Praying for the return to in-person worship

Like all of you, we’re looking forward to the day when we can worship together in person again. The Ivy Chapel Board of Deacons – together with our virtual worship team – have been working hard to create a plan to make this all possible.

We’re closely watching case numbers, hospitalizations and vaccination rates so we can do what is right for our members and the community at large.

In addition to the health concerns, there are technical and logistical hurdles to overcome. We are in the process of upgrading the sound system so we can continue to provide a livestream of the worship even once we have people back in the sanctuary.

We’re almost there, with just a few more components to acquire and install. From there, we’ll be testing the new set up. You will likely notice significant changes to the online experience, but we will keep you updated.

Please note that even once we are back in person, the worship experience will be very different. We will strictly enforce the mask requirements and social distancing. We won’t have coffee hour or children in the sanctuary, and will not have congregational singing.

If you need more information, please contact us or reach out to someone from the Board of Deacons or the Ivy Chapel council.

Thank you for your patience and for sticking with us.

Jan. 31 Livestream – Power

As we pray for the health and safety of our world, we reflect on the peace we can find through God, and how His leadership will show us the way forward.

The Ivy Chapel Board of Deacons, working with the virtual worship team, is continuing to watch case numbers, hospitalizations and vaccination rates across our area to create a strategy for returning to in-person worship. We hope to make an announcement soon with more details.

Here’s this week’s order for worship:

Prelude – Anna DiVesta

Responsive Call to Worship – Pastor Dan Wilson
One: Come to Christ, the Living One,
All: Rejected by the world, but in God’s sight chosen and precious.
One: The Messiah that God promised has arrived!
All: Be glad, and celebrate!
One: New life is rising among us!
All: We rejoice at the miraculous ways God brings creation alive!
One: Come! And hear God’s Word for our day.
All: How majestic is God’s name in all the earth!

Prayer of Invocation – Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray.
All: God of Power and Might; your wisdom is beyond ours. Your patience surpasses ours. Your compassion exceeds ours. We continue finding ourselves amazed by you, Living God. This morning, we join together to praise you.
Christ Jesus, your life, death and resurrection are our model for faithful discipleship. Strengthen us, we pray, as we seek to walk in your ways: living wisely, patiently, and compassionately. Fill us, we pray, with your Spirit of unselfishness and love. Amen.

Hymn – “Holy, Holy, Holy” – #2

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and might!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Children’s Message – Anna DiVesta Scripture Reading – Psalm – Pastor Dan

Special Music – “All Hail King Jesus with Majesty”

Scripture Reading – Mark 1:21-28 – Pastor Dan

Sermon – Pastor Dan

Prayers of God’s Church concluding with the Lord’s Prayer – Pastor Dan

Hymn – “How Majestic Is Your Name” – #9

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth.

O Lord, we praise Your name. O Lord, we magnify Your name,
Prince of peace, Mighty God’ O Lord God Almighty.

Benediction – Pastor Dan

Postlude – Anna DiVesta

Jan. 24 Livestream – Follow Me

The warmest of greetings from Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. Thank you for worshipping with us. We continue to pray for the health and safety of our world, and for brighter days ahead for all.

Do you want to know more about Ivy Chapel or do you have a question about our stream services? Get in touch with us.

Here’s this week’s order for worship:

Third Sunday after Epiphany
“Follow Me”

Prelude – Anna DiVesta

Responsive Call to Worship – Pastor Dan Wilson
One: For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from God.
All: God only is my rock and my salvation. I shall not be shaken.
One: Pour out your hearts before God. Trust in God at all times.
All: Our trust is in God, Maker of heaven and earth!

Prayer of Invocation – Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray.
All: God of all times and places, may we receive your message now. Sometimes we do not like what we hear, but we know we need to listen. Your message is true and universal, although we would like to make distinctions that favor us and our friends. You call us out of our comfort zones to live courageously and to try new things. Rejoice; welcome; forgive; heal; love. These are acts of faith that you want to see us put into practice. You command us to reach out to people with whom we seem to have little in common.
Still-Speaking God, you call us to accompany you on a pathway – your sacred path of living grace. You inspire us, Jesus! Help us to absorb what you are saying and to respond to what you are asking. Then we will follow you by carrying what we have received from you to the places you want us to go, to the people you desire to reach. Amen.

