March 22 — Ever Faithful

Can’t make it to Ivy Chapel in person? You can join us online every week on our YouTube channel.

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

22 March Worship Music

Here is a link for the worship music for Sunday, March 22, 2026.
The songs include:
On Eagles Wings – Ivy Worship Booklet, pp. 70-71
God Will Make a Way, Ivy Worship Booklet, p. 44
Doxology, Hymn No. 623
Shine, Jesus, Shine – Ivy Worship Booklet, pp. 78-79

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

March 8-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

1 March — Ever Faithful

Second 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   The Old Rugged Cross       arr., Penny Rodriguez

*CALLTO WORSHIP              Julie McAllister
One:  God calls us to leave what is familiar and follow where grace leads.
All:  We come, trusting the promise we cannot see.
One:  God keeps watch over all who journey by faith.
All:  Our help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.
One:  God offers new life, born of Spirit and truth.
All:  Let us worship the God who calls us forward in faith.

*HYMN         Great is Thy Faithfulness         #17                

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION         Julie McAllister  
Calling God, You invite us into futures we cannot yet imagine.  As we gather in worship, steady our hearts and strengthen our trust.  Loosen our grip on what feels safe and familiar, and open us to the life you promise.  Shape us by your grace, that we may walk faithfully with you through this Lenten journey.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.         

*RESPONSE     Trust and Obey          #469
(verses 1 and 5)

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE        JoAnn Moody

A READING FROM THE PSALMS      Psalm 121         Julie McAllister

SPECIAL MUSIC            Standing on the Promises        arr., James Koerts

NEW TESTAMENT READING   Romans 4:1-5,13-17       Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON            “Faith”             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       
The season of Lent invites us to consider the cost Jesus paid so we could know the unconditional love of God.  So great a gift calls for a response in faith.  Let us offer whatever gifts we have so others can experience God’s boundless love and grace.  Will the usher come forward with our gifts?

*DOXOLOGY   #623

*Prayer of Thanksgiving:        Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
All: O God, we offer back to you a portion of the resources with which you have blessed us.  Use these gifts and our lives to share your matchless grace.  Amen.

*COMMUNION HYMN         We Come as Guests Invited     #258

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       Something for Jesus         #441

*BENEDICTION          Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE       Down to the River to Pray

Youth Lock-in

The Ivy Youth will be having their Lock-in Friday March 27-28 from 6pm to 10 am. Be on the lookout for more information in the KYPs.

Palm Sunday

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

Good Friday Worship

We invite you to join us for Good Friday worship at 2 pm, on Friday April 3rd.

Easter Sunday Worship

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

RUMMAGE SALE

Check your garages, clean out your closets and scan your storage spaces for items to donate for Ivy Chapel’s Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 25th from 8am- 3pm.
Items can be dropped off on Thursday and Friday, April 23rd and 24th from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm.

Next Page »