February 8- A Light in the Darkness

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany – If you can’t make it to Ivy Chapel in-person this week? We invite you to worship with us online every week on our YouTube channel.
Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC. 
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

WELCOME

PRELUDE   Spirit of the Living God, Fall Fresh on Me          

*CALL TO WORSHIP          Jim French                                                                                     
One:  Jesus taught:  Blessed are the poor in spirit.  The realm of God is theirs.
All:  Those who mourn are blessed.  They will be comforted.
One:  The meek will inherit the earth.  The merciful will obtain mercy.
All:  All who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed; they will be filled.
One:  Blessed are the pure in heart and the peacemakers.  They will see God.
All:  Those persecuted or falsely accused will be blessed.  Even in the face of evil, we will rejoice.

*HYMN    O How Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit   Hymn No.229                                                  

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION         Jim French             
We come into this moment carrying the weight of our lives.  We feel the strain in our bodies and on our spirits.  Draw near to us now.  Kindle in us courage to carry out acts of mercy and the work of lifting burdens.  Let your Spirit move among us and remake us to share in life at its fullest and best as disciples of Jesus.  Amen.

Passing of the Peace        Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
(May the peace of Christ be with you.  Response:  And also with you.)

*RESPONSE    Peace Like a River  Hymn No.360

OLD TESTAMENT READING    Micah 6:1-   Jim French                                                                

SPECIAL MUSIC      Lord, I want to be a Christian in my Heart

GOSPEL READING       Matthew 5:1-16    Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON    “The Salt”          Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

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

INVITATION TO GENEROSITY    Jim French
One: Friends of God, when we give, we join the work of lifting burdens and repairing the places we call home.  Let our offerings be given with open hands, willing hearts, and a commitment to our shared life.  Will the ushers come forward with our gifts?

*DOXOLOGY     Hymn No.623

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION          Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
All:  Bless what we have brought to you.  Let it move where relief is needed, where repair can begin, and where dignity can rise.  Carry us forward in your work with gratitude and joy.  Amen. 

*HYMN   The Master Has Come  Hymn No.502                                                                          

*BENEDICTION          Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE          Rondo in C     Gordon Young                                                      

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!

Coffee Fellowship

Please join us on February 8th for a special time of coffee fellowship and to help by completing a survey about what Ivy is looking for in “Our Ministries”. The survey will be confidential and available online after the 8th- please contact the office for more information at 314-434-5141 or ivychapelucc@ivychapel.org

‘Souper Bowl of Caring’

In 1990, a simple prayer, “Lord, even as we enjoy the Souper Bowl football game, help us to be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat” launched a grassroots, youth-inspired movement working to raise awareness, food and monetary donations for food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks and other hunger-relief charities within their community.’

Join the Youth again this year, from now through Feb 8th, as they collected canned goods and non-perishable items for our local community. You can bring items to Ivy Chapel and put them in the giant soup can in the Narthex.

Coffee Fellowship

Please join us on February 15th for a special time of coffee fellowship and to help by completing a survey about what Ivy is looking for in “Our Settled Pastor”. The survey will be available online after the 15th- please contact the office for more information at 314-434-5141 or ivychapelucc@ivychapel.org

Ash Wednesday

You are invited to join us for a special service at 2 pm on Wednesday, February, 18th for our Ash Wednesday observance.

Palm Sunday

We hope you’ll join us for Palm Sunday services on March 29th at 10 am.

Good Friday

We invite you to join us for Good Friday worship at 1 pm, on Friday April 3rd.

Easter Services

We welcome you to join us this Easter morning at 10 am for worship.
He IS Risen!

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