Thank you for donating to Isaiah 58

We’d like to extend a special thank you to everyone at Ivy Chapel who donated to the Isaiah 58 back-to-school drive.

We were able to help brighten the start of the school year for so many children right here in St. Louis.

Our little congregation donated:

• 251 rulers
• 21 t-shirts
• 223 pairs of underwear
• 231 pairs of socks

Thank you to everyone who donated!

Isaiah 58 School Supply Drive

We want to help make sure every student in the St. Louis area has the school supplies they need to start the year in comfort and style. We’re proud to support Isaiah 58 Ministries’ Back to School Drive. This year, they’re requesting all sizes of girls’ and boys’ socks and underwear. And for good measure, we’re throwing in a challenge: Help us collect 250 rulers to donate to the drive.

Please drop off your donations at Ivy Chapel by August 15, 2021.

Questions? Want to help, but would prefer to donate money? We’ll be happy to do the shopping for you. Leave a message at the office at (314) 434-4991 or send us an email.

June 27 Livestream – Joyful Giving

We are blessed to welcome the Rev. Brenda Booth, Executive Director, Isaiah 58 Ministries.
Thank you, Brenda, for leading worship today. May Jesus Christ be praised!

We are blessed to welcome the Rev. Brenda Booth, Executive Director, Isaiah 58 Ministries. Thank you, Brenda, for leading worship today. May Jesus Christ be praised!

WELCOME – Linda Lowry

PRELUDE – Anna DiVesta

*CALL TO WORSHIP – Linda Lowry
One: Sing praises to God; O faithful ones!
All: God hears our cries, and God knows our sorrows.
One: Where there was no way,
All: God leads us on a new path.
One: Where there was no mercy,
All: God surprises us with healing.
One: Where many tears were cried,
All: God invites us to try a new dance step!

*HYMN – Help Us Accept Each Other – #127

1. Help us ac-cept each oth-er as Christ ac-cept-ed us;
   Teach us as sis-ter, broth-er each per-son to em-brace.
   Be pres-ent, Lord, a-mong us and bring us to be-lieve
   We are our-selves ac-cept-ed and meant to love and live.
2. Teach us, O Lord, Your les-sons, as in our dai-ly life
   We strug-gle to be hu-man and search for hope and faith.
   Teach us to care for peo-ple, for all, not just for some;
   To love them as we find them, or as they may be-come.
3. Let Your ac-cept-ance change us, so that we may be moved
   In liv-ing sit-u-a-tions to do the truth in love;
   To prac-tice Your ac-cept-ance un-til we know by heart
   The ta-ble of for-give-ness and laugh-ter’s heal-ing art.
4. Lord, for to-day’s en-coun-ters with all who are in need,
   Who hun-ger for ac-cept-ance, for right-eous-ness and bread
   We need new eyes for see-ing, new hands for hold-ing on;
   Re-new us with Your Spir-it; Lord, free us, make us one!

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION – Linda Lowry
God of Self-giving Love; you call on us to share one another’s burdens, by allowing others to care for us in our times of need and by offering all that you enable us to give to others in their time of need. With the fullness of joy that you provide, God; we seek to offer your people food, shelter, kindness, mercy, and blessings of every kind.
Faithful Savior; you ask us to trust that you have power to bring to life new possibilities in situations where it had seemed that there was no hope.
Christ Jesus, come to us now during this time of worship.
Teach us to embrace the Way of Life which you continue inviting us to live.
May our desires become your desires;
may our work become your work;
may our community become your faith community where you above all are loved and served. We pray in your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

*RESPONSE – Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart – worship booklet, p. 42

Give thanks with a grate-ful heart,
Give thanks to the Ho-ly One,
Give thanks be-cause He’s giv-en Je-sus Christ His Son.
Give thanks with a grate-ful heart,
Give thanks to the Ho-ly One,
Give thanks be-cause He’s giv-en Je-sus Christ His Son
And now let the weak say “I am strong,”
Let the poor say “I am rich,”
Be-cause of what the Lord has done for us
And now let the weak say “I am strong,”
Let the poor say “I am rich,”
Be-cause of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks,
Give thanks.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE – Tara Lowry

GOD’S WORD – Matthew 25:31-40 – Brenda Booth

SPECIAL MUSIC – There Is a Balm in Gilead (McDonald) – Anna DiVesta and Sarah Heend

GOD’S WORD – Isaiah 58:6-12 – Brenda Booth

SERMON – Brenda Booth

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

*HYMN – Reach Out and Touch – #505

1. Reach out and touch a soul that is hun-gry;
   Reach out and touch a spir-it in de-spair;
   Reach out and touch a life torn and dirt-y,
   A man who is lone-ly if you care!
   Reach out and touch that neigh-bor who hates you;
   Reach out and touch that stran-ger who meets you;
   Reach out and touch the broth-er who needs you;
   Reach out and let the smile of God touch thro’ you
2. Reach out and touch a friend who is wea-ry;
   Reach out and touch a seek-er un-a-ware;
   Reach out and touch, tho’ touch-ing means lo-sing
   A part of your own self if you care!
   Reach out and give your love to the love-less;
   Reach out and make a home for the home-less;
   Reach out and shed God’s light in the dark-ness;
   Reach out and let the smile of God touch thro’ you.

*BENEDICTION – Brenda Booth

*POSTLUDE – Anna DiVesta