March 15 – Ever Faithful

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. 
Along with God’s whole Church we are on a 40-day wilderness trek. 
By grace alone, we live.

WELCOME

PRELUDE       Be Thou My Vision     Traditional Irish tune       Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

CALL TO WORSHIP         Linda Lowry
One:  The Lord calls us out of darkness into light.
All:  We come, trusting the God who opens our eyes.
One:  God sees beyond appearances and knows the truth of our hearts.
All:  We come, longing to live as children of the light.
One: Even in the darkest valley, we will not be afraid.
All: For the light of Christ is with us, His love will never let us go.
One: Let us worship the One who opens our eyes and leads us home.
All: We come to worship in spirit and in truth, rejoicing in the light of the Lord!

HYMN       Morning Has Broken        No. 274 (Gaelic melody)               

PRAYER OF INVOCATION           Linda Lowry

God of light and truth, You see us as we are and call us into new life.  As we gather in worship, open our eyes to your presence and our hearts to your grace.  Lead us through shadow and uncertainty and shape us by your word to live as people awakened by your light. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.                        

RESPONSE        Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us      Hymn No. 449          

A READING FROM THE PSALMS   Psalm 23          Linda Lowry

MINISTRY MOMENT:            Unleashing Potential           
Darlene Sowell, CEO of Unleashing Potential and Brittany Campbell

SPECIAL MUSIC     Air from County Derry (Londonderry Air)             Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

A READING FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT Ephesians 5:8-14          Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON        “Illumination”        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:    Linda Lowry
Maybe today, it feels as if you have nothing left to give.  Perhaps you are tired and your life feels like ashes or dust.  The Gospel story today tells us healing happened through spit and dust in the hands of Jesus.  God can birth new dreams and bring new insights even in our weariness.  So, let’s discover what abundance emerges when whatever we have left to give is placed in the hands of grace.  Will the ushers come forward with our gifts?  

DOXOLOGY   Hymn No.623

Prayer of Thanksgiving:                                                                
All:  Into a world desperate for hope, let our gifts bring the light of good news.  Into hearts searching for compassion, let our gifts demonstrate care and nurture.  Into each person yearning for new life, let our gifts provide assurance that abundant life is available through faith.  Amen.  

HYMN        Be Thou My Vision      No. 400 (Irish Hymn)

BENEDICTION             Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

POSTLUDE         An Irish Medley            Kathryn Kuntzman, cello