Ever Faithful

Third Sunday in Lent

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

WELCOME

PRELUDE        Praise to the Lord, the Almighty                   arr., Diane Bish      

*CALLTO WORSHIP          Blair Bittick           
One: Come, let us worship God!
All:  Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
One:  Come, let us worship our Shepherd!
All:  We are the sheep of God’s pasture, and we follow where God leads us.
One:  Come, let us open our hearts!
All:  We receive God’s love poured into our hearts through the Spirit.
One:  Come, let us worship God, the rock of our salvation!
All:  Let us worship God, whose mercy guides and sustains us on the path of new life!

*HYMN           Amazing Grace          Hymn No. 299

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION         Blair Bittick  
Creator God, maker of heaven and earth, we come before you with songs of joy and hearts full of gratitude.  We thank you for your abundant blessings and for guiding us like a shepherd guides his flock.  Help us to listen for your voice and to follow your ways faithfully.  Open our hearts to receive the life you offer and let our lives be shaped by your grace.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*PASSING OF THE PEACE        Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*RESPONSE       Open My Eyes, That I May See           Hymn No. 174                      

A READING FROM THE PSALMS         Psalm 95         Blair Bittick     

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE     Linda Lowry

SPECIAL MUSIC      I Want Jesus to Walk with Me     arr., Lloyd Larsen

NEW TESTAMENT READING      Romans 5:1-11       Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON        “Grace”          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:                                                                      
The God of Living Water invites us to share our time, our talents, and our financial resources with others who are still thirsty for meaning and purpose in life.  Let us give back to God from the abundance we have received.  Give as God has enabled you to do so.  Will the ushers come forward with our gifts?  

*DOXOLOGY           Hymn No. 623

*Prayer of Thanksgiving:     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
All:  Gracious God, we pray that our gifts may provide nourishment to those who thirst for justice, strength to those who hunger for hope, and a community to those living in loneliness.  May the amazing grace you have given us flow through our gifts.  Amen.  

*HYMN      Fill My Cup, Lord      Hymn No. 367    

*BENEDICTION        Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE    How Firm a Foundation      arr., Gilbert Martin