Thanks for a great VBS!

It was another great year for Ivy Chapel’s Vacation Bible School… Thanks to the volunteers (and the students!) who made it possible. Watch this space for pictures, and check with us throughout the year for more on our youth and family-oriented activities. Want to know more? Just contact us.

Hope for Haiti Benefit Concert, July 10

Ivy Chapel is proud to support the Hope for Haiti benefit concert at Parkway United Church of Christ (2841 N. Ballas Road.) This family-oriented concert is at 7 p.m., July 10. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 6:30.

The Hope for Haiti concert is an evening of music and community to raise funds to support our Haitian neighbors who are recovering from the tragic and devastating January 2010 earthquakes.

Popular recording artists Brian Sirchio and Karen Hylton will perform.

We will be selling tickets after worship at Ivy Chapel on July 4.

This benefit concert is through Global Ministries of the Christian Church (DOC) & The United Church of Christ.

Please contact us if you have questions about the concert or about Hope for Haiti.

All invited to Church Picnic June 13

The annual Ivy Chapel Picnic is taking on a new twist this year — it’s open to the public! This is a great chance for everyone to stop by and see what a great, welcoming church Ivy is. The Picnic starts at 12 noon on Sunday, June 12 and will feature grilled hot dogs, square dancing, horseshoes, snow cones, s’mores and … yes, pony rides!

So saddle up, swing your partner round and round and get ready for family fun with Ivy Chapel!

Click here if you have any questions about the picnic, or RSVP for the Ivy Chapel Community Picnic on Facebook here.

Uplifting new video from the United Church of Christ

God speaks to and through each of us in so many ways. In the United Church of Christ, it’s our mission to keep our ears, minds and hearts open to His message. In God’s language, there are no periods, no endings – only beginnings and possibilities…

The Language of God from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.

UPDATED: Our Church’s Wider Mission Fundraiser

UPDATE: Ivy Chapel’s special offering for Our Church’s Wider Mission raised over $1400. Thank you to everyone who donated for your inspiring generosity.

Each year, a portion of the offering and other money donated to Ivy Chapel goes to support “Our Church’s Wider Mission.” This outreach by the United Church of Christ helps those in need across the globe. The following video, which was shown during worship at Ivy Chapel on Feb. 21, further explains the concept of OCWM. The video was shown in support of a special offering held on Feb. 28 to support OCWM.

If you’d like more information about OCWM, or if you would like to donate to the fundraising drive, please join us in worship on Feb. 28, e-mail us, or call 1-314-434-4991

Holy Week Services at Ivy Chapel

Join us as we celebrate the coming miracle of Easter. Following is Ivy’s Holy Week schedule:

Maundy Thursday: Thursday, April 1 at 7:30:  This is the evening of the Last Supper. There is a place at the table for everyone.

Good Friday: Friday, April 2 at 7:30: Worship at the foot of Christ’s Cross for one of the most powerful and meaningful services of the year.

Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 4

6:30 a.m. Sunrise Worship at Ivy: Join Rev. Dale Bartels from St. John’s UCC for a celebratory worship in Ivy’s sanctuary.

10 a.m. Resurrection Day worship at Ivy, with Holy Communion (all are welcome to participate)

Hot February Chili Supper raises $2,400 for Ivy Chapel programs

Thank you to everyone who came out to spice up a chilly February evening at Ivy Chapel. The chili supper raised over $2,400, which will be used to support our ongoing community outreach programs.

The youth raffle brought in over $300, which will go towards an upcoming youth mission trip.

A very special thank-you goes out to all of the volunteers who helped make the event a huge success.

Keep watching this website and Ivy Chapel’s twitter feed for upcoming fundraisers, fellowship events and other news from Ivy Chapel.

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Journey toward the Miracle of Easter

From the United Church of Christ…
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent—a season of self-examination, prayer, fasting and works of love. In many churches, ashes are placed on the forehead as a reminder of mortality.

The word “Lent” is from the Middle English verb meaning “to lengthen.” In the Northern Hemisphere, the season corresponds with the lengthening of days during late winter and early spring.

During Lent, Christians prepare themselves spiritually for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The season spans 40 days: the number 40 symbolizes spiritual journeys home, corresponding to the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert in preparation for his ministry and the 40 years Israel journeyed through the wilderness towards the promised land. The traditional color of Lent is purple. During Holy Week, red is sometimes worn to symbolize the blood shed by Jesus for the salvation of humanity. In some traditions, following Maundy Thursday’s service, the sanctuary is stripped of color and ornament as a gesture which may suggest keeping vigil with Christ on the cross and in the tomb.

For more information about the journey toward the Miracle of Easter, and for information about how to make your own journey, visit the United Church of Christ’s Lent website.

Celebrate the Christmas season with Ivy Chapel

The Christmas season is an exciting, joyful, faithful journey at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ for adults and children alike. We have a lot of opportunities for you to celebrate with us. Everyone is welcome! Check the calendar page for complete details on all of the upcoming events at Ivy Chapel. If you have any questions or would like more information you can contact us via e-mail or at (314) 434-4991.

Sunday, November 29: First Sunday in Advent

Sunday, December 6: Second Sunday in Advent, Hanging of the Greens and Santa’s Workshop

Sunday, December 13: Third Sunday in Advent, Worship with Cantata by the Chancel Choir. 6:30 p.m. Advent Storytelling

Sunday, December 20: Children’s Christmas Pageant

Thursday, December 24: 6:30 p.m. Family worship, 11 p.m. Candlelight service

From all of us at Ivy Chapel, may the blessings of the season be upon you. We hope you’ll join us in anticipation as we celebrate the coming birth of Jesus Christ.

Thanks to all the creatures who joined us…

Dogs and cats — and even a rabbit, hampster and Russian tortoise — descended on Ivy Chapel in record numbers on Sept. 12th for the Blessing of the Animals.

This was Ivy’s ninth year for the Blessing of the Animals, and it was the busiest yet. It was also the ninth straight year we have been fortunate to have perfect weather.

This year, we were proud to accept donations for C.H.A.M.P. assistance dogs. Donations will ensure C.H.A.M.P. will be able to continue providing service dogs free of charge to adults and children with disabilities.

Thank you to everyone who shared their pets with us… and see you next year!

Here’s a short video of Moose the Russian tortoise, who stopped by to be blessed and to sample Ivy’s turf…

Click on the photo below to view our photo album from the 2009 Blessing of the Animals at Ivy Chapel. If you would like hi-res versions of any of these photos, please e-mail the Ivy Chapel webmaster.

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