March 22 — Ever Faithful

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Fifth 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 — Prelude in C (from the Well-tempered clavier)  J.S. Bach, born March 21, 1685

CALL TO WORSHIP —  JoAnn Moody
One: From the depths, we cry to the Lord.
All:  We wait for the Lord, trusting in mercy and hope.
One:  God speaks life into dry bones and breathes into weary hearts.
All:  We come, longing for the Spirit who gives life.
One:  Christ calls the dead to rise and the grieving to hope.
All:  Let us worship the God who brings life out of death.

HYMN — On Eagle’s Wings —  Ivy Worship Booklet, pp. 70-71                     

PRAYER OF INVOCATION —  JoAnn Moody
God of life, You meet us in valleys of loss and places where hope feels far away.  As we gather in worship, draw near to us with your restoring presence.  Breathe your Spirit into what feels dry within us and open our hearts to the life you promise.  Through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE — Rev. Doni Driemeier-Showers            

RESPONSE — God Will Make a Way — Ivy Worship Booklet, p. 44

A READING FROM THE PSALMS    Psalm 130 — JoAnn Moody

SPECIAL MUSIC  —  Bist du bei mir (If you are near) — J.S. Bach

NEW TESTAMENT READING — John 11:1-45 — Rev. Doni Driemeier-Showers

SERMON  —   “New Life”   — Rev. Doni Driemeier-Showers

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE  — Rev. Doni Driemeier-Showers                
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)

OFFERING

Invitation to Generosity:  JoAnn Moody
Friends, as we have been cared for through the gifts we have received, may we offer these gifts. Gifts for your people who need hope, who hunger for food and justice, who yearn for peace, and who long for your graceful presence in their lives. Will the ushers please come forward with the offering.

DOXOLOGY     Hymn No. 623

Prayer of Thanksgiving:  Rev. Doni Driemeier-Showers
All:  Jesus, You are the Light of the World.  Shine Your light in me today. Accept these our gifts so they may be used to chase away the darkness of sin, the darkness of fear and doubt and despair. May Your Holy Spirit live in me and make me a shining example of Your amazing grace, redeeming love, and life-changing power. Amen.

HYMN — Shine, Jesus, Shine  — Ivy Worship Booklet, pp. 78-79          

RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION — Rev. Doni Driemeier-Showers                  
One: Come out! Jesus commands,
All: And calls us from the tombs of our existence into the brightness of a new day.
One: Come out! Jesus cries,
All: And unbinds us from the chains of our past.
One: Come out! Jesus calls,
All: And entices us into a world filled with grace and possibility.
One: So, Go out!
All: Into a world that needs our life, our breath, our spirit!
One: Go out!
All: Into a world that needs the Spirit of God, carried on our lips and in our loving arms.
One: Go out!
All: Into the world to live as God’s resurrected people!
One: Go out: and go on the breath of God’s holy wind!
~ written by the Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, UCC Worship Ways

POSTLUDE —Little Prelude and Fugue in F  — J.S. Bach