Sept. 7 — Estimate the Cost

God loves all people, and God rejoices that you are here! This morning is a sacred gift from God. We gather to worship God. Together, let us come to the Table of our Living Savior.

WELCOME

PRELUDE

*CALL TO WORSHIP — Ann Molyneaux
One: We come into your house, Divine Potter. We are your clay.
Many: We praise you, O God. Wonderful are your works. Mold us again!
One: We bring our burdens and concerns, our hopes and dreams, our doubts and our delights.
Many: We praise you, O God. Wonderful are your works. Hold us in your sure and righteous hand!
One: We seek your wisdom. Reveal your direction and our path.
Many: We praise you, O God. Wonderful are your works. Rebuild and replant us!

*HYMN — God of Grace and God of Glory — 514

God of grace and God of glory, On Thy people pour Thy pow’r;
Crown Thine ancient Church’s story, Bring her bud to glorious flow’r.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo, the hosts of evil round us Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness; Bend our pride to Thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy dom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places, Gird our lives that they may be
Armored with all Christlike graces In the fight to set ment free.
Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION — Ann Moyneaux
Sovereign God, you are the Potter who has fashioned us into being a community. Dwell in our midst. Share your wisdom and open every point of receptivity within us. You are holy, gracious, and kind. As we gather, we recommit to accept the joys and the costs of discipleship. May you be glorified in our worship, and may we be transformed as we encounter you and your way anew this day. Amen.

*RESPONSE — I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go —538

It may not be on the mountain’s height
Or over the stormy sea,
It may not be at the battle’s front
My Lord will have need of me;
But if by a still, small voice He calls
To paths I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine,
I’ll go where You want me to go.

Refrain:
I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain or plain or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be.

Perhaps today there are loving words
Which Jesus would have me speak,
There may be now, in the paths of sin,
Some wand’rer whom I should seek;
O Savior, if Thou wilt be my Guide,
Tho dark and rugged the way,
My voice shall echo the message sweet,
I’ll say what You want me to say. [Refrain]

3 There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide,
Where I may labor thru life’s short day
For Jesus the Crucified;
So, trusting my all unto Thy care–
I know Thou lovest me
I’ll do Thy will with a heart sincere,
I’ll be what You want me to be. [Refrain]

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 1 — Ann Molyneaux

SPECIAL MUSIC

GOD’S WORD — Luke 14:25-33 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON — “The Cost of Discipleship” — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*COMMUNION HYMN — One Bread, One Body — Ivy worship bk. p. 72

Refrain
One bread, one body, one Lord of all;
one cup of blessing which we bless,
and we, though many throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

Gentile or Jew, servant or free,
woman or man, no more. Refrain

Many the gifts, many the works,
one in the Lord of all. Refrain

Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,
gathered to one for all. Refrain

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 — Called as Partners in Christ’s Service — Ivy worship bk. p. 32

Called as partners in Christ’s service
Called to ministries of grace
We respond with deep commitment
Fresh new lines of faith to trace
May we learn the art of sharing
Side by side and friend with friend
Equal partners in our caring
To fulfil God’s chosen end

Christ’s example Christ’s inspiring
Christ’s clear call to work and worth
Let us follow never faltering
Reconciling folk on earth
Men and women richer poorer
All God’s people young and old
Blending human skills together
Gracious gifts from God unfold

Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission
In a small or global sense
Help us bear each other’s burdens
Breaking down each wall or fence
Words of comfort words of vision
Words of challenge said with care
Bring new power and strength for action
Make us colleagues free and fair

So God grant us for tomorrow
Ways to order human life
That surround each person’s sorrow
With a calm that conquers strife
Make us partners in our living
Our compassion to increase
Messengers of faith thus giving
Hope and confidence and peace

*BENEDICTION — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE

December 11 – Heartbeat of Justice

The Advent season continues. Today, as anticipation grows for the Birth, we light the third candle on the Advent wreath, the candle of Joy.

Check this space at 10 a.m. on Sunday for our livestream worship, or view anytime on the Ivy Chapel YouTube channel. If you have any questions about Ivy Chapel UCC, please feel free to reach out to us.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Shepherd’s Pipe – Young

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: God gathers us for this time of worship.
All: God promises life eternal.
One: God renews people with steadfast love.
All: Trust in God who is our refuge and strength.
One: Together, let us worship God, the Giver of Salvation.
All: Sing praises and exalt God’s holy name!

