March 16 — Strong and Tender

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. By grace alone, we live. God brings us together this day. May today’s worship offer you an opportunity to quiet your soul in the loving presence of God. Thanks be to our Savior Jesus Christ, all are blessed.

NOTE:
Due to a power outage following severe storms on Friday, the worship service for Sunday, March 16 was canceled.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Be Thou My Vision — Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Everyone is a welcome guest in God’s house.
All: God welcomes you and me today.
One: God’s design for the universe includes all people.
All: God shapes all creation into one lovely, grand mosaic!
One: Here in this sacred place all is calm and beautiful.
All: God is our light and our salvation.
One: Come into God’s presence now.
ALL: Let us worship God together.

*HYMN — My Faith Looks Up — #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.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God, we understand that human life can bring doubts and fears, pain and uncertainty. Humankind has always experienced struggles and challenges. We remember that even Abraham was troubled by questions, and the Early Church was surrounded by threats. Jesus himself was opposed by fearful powerful figures of his day.
Out of this awareness, we turn to you. Remember your people, Eternal God. We are fragile and we seek safety from the dangers of this world. You are our Everlasting Refuge. Come, Holy One. Come, Spirit of Life. Come to us, in this place, at this holy hour. Reassure us of your grace. We pray in your name, Jesus. Amen.

*RESPONSE — In the Name of the Lord — #19

There is strength in the name of the Lord;
There is pow’r in the name of the Lord:
There is hope in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 27 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SPECIAL MUSIC — Tune from Londonderry, an Irish tune — Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

GOD’S WORD — Luke 13:31-35 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*HYMN — Live Into Hope — Ivy worship book, p. 65

Of sight regained, the end of greed.
Th’ oppressed shall be the first to see
The year of God’s own jubilee!

Live into hope! The blind shall see
With insight and with clarity,
Removing shades of pride and fear,
A vision of our God brought near.

Live into hope of liberty,
The right to speak, the right to be,
The right to have one’s daily bread,
To hear God’s word and thus be fed.

Live into hope of captives freed,
From chains of fear or want or greed.
God now proclaims our full release
To faith and hope and joy and peace.

*RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
One: Go in the name of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
All: God is our home; our life; our joy.
One: Take heart!
All: Jesus Christ is our light; our hope; our all in all.
One: Be strong.
All: Blessed be God, now and forever. Amen.

*POSTLUDE

March 13 Livestream – 2nd Sunday of Lent – Strong and Tender

Kyrie, eleison. Christ, have mercy. Thank you, Bob Meinz, for serving as our worship musician today. And thank you to Jan Abrams, Executive Director of Caring for Kids, Inc., who is delivering today’s Mission Moment.

WELCOME

PRELUDE

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER OF INVOCATION
One: God desires to gather us together.
Many: God is present all around us.
One: To nurture is God’s nature.
Many: For our good, God moves.
One: To mother is one of God’s gifts.
Many: For our safety, God reaches.
One: God is our fortress.
Many: God is our strength.
One: Because of us, God is wounded.
Many: By God’s wounds, we are saved.
One: Through God, we receive comfort.
Many: In God, every soul finds peace and rest.
One: Let us pray together.
Many: God, you are our stronghold, and you are with us now. Gentle and Dynamic Spirit, breathe life into this sacred time of worship. Amen.

*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?
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.
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.

*CALL TO CONFESSION AND PRAYER OF CONFESSION
One: Let us offer our confession to God. Let us pray.
Many: O Wounded Healer, Mighty and Merciful God, nothing we say can undo damage that has been done. As you once wept over Jerusalem, we now weep over this world. O God, you see what we are doing with gifts which you have given us. Your prophets speak, yet we fail to listen. You desire to bless all creation with fullness of life, yet we fail to comply. Human lives are in chaos this day, yet we fail to respond. Beyond the horrific carnage of war, we long for peace that only you can give. Forgive us, O God, Creator and Lover of life. In Jesus’ name, have mercy. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS – Pastor Dan
Hear the good news. Our God has been faithful through all generations. Our God makes all things new. Through the mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen.

*RESPONSE – People Need the Lord – #527
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize people need the Lord?

CHRISTIAN ACTION – Caring for Kids, Inc. – Jan Abrams, Executive Director

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 27 – Pastor Dan

SPECIAL MUSIC

GOD’S WORD – Luke 13:22-24, 30-35 – Pastor Dan

SERMON – Pastor Dan

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

*HYMN – Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – #424
Teach me Thy way, O Lord; teach meTthy way!
Thy guiding grace afford; teach me thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav’nly light; teach me Thy way!

When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way!
When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way!
In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress,
In failure or success, teach me Thy way!

When doubts and fears arise, teach me Thy way!
When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me Thy way!
Shine thro’ the cloud and rain, thro’ sorrow, toil, and pain;
Make Thou my pathway plain; teach me Thy way!

Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way!
Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way!
Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,
Until the crown is won, teach me Thy way!

*SENDING OUT – Pastor Dan
God sends us into the world to be living instruments of God’s peace.

*POSTLUDE