October 6 — World Communion Sunday — Imagine Together

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. Our shared journey “Imagining Together” continues. Let us exalt God above all. Today we join with Christians throughout God’s world celebrating World Communion Sunday.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion.
The Holy Mysteries: The Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The broken bread and the outpoured cup are Christ’s blessings for the community of faith. Take and eat. Take and drink.
“The Savior of the world is here!”

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Prelude on “Bread of Life” — Young

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: May the grace of God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: And with all of God’s children.
All: Forever and ever, God reigns!

*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.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Gracious and Forgiving God; be with us, and in us, and beside us, and over us. Fashion us to change, so that we may more perfectly love and forgive. Shape us and transform us, so that we may more fully share and give. Gracious and Forgiving God, you are here, as we gather to worship you. We praise you for being alive within us and among us! Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE — Holy Ground — #83

We are standing on holy ground,
And I know that there are angels all around;
Let us praise Jesus now
We are standing in His presence on holy ground.

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 89:1-2, 5-9, 11, 14-17 & John 3:16-17

SPECIAL MUSIC — Jesus Paid It All — Hamilton

GOD’S WORD — Mark 10:17-27

SERMON

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

*HYMN — Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken — worship booklet, p. 29

INVITATION

All who desire to receive the bread and the cup are welcome to share in the Sacrament at Christ’s Table.
Cups in the outside ring on the communion tray contain grape juice. All other cups contain wine.
Please come forward down the center aisle.

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Merciful and Loving God, we are grateful. You welcome us into your Church. You welcome all people as guests at your table on World Communion Sunday and always. We thank you, Christ Jesus, for your gift of this Holy Sacrament. The bread and the cup are simple yet marvelous reminders of your steadfast love. O God, our Creator and our Savior; we pray for all people throughout your world. May each and every person joyously experience being fed, nourished, strengthened, and loved by you. Amen.

*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.

*BENEDICTION — Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE — Postludium — Young