Dec. 27 Livestream

On the First Sunday after Christmas, we have traditionally invited members to request their favorite carols to sing in church.

Watch the service and the requested hymns here:

Here’s this week’s order for worship:

Prelude – Abby Foehrkolb

Responsive Call to Worship – Pastor Dan Wilson
One: Sing of God’s glory!
All: Shout to God, all the earth!
One: Rejoice!
All: Christ is born!

Hymn – “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” – #191

Prayer of Invocation – Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray.
All: God of steadfast love, you are with us! We have heard the promise
of the prophets. We have rejoiced at the melody of angels’ songs. We have seen
your star in the heavens. We have followed your star to a humble birthplace.
Christ Jesus, we have come to be with you, because you have come to be with us. This morning, may hope and joy fill our lives, as we echo your angels, proclaiming,
“Glory to God in the highest! Peace to God’s people on earth.” Amen.

Lighting the Advent Wreath – Pastor Dan
– The Advent Candles and the Christ Candle

Response – “Angels We Have Heard on High” – #206
Verse 1 ONLY

Children’s Message – Ashton Wilson

Scripture Readings – Psalm 148, Isaiah 61:10-62:3 – Pastor Dan

Special Music – O Holy Night (arr. Dan Coates) – Abby Foehrkolb

Responsive Reading – “The Savior’s Advent” Luke 2:8-20 – #639

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you goodness of great joy that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign toy: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with he angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.

And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherd said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for al the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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

Virtual Hymn Sing

Benediction – Pastor Dan

Postlude – Abby Foehrkolb

Shouts of Joy! Dec. 13 Cantata Livestream

2020 has been quite a year. Let’s pause for a moment during this Season of Advent and find the joy! Our 2020 Christmas Cantata features treasured memories from our congregation.

Prelude: “He Is Lord” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful” – Aaron DiVesta and Anna DiVesta 

Responsive Call to Worship & Prayer of Invocation – Pastor Dan                                                                                                                   

     One:  The Savior of the world is Jesus Christ! 

     All:  Make a joyful noise to God!

     One:  Our God is a God of great joy!

     All:  Rely on God, who is our refuge and strength.

     One:  Give thanks to God, who is our salvation.   

     All:  We will sing praises to God’s name!

     One:  Let us pray.

     All:  God of great joy, we rejoice with anticipation as we look forward to future ways that you will reveal yourself among us.  May all people perceive your Spirit living within us, and may all people celebrate this blessing!  Strengthen us for your loving service.  We give thanks that you are calling us to be your followers and to live in ways that make life-giving differences in your world.  Lead us to carry out the caring ministries that you are inviting us to offer, Christ Jesus.  Amen.

 HYMN:  â€œJoyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”– #13

1.         Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory Lord of love;

            Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above.

            Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away;

            Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day.

2.         All Thy works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays

            Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise.

            Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

            Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee.

3.         Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever Blessing, ever blest,

            Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest!

            Thou our Father, Christ our Brother – All who live in love are Thine,

            Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine.

4.         Mortals join the mighty chorus Which the morning stars began;

            Father love is reigning o’er us, Brother love binds man to man.

            Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife,

            Joyful music leads us sunward In the triumph song of life.

Children’s Message – Liz Schurwan 

Prayers of the People concluding with the Lord’s Prayer (debts/debtors) –  Pastor Dan

Lighting the Advent Wreath – Pastor Dan: The Candle of Joy

 Praise Response – â€œWhen God Is a Child”  p. 95, worship booklet

 Verse 3 ONLY

3.         Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, Telling the world that the Savior is born

            When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first 

            and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

“Shouts of Joy:  A Christmas Concert for 2020”

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Psalm 98:1, 4

        HYMN – “Joy to the World” #194 

1.       Joy to the world the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King;

            Let every heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing, 

            and heav’n and nature sing. And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

2.         Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ;

            While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy,

            repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

3.         No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; 

            He comes to make HIs blessings flow Far as the curse is found,

            far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found.

4.         He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove

            The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love,

            And wonders of HIs love, and wonders, and wonders, of His love.

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture –  John 3:16-17 – Galatians 4:4-5

       â€œHe Is Born” – Julie McAllister and Anna DiVesta, Piano and Organ  

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Psalm 125:1-2 – Isaiah 40:9 – Isaiah 52:7      

       â€œGo, Tell It on the Mountain” –  Anna DiVesta, Piano       

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Isaiah 7:13-14 – Luke 2:16-19      

       â€œBreath of Heaven” –  Sue Wilson, Vocalist   

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Isaiah 9:6                               

       â€œMary, Did You Know?” – Aaron DiVesta and Anna DiVesta, Saxophone and Piano

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Isaiah 60:4-6 – Matthew 2:1, 9-11 

        HYMN –  â€œWe Three Kings” #220   

1.         We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we travers afar

            Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.

REFRAIN

            O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright,

            Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.

2.         Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again,

            King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign.

REFRAIN

3.         Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a Deity nigh;

            Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship Him, God on high.

REFRAIN

4.         Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom

            Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

REFRAIN

5.         Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice;

            Alleluia, Alleluia, Peals through the earth and skies.

