Dec 21- ‘The Merry Mix-Up Pageant’

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC.

WELCOME       Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

PRELUDE     Gesu Bambino (The Infant Jesus)    Pietro Yon
Valerie Waterman, vocalist

*CALL TO WORSHIP     Audrey Farrell
ONE: The Prince of Peace is coming, born to us in a stable.
ALL: Unbelievable beginnings for he who is born King of the Jews.
ONE: This story sounds impossible, and yet this is no mix-up.
ALL: All are welcome at the manger.

*HYMN   O Come, All Ye Faithful #188

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION     Eli Willey                  
Ever present, God, when you gave your only son to the world, he was placed in the care of modest parents, born in a lowly manger, and the news of his birth was shared with humble shepherds. It was no ordinary welcome for a king. But through your grace, you remind us that peace, love, hope, and joy can come from the most unexpected of places. Help us continue having faith in your power, your love, and your surprises. Amen.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH – The Candle of Love  
Reader 1:  Today, we come face to face with the scandal of Advent: Mary, the unmarried mother; God Incarnate growing in Mary’s womb as a vulnerable baby; Joseph contemplating leaving Mary because of her pregnancy; God’s love at work in ways that society and propriety could not understand; God calling Mary and Joseph to faithfulness despite the fear of disgrace.
All: With Mary and Joseph, we choose to wait, watch, and listen for the way of Love instead of responding in fear to the world’s judgment.
Reader 2: We light this candle of love as a sign of our faithfulness as we seek, find, and follow Emmanuel, God with us.

 *RESPONSE   O Come, O Come, Emmanuel  #186       (Verse 4 Only)                               

SPECIAL MUSIC    Winter Wonderland    
                    Jack Fernandez, piano

The Merry Mix-Up Pageant
Written by Tara Lowry

The Congregation is invited to share in the singing of the following hymns:
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Insert)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Verses 1, 2 & 4) #200
Angels We Have Heard on High   (Verses 1,2 & 3) #206

Cast sings “Away in a Manger”

We Three Kings (Verses 1 & 5)  #220

*HYMN    Go Tell it on the Mountain  #216                        
Children/Youth sing Verse 1
Congregation joins in singing Verses 2 & 3

*RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION     Blair Bittick
ONE: And so concludes our merry tale of the birth of our Lord and Savior.
ALL: But the story of God’s love does not end there.
ONE: It continues on in the hearts of each and every one of us.
ALL: All are welcome to share God’s love.

*POSTLUDE  O Come, Little Children     arr., Diane Bish

Dec 14- Come to Us, Abide with Us

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC.
On this third Sunday of Advent, we look forward with joyful anticipation to what God reveals to us.

WELCOME

PRELUDE       Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming/ In the Bleak Midwinter           Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Our souls magnify the Lord. Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior!
All: We come today with eager hope, awaiting God’s new revelation.
One: The mighty One has done great things! God’s mercy covers generations.
All: We come today with ready peace, trusting with anticipation.
One: The One who lifted up the lowly and filled the hungry dwells with us.
All: We come today with fervent joy, we worship with great expectation. 
(Inspired by Luke 1:46b-55, The Magnificat)

*HYMN    When God Is a Child    Ivy worship booklet, p. 95

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of us all, your children here and your children afar—
We enter this moment of worship with eager anticipation. We know that even before a child would come to lead the way, You were leading our way. Wondrous God, we look forward with joyful expectation to the future ways that you will reveal yourself in this world! Make your presence known as we worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE    Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
“May the peace of Christ be with you.”   (Response) “And also with you.”

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH – The Candle of Joy 
First Reader (Liturgist): In the midst of our waiting and longing for God to make the world right again, we cling to the truth that God has saved, God is saving, and God will save. So today, we join our voices with the prophet Isaiah, who calls us to live in the joy of the truth of God’s salvation.

All: We choose to believe that the day is coming when “the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

Second Reader (Pastor): We light this candle of joy as a sign of the Truth that sets us free to live in joy as we wait and work for the day when all creation will flourish together.

*RESPONSE   O Come, O Come, Emmanuel    #186
(verse 3 only)

AN OLD TESTAMENT READING          Isaiah 35:1-10                                   

SPECIAL MUSIC  Of the Father’s Love Begotten/ Come Thou Long Expected Jesus    
   Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL      Matthew 11:2-11     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON    “Awaken Our Joy”        Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE      Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)

*HYMN   How Great Our Joy!  #192

*RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION      Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
One:  Go with confidence into the days ahead.
All:  Allow the joy within each one of us to shine upon those who suffer.
One:  Let your light be magnified by the grace of God.
All:  May the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit be among us and within us.  Amen.

*POSTLUDE    Patapan   arr., James Biery

Advent

Come help us celebrate Advent season and the Birth of Christ beginning on Nov. 30th.
Each Sunday we will celebrate the coming of Christ with the lighting of the Advent candles and the retelling of the story leading to the birth of Christ.
Join us as we prepare the way each week:
First Sunday of Advent- Nov. 30- HOPE
Second Sunday of Advent- Dec. 7-PEACE
Third Sunday of Advent- Dec. 14- JOY
Fourth Sunday of Advent- Dec. 21- LOVE

Advent Storytelling

All children of God no matter their age are invited to come together for Advent Storytelling on Wednesday, December 17th. Starting at 6 pm in the Sanctuary, all are welcome to take turns reading Christmas books aloud by the light of the Christmas tree. Afterwards we will enjoy pizza, cookies, and hot chocolate in Fellowship Hall.

