November 6 – Totenfest – Hold on to Faith 

Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC. All are welcome here.
As our love for God grows, we become more and more fully alive as Christ’s disciples!

Today we observe Totenfest (the “Festival of the Dead”) in connection with All Saints’ Day. Worship will include our congregation’s ritual honoring loved ones who have passed on to life eternal during the past year. We also will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion as our life-long journey “From Bread and Cup Toward Faith and Giving” continues. Please gather the elements before worship so you can celebrate communion with us.

Join us in person every Sunday at 10 a.m., or you can watch our services anytime on our YouTube page.

We are still having trouble with our main sanctuary camera, but were able to capture this week’s special service on Facebook Live. You do not need to be a member of Facebook to watch this video–click on the link and you should be able to watch. If you have trouble, let us know.

Click here to watch on Facebook.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley – Lachenauer

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: God’s energy fills this place.
All: In this sanctuary, we feel God’s presence.
One: God brings people together.
All: God is bringing us together here.
One: Have you looked closely at God’s invitation?
All: God invites all people to come together with one another
around Christ’s Table.

*HYMN – For All the Saints – #548

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness dread, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

But, lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Still-Speaking God, throughout history you have gathered people around your Word to instruct and to inspire. We give thanks for people who have embraced your Vision and who have given of themselves supporting communities that follow your Way. Reveal your Vision in this house today, Amazing God, so that we may be transformed by your renewing grace. Lead us to continue growing in our love for you and for one another.
Watchful and Caring God, nourish within us pure hearts and souls. Every breath that we breathe is a gift from you. Encourage us and guide us as we continue striving to be channels of your astonishing compassion, Christ Jesus. May our lives serve you and praise you. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE – Gloria Patri – #620

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
And to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen

GOD’S WORD – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

TOTENFEST – Thanksgiving for Loved Ones

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

SPECIAL MUSIC – Pie Jesu, Andrew Lloyd Webber – Marsha Fix and Valerie Waterman, Vocalists

Merciful Jesus, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest.
O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.

GOD’S WORD – Luke 20:20, 27-38

SERMON – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face – #259

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;
Here would I touch and handle things unseen;
Here grasp with firmer hand th’eternal grace,
And all my weariness upon Thee lean.

Here would I feed upon the Bread of God;
Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heav’n;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load;
Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiv’n.

I have no help but Thine; nor do I need
Another arm save Thine to lean upon;
It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed;
My strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.

Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness;
Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood.
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace;
They blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord, my God.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
All people are invited to Christ’s Table. All who desire are welcome to receive the bread and the cup.

*HYMN – I Sing a Song of the Saints of God – worship booklet, pp. 52-53

I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.

They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.

They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Toccata – Speth

Totenfest – November 6

Each year, Ivy Chapel observes the celebration of thanksgiving for dear ones who have preceded us in death. This year we will celebrate Totenfest on November 6 during Sunday worship.

If you would like to celebrate the memory of a loved one with us, please use this form.

If you have any trouble with the form or have any questions, let us know.

Nov. 7 Livestream – Totenfest

Thank you for being with us today as we mark Totenfest, the annual celebration of life remembering those we have lost in the past year. If you are joining us online, please gather your bread and wine or grape juice so we can have communion together.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Prelude on “Bread of Life” – Young

*CALLING ONE ANOTHER TO WORSHIP
One: Come, all who are anxious or angry.
All: Come, all who are discouraged or exhausted.
One: Enter into the joy of your Master. This is the sanctuary of God.
All: This is holy ground.
One: God is here to receive you and to love you.
All: From the past will come the future. What it holds is a mystery!
One: Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
All: In our death, a resurrection. At the last, a victory!

*HYMN – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – #1

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us for;
His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving wold be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, The man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabbath His name, From age to age the same, A
nd He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, Should treated to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us;
The prince of Darkess grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through him who with us sideth;
Let good and kindred go, This mortal life also;
The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.

*OPENING PRAYER
God of abundant blessing; out of pure love, you set people free.
God of everlasting life; we worship you!
We praise you as a Giving, Loving God. All people are in your care, and you are stirring among us. It is thanks to you, O God, that relationships are healthy; that compassion flows abundantly; that brokenness is mended; that souls love one another!
We come this day, seeking your guidance, God. Reveal to us, we pray, ways that we may faithfully offer people support and blessing. In your life, Christ Jesus, we see unselfishness and kindness that we want to emulate. Merciful and Mighty One, guide us to follow you by offering tender, loving care to all. Lead us toward becoming your joyful children of grace. Amen.