*HYMN – How Great Our Joy – #192

While by the sheep we watched at night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright.

Refrain:
How great our joy!
Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy!
Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!
Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

There shall be born, so he did say,
In Bethlehem a Child today. [Refrain]

There shall the Child lie in a stall,
This Child who shall redeem us all. [Refrain]

This gift of God we’ll cherish well,
That ever joy our hearts shall fill. [Refrain]

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Wondrous God, we look forward with joyful expectation to future ways that you will reveal yourself in this world! May your living presence be felt this day by all who gather to worship you.
O Holy One, we give you thanks for calling us to serve you through our participation in this faith community. Fill us with your love, Christ Jesus. We praise you for revealing that each one of us can offer your unconditional love to everyone! With your help, Faithful Savior, may we fulfill the ministries which you would like us to offer. Amen.

ADVENT WREATH CANDLE LIGHTING – The Candle of Joy

*RESPONSE – Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming (Verse 3) – #196

This Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us
And lightens every load

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 146:5-10

SPECIAL MUSIC – Thy Holy Wings and O Little Town of Bethlehem – arr. Hassell

GOD’S WORD – Luke 1:46-55

SERMON – Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus – #187

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Noel Suisse, Grand jeu et Duo – Daquin

July 10 Livestream – Caring Neighbors

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC! God loves all people. Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here. We are all neighbors on this journey together.

We are thrilled to have you with us. You may join us any Sunday at 10 a.m. as we gather in our sanctuary, or for virtual worship on YouTube.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Prelude – J. S. Bach

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: This is the day the Lord has made!
All: We rejoice, for God is awesome!
One: God made the very foundations of the earth!
All: God’s power is beyond human understanding!
One: We do know this – God’s love and mercy are eternal gifts.
All: Praise God for all of life’s blessings!

*HYMN – All Things Bright and Beautiful – #65

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
And all things wise and wonderful;
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flow’r that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings. 

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
And all things wise and wonderful;
The Lord God made them all.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky. 

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
And all things wise and wonderful;
The Lord God made them all.

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden:
He made them, every one. 

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
And all things wise and wonderful;
The Lord God made them all.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
And all things wise and wonderful;
The Lord God made them all.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of all; you are among us as we celebrate this morning! We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to worship you.
We praise you, God, as the One who gathers people and who shapes us into communities of faith. Thanks to you, human hearts are filled with hope and joy. Here, in your sanctuary, we are at home. As we worship, you reassure us that wherever we are, you are with us.
Life leads us in many directions and to many different places. We are blessed that you are with us in all situations. We can always be ourselves with you; for you are a Genuine and Loving God.
During this worship, God, we ask that you draw us away from all earthly concerns and free us to exalt you. No one can compare with you. There is no God other than you. Your Living Water cleanses, and your Living Word heals. Come, Christ Jesus; wash over us. Speak to us, and bless us with ears to hear your voice. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE – The Bond of Love (Verses 1 and 2) – #123We are one in the bond of love
We are one in the bond of love
We have joined our spirit with the Spirit of God
We are one in the bond of love

Let us sing now, ev’ry one,
Let us feel His love begun;
Let us join our hand that the world will know
We are one in the bond of love

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 25:1-10

*HYMN – Lonely Voices – #526

Lonely voices crying in the city,
Lonely voices sounding like a child.
Lonely voices come from busy people,
Too disturbed to stop a little while.
Lonely voices fill my dreams,
Lonely voices haunt my memory.

Lonely faces looking for the sunrise,
Just to find another busy day.
Lonely faces all around the city,
Though afraid, they’re too ashamed to pray.
Lonely faces do I see,
Lonely faces haunt my memory.

Lonely eyes, I see them in the subway,
Burdened by the worries of the day;
Lives of leisure, yet they’re so unhappy,
Tired of foolish roles they try to play.
Lonely people do I see,
Lonely people haunt my memory.

Abundant life Christ came to truly give man,
But so few His gift of grace receive.
Lonely people live in every city,
Those who face a dark and lonely grave.
Lonely faces do I see,
Lonely voices calling out to me.

