February 1-A Light in the Darkness

All of the music is linked on the individual songs below for you to sing with us.

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC.  God loves all people, and God rejoices that you are here.

WELCOME

PRELUDE       Immortal, Invisible, God, Only Wise     Welsh Melody  

*CALL TO WORSHIP           Julie McAllister
One: Come, people of God—the dawn is breaking! A new day rises where sorrow had settled in.
All: The dawn is breaking— and we rise with it.
One: Where burdens have bent us low, the Holy One draws near, steadying our steps.
All: The Holy One draws near— and we gather our courage.
One: Where yokes have weighed on shoulders and spirits, God is loosening what has held us down.
All: What held us down is lifting—and we move toward freedom.
One: Come, all who yearn for justice; all who hope for healing; all who hunger for joy.
All: We come to the dawning way, we come to the hopeful way,
we come to the way God makes glorious.

*HYMN     The Light of the World is Jesus   Hymn No.373

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION                Julie McAllister              

Gracious Giver of light, into the shadows of our isolation you speak words of life and community.  Challenger of Souls, you call us to venture beyond the familiar, safe places which we think of as home, and you boldly lead us out into the big, wide world you love so much.  Through Your gentle, healing touch you redeem broken places in our lives and you heal the wounds of all the earth.

Healing Spirit, breathe new life into us during this time of worship.  Led by your Word, may we live as ambassadors of your reconciling love.  We praise you for calling us to come home to you.  Amen.

*RESPONSE    There’s a Quiet Understanding     Hymn No.144

OLD TESTAMENT READING    Isaiah 9:1-4       Julie McAllister

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE      Tara Lowry

SPECIAL MUSIC      It Is Well with My Soul        arr., Suzanne Arant

GOSPEL READING      Matthew 4:12-23     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON      “A Great Light”    Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

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

OFFERING

Invitation to Generosity:             Julie McAllister
Liturgist:  Faithful friends, the God who shines a great light into our despair also invites us to join the work of healing, justice, and building community.  In thanksgiving for the grace we have received and in hope for the vision God is shaping here, let us offer our resources, our commitments, and our lives.  Let us give with joy.  Amen.

DOXOLOGY Hymn No.623

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING         Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*COMMUNION HYMN      Come, Share the Lord    Hymn No.260

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.
The cups in the outer ring on each tray contain grape juice.  The other cups contain wine.

*HYMN  To Be God’s People    Hymn No.121

*BENEDICTION       Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE    Sweet, Sweet Spirit   arr., Glenda Austin

Jan 25th-Cancelled due to weather

Out of an abundance of caution, Ivy Chapel is cancelling this Sunday’s services and the Annual Meeting and Luncheon in anticipation of the extreme cold and winter storm.
The annual Meeting and Soup Luncheon will be held NEXT SUNDAY, Feb 1st following worship.
Please stay safe this weekend!

Jan 18- A Light in the Darkness

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC.  Whoever you are, Wherever you are on life’s journey,
You are welcome here.

WELCOME

PRELUDE  Be Thou My Vision Traditional Irish Melody arr. Burlington

*CALL TO WORSHIP          John Weiland                                                                                                       
One:  Wait patient for the Lord; he will listen and hear your cry.
All: God drew me up from the depths and set my feet upon a rock.
One: The Creator put a song of praise in my mouth.  Many will see and put their trust in the Lord.
All: Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not go after false idols.
One:  Sacrifice and burnt offering you do not desire. 
All: I delight to do your will, O my God, your law is within my heart.
One: I have spoken of your faithfulness and proclaimed your steadfast love to all people.
All:  O Lord, let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep us safe forever. 

*HYMN     I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever     
Ivy worship booklet p. 56                                                           

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION                                                           
O God our Creator, you have knit us together and called us into being.  We pray you fill our hearts with your Spirit.  Everything we desire can be found in you.  We ask you to draw near to us in this time of worship.  We pray you equip us to be a source of your healing in the lives of our community.  May we ever more fully become your light in the darkness of our world.  Amen.

*RESPONSE      Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love       
Ivy worship booklet p. 57                                                            

OLD TESTAMENT READING      Isaiah 49:1-7       John Weiland                    

SPECIAL MUSIC      This is My Father’s World Franklin Sheppard arr. Berry      

GOSPEL READING        John 1:29-42      Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON       “A Servant”     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

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

INVITATION TO GENEROSITY
One: In heaven it’s believed that there is no good thing lacking.  There is no scarcity, no shortage.  We have the opportunity today to mirror Heaven.  Let us offer whatever we are led to give, so that abundance may flow and that God’s people lack no good thing. 

*DOXOLOGY         #623                          

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
All:  Creator of heaven and earth, receive these offerings from our hearts and our hands.  May they be used to bring your light to all who are surrounded in darkness.  Amen.