Hymn      â€œYou Have Come Down to the Lakeshore” worship booklet, p. 101

1. You have come down to the lakeshore seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy,
   But only asking for me to follow.

REFRAIN
O Jesus, you have looked into my eyes; kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat; now with you I will seek other seas.

2. You know full well my possessions. neither treasure nor weapons for conquest,
   Just these my fishnets and will for working.

REFRAIN

3. You need hands, my exhaustion, working love for the rest of the weary
   A love that’s willing to go on loving.

REFRAIN

4. You who have fished other waters; you, the longing of souls that are yearning;
   As loving Friend, you have come to call me.

REFRAIN

Children’s Message – Sue Wilson

Scripture Reading – Psalm 62:5-12 – Pastor Dan

Special Music – “Come, Follow Me”

Scripture Reading – Mark 1:14-20 – Pastor Dan

Sermon – Pastor Dan

Prayers of God’s Church concluding with the Lord’s Prayer – Pastor Dan

Hymn – “Spirit” – pp. 82-83, worship booklet

REFRAIN
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

1. You move on the waters, you called to the deep,
   Then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep,
   and over the eons you called to each thing,
   “Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.”

REFRAIN

2. You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand,
   and you gifted your people with a law and a land,
   When they were confounded with idols and lies,
   then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes.

REFRAIN

3. You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,
   then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still,
   and down in the city you called once again
   when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind.

REFRAIN

4. You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,
   from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams;
   our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.
   With bold new decisions your people arise.

Benediction – Pastor Dan

Postlude – Anna DiVesta

Jan. 17 Livestream – Known and Loved

This week, we pray for all God’s children to remember they are known and loved. We pray that the momentous week ahead is peaceful, and that we can all pause to find the unity we so desperately need.

Here is this week’s order for worship:

Prelude — Anna DiVesta

Responsive Call to Worship — Pastor Dan Wilson
One: Find strength in God’s power.
All: In all times and places, rely on God.
One: Find hope in all that God promises.
All: God in Christ Jesus sets all people free!
One: Find joy in all that God provides!
All: God’s mercies are new every morning!

Hymn — “Shout to the Lord” — p. 80, worship booklet

My Jesus, My Savior, Lord, there is none like You;
Al of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter, Tower of refuge and strength;
Let every breath, all the I am, never cease to worship You.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing,
Power and Majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
For ever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand;
Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.

REPEAT

Prayer of Invocation — Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray.
All: Loving God, you care for us so faithfully and so thoroughly. Seeing that you delight in us brings out our best. When you rejoice in us, we come to realize and to believe in our capacity for goodness. When your light dawns in our lives, we want to share the joy! We want to spread the good word… your Gospel! We are amazed by the marvelous gifts which you give. Loving God, we dream of living as you do. Help us to recall the power of our own baptism and our personal commitment to you. God of cleansing, living water; you renew our souls. You name us as your children: precious, gifted, good.Every chance that we get may we delight you by serving others in the gentle and caring manner of Christ our Savior. Amen.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 139:1-6, 12-20 — Pastor Dan

Children’s Message — Jo Ann Moody

Special Music — “He Lifted Me”

Scripture Reading — John 1:43-51 — Pastor Dan

Sermon — Pastor Dan

Prayers of God’s Church concluding with the Lord’s Prayer — Pastor Dan

Hymn — “The Potter’s Hand”

Beautiful Lord, wonderful savior I know for sure, all of my days are held in Your hands
Crafted into Your perfect plan
You gently call me, into Your presence Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord To live all of my life through Your eyes
I’m captured by, Your Holy calling
Set me apart I know You’re drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord I pray
Take me, and mold me
Use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter’s hands
Call me guide me Lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter’s hand
You gently call me, into Your presence Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord To live all of my life through Your eyes
I’m captured by, Your Holy calling
Set me apart I know You’re drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord I pray
Take me, and mold me Use me, fill me
I give my life to my Potter’s hands
Call me, guide me Lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to my Potter’s hand
Take me, and mold me Use me, fill me
I give my life to my Potter’s hands
Call me, guide me
Lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to my Potter’s hand

Benediction — Pastor Dan

Postlude — Anna DiVesta

Jan. 10 Livestream – The Baptism of Christ

Thank you for joining us today, January 10, 2021.

As we reflect on the events at the U.S. Capitol this past week, we are thinking about defining moments. This coincides with the remembrance of the baptism of Jesus. Will this week be a turning point for our world, our country – and even for you? Worship with us, and be the change the world so desperately needs.