Come share the Christmas Spirit!  No RSVP required.

“The Merry Mix-Up” Christmas Pageant

Christmas is getting close – can you believe it?
The children’s Christmas pageant is always a highlight of the season at Ivy Chapel, so mark your calendar to come, hear the Christmas story told by our youth.
The pageant takes place during our 10am worship on Dec. 21st.
Need more information? Want to participate?
Rehearsals will start Nov.30th during the Sunday School portion of worship.
Please contact Tara Lowry for more information at taralowry96@gmail.com.

Christmas Eve Services

We invite you to join us at 5:00 pm on Christmas Eve, December 24th for a special worship service as we celebrate the coming of the Christ child, “Emmanuel:  God with Us”.
Christmas Eve worship will feature the story of the birth of Christ and conclude with singing “Silent Night” by candlelight.

Dec 7-Come to Us, Abide with Us

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC.
On this second Sunday of Advent, may God prepare us for a deeply meaningful celebration of Christ’s birth. Please join us for refreshments in Fellowship Hall following worship.

All of the music for today can be found on each individual song.

WELCOME

PRELUDE   What Child is This   arr. David Lanz   

*CALL TO WORSHIP    John Weiland
One:  Prepare the way!
All:  Let all the earth rejoice!
One:  The glory of God approaches
All:  During Advent, we are traveling together as God’s people.
One:  Christ the Lord is coming.
All:  Prepare the way!

*HYMN    As with Gladness Men of Old   #219

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION    John Weiland
Almighty God, we seek relief from the unrest of our daily lives. You, who offer peace and justice in a single hand, are our redeemer. Allow us, God, to unfold in your palm. With each breath, allow us to inhale the power of your sacred word, and exhale the turmoil within. Amen.   

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH – The Candle of Peace
First Reader: Advent reminds us that we are people who share a story, the story of Jesus, who enacts peace by judging in favor of the poor and deciding with equity for the meek of the earth. We long for the day when “the wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6).
All: Today, we choose to live the story of peace, believing that true peace comes when we seek the flourishing of all God’s creation.
Second Reader: We light this candle of peace as a sign of our commitment to bring Light to the places the world seeks to hide until that day when all creation lives together in harmony and abundance.

*RESPONSE    O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #186   
(verse 2 only)

AN OLD TESTAMENT READING    Isaiah 11:1-10    John Weiland

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE      Linda Lowry

SPECIAL MUSIC     A Cradle for a Lamb    Penny Rodriguez

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL  Matthew 3:1-12     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON    “Empower Our Peace”     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE      Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)

*COMMUNION HYMN    Infant Holy, Infant Low  #211 

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION [A]  Ivy worship booklet, pp. 10-11
All who desire to receive the bread and the cup are welcome to share in the Sacrament at Christ’s Table.

*HYMN   Let There Be Peace on Earth  Ivy worship booklet p. 62-63

*BENEDICTION    Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
One:  Within and beyond these walls, be people of peace.
All: May the peace of Christ live in our hearts.
One: Share the peace of Christ with all you meet.
All: May we share peace by acting with compassion and not fear.
One: Share peace by listening with an open heart. 
All: May we share peace through all we say and do. Amen.

*POSTLUDE     God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen     arr., Penny Rodriguez               

Nov 30- Come to Us, Abide with Us

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC. Today is the First Sunday in Advent, when we begin preparing for the coming of the Holy Child whom God will send.  May we all appreciate and receive God’s amazing gift to the world. Please join us for refreshments in Fellowship Hall following the Annual Meeting. 

All of the music is linked on the individual song titles below.

WELCOME

PRELUDE  O Come, O Come Emmanuel  Ethan Edwards- cello

*CALL TO WORSHIP     Linda Lowry
One: In the wilderness, blaze a trail for God.
All: Every valley shall be raised up.
One: Every mountain shall be made low.
All: And the glory of the Lord will be revealed among us.

*HYMNS  Hark the Herald Angels Sing     #191
                Go, Tell It on the Mountain        #216

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION    Linda Lowry   
    Ever-present God, your promises are being fulfilled among us moment by moment.  At this time of year, as the daytime hours grow shorter and the shadows lengthen, we treasure daylight.
God of Light, help us to turn toward you as we begin this Advent Season.  Fill us with fresh expectation.  Teach us again that this season is a time to watch, not for things that have already happened, but for exciting new things that have not yet taken place.  Come, Christ Jesus.  This world greatly needs you.  Help us to watch closely and to remain ready for the next holy moment when you will be born.  Amen.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH – The Candle of Hope
Reader One: The prophet Isaiah calls to us from the past to imagine the future when God’s reign will be fully realized and recognized throughout creation. When that time comes, God “shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.
All:  Today, we choose to live in hope, believing that the time of God’s reign has come and is coming among us.
Reader Two:  We light this candle of hope as a sign of our promise to follow the Light as we answer God’s call to transform our hope into reality today and in the days to come.

*RESPONSE  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel  #186                      
(Verse 1 Only)

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 2:1-5    Linda Lowry

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE    Dottie Foster

HYMN   O Christmas Tree   #221

SPECIAL MUSIC     Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

GOSPEL READING   Matthew 24:36-44   Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON   “Transform Our Hope”    Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)

*HYMN   Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus    #187

*BENEDICTION     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE     Heavenly Sunlight