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.

Blood Drive – May 13

The pandemic continues to put a strain on blood supplies nationwide – but you can help. In coordination with Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, May 13 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

We will closely be following COVID protocols, including social distancing, so donating blood is safe. If you can donate, please do. It is best to make an appointment at www.bloodcenter.org, or contact Sue Wilson at 314-324-3765 to schedule your time.

Food and Personal Care Item Drive

1 in 7 Missouri families with children don’t have enough to eat every day, according to a December 2020 report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an advocate for young people in America. As Christians, and good neighbors, we must respond to this need.

The Ivy Chapel Lenten Food and Personal Care Items Drive continues until Easter. There is STILL TIME to TAKE ACTION and support Circle of Concern and Isaiah 58 Ministries with a much needed gift of food and/or personal care items.
Circle Of Concern: Peanut Butter • Jelly • Graham Crackers • Cereal • Cereal Bars • Oatmeal • Tomato Sauce • Pasta • Mac & Cheese • Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper • Canned Tuna & Chicken • Canned Vegetables •
Canned Chili • Soup • Shampoo • Conditioner • Laundry Detergent
Isaiah 58: Sardines • Mac & Cheese • Spices • Cereal • Peanut Butter • Jelly • Razors • Shaving Cream • Toothbrushes • Toothpaste • Toilet Bowl Cleaner • Dish Soap
Place items in the large soup can in the Narthex. (New, unopened food and personal care items only, please.)
If you are unable to donate, or would like to donate money for the purchase of items, please send us an email.

Subscribe to the Ivy Chapel YouTube channel

We’re making a big move on March 6, bringing our livestreams to YouTube for better quality and accessibility. We’re debuting a new camera and new audio system, too.

Please help us out by subscribing to our YouTube channel:

In return, you’ll receive notifications anytime we go live.

No matter how you join us tomorrow, in person or on the livestream, things will be a little different.

This will be the first time in almost a year we’ve had people in the sanctuary for worship! It is an exciting time. The experience will still be very different from “normal,” but we hope it is an enriching experience for all who are here.For those of you joining us on the livestream, you will notice improved video and sound.

We’re making the transition to the new system tomorrow.While it will be better, we can’t guarantee there won’t be hiccups. Please be patient with us as there’s quite a learning curve to get this all running smoothly, and you never know how it’s going to go until you’re “Live.

Please comment on this post or reach out to Rich Heend if you have any questions.

In-person worship to resume March 7

Great news! COVID-19 cases continue to decline in the St. Louis area and across the country. While there is still a need for great caution, the Ivy Chapel Council and Board of Deacons have determined the time is right to resume in-person worship.

You must make a reservation to attend Ivy Chapel’s in-person worship. We will continue to offer virtual worship for those who cannot attend.

To make your reservation, please email Gail Thoele.

An important note: Things will be a little different. Here’s what to expect.

1. Virtual services will continue.
2. Masks MUST be worn inside the building; masks will be provided, if needed.
3. Hand sanitizer will be provided in several areas.
4. Sign-in is required for contact tracing.
5. White dry erase boards will give directions to those entering the sanctuary.
6. The floor will be marked for 6’ social distancing.
7. Ushers will seat each individual or family group (from front to back.)
8. Children will be seated and should remain with their family throughout the entire worship service. (There will be no Sunday School or nursery.)
9. Communion will not be served at this time.
10. There will be no congregational singing at this time.
11. Ushers will dismiss the congregation from the pews after the service (from back to front.)
12. Worshipers will leave the sanctuary by the outside door with safe social distancing.
13. There will be no gathering in Fellowship Hall before or after services.
14. Those who are sick, at risk or don’t feel safe are requested to stay at home and worship virtually.
15. Announcements and prayer requests should be emailed to Pastor Dan at his direct email.
16. At the present time, there will be no use of fluorescent lights or sound system in the sanctuary, because these interfere with the sound quality of our live stream worship service.
17. Offering Gifts: A stationary offering plate will be located at the back of the sanctuary for people to offer a gift in person. [Anyone who prefers continuing to give church offering gifts as they have been doing up to now during the pandemic is welcome to continue.] Thank you for giving to support Ivy Chapel UCC ministries.

Questions? Feel free to reach out to Gail Thoele.

Lenten Devotional Packets

We are will working hard to create a plan to return to worship in person, hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Please watch this space for more information.

In the meantime, we are entering into the most important six weeks in the Christian faith, the season of lent. The Ivy Chapel board of deacons has assembled devotional packets for each member household. The packets are on the table in the narthex.

If you are unable to make it to church, please reach out to a member of the board.

The Souper Bowl of Caring

This year is different for many reasons. But, one thing that is the same: the need to tackle hunger with the Souper Bowl of Caring. This year, the need for hunger relief in our country has grown exponentially. Our local food charities need our help!

You can watch the Feb. 7 worship service here.

While we can’t place our donations in soup pots after worship as is our tradition, there are several ways to help those in need this year. You can send donations to Ivy’s financial secretary, Peter LaSalle. Please make checks out to Ivy Chapel and write Souper Bowl of Caring on the memo line.

Or donate directly to the food pantries most in need. Souper Bowl of Caring started their Tackle Hunger Map to respond to this urgent need. The Tackle Hunger Map allows you to see where local food charities are and what they need to do their important work. You can donate right through the map and be a part of the tradition of using the energy of the Big Game to tackle hunger.

What if everyone watching the Big Game gave just one dollar to local charities? What if each person gave what they could to local charities? We would have a lot less food insecurity in our country!

Thank you for helping make a collective impact on hunger!

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.

A different Advent for 2020

Everything looks different this year – and Advent is certainly no exception at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. Of course we wish we could celebrate the love, hope and joy of the season together, but at this time health and safety are most important.

We’re doing our best to continue the traditions that are such an important part of this season.

Our annual Christmas Cantata was held on Dec. 13. Shouts of Joy: A Christmas Concert for 2020 featured beautiful memories of past Christmas and Cantata celebrations. Thank you to Anna and Aaron DiVesta who worked overtime to bring together this special musical experience.

Our annual Christmas Pageant had several twists this year. Of course, it was all virtual – but it was also an all-church event. Thanks to Tara Lowry for adapting The Attic Christmas, a book that was near and dear to her family, and for her work editing the video.

The joy of Christ’s Birth, celebrated on Christmas Eve, starting with a special musical prelude.

https://www.facebook.com/IvyChapel/videos/727219154900032/

A Merry Christmas to everyone out there. Stay safe and healthy as we all navigate this familiar yet unusual season. We sincerely hope our virtual services are helping you find your way toward peace and love this year, and we look forward to when we can worship together again.

As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions or comments.

Blood Drive at Ivy Chapel Nov. 17.

With the holidays approaching and the ongoing pandemic across the country, blood supplies are low. Your donation can save lives!

Ivy Chapel will host a blood drive on Tuesday, November 17 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Give the gift of life! Email Sue Wilson to set up a time.

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