Shouts of Joy! Dec. 13 Cantata Livestream

2020 has been quite a year. Let’s pause for a moment during this Season of Advent and find the joy! Our 2020 Christmas Cantata features treasured memories from our congregation.

Prelude: “He Is Lord” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful” – Aaron DiVesta and Anna DiVesta 

Responsive Call to Worship & Prayer of Invocation – Pastor Dan                                                                                                                   

     One:  The Savior of the world is Jesus Christ! 

     All:  Make a joyful noise to God!

     One:  Our God is a God of great joy!

     All:  Rely on God, who is our refuge and strength.

     One:  Give thanks to God, who is our salvation.   

     All:  We will sing praises to God’s name!

     One:  Let us pray.

     All:  God of great joy, we rejoice with anticipation as we look forward to future ways that you will reveal yourself among us.  May all people perceive your Spirit living within us, and may all people celebrate this blessing!  Strengthen us for your loving service.  We give thanks that you are calling us to be your followers and to live in ways that make life-giving differences in your world.  Lead us to carry out the caring ministries that you are inviting us to offer, Christ Jesus.  Amen.

 HYMN:  â€œJoyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”– #13

1.         Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory Lord of love;

            Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above.

            Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away;

            Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day.

2.         All Thy works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays

            Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise.

            Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

            Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee.

3.         Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever Blessing, ever blest,

            Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest!

            Thou our Father, Christ our Brother – All who live in love are Thine,

            Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine.

4.         Mortals join the mighty chorus Which the morning stars began;

            Father love is reigning o’er us, Brother love binds man to man.

            Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife,

            Joyful music leads us sunward In the triumph song of life.

Children’s Message – Liz Schurwan 

Prayers of the People concluding with the Lord’s Prayer (debts/debtors) –  Pastor Dan

Lighting the Advent Wreath – Pastor Dan: The Candle of Joy

 Praise Response – â€œWhen God Is a Child”  p. 95, worship booklet

 Verse 3 ONLY

3.         Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, Telling the world that the Savior is born

            When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first 

            and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

“Shouts of Joy:  A Christmas Concert for 2020”

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Psalm 98:1, 4

        HYMN – “Joy to the World” #194 

1.       Joy to the world the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King;

            Let every heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing, 

            and heav’n and nature sing. And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

2.         Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ;

            While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy,

            repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

3.         No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; 

            He comes to make HIs blessings flow Far as the curse is found,

            far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found.

4.         He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove

            The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love,

            And wonders of HIs love, and wonders, and wonders, of His love.

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture –  John 3:16-17 – Galatians 4:4-5

       â€œHe Is Born” – Julie McAllister and Anna DiVesta, Piano and Organ  

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Psalm 125:1-2 – Isaiah 40:9 – Isaiah 52:7      

       â€œGo, Tell It on the Mountain” –  Anna DiVesta, Piano       

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Isaiah 7:13-14 – Luke 2:16-19      

       â€œBreath of Heaven” –  Sue Wilson, Vocalist   

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Isaiah 9:6                               

       â€œMary, Did You Know?” – Aaron DiVesta and Anna DiVesta, Saxophone and Piano

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Isaiah 60:4-6 – Matthew 2:1, 9-11 

        HYMN –  â€œWe Three Kings” #220   

1.         We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we travers afar

            Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.

REFRAIN

            O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright,

            Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.

2.         Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again,

            King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign.

REFRAIN

3.         Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a Deity nigh;

            Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship Him, God on high.

REFRAIN

4.         Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom

            Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

REFRAIN

5.         Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice;

            Alleluia, Alleluia, Peals through the earth and skies.

REFRAIN

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Isaiah 11:1-2, 6-7, 9

       â€œCarol of the Drum” (The Little Drummer Boy) – Anna DiVesta, Piano         

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Amos 5:24 – Revelation 19:5-7a, 11, 16

       â€œO Holy Night” – Marsha Fix, Vocalist 

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – John 1:3-5 – Luke 2:9-11

       â€œSilent Night”                                                                                    

 Benediction – Anna DiVesta

 Postlude – Anna DiVesta

Thanksgiving message from the United Church of Christ

Thank you to Rev. Damien Lake, associate conference minister from the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ, for this inspiring Thanksgiving message.

During this Thanksgiving season, let’s pause for a moment and remember one of the most important messages of all: to love your neighbor as yourself. To accept all. To welcome all. To love all.

Mission 4/1 Earth

Many of us were witness to a phenomenal level of generosity displayed by this congregation in response to our 2011 United Church of Christ “Mission: 1” initiative.  All across our denomination, people responded faithfully and we far exceeded lofty “Mission: 1” goals.  Now, a new denomination-wide “mission initiative” is in the works.  We are calling it, “Mission 4/1 Earth: Fifty Great Days.”

