November 6 – Totenfest – Hold on to Faith 

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC. All are welcome here.
As our love for God grows, we become more and more fully alive as Christ’s disciples!

Today we observe Totenfest (the “Festival of the Dead”) in connection with All Saints’ Day. Worship will include our congregation’s ritual honoring loved ones who have passed on to life eternal during the past year. We also will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion as our life-long journey “From Bread and Cup Toward Faith and Giving” continues. Please gather the elements before worship so you can celebrate communion with us.

Join us in person every Sunday at 10 a.m., or you can watch our services anytime on our YouTube page.

We are still having trouble with our main sanctuary camera, but were able to capture this week’s special service on Facebook Live. You do not need to be a member of Facebook to watch this video–click on the link and you should be able to watch. If you have trouble, let us know.

Click here to watch on Facebook.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley – Lachenauer

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: God’s energy fills this place.
All: In this sanctuary, we feel God’s presence.
One: God brings people together.
All: God is bringing us together here.
One: Have you looked closely at God’s invitation?
All: God invites all people to come together with one another
around Christ’s Table.

*HYMN – For All the Saints – #548

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness dread, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

But, lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Still-Speaking God, throughout history you have gathered people around your Word to instruct and to inspire. We give thanks for people who have embraced your Vision and who have given of themselves supporting communities that follow your Way. Reveal your Vision in this house today, Amazing God, so that we may be transformed by your renewing grace. Lead us to continue growing in our love for you and for one another.
Watchful and Caring God, nourish within us pure hearts and souls. Every breath that we breathe is a gift from you. Encourage us and guide us as we continue striving to be channels of your astonishing compassion, Christ Jesus. May our lives serve you and praise you. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE – Gloria Patri – #620

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
And to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen

GOD’S WORD – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

TOTENFEST – Thanksgiving for Loved Ones

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH AND THE LORD’S PRAYER – Pastor Dan

SPECIAL MUSIC – Pie Jesu, Andrew Lloyd Webber – Marsha Fix and Valerie Waterman, Vocalists

Merciful Jesus, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest.
O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.

GOD’S WORD – Luke 20:20, 27-38

SERMON – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face – #259

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;
Here would I touch and handle things unseen;
Here grasp with firmer hand th’eternal grace,
And all my weariness upon Thee lean.

Here would I feed upon the Bread of God;
Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heav’n;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load;
Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiv’n.

I have no help but Thine; nor do I need
Another arm save Thine to lean upon;
It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed;
My strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.

Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness;
Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood.
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace;
They blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord, my God.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
All people are invited to Christ’s Table. All who desire are welcome to receive the bread and the cup.

*HYMN – I Sing a Song of the Saints of God – worship booklet, pp. 52-53

I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.

They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.

They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Toccata – Speth