March 16 — Strong and Tender

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. By grace alone, we live. God brings us together this day. May today’s worship offer you an opportunity to quiet your soul in the loving presence of God. Thanks be to our Savior Jesus Christ, all are blessed.

Thank you to Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell for leading worship once again today.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Be Thou My Vision — Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Everyone is a welcome guest in God’s house.
All: God welcomes you and me today.
One: God’s design for the universe includes all people.
All: God shapes all creation into one lovely, grand mosaic!
One: Here in this sacred place all is calm and beautiful.
All: God is our light and our salvation.
One: Come into God’s presence now.
ALL: Let us worship God together.

*HYMN — My Faith Looks Up — #462

My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day Be wholly Thine!

May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me, Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!

While life’s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love, Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above, A ransomed soul.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God, we understand that human life can bring doubts and fears, pain and uncertainty. Humankind has always experienced struggles and challenges. We remember that even Abraham was troubled by questions, and the Early Church was surrounded by threats. Jesus himself was opposed by fearful powerful figures of his day.
Out of this awareness, we turn to you. Remember your people, Eternal God. We are fragile and we seek safety from the dangers of this world. You are our Everlasting Refuge. Come, Holy One. Come, Spirit of Life. Come to us, in this place, at this holy hour. Reassure us of your grace. We pray in your name, Jesus. Amen.

*RESPONSE — In the Name of the Lord — #19

There is strength in the name of the Lord;
There is pow’r in the name of the Lord:
There is hope in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 27 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SPECIAL MUSIC — Tune from Londonderry, an Irish tune — Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

GOD’S WORD — Luke 13:31-35 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*HYMN — Live Into Hope — Ivy worship book, p. 65

Of sight regained, the end of greed.
Th’ oppressed shall be the first to see
The year of God’s own jubilee!

Live into hope! The blind shall see
With insight and with clarity,
Removing shades of pride and fear,
A vision of our God brought near.

Live into hope of liberty,
The right to speak, the right to be,
The right to have one’s daily bread,
To hear God’s word and thus be fed.

Live into hope of captives freed,
From chains of fear or want or greed.
God now proclaims our full release
To faith and hope and joy and peace.

*RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
One: Go in the name of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
All: God is our home; our life; our joy.
One: Take heart!
All: Jesus Christ is our light; our hope; our all in all.
One: Be strong.
All: Blessed be God, now and forever. Amen.

*POSTLUDE