*HYMN          Love Divine, All Loves Excelling #71                                                       

*BENEDICTION    Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE      Ash Grove Traditional Welsh Melody arr. Berry                                                

Jan 11-A Light in the Darkness

We apologize for the technical difficulties we encountered with sound and then filming this morning.
We are working to fix any problems and plan to be live again next week- we hope you see us there!

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC. If you can’t make it in person on Sunday to Ivy Chapel, please join us every week online on our YouTube channel.

All of the songs are linked individually to their sheet music below.

God loves all people, and God rejoices that you are here. Please join us for a time of fellowship and refreshments in Fellowship Hall following worship.

WELCOME

PRELUDE   Morning Song    James Southbridge

*CALL TO WORSHIP        Linda Lowry
One: Come, you who are weary, you who have been bruised by life, you whose flame has flickered in the winds of the world.
All: We come, longing to be renewed.
One: The Holy One who stretches out the heavens is stretching us now—
stretching our hearts toward courage, our hands toward compassion,
our lives toward gentle justice.
All: We open ourselves to be stretched into new life.
One: A voice from heaven says to us, as it said to Jesus:
You are my beloved. This Spirit rests upon us, too.
All: We are God’s Beloved, called to bring gentle justice.
One: Come, let us remember who we are.
All: Let us worship God with joy.

*HYMN     Another Year Is Dawning     #613  

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION         Linda Lowry              
Holy One, Breath of Creation, You stretched out the heavens and set the earth dancing with life. You whispered belovedness over Jesus rising from the Jordan, and your Spirit rested upon him like a gentle dove. Rest your Spirit upon us now. Stretch our hearts where they have grown tight. Soften the places that have been hardened by fear or disappointment. Wake the embers of joy that still glow beneath the ash. Remind us that we are your Beloved, not because of what we have done, but because of who You are and the love that holds us. As we gather at the water today, let us remember who we are, and who we are becoming together— your people of compassion, courage, and gentle justice. In the name of Christ, the One who shows us how to be human, we pray. Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE        Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

“May the peace of Christ be with you.”   (Response) “And also with you.”

*RESPONSE    Gracious Spirit, Dwell in Me      #149

OLD TESTAMENT READING       Isaiah 42:1-9     Linda Lowry

SPECIAL MUSIC    Water Music, HWV 350:  Rigaudon        Händel (tr. Peasgood)

GOSPEL READING     Matthew 3:13-17       Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON       “The Chosen One”       Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

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

OFFERING
Invitation to Generosity    Linda Lowry
*Doxology (traditional)            #623
*Prayer of Dedication      Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*HYMN       O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing        #93          

*BENEDICTION       Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE       Water Music, HWV 349:  Alla Hornpipe    Händel (tr. Peasgood)

Jan 4-Abide With Us

Happy New Year! Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC. 
God loves all people, and God rejoices that you are here.

WELCOME

PRELUDE   Die drei Weisen aus dem Morgenlande (Op. 48, No. 3)       O. Malling

*CALL TO WORSHIP                 JoAnn Moody                                  
One:  Sing for joy, and praise God!
All: God’s holy power makes winds blow and water flow!
One: Hear the Word of God and believe the good news!
All: Christ the Savior is born!
One:  Jesus of Nazareth is God’s Anointed One!
All: What a gift!  Christ truly is “the joy of all the earth!”
One: God Emmanuel loves you.
All:  Praise God for coming to life among us!

*HYMN       The First Noel      #205      
(verses 3-6 only)

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION        JoAnn Moody
Everlasting God; you come to life in this world as holy light, desiring to be known by humankind.  During the year ahead, open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to recognize you living among us.   Day by day, you are creating and leading us along the way to fullness of life.  You came to earth through human childbirth.  You did not send someone else.  You came yourself!  You were born as a little baby who grew up in a small town.  We are grateful that you often come in quietly reassuring ways that do not call attention to yourself.  We praise you for your abundant love, Jesus.  Thank you for teaching us to live as disciples of your grace.  Amen.

*RESPONSE   Day by Day       #486

OLD TESTAMENT READING    Jeremiah 31:7-14         JoAnn Moody

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE         Tara Lowry

SPECIAL MUSIC            Pastorale on ‘Fairest Lord Jesus’       G. Edmundson

GOSPEL READING     John 1:10-18      Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON      Abide With Us     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

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

*COMMUNION HYMN      Of The Father’s Love Begotten      #193

PRAYER OF PREPARATION     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

INVITATION AND DISTRIBUTION
(Instructions given to congregants – All people who wish to participate in communion are invited to come forward and gather in a large circle from the front pews to the altar. Pastor will serve those on the altar area and ushers will serve those on the floor level.)

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

*HYMN    As With Gladness Men of Old     #219   

*BENEDICTION       Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE     Praeludium in G Major (BWV 568)     J. S. Bach