1/4/26 Bulletin
- 7 hours ago
- 8 min read
UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF HANCOCK
We respect tradition — and we welcome inclusive language about people and expansive language about God. Please pray using words most meaningful to you.
Open and Affirming of ALL God’s Children
Epiphany Sunday - January 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. - Communion Sunday
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 839 3635 9115
Passcode: 776780
The first pew in front of the pulpit has books and quiet activities for people of all ages.
Please find something that suits you, take it to your pew, and return it after the service.
Silent Prayer
Mysterious One, through the ordinary elements of the earth, we are reminded that your grace is woven into our common life. The same waters that revive our bodies and the earth’s, invite, too, the renewal of our souls. May we not take for granted the sources of our life but be good stewards of these gifts that restore. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude This Is the Day the lord Has Made Tune: Twenty Fourth/ A. Giamanco
Welcome
*Introit Come, God, Creator, Be Our Shield (all verses) B. #69
Come, God, Creator, be our shield, the One to whom our cares we yield;
And in our worship, faith impart, your grace and calm to every heart.
Come, gracious Jesus, be our guest, our morning joy, our evening rest;
And in our daily lives impart your love and peace to every heart.
Come, Holy Spirit, be our guide, our strength to risk against the tide.
That in God’s world we shall impart your light and hope to every heart.
*Call to Worship
One: Wise men came from the East to worship one they had never seen.
All: They brought rich gifts to one they did not even know.
One: They were not Jews, yet they came to worship the King of the Jews.
All: They were outsiders, yet their offerings were accepted.
One: They had strange ideas about stars, but saw coherence in the whole world's plan.
All: They grew in wisdom.
One: For them, a King had come that would not be a tyrant.
All: The little child was for them the focus of all meaning.
One: This King would make all things new.
All: They were dreamers who saw beyond the facts to the reality, and they went home changed.
One: Come, come everyone, from the East and from everywhere,
All: Come and worship Christ, the new-born King.
*Passing the Peace (ASL) and Lighting Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn We Are Your People R. #373
We are your people, Spirit of grace, / you dare to make us, to all our neighbors, / Christ's living voice, hands and face.
Joined in community, treasured and fed, / may we discover gifts in each other, / willing to lead and be led.
Rich in diversity, help us to live / closer than neighbors, open to strangers, / able to clash and forgive.
Glad of tradition, help us to see / in all life's changing where you are leading, / where our best efforts should be.
Give, as we venture justice and care / (peaceful, resisting, waiting or risking) / wisdom to know when and where.
Spirit, unite us, make us, by grace, / willing and ready, Christ's living body, / loving the whole human race.
*Invocation (spoken in unison)
Eternal Lord, as we gather in worship, may we focus more fully on your presence. Help us to listen to your Spirit so we too can hear your gracious words of welcome: Come, follow me, the kingdom of God is near. Open our hearts and enliven our faith that we might follow you in our worship and witness now and every day this week. In Jesus’ strong and tender name. Amen!
Children’s Message The Light that Guides Us
Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 31:7-14
Gospel Reading Matthew 2: 1-12
Special Music Morning Has Broken Gaelic Melody/ Arthur Frackenpole
Message What the Star Tells Us Jeff Jeude
*Hymn Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant? R. #374
Won’t you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey, we are trav’lers on the road;we are here to help each other go the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the shadow of your fear;I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.
Won’t you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too.
Prayers of the People – Sharing Joys & Concerns
Our Father (Creator, Mother) who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
Lead me Lord, lead me in thy righteousness, make thy way plain before my face.
For it is thou Lord, thou Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
Invitation to Offering - "Our offering is more than coins or bills—it is the giving of ourselves, our time, and our love, so that God’s light may shine through us."
Offertory O For A Heart to Praise My God Tune: Richmond/ Haweis/ Powell
*The Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen
*Prayer of Dedication (spoken in unison)
Just as the wise ones followed the star to a place of wonder, we follow God’s call to give, trusting that our gifts will lead to hope and transformation.
*Communion Hymn The King of Love My Shepherd Is (vs. 1) R. # 87
The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never;I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever.
The Lord’s Supper
INVITATION:
ONE: In Luke’s Gospel we read that Jesus, at the table with two of the disciples, took bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them, and their eyes were opened, and they recognized the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread.
In the Acts of the Apostles we read that as the church was gathered, often in the homes of the believers, Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and community, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.
ALL: Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, we gather at your table to know you in the breaking of the bread.
COMMUNION PRAYER:
ONE: Holy God, we praise and bless you for creation and the gift of life and for your abiding love which brings us close to you, the source of all blessing. We thank you for revealing your will for us in the giving of the law and in the preaching of the prophets. We thank you especially that in the fullness of time you sent Jesus, born of Mary, to live in our midst, to share in our suffering, and to accept the pain of death at the hands of those whom Jesus loved. We rejoice that in a perfect victory over the grave you raised Christ with power to become sovereign in your realm. We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to gather your church by which your work may be done in the world and through which we share the gift of eternal life.
ALL: With the faithful in every place and time, we praise with joy your holy name: Holy, holy, holy, God of love and majesty, the whole universe speaks of your glory, O God Most High.
ONE: We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion, Jesus took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, Jesus also took the cup, after supper, saying: “This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Consecrate, therefore, by your Holy Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine, and bless us that as we receive them at this table, we may offer you our faith and praise, we may be united with Christ and with one another, and we may continue faithful in all things.
In the strength Christ gives us, we offer ourselves to you, eternal God, and give thanks that you have called us to serve you. Amen.
(All are invited forward to receive the elements.)
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:
ALL: We thank you, God, for inviting us to this table where we have known the presence of Christ and have received all Christ’s gifts. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and let us show forth your praise in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
*Benediction
*Sung Benediction May the Blessing of God R. # 346 May the blessing of God go before you. / May her grace and peace abound. / May her Spirit live within you. / May her love wrap you 'round. / May her blessing remain with you always. / May you walk on holy ground.
Postlude Postlude on Madrid Trad. Spanish Melody/ David Lasky
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the sanctuary.
The flowers on the Altar this morning are given In Loving Memory of Gertrude Wildes.
Support our Church Financially
Please visit Hancock (Maine) UCC on Facebook or our webpage www.hancockucc.com
or visit this link to our PayPal account: paypal.me/hancockucc
or mail offerings to:
Union Congregational Church, PO Box 443, Hancock, ME 04640 (Attention: Treasurer)
Contact Us
Vicky Jennifer TJ
207.422.3100 207.323.6743
Many thanks to those who make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Guest Worship Leader – Jeff Jeude
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Doug Kimmel; Ron Schwizer & Pat Summerer
Liturgist – Vicky Espling
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
The New Century Hymnal (B.) Hymns of Truth and Light (R.)
Copyright © 1995 The Pilgrim Press Copyright © 1998 First Congregational
Church of Huston, Texas
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.
COME, GOD, CREATOR, BE OUR SHIELD
Music - ©1994 Pilgrim Press, The
Contributors:
We Are Your People
Words - ©1975 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Brian Wren
The Servant Song
Words - ©1977 Jubilate Music
Contributors: Richard Gillard
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Words and Music - © Oregon Catholic Press
Contributors: ST. COLUMBA, Henry Baker
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