Help area children: Lenten Offering

Throughout the Lenten season, Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ will be collecting a special offering to support Caring for Kids, a local nonprofit that provides essential resources to meet the urgent needs of abused, neglected or at-risk children in St. Louis County.

Your donation will bring hope to children and their families, helping reunite families and keep children out of foster care whenever possible.

Please mark any donations to the Lenten Offering. We thank you, and the children of our community thank you.

Feb. 27 Livestream – Loud Cloud

Thank you, Kevin Uppercue, for serving as our guest musician in worship today.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Depth of Mercy – Kevin Uppercue

*CALLING ONE ANOTHER TO WORSHIP
One: Bless one another; love one another; serve one another;
All: For by doing so, we bless, love, and serve Christ.
One: Forgive one another; seek peace; do justice;
All: For by doing so, we follow the way of Christ.
One: Live into hope; walk by faith; seek the eternal;
All: For by doing so, we honor Christ.
One: Enter this time of worship with joy, coming to Christ our Savior,
All: Who is, and who was, and who is to come – the Almighty.

*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 mighty!
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!

*OPENING PRAYER
Holy God, may every aspect of our character praise you. May we lift your name on high!
Life-giving, life-changing God; wash over us this day. Shatter every narrow view of who you are. By your wisdom and strength, empower us to be living witnesses to your Gospel.
Savior of overpowering light, you reveal what mightiness is. Fill us with your Spirit of grace. We ask this in your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE – Open Our Eyes, Lord – #132
Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him
Open our ears Lord
And Help us to listen
Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 99 – Pastor Dan

SPECIAL MUSIC – Just a Closer Walk with Thee – Earl Kreder, Saxophone

GOD’S WORD – Luke 9:28-36 – Pastor Dan

SERMON – Pastor Dan

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

*HYMN – Revive Us Again – #95
We praise Thee, O God! for the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died, and is now gone above.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
We praise Thee, O God! for Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior, and scattered our night.
All glory and praise To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins, and hath cleansed every stain.
Revive us again; fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.

*SENDING OUT – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Fanfare and Trumpet Voluntary – David Lasky

Feb. 20 Livestream – What shall I do with my enemies?

Thank you, Bob Meinz, for serving as our worship musician today!

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Amazing Grace – arr. Gordon Young

*CALLING ONE ANOTHER TO WORSHIP
One: In Christ, God offers the whole world a marvelous invitation!
All: We are invited to walk in Christ’s footsteps.
One: Turn to God, all the earth.
All: God is our Refuge.
One: God hears our prayers, and God responds.
All: Let all the earth exalt God together!

*HYMN – In Christ There Is No East or West – #137
In Christ there is no East or West,
In Him no South or North,
but one great fellowship of love

In Him shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.

Join hands then, brothers of the faith,
whate’er your race may be!
Who serves my Father as a son
is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both East and West;
In Him meet South and North.
All Christly souls are one in Him
throughout the whole wide earth.

*OPENING PRAYER
God of world-wide love, we gather to offer you our praises. You are fully alive in the world this day. Open our hearts to receive you. Free us to trust your call and to follow you, Blessed Savior. Fill us so completely with your grace that we bless even people who persecute us and love even people who seem to be our enemies. You are our Refuge, O God. May your Spirit stir within our souls, Christ Jesus, leading us to join you in ‘making all things new.’ Amen.

*HYMN – Be Still and Know – #24
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.

I am the Lord that heal-eth thee.
I am the Lord that heal-eth thee.
I am the Lord that heal-eth thee.

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 37:1-4, 39-40 – Pastor Dan

SPECIAL MUSIC – Lord, I Want to Be a Christian in My Heart – arr. John Carter

GOD’S WORD – Luke 6:27-38 – Pastor Dan

SERMON – Pastor Dan

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

*HYMN – I Then Shall Live – #133
I then shall live as one who’s been forgiven.
I’ll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child and I am not afraid.
So, greatly pardoned, I’ll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey

I then shall live as one who’s learned compassion.
I’ve been so loved, that I’ll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I’ll dare to see another’s point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I’ll be there to care and follow through.

Your Kingdom come around and through and in me;
Your power and glory, let them shine through me.
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor,
And may You feed a hungry world through me.

*SENDING OUT – Pastor Dan
God sends us into the world to lavish Christ’s love on everyone!

*POSTLUDE – The Rejoicing – Charles Callahan

CCLI License #456361

Feb. 13 Livestream – Surprising Teaching

The Sermon on the Plain contains startling words from Jesus, who calls on his followers to love their enemies, to turn the other cheek, and bless those who curse you. These are words and teachings that are, perhaps, just as surprising and just as relevant today as they were when they were first spoken.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Meditation on “Under His Wings” – (based on #484)

*CALLING ONE ANOTHER TO WORSHIP
One: Rejoice, people of God!
All: We have been given this opportunity to worship God today!
One: God has gathered us here.
All: We are God’s people.
One: God joins us together as many parts of one body.
All: God shapes us into the one Body of Christ.
One: God is calling on us to bring good news to all people.
All: Let us tell everyone about the wonderful love of our Savior!

*HYMN – Christ for the World We Sing – #545
Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring,
With loving zeal; the poor, and them that mourn,
the faint and overborne, sinsick and sorrow-worn,
for Christ to heal.

Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring,
With fervent prayer; the wayward and the lost,
by restless passions tossed, redeemed at countless cost,
from dark despair.

Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring,
With one accord; with us the work to share,
with us reproach to dare, with us the cross to bear,
for Christ our Lord.

Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring,
With joyful song; the newborn souls, whose days,
reclaimed from error’s ways, inspired with hope and praise,
to Christ belong.

*OPENING PRAYER
God of universal love, we gather to offer you our praises. You are fully alive throughout the world! Open our hearts to receive you, we pray. Free us to trust your call and to follow you, Blessed Savior. Fill us to overflowing with your grace, so that we offer blessing and love to all people. This means everyone everywhere! You are our refuge and our strength. Christ Jesus, your Spirit is alive within us, guiding us to join you in your ministries of mercy and compassion. Amen.

*RESPONSE – Precious Lord, Take My Hand – #494
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near
When my life is almost gone;
Hear my cry, Hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall –

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

GOD’S WORD – Jeremiah 17:5-10 – Pastor Dan

SPECIAL MUSIC – River of Peace – arr. Maureen Howell

GOD’S WORD – Luke 6:17-26 – Pastor Dan

SERMON – Pastor Dan

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

*HYMN – It is Well with My Soul – #453
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

Refrain:
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soul
Refrain

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul
Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul
Refrain

*SENDING OUT – Pastor Dan
God sends us into the world to lavish Christ’s love on everyone!

*POSTLUDE – Grand Chœur – Théodore Salomé

Cover image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

CCLI License #456361

Feb. 6 Livestream – Surprising

For this week’s order for worship, please see the YouTube description.