This future mission effort already has a time-frame:  April 1 to May 18, 2013. (These are the dates of Eastertide 2013.  Historically, God’s Church has described the Season of Easter with the superlative name “The Great Fifty Days.”)  Beginning the day after Easter Sunday, all of us who are the United Church of Christ will join together in 50 Great Days of Mission 4/1 Earth.  Goals will include hopes of reaching more than 1 million hours of engaged earth care, 100,000 tree plantings across the globe, and 100,000 advocacy letters written and mailed in support of environmental care.

Working on behalf of environmental concerns is not new to our denomination.  Our United Church of Christ has been embracing this cause for over 30 years, so we see this shared ministry of caring for God’s Planet Earth as a continuation of ongoing U.C.C. work for environmental justice.  Mission 4/1 Earth will provide simple yet meaningful ways that each of us can take action wherever God places us  -  living out our faith by caring for God’s creation.

To learn more; please visit  www.ucc.org/news/mission-for-one-earth-website.html

Sell your wares at our Vendor Fair, Nov. 30

This year, Ivy Chapel is putting a new spin on fundraising – and we need your help. We’re having a Vendor Fair on Nov. 30, and we’re looking for crafters, bakers, builders & sellers of all kinds to provide a fun holiday shopping experience. It’s a chance to give your new, growing or established business some great exposure.

The Vendor Fair is Friday, November 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. We’re opening the doors for set-up at 3 – so there will be plenty of time to get ready for shoppers. The registration fee is $30 for a 6 ft. table, and $35 for an 8 footer.

Need to know more? Call (314) 434-4991 or email vendorfair@ivychapel.org.

Ready to register? Download the registration form and email it or drop it in the mail to: 620 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO, 63017.

Introducing the Mary & Martha Women’s Group

On the third Tuesday of each month, a group of women from Ivy Chapel meet for bible study, prayer and faith building. Join them this tuesday, March 20th, for an interactive Lenten program, led by Ann Molynaux. More details will be available in the bulletin – or click here to get more information.

Simply amazing. Simply U.C.C.

Ivy Chapel is proud to be part of the United Church of Christ. All are invited to join us for a series of discussions to discover exactly what this means, both for Ivy as a congregation and for each person who walks through the doors of our church. Whether you’re a longtime member of a first-time visitor, or if you’re looking to explore your own faith, you are invited to these enlightening, uplifting explorations of our church.

Each session will be from 7-8 p.m. at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ, 620 N. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield. If you have questions, please e-mail Linda Lowry or Pastor Dan Wilson.

Oct. 12: A history of the United Church of Christ

Oct. 19: A history of Ivy Chapel

Oct. 26: God is Still Speaking, Christ’s Ministries at Work Today

UPDATED: Our Church’s Wider Mission Fundraiser

UPDATE: Ivy Chapel’s special offering for Our Church’s Wider Mission raised over $1400. Thank you to everyone who donated for your inspiring generosity.

Each year, a portion of the offering and other money donated to Ivy Chapel goes to support “Our Church’s Wider Mission.” This outreach by the United Church of Christ helps those in need across the globe. The following video, which was shown during worship at Ivy Chapel on Feb. 21, further explains the concept of OCWM. The video was shown in support of a special offering held on Feb. 28 to support OCWM.

If you’d like more information about OCWM, or if you would like to donate to the fundraising drive, please join us in worship on Feb. 28, e-mail us, or call 1-314-434-4991

Journey toward the Miracle of Easter

From the United Church of Christ…
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent—a season of self-examination, prayer, fasting and works of love. In many churches, ashes are placed on the forehead as a reminder of mortality.

The word “Lent” is from the Middle English verb meaning “to lengthen.” In the Northern Hemisphere, the season corresponds with the lengthening of days during late winter and early spring.

During Lent, Christians prepare themselves spiritually for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The season spans 40 days: the number 40 symbolizes spiritual journeys home, corresponding to the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert in preparation for his ministry and the 40 years Israel journeyed through the wilderness towards the promised land. The traditional color of Lent is purple. During Holy Week, red is sometimes worn to symbolize the blood shed by Jesus for the salvation of humanity. In some traditions, following Maundy Thursday’s service, the sanctuary is stripped of color and ornament as a gesture which may suggest keeping vigil with Christ on the cross and in the tomb.

For more information about the journey toward the Miracle of Easter, and for information about how to make your own journey, visit the United Church of Christ’s Lent website.

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