*RESPONSE – Be Still and Know – #24

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.

I am the Lord that healeth thee.
I am the Lord that healeth thee.
I am the Lord that healeth thee.

GOD’S WORD – Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – For All the Saints (Verses 1-4) – #548

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
They name, O Jesus, be forever blest:
Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might,
Thou Lord, their captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light:
Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold:
Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine;
Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!

TOTENFEST – Thanksgiving for Loved Ones

SPECIAL MUSIC – Marcia Funebre sulla morte d’un Eroe, Op 26 (Beethoven) – Mike Waller

GOD’S WORD – Mark 12:38-44 – Pastor Dan

SERMON – Pastor Dan

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

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
We celebrate “open communion,” for we believe Christ’s Table is open to all people. All who desire the bread and the cup are welcome to receive God’s gifts at this communion table.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – Hymn of Promise – #277

In the bulb there is a flower; In the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: Butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter There’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, Seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, Bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; What it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; In our time, infinity.
In our doubt there is believing; In our life, eternity.
In our death a resurrection; At the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – To God Be the Glory – Hustad

CCLI License #456361

Food photo created by mdjaff – www.freepik.com

Nov. 1 Livestream – Totenfest

Today, on All Saint’s Day, we pause to remember those we have lost in the last year. Join us for prayers and a celebration of life.

As is our custom here at Ivy Chapel, we start each worship with announcements. Here’s what’s going on this week.

Prelude / Anna diVesta

Responsive Call to Worship/ Pastor Dan Wilson
One: What a joy! What a comfort to know Loving God hears our borning cry
and Loving God sees our lives unfold.
All: We marvel at the unending grace of God!
One: We praise the One who is with us every moment of our lives!
All: Let us worship Christ our Savior!

Prayer of Invocation / Pastor Dan
One: I invite you to bow with me, and let us pray together.
All: God of wonder, God of grace; let your Spirit fill our souls. Remind us this day that you are the Creator of all life. Through terrors of night, among arrows flying by day; we need to sense your power,… your guidance,… your higher purpose.
Living God, we gather to praise you. We are grateful for any earthly glimpse of eternity which you give us. All that we already have received whets our appetite for more. And so it is that we come now seeking still more glimpses of you, O Holy One. Who knows? Maybe your closeness to us will be revealed through the breaking of bread or the filling of a cup.
On this Sabbath day, lead us away from this world’s distractions, we pray. Draw us toward a clearer vision of who you are, Faithful God. This will help us to see more clearly who you would like us to be.
Eternal Savior; in every age, you call people to follow you and to love you. It is you, Living God, who we were raised to praise! To you, we now belong! Amen!

Hymn / “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry“ worship booklet, pp. 54-55

Children’s Message / Sarah Heend

Totenfest All Saints’ Day Thanksgiving for Loved Ones / Pastor Dan

Prayers of the Church concluding with the Lord’s Praye r/ Pastor Dan

Special Music / “Come to Jesus” Anna

Scripture Reading / Pastor Dan Matthew 23:1-12

Sermon / Pastor Dan

Celebrating Communion / Pastor Dan

Hymn / “We Are a New Creation” worship booklet, p. 91

We Are a New Creation

1. We are a new creation Of Christ, the living Word,
   Our songs of jubilation Shall everywhere be heard.
   New life blooms fresh and glorious For those who heed the call
   Of Christ, who reigns victorious O’er sin and death and all.
2. We are a new creation Of God for this new day.
   As partners let us follow The life, the truth, the way.
   Christ bids us work to gather As colleagues, old and young,
   As women, men, and nations, God’s folk of every tongue.
3. We are a new creation For service here on earth.
   We live our faith in action To tell our Savior’s worth.
   Let love and justice blending Now show for all to see
   God’s grace is never ending It reaches you and me.
4. We are a new creation By God’s own gracious hand,
   Old burdens cast behind us, A daring future planned.
   In ministry and mission, United let us live,
   In Christ a shining vision To God’s wide world to give.

Benediction / Pastor Dan

Postlude / Anna