GOD’S WORD – Colossians 1:1-14

SPECIAL MUSIC – What a Friend We Have in Jesus – arr. Tornquist

GOD’S WORD – Luke 10:25-37

SERMON – Pastor Dan

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

*HYMN – To Be God’s People – #121

Almighty Father give us a vision of a dying world that needs Your love and care
We see the need, the yearning for a Savior,
In Jesus’ name, grant this our prayer

Refrain:
To be God’s people in this place, live His goodness, share His grace
Proclaim God’s mercy through His Son
be His love, to every one

And when we falter, be Thou our comfort. Guide us as Your children that our lives may be
A beacon in this darkness that surrounds us
A light that others may see.

Refrain

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Oh, Be Joyful in the Lord – Wolford

UPDATED: How to join us for worship

The world continues to change around us – but we want you to know you are always welcome at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. This is the core of who we are – and even as it seems like things are pushing us apart, we want it to be easy to bring everyone together.

We gather for worship every Sunday at 10 a.m. If you know Ivy Chapel, that sometimes means 10:02 a.m. or even 10:05. Check our Facebook page for updates – we’ll post there if there is a delay.

Here’s how to join us:

In person
You can join us in the sanctuary for worship each Sunday as long as the COVID-19 numbers do not spike again in St. Louis County. Masks are required while you are in the building and you will be seated in a socially distanced manner. Reservations are no longer required. You may join us anytime you want.

Online
We have recently started using a new AV system which changed how we stream worship. Worship will stream live on the Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ YouTube channel. You will find links at the top of this site and on our Facebook page.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us. We’re ready to help you find a way to worship with us that works for you.

March 7 YouTube Livestream – Turning the Tables

This week we are taking the first steps toward in-person worship during this, the third Sunday of Lent. You’ll notice a big change to our livestream worship as well. We’ll be streaming live on YouTube instead of Facebook Live.

Please subscribe to our channel to receive notifications whenever we go live.

Here’s this week’s order for worship:

PRELUDE – Anna DiVesta

*CALL TO WORSHIP – Pastor Dan
One: We have gathered in the presence of God our Creator, who
sets before us the ways of life and death.
All: We have gathered in the presence of Jesus the Christ, who
calls us to accept the cost of discipleship that we may
know its joy.
One: We have gathered in the presence of the Spirit, who
sustains us in trial and rejoicing.
All: In our living and in our dying, we belong to God, who
knows us, loves us, and cares for us exactly as we are.
Let us worship God.

*HYMN – Come Just As You Are – worship booklet, p. 36

1. Come just as you are; Hear the Spirit call.
   Come just as you are; Come and see, come, receive; Come and live forever.

Life everlasting, and strength for today;
Taste the Living Water, and never thirst again.

2. Come just as you are; Hear the Spirit call.
   Come just as you are; Come, receive, Christ the King Come and live forever more.

*UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION – Pastor Dan
Wise and Compassionate God, we are drawn to this holy place, in part, because we realize that our knowledge alone is not enough to give life meaning. The pieces of our lives need a center.
As people who are seeking to live as your faithful disciples, we are in the process of growing to recognize your Cross as the center, Jesus. On the Cross, you displayed total unselfishness. At Calvary, you went the distance for us. You always place serving others above everything else. The truth is, Jesus, this example of yours scares us, because we are intimidated by what you may ask of us. Yet we long for the wholeness which only you provide. This longing is so deep that we continue seeking to follow you regardless of the risks.
We come to you this moment, Christ Jesus. Make yourself known to us, we pray. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O God, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

RESPONSE – Let the Words of My Mouth – #417

Let the words of my mouth, and my heart’s meditation Be acceptable to Thee, O Lord
Let the words of my mouth, and my heart’s meditation Be acceptable to Thee, O Lord.
In Thy sight, In Thy sight, May my heart’s meditation be right.
Let the words of my mouth, an my heart’s meditation Be acceptable to thee, O Lord.

GOD’S WORD – 2 Corinthians 1:19-20 – Pastor Dan

CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP: GOD IS INVITING – Sue Wilson

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE – Jo Ann Moody

SPECIAL MUSIC – How Beautiful

GOD’S WORD – John 2:13-22 – Pastor Dan

SERMON – Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)

HYMN – We Are the Reason – #245

We are the reason that He gave His life,
We are the reason that He suffered and died.
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give,
to show us the reason to live.

We are the reason that He gave His life,
We are the reason that He suffered and died.
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give,
to show us the reason to live.

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Anna DiVesta