REFRAIN

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Isaiah 11:1-2, 6-7, 9

       â€œCarol of the Drum” (The Little Drummer Boy) – Anna DiVesta, Piano         

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – Amos 5:24 – Revelation 19:5-7a, 11, 16

       â€œO Holy Night” – Marsha Fix, Vocalist 

        A Treasured Memory

        Holy Scripture – John 1:3-5 – Luke 2:9-11

       â€œSilent Night”                                                                                    

 Benediction – Anna DiVesta

 Postlude – Anna DiVesta

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.

Celebrate Ivy Chapel’s 50th Anniversary

2014 is the golden anniversary of Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ – and we’d like to invite you to celebrate with us throughout the year.

Here’s what’s happening so far… more events will be added, so check back often.

Sunday, May 18 our Sunday worship will commemorate the official start (5/13/1964) of Ivy Chapel UCC. Acting Missouri Mid-South Conference Minister, Rev. Allen Fluent, will join us as a guest pastor for this special day.

Sunday, September 14, an afternoon concert will celebrate the exceptional music ministry with which God has blessed Ivy over the past 50 years. We’ll fill you in on the details as the date grows closer.

Please join us for these special events. If you have any memories you’d like to share, please email 50years@ivychapel.org. We’ll be creating a special blog post to collect the memories as the year goes on.

Mission 4/1 Earth

Many of us were witness to a phenomenal level of generosity displayed by this congregation in response to our 2011 United Church of Christ “Mission: 1” initiative.  All across our denomination, people responded faithfully and we far exceeded lofty “Mission: 1” goals.  Now, a new denomination-wide “mission initiative” is in the works.  We are calling it, “Mission 4/1 Earth: Fifty Great Days.”

This future mission effort already has a time-frame:  April 1 to May 18, 2013. (These are the dates of Eastertide 2013.  Historically, God’s Church has described the Season of Easter with the superlative name “The Great Fifty Days.”)  Beginning the day after Easter Sunday, all of us who are the United Church of Christ will join together in 50 Great Days of Mission 4/1 Earth.  Goals will include hopes of reaching more than 1 million hours of engaged earth care, 100,000 tree plantings across the globe, and 100,000 advocacy letters written and mailed in support of environmental care.

Working on behalf of environmental concerns is not new to our denomination.  Our United Church of Christ has been embracing this cause for over 30 years, so we see this shared ministry of caring for God’s Planet Earth as a continuation of ongoing U.C.C. work for environmental justice.  Mission 4/1 Earth will provide simple yet meaningful ways that each of us can take action wherever God places us  -  living out our faith by caring for God’s creation.

To learn more; please visit  www.ucc.org/news/mission-for-one-earth-website.html

Get to know the United Church of Christ

Are you looking for a church? Exploring denominations? Trying to figure out what you believe? Are you looking to learn more about the United Church of Christ? Or, are you a longtime member, looking to strengthen your connection with our core beliefs? No matter who you are, you’re invited to join our own Linda Lowry as she leads us on an exploration of the Christian Church, the United Church of Christ and Ivy Chapel.

Meet in the Ivy Chapel Sanctuary on Sunday, Feb. 3 and 10 from 11:15 to 12:15.

Questions? Email us and we’ll help you find what you need to know. If you can’t make the meetings, let us know.

2012 Holiday Vendor Fair, November 30

Come join us on November 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. for Ivy Chapel’s first-ever Vendor Fair. Start your holiday shopping with local stores & vendors selling handmade crafts, baked goods, one-of-a-kind jewelry and more. This is a great chance to grab some very special items while you support Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ.

Want to help us promote the fair? Download and share this flyer with your friends.

Thanks… and we hope to see you there? Click here if you’re interested in being a vendor at the show.

Sell your wares at our Vendor Fair, Nov. 30

This year, Ivy Chapel is putting a new spin on fundraising – and we need your help. We’re having a Vendor Fair on Nov. 30, and we’re looking for crafters, bakers, builders & sellers of all kinds to provide a fun holiday shopping experience. It’s a chance to give your new, growing or established business some great exposure.

The Vendor Fair is Friday, November 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. We’re opening the doors for set-up at 3 – so there will be plenty of time to get ready for shoppers. The registration fee is $30 for a 6 ft. table, and $35 for an 8 footer.

Need to know more? Call (314) 434-4991 or email vendorfair@ivychapel.org.

Ready to register? Download the registration form and email it or drop it in the mail to: 620 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO, 63017.

Wine Tasting and Spuds Dinner April 14

Ready to raise your wine IQ and help Ivy Chapel at the same time? Come to our Wine Tasting, April 14 at 6pm. It’s presented by Wines for Humanity, and 10% of the proceeds from the event will support Ivy Chapel programs.

After the tasting, hang around for a bit for one of our most popular social events of the year – the Spuds Dinner. It began years ago as a new member welcome event, but has become much bigger than that! Enjoy salad, baked potatoes (with toppings!) and, of course, decadent desserts.

All are invited to this free event. Stop by, help Ivy Chapel by buying some great wine, and get to know your friends at Ivy. Click here for more information.

Holy Week Worship at Ivy Chapel

Join us during Holy Week we turn our eyes, one again, to the cross to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us and how his rising from the grave changed everything.

Maundy Thursday, April 5, 7:30 pm

Good Griday, April 6, 7:30 pm

Easter Sunday Sunrise Service, 6:30 am

Easter Sunday Worship, 10 am

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