March 6 Livestream – 1st Sunday of Lent – Wilderness

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. We’d like to thank Sarah Bereza for serving as our worship musician today. A reminder that we will be celebrating communion today, so be sure to gather the elements before worship begins so you can share in the experience with us.

A reminder to contribute to this year’s Lenten offering to benefit area children in need. https://www.ivychapel.org/2022/02/28/help-area-children-lenten-offering/

WELCOME

PRELUDE – My Faith Looks Up to Thee– arr. Mark C. Jones

*CALLING ONE ANOTHER TO WORSHIP
One: We have come to worship God.
All: Living God blesses people with limits and boundaries, with free will and choices.
One: This week, we have entered a new season.
All: As God’s Church, we have set out on a fresh, Lenten journey.
One: Today, we remember some of the temptations Jesus faced.
All: May the way Jesus conquered all temptations be our guide for
responding faithfully in our own personal wildernesses.
One: May this time of worship serve as an oasis in our desert wilderness.
All: Let us rely on God’s strength in all situations.

*HYMN – My Faith Looks Up to Thee – #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!

*OPENING PRAYER
Life-Saving God; above all, you are our heart’s desire. You alone make our spirits soar. You have enabled us to break free from an exacting and exhausting world to come into your sanctuary.
Breathe new life into us, Faithful and Loving God. Bless us, we pray, with eyes to see earthly demands for what they truly are. Teach us. Change us. Lead us to love all people with your steadfast love, Jesus. By your grace and peace, empower our witness, Life-Saving God; for we long to serve you. Amen.

*RESPONSE – El Shaddai – #18
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
El-elyon na Adonia,
Age to age you’re still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
Erkamka na Adonai,
We will praise and lift you high,
El Shaddai.

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 91:1-6, 9-16 – Pastor Dan

SPECIAL MUSIC – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – arr. Michael Burkhardt

GOD’S WORD – Luke 4:1-13 – Pastor Dan

SERMON – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – I Need Thee Every Hour – #169
I need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine Can peace afford

Refrain:
I need Thee oh I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee

I need Thee every hour, Stay Thou nearby
Temptations lose their power When Thou art nigh

I need Thee every hour In joy or pain
Come quickly and abide Or life is vain

I need Thee every hour, Most Holy One
Oh make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed son

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
All who desire to receive the bread and the cup are welcome to receive.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Pastor Dan
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)

*HYMN – I Want Jesus to Walk with Me – #480
I want Jesus to walk with me.
I want Jesus to walk with me.
All along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
When my heart is almost breaking,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me.
When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me.
When my head is bowed in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

*SENDING OUT – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE Toccata in B Minor – Eugène Gigout

Feb. 21 Livestream – Jesus in the Wilderness

Thank you for joining us for the First Sunday of Lent. Today we also have a special message and mission moment from Kathy Poss of the Baby Blue Pantry.

Prelude – Anna DiVesta

Responsive Call to Worship – Pastor Dan
One: We worship Living God.
All: This week, we have entered into a new season.
One: Our 40-day journey to Christ’s Resurrection Day has begun.
All: As we navigate this wilderness, Gracious God is our compass.
One: This day of worship is an oasis in the desert.
All: Let us draw strength from the love of God our Savior.

Hymn – I Need Thee Every Hour – #169

1. I need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord;
   No tender voice like Thine Can peace afford.

REFRAIN
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour, Stay Thou near by;
   Temptations lose their pow’r When Thou art nigh.

REFRAIN

3. I need Thee every hour In joy or pain;
   Come quickly and abide Or life is vain.

REFRAIN

4. I need Thee every hour, Most Holy One;
   O make me Thin indeed, Thou blessed Son!

REFRAIN

Prayer of Invocation – Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray.
All: God of Quiet Strength, we cannot resist evil completely by ourselves. Earthly temptations are everywhere. How do we deal with them? We need you, God. You are always present; living among us; living within us. We are thankful to be in your care.
God of Quiet Strength, help us to be still before you – – leaving behind our every distress. In the stillness and in the beauty of this morning, may we be reminded that you are God. You patiently continue inviting us to follow you. So then, Christ Jesus; come quietly now and bless us with the faith to accept your gift of life eternal. Amen.

Response – You Are My Hiding Place – #53

You are my hiding place, You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance
whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
I will trust in You; Let the weak say, “I am strong in the strength of the Lord.”

You are my hiding place, You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance
whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Mission Moment – Baby Blue Pantry – Kathy Poss

God’s Word – Psalm 25:1-10 – Pastor Dan

Children’s Message – Linda Lowry

Special Music – “Narrow Road”

God’s Word – Mark 1:9-15 – Pastor Dan

Sermon – Pastor Dan

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

Hymn – I Want Jesus to Walk with Me – #480

1. I want Jesus to walk with me; I want Jesus to walk with me;
   All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
2. In my trials, Lord, walk with me; In my trials, Lord, walk with me;
   When my heart is almost breaking, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
3. When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me; When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me;
   When my head is bowed in sorrow, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Benediction – Pastor Dan

Postlude – Anna DiVesta