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 8, 2023 – Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) (Posted for later viewing on Facebook and YouTube) Join Zoom Meeting (This is a new link) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82224252518?pwd=aEd4WENqcjFHakFTcVFyQnltNzl1UT09 Meeting ID: 822 2425 2518 Passcode: 755650 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 Holy Friend, Holy Companion, Maker of Life and Breath, we acknowledge the world we live in is complicated. So few choices are morally pure. So few resources are untouched by exploitation of earth or neighbor. We can feel stuck. Overwhelmed. At a loss as to how to live responsibly. But we do wish to do what is right and just. In the midst, we pray for your support, that we might be a collective of thoughtful, reflective, and committed people. Amen

* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy Tune:Wellesley/ Tourjee/Young Welcome *Introit God of Grace and God of Glory (vs. 1) R. #477 God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your power; now fulfill your Church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour. *Call to Worship One: The heavens declare the glory of God! All: The skies proclaim God’s handiwork. One: The day pronounces God’s glory without a sound, All: the night expounds God’s knowledge without a word, One: and yet their voice goes out through all the earth. All: Let us join our voices with the voice of creation in declaring God’s glory! *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful R. #63 Refrain: All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all, Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colors, and made their tiny wings, Refrain: The purple headed mountains, the rivers running by, the sunset, and the morning that brightens up the sky. Refrain: All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all, The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden, God made them every one. Refrain: *Invocation (in unison) God, the Creator, invites us into the art of shaping shared life. Together, we craft our moral and political, cultural and material lives. Neither saviors nor helpless, we all play a part. We honor, too, all that is beyond our control. In this web of life we share, we seek to live with integrity, aligning our beliefs and our actions, prioritizing love for our neighbors, and reckoning with the risks required. May the Spirit come and inspire us, co-creators with God. Amen Children’s Message Hebrew Scripture Isaiah 5:1-7 Christian Scripture Matthew 21:33-46 Living Psalm Psalm 19 Special Music Awake, Awake To Love and Work Kentucky Harmony/ Tom Mitchell Message Rev. TJ Mack *Hymn Be Thou My Vision R. #445 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me save that thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord; thou my Redeemer, my love thou hast won; thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise, thou mine inheritance, now and always; thou and thou only, first in my heart, Ruler of heaven, my treasure thou art. High King of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O ruler of all. 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 – B. #844 All good gifts around us come from you, O God. You have given us life, and new life in Christ. As you have given us gifts, so we offer our gifts, that we may be gifts to one another, as Jesus so taught and lived. Offertory Meditation on “Leoni” Larson/ Hegarty *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) B. #845 O God, most merciful and gracious, of whose bounty we have all received: accept, we pray, this offering of your people. Remember in your love those who have brought it and those for whom it is given; and so follow it with your blessing that it may promote peace and goodwill among all people and advance the realm of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen *Hymn Sent Forth by God’s Blessing B. #76 Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this dwelling take leave. The service is ended, O now be extended the fruits of our worship in all who believe. The seed of the teaching, receptive hearts reaching, Shall blossom in action for God and for all. God's grace did invite us, and love shall unite us To work for God's realm and to answer the call. *Sung Blessing Go With Us, Lord R #336 Go with us, Lord, and guide the way through this and every coming day, That in your Spirit strong and true our lives may be our gift to you. *Benediction Postlude Danza Rustica Iouri Grichetchkine (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 new 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 hancockmaineucc@gmail.com treasurer@hancockucc.com revtjmack@gmail.com 207.422.3100 207.323.6743 Many thanks to those who make this service possible – in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Music Minister – Debbie Riley Deacons – Vicky Espling & Robin Long Liturgist – Ron Schwizer Audio-Video Support – Patrice Alexander Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You The Church Budget Committee will soon complete its work on next year's proposed church budget. In order to get the most accurate income projection, it would be helpful to get all stewardship pledges returned by Sunday October 15th. It would also help the budget drafting process if all Members and Friends could check their financial records to insure that their pledges for the current year have been paid to date. Pledge cards have been mailed to all Members and Friends. If you did not get one, please call the church at (207)422-3100 and one will be mailed to you. Pledge cards are also available in the Sanctuary. They can be mailed to the church or placed in the offering plate on Sundays. Please take a moment now to commit your financial support to your church for the coming year. We need your help. Please let David Wildes (422-3739) know of any questions or concerns. Your assistance and support is greatly appreciated. Resources enfleshed, liturgy that matters, Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion, and Worship Ways @ ucc.org "Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.

God of Grace and God of Glory

Words and Music - ©PD Public Domain

Contributors: Public Domain

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Words and Music - © OCP Publications

Contributors: ROYAL OAK, Cecil Alexander

Be Thou My Vision - Craig Courtney

Contributors: Public Domain

Sent Forth by God's Blessing

Words - ©1964 World Library Publications

Contributors: Omer Westendorf, World Library Publications

Go with Us, Lord

Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey