April 12 – PEACE BE WITH YOU

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ.  We rejoice in your presence among us.
We gather to celebrate our Risen Savior.  We gather as witnesses to living hope.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Christ Arose!

CALL TO WORSHIP    —  John Weiland
One:  Peace be with you.
All:  The risen Christ speaks peace into our fear.
One:  We have seen the Lord, wounded, risen, and present among us.
All:  We come to worship the one who opens locked doors and calls us by name.
One:  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.
All:  Let us worship the living God who raises the dead and makes all things new.

HYMN   —    Rejoice, the Lord Is King — No.282

PRAYER OF INVOCATION     — John Weiland
Risen Lord, you come to us as you came to your disciples, through closed doors and across the distance of our doubts.  Breathe your Spirit upon us, speak your peace into our fear, and open our hearts to the living hope born in your resurrection.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.                           

PASSING OF THE PEACE — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

RESPONSE — ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus   — Hymn No.358          

A READING FROM THE PSALMS  —  Psalm 16  —  John Weiland

SPECIAL MUSIC  —    It is Well With My Soul —  arr., Suzanne Arant

A READING FROM THE GOSPELS:  John 20:19-31  — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON  —  “Peace Be With You!“  —  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:   John Weiland       
An important element of making peace is to listen to others.  As we are generous with our time, talents and treasures, may we also be generous in listening to the spoken and unspoken needs in our community.  Will the ushers bring forward our gifts?

DOXOLOGY   — Hymnal No.623

Prayer of Dedication:   Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
O Gracious God, we offer these gifts as a thanksgiving for the peace we have received through our faith in you.  Guide us to use them as instruments of your peace so that others  may experience the joy we know.  May you bless those who have given and those who will receive.  Amen. 

HYMN —  Peace Like a River – No. 360   

BENEDICTION — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

POSTLUDE     — The Rejoicing (from Suite in G) — Charles Callahan