10/5/25 Bulletin
- treasurer593
- Dec 21, 2025
- 7 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
October 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. - Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
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
Gracious God, oil the hinges of our hearts’ doors that they may swing gently and easily to welcome your coming. Prayer from New Guinea
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude
Welcome
*Introit Here We Gather as God’s People R. #383 Here we gather as God’s people with our friends from far and near;
let our voices sound with praises knowing Christ has called us here.
Now we seek and greet each other, now in joy approach our friends.
Here we mingle, bound together as to all our love extends.
*Call to Worship
Written by Rev. Taisaku OBATA (Minister, Ube Church, United Church of Christ in Japan) Translated by Mr. David McIntosh (Overseas Liaison, United Church of Christ in Japan)
One: In a world that remains divided and in conflict, God is inviting us, to make us one.Many: Today we gather around one table, in answer to God’s will.One: What do we find at today’s table?Many: God’s love, which endures all things and connects all things.One: What is not at today’s table?Many: The many powers of the world, which seek to stand over others.One: Let us repent, and give thanks to God’s power to bring salvation to all who believe.Many: Thanks be to God! Make us witnesses of Your love.All: Let us worship together the true God, who makes us one.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn Help Us Accept Each Other B. #388
Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, God, among us, and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.
Teach us, O God, your lessons, as in our daily life
we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,
to love them as we find them, or as they may become.
Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved
in living situations to do the truth in love;
To practice your acceptance, until we know by heart
the table of forgiveness and laughter's healing art.
God, for today's encounters with all who are in need,
who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread,
Bring us new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on:
renew us with your Spirit; God! Free us, make us one!
*Invocation (spoken in unison) from the Book of Worship, United Church of Christ
O God of the morning and of the evening hours, let your spirit come on us here gathered. This is the holy place where we, your people, call on you in faith, joining heart and voice in thanksgiving and praise to your name. Amen
Children’s Message
Scripture 1 Corinthians 12:12–27, Psalm 133:1, John 17:21–23
Special Music
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn In Christ There Is No East or West R. #381
In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north;
But one community of love throughout the whole wide world.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord close binding humankind.
Join hands, disciples of the faith, whate’er your race may be;
All children of the living God are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west, in him meet south and north;
All Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.
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 my way plain before my face. For it is thou Lord, thou Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
Invitation to Offering - The United Congregational Church of South Africa
One: Let us present with joy our offerings of commitment and support for the work of Christ’s church.
All: Let us prepare Christ’s table with the offerings of our life and labor.
Offertory
*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)
All good gifts come from you, O God. As you have given us gifts, so we offer our gifts to one another. Amen
*Communion Hymn Be Known to Us in Breaking Bread B. #342
Be known to us in breaking bread, but do not then depart;
O Savior, stay with us and spread your table in our heart.
Here share with us in love divine, your body and your blood;
That living bread, that heavenly wine, be our immortal food.
The Lord’s Supper
Communion Liturgy
Invitation
One: Like a sower, God scatters, and God will give growth.
Many: God scatters life across the earth.
One: God scatters people in every land and nation.
Many: God scatters disciples far and wide.
One: Like a shepherd, God gathers.
Many: God gathers people into families of faith.
One: God gathers people into communities of love.
Many: God gathers people into the body of Christ.
One: Today, on this World Communion Sunday, God gathers us at one table with disciples
of every language, culture, and tradition. From cathedrals and chapels, from huts and
houses, from fields and cities, God gathers us in many places and makes us one in Christ.
At this table, we remember the cost of discipleship and rejoice in the richness of Christ’s
gifts poured out for the whole world.
Communion Prayer
All: Creator of the Universe, Maker of mountains and rivers, deserts and seas, vineyards and wheat fields, we praise you for the life you have given us and for all living things around us!
One: From the seeds you scattered, you gathered the people of Israel, giving them your
covenant and your promise. In the fullness of time, you came to us in Jesus of Nazareth,
child of Mary and the Promised One of Israel. We honor his teachings, we weep at his
suffering, and we rejoice in his risen life.
All: With angels and archangels, with our ancestors in faith, and with our brothers and sisters who gather at your table across every continent and island, we ask your blessing on this bread and this cup.
One: May these gifts of Christ’s body and blood strengthen us to be the gathered and scattered Church in the world—many in culture and expression, yet one in Spirit, one in truth, one in faith, one in love. Gather your scattered seeds into your home of grace and peace, where all creation is renewed in you.
Sharing the Meal – Breaking the Bread and Filling the Cup
One: Through the broken bread we participate in the body of Christ.
Through the cup of blessing we participate in the new life Christ gives.
Come, for all things are ready.
The bread of life. The cup of joy.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (together)
We thank you, generous God, for the nourishment of this table and the living presence
of Christ among us. We thank you for the gift of growth and grace in this life-renewing
feast. We thank you for the company of your great cloud of witnesses, here in this
place, in every land, and throughout the generations. Take your gathered people and
scatter us again into the world—renewed, invigorated, and committed—that, so
nourished, we may take root and bear life-giving fruit to feed, heal, clothe, and
comfort, in Jesus’ name. Amen
*Benediction
*Sung Benediction Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (vs. 1) R. #333
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace; / let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace: / oh, refresh us, oh, refresh us, traveling through this wilderness.
Postlude
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the sanctuary.
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
Resources
Call to Worship, Invocation – enfleshed: liturgy that matters
Many thanks to those who make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Mary Angela & Nick Davis and David Wildes
Liturgist –
Audio-Video Support – Patrice Alexander
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.
Comments