Austin Miles
GOD’S WORD John 17:21-23
SERMON – Many Parts, One Body – Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
*COMMUNION HYMN One Bread, One Body – Ivy worship booklet p. 72
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION [B] – Ivy worship booklet, pp. 12-13
All who desire to receive the bread and the cup are welcome to share in the Sacrament at Christ’s Table.
*HYMN – They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love #119
*BENEDICTION – Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
*POSTLUDE