If you have questions or problems about Ivy Chapel or our virtual worship, please contact us.

Here’s the order for worship for today:

Prelude – Anna DiVesta

Responsive Call to Worship – Pastor Dan Wilson
One: God is the Creator of all life.
All: God sends light to shine in the darkness.
One: God sends Christ to calm this world’s turbulent seas.
All: God takes care of humankind – calming fears and giving faith.
One: God’s love is real.
All: God’s grace is eternal.
One: Our cup overflows!
All: Together, let us praise God!

Prayer of Invocation – Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray.
All: Living God, we worship you this day. You are the One who offers life and breath to all creation. From the very beginning, you have been moving over the face of the waters. Faithful and Loving God, we turn to you in prayer this day for reassurance. Holy Spirit, you are the One with the power to calm a stormy sea or to “trouble” a pool of still water. From water, life springs up! By water, life is nourished. Through water, new life begins. Christ Jesus, as we remember your baptism in the Jordan River, may we celebrate anew our holy baptism. Amen.

Hymn – “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” – #154

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as You art,
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay.
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross – there teach my heart to cling;
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always high;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me too love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame,
The baptism of the heav’n descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Scripture Reading – Psalm 29:1-4, 9-11 – Pastor Dan

Children’s Message – Ashton Wilson

Special Music

Scripture Reading – Mark 1:4-11 – Pastor Dan

Sermon – Pastor Dan

Prayers of God’s Church concluding with the Lord’s Prayer – Pastor Dan

Hymn – “Spirit Song” – pp. 84-85, worship booklet

1. O let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love,
   let Him fill your life and satisfy your soul.
   O let him have the things that hold you and his Spirit, like a dove,
   will descend upon your life and make you whole.

REFRAIN
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

2. O come and sing this song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy,
   lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.
   O give him all your tears and sadness, give him all your years of pain
   and you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name.

REFRAIN

Benediction – Pastor Dan

Postlude – Anna DiVesta

Jan. 3 Livestream – Gifts of the Magi

At 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, we retrace the steps of the kings who came from afar to shower the newborn King of Kings with gifts.

Prelude – Anna DiVesta

Responsive Call to Worship – Pastor Dan Wilson
One: How majestic is God’s name in all the earth!
All: Be glad, and celebrate!
One: Come; hear God’s Word for our day.
All: God’s Word is truth.
One: God’s Word is a blessing to all people!
All: The Messiah that God promised has arrived!
One: Come and behold him.
All: Let us worship Christ with our treasures!

Prayer of Invocation – Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray.
All: God of new things and God of all things; you are the Giver of grace. The way that you come alive in the commonplace puts us at ease. You came to earth through human childbirth. You did not send someone else. You came yourself! You were born as a little baby who became a small town carpenter. We are grateful that you often come to us in quietly reassuring ways that do not call attention to yourself.
We are grateful for your astonishing love, Jesus. Fill us with your Spirit this morning as we worship you. Amen.

Hymn – “I Wonder as I Wander” – #210

1. I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
   How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
   For poor ordinary people like you and like I;
   I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
2. When Mary birthed Jesus, ’twas in a cow’s stall,
   With wisemen and farmers and shepherds and all
   But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
   The promise of ages it then did recall.
3. If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
   A star in the sky or a bird on the wing,
   For all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
   He surely could have it ‘cause He was the King.
4. I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
   How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
   For poor ordinary people like you and like I;
   I wonder as I wander, out under the sky. Scripture Reading – Psalm 147:12-20 – Pastor Dan Prayers of God’s Church concluding with the Lord’s Prayer – Pastor Dan Special Music – Aaron DiVesta and Anna DiVesta Scripture Reading – Matthew 2:1-12 – Pastor Dan Sermon – Pastor Dan Celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion – Pastor Dan Responsive Invitation to Christ’s Table
   One: God be with you.
   All: And also with you.
   One: From God’s fullness, we have all received
   All: Grace upon grace.
   One: Together, let us receive God’s gifts of the bread and the cup.
   All: Christ our Savior makes all things new!
   
   Hymn – “We Three Kings” – #220
   
   We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse 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;
   Al le lu ia, Al le lu ia! Peals through the earth and skies.

REFRAIN

Benediction – Pastor Dan

Postlude – Anna DiVesta