Special Message – A Time to Give Thanks

As we approach Thanksgiving, we would like to take this moment to pause, and to thank you for being with us over the past year. We are grateful for you support, and your help in advancing the ministry of Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ.

This year’s traditional Thanksgiving message comes from Rev. Mary Nelson, the Transitional Conference Minister for the Missouri Mid-South Conference. Thank you, Mary, for taking the time to share this inspirational message with us.

Thanksgiving message from the United Church of Christ

Thank you to Rev. Damien Lake, associate conference minister from the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ, for this inspiring Thanksgiving message.

During this Thanksgiving season, let’s pause for a moment and remember one of the most important messages of all: to love your neighbor as yourself. To accept all. To welcome all. To love all.

Nov. 22 Livestream – Give Thanks!

Thank you for joining us during this very different Thanksgiving week. We hope you are able to find some joy, even as gatherings with friends and family may be limited. Please be safe and healthy, and enjoy this week’s program.

Responsive Call to Worship/ Pastor Dan
One: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
All: God cares for everyone.
One: Like a shepherd, searching for lost sheep, God calls to us.
All: God calls out to us by name.
One: God reaches out to rescue all who have strayed.
All: Scattered, weak and injured ones are cared for by God.
One: We are the sheep of God’s pasture.
All: O come, let us kneel before God our Maker.

Hymn/ “The Gift of Love” #126

1. Though I may speak with bravest fire, And have the gift to all inspire,
   And have not love; my words are vain; As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
2. Though I may give all I possess, And striving so my love profess,
   But not be given by love within, The profit soon turns strangely thin.
3. Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control, Our spirits long to be made whole.
   Let inward love guide every deed; By this we worship, and are freed.

Prayer of Invocation / Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray.
All: God of Life and Breath, we come this morning, seeking guidance that you alone can provide. You are a God of astounding faithfulness! Fill us with your holy love and lead us, we pray. O Breath of Life; you are with us in our going out and our coming in. Wherever we are, you are steadily leading us.
God of love, we praise you for the abundance of blessings which you provide. We give thanks with grateful hearts. We want to share our faith in you with the world! May we always live joyfully in the spirit of our Living Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Praise Response/ “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart” p. 42, worship booklet

Children’s Message/ Linda Lowry

Special Music/ “On Eagle’s Wings”
Marsha Fix, Vocalist
Anna DiVesta, Pianist

Scripture Reading/ Pastor Dan Psalm 95:1-2 and Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon/ Pastor Dan

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

Hymn/ “For the Fruit of All Creation” #591

1. For the fruit of all creation, Thanks be to God.
   For His gifts to every nation, Thanks be to God.
   For the plowing, sowing, reaping, Silent Growth while we are sleeping,
   Future needs in earth’s safekeeping, Thanks be to God.
2. In the just reward of labor, God’s will is done.
   In the help we give our neighbor, God’s will is done.
   In our worldwide task of caring For the hungry and despairing,
   In the harvests we are sharing, God’s will is done.
3. For the harvests of the Spirit, Thanks be to God.
   For the good we all inherit, Thanks be to God.
   For the wonders that astound us, For then truths that still confound us,
   ost of all, that love has found us, Thanks be to God.

Benediction/ Pastor Dan

Postlude/ Anna DiVesta