March 30 — Embracing Love

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. Our 40-day soul-searching journey continues. Thanks to Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell for leading our worship services during our Lenten journey.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Selections from Une Barque Sur L’Ocean — Ravel

*CALL TO WORSHIP — JoAnn Moody
One: By God’s mercy,
All: We are delivered from distress.
One: By God’s mercy,
All: We are extravagantly welcomed home!
One: By God’s mercy,
All: We are cleansed, healed, made whole.
One: We are amazed by God’s unconditional, steadfast love.
All: As God’s people, let us rejoice and praise God together!

*HYMN — Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling — #389

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain:
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me? Refrain.

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me. Refrain.

Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me. Refrain.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION — JoAnn Moody
Welcoming God, we need you. Apart from you, life lacks meaning. We come seeking what money cannot buy. We come seeking what you alone provide – nourishment for our souls.
Welcoming God, your love for your children endures forever. Even if we squander all that you have given, still your eyes light up as soon as you see us approaching. Immediately, you rejoice! You embrace us, celebrating nothing more than that we are alive. Crying tears of joy, you throw your arms around us; joyfully giving thanks, “O my child, you’re home! Welcome home!”
Welcoming God, we are astonished by your boundless love. Come now; teach us to love as you love – spontaneously and extravagantly. May we throw our arms open wide, joyously offering your love. Amen.

*RESPONSE — Lamb of God — Ivy worship booklet, p. 59

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.

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

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

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 32 — JoAnn Moody

SPECIAL MUSIC

GOD’S WORD — Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*HYMN — Grace Greater Than Our Sin — #383

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–
Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today. Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? Refrain

*BENEDICTION — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE — Selections from Une Barque Sur L’Ocean — Ravel

March 19 – Fourth Sunday of Lent – Restored

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ! Our sacred Lenten journey continues as we praise God with our ‘One Great Hour of Sharing’ gifts.

You can watch our worship services anytime on our YouTube channel. We will post a link on this page with today’s service once worship begins.

SILENT REFLECTION IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP – Psalm 23 – #445

WELCOME

PRELUDE – What Wondrous Love Is This – Page

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Come, all who seek to live in the shelter of the Most High.
All: Through Christ, we embrace new possibilities.
One: Come, people of God, return to the One who gives you life.
All: We are here in response to God’s welcoming love.
One: God lifts us up!
All: We can count on God’s faithfulness!

*HYMN – The Light of the World Is Jesus – #373

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!

No darkness have we who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light when we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus! Refrain

Ye dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Go, wash at His bidding, and light will arise;
The Light of the world is Jesus! Refrain

No need of the sunlight in Heaven we’re told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light in the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus! Refrain

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God Eternal, your Spirit fills this place. May we draw strength from your presence.

God, your blessings provide all creation with life abundant. Your goodness endures. Words cannot express the joy you bring. All we can do is marvel; for you are holy. Your miracles are always unfolding. God, we praise you for this sacred morning. We are watching closely for signs of you. Come to us. Touch us. Help us to “see” our blindness. Make us whole. Amen.

*RESPONSE – Whiter Than Snow (Verses 1 and 4) – #368

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want You forever to live in my soul,
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain:
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, You see that I patiently wait,
Come now, and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought You, You never said “No,”
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. [Refrain]

GOD’S WORD – 1 Samuel 16:1-13

SPECIAL MUSIC – I Love to Tell the Story – arr. Hassell

GOD’S WORD – John 9:1-41

SERMON – Pastor Dan

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

*HYMN – Open My Eyes That I May See – #174

Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear,
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my mouth and let me bear
Gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere.
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my mouth, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr – Walther