March 10 – Fourth Sunday in Lent

SILENT REFLECTION — Testimony — Page opposite Hymn #294 (Psalm 107)

WELCOME

PRELUDE — The Solid Rock/’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

*CALL TO WORSHIP — John Weiland
One: God’s love is for all of creation.
All: The vastness of God is for human, animal, soil, and sun, all together composing God’s beloved creation.
One: God has not come into the world in Jesus to condemn us.
All: Jesus has come to live God’s love in the flesh.
One: The world may be teeming with injustice and loneliness.
All: In Jesus, the light of God’s love illumines our path.
One: Come. Let us gather together and offer God our praises.
All: Let us worship God.

*HYMN — Wondrous Love — #250

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, who is the great “I Am,”
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity, I’ll sing on!

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION — John Weiland
O God, the vastness of your love flows through all of creation, and this is cause for rejoicing. For all of the harshness and condemnation that we see in the world, you have come to us out of love and compassion to save us. We believe that you have come to redeem, to heal, to restore, and forgive, not just some of the world, but all of the world. May our worship embody the love and the light that you bring, Jesus. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

*RESPONSE — Love Was When God Became a Man — #249

Love was when God became a man
Locked in time and space without rank or place;
Love was God born of Jewish kin,
Just a carpenter with some fishermen.

Love was when Jesus walked in history
Lovingly He brought a new life that’s free;
Love was God nailed to bleed and die
To reach and love one such as I.

Love was when God became a man
Down where I could see love that reached to me;
Love was God dying for my sin
And so trapped was I, my whole world caved in.

Love was when Jesus rose to walk with me
Lovingly He brought an new life that’s free;
Love was God only He would try
To reach and love one such as I.

CELEBRATING GOD’S ASTONISHING LOVE WITH A SPECIAL OFFERING
One Great Hour of Sharing — “It’s Time to Share the Light!”

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 107:1-9 — John Weiland

SPECIAL MUSIC — In the Garden

GOD’S WORD — John 3:14-21 — Pastor Dan

SERMON — Pastor Dan

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

*HYMN — O Jesus, I Have Promised — #466

O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my guide.

O Jesus,Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be.
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.

O let me feel thee near me!
The world is ever near:
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

*BENEDICTION — Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE — Day by Day

March 14 Virtual Worship – No Matter What

Thank you for joining us at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ as we make the journey toward Easter together.

We ran into a few technical challenges with our stream this morning. It’s now in two parts:

Here is this week’s order for worship:

March 14 – No Matter What

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Anna DiVesta

*CALL TO WORSHIP – Pastor Dan Wilson
One: God’s goodness has entered the world!
All: What joy to know this!
One: Rejoice, people of God! Christ died and rose on high!
All: By God’s Word, we are delivered from destruction.
One: By God’s mercy, we are made whole.
All: Let all that breathes sing God’s praises!

HYMN – O Love That Will Not Let Me Go – #439

1. O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee;
   I give Thee back the life I owe,
   That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.
2. O Light that foll’west all my way, I yield my flick’ring torch to Thee;
   My heart restores its borrowed ray,
   That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day May brighter, fairer be.
3. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee;
   I trace the rainbow through the rain,
   And feel the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be.

UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION – Pastor Dan
God of unending patience, we call on you now. Often, we are impatient and troubled. We dream of being like you, Christ Jesus. Our calling is to follow you. Discipleship is your beautiful dream for all people. Yet we hesitate, for we are afraid of embracing changes that may come with the new life you offer. We are preoccupied with all sorts of other voices instead of being focused on responding to your Voice. Distracted by complexities, pressures and demands of our day; we neglect to set aside time to be still before you, God. Even now, we have gathered without much preparation, as if meeting you requires little of us. Yet we come here in search of the healing and the wholeness which you give. Merciful God, we call on you this moment, asking you to meet us as we are. Amen.

RESPONSE – O How He Loves You and Me – #254

1. O how He loves you and me, O how He loves you and me;
   He gave His life – what more could He give?
   O how He loves you, O how He loves me, O how He loves you and me!
2. Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for mankind to show;
   What He did there bro’t hope from despair;
   O how He loves you, O how He loves me, O how He loves you and me!

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE – Liz Schurwan

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 – Pastor Dan

SPECIAL MUSIC Here I Am, Lord, Send Me

GOD’S WORD – John 3:14-21 – Pastor

SERMON – Pastor Dan

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

HYMN – Lamb of God – worship booklet, p. 59

1. Your only Son, no sin to hide, but you have sent him from your side,
   to walk upon this guilty sod, and to become the Lamb of God

REFRAIN
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in his precious blood – my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God!

2. Your gift of love, they crucified, they laughed and scorned him as He died,
   the humble King they named a fraud and sacrificed the Lamb of God.

REFRAIN

3. I was so lost, I should have died, but You have brought me to your side,
   to be led by your staff and rod, and to be called a lamb of God.

REFRAIN

BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

POSTLUDE

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