11/1/26 Bulletin
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
The Dancing Saints, Mark Dukes, St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, San Francisco.
Saints from left to right: Sojourner Truth; Bartolome de las Casas, 1484-1566, Spanish priest who fought slavery and abuse of indigenous peoples; Miriam, sister of Moses; Origen of Alexandria, c.184-c.253, Christian scholar and theologian; Malcolm X; Queen Elizabeth I; Iqbal Mashi, 1983-1995, Pakistani children’s rights activist; Teresa of Avila.
Celebrating All Saints Sunday
November 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. - Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 848 8046 8016
Passcode: 616145
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
"Bring us, O God, at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no night nor burning sun, but one equal light; no voice nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity in the habitation of your glory and dominion, world without end. Amen." -- John Donne
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude I Sing a Song of the Saints of God Grand Isle/Hopkins/ Powell
Welcome
*Introit Send Down Your Truth, O God (v.1) HoT&L (R.) #232
Send down your truth, O God, too long the shad-ows frown!
Too long the dark-ened way we’ve trod: your truth, O God, send down!
*Call to Worship
Leader: Come, a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us as we gather.
People: May the lingering echo of saints resound in our songs.
Leader: May their stories open a space for the Spirit to enter us anew.
People: In remembering them, may we find ourselves re-membered.
Leader: May the God of every generation form us anew for this generation.
People: And may a new joy rise in our lives and in the life of the world.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God HoT&L (R.) #469
A might-y for-tress is our God, a bul-wark nev-er fail-ing;
our help-er strong, a-mid the flood of mor-tal ills pre-vail-ing.
For still our an-cient foe doth seek to work us woe; with craft and pow-er
great, and armed with cru-el hate, on earth is not an e-qual.
Did we in our own strength con-fide, our striv-ing would be los-ing,
were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choos-ing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Je-sus, it is he; Lord Sab-a-oth his
name. From age to age the same, and he must win the bat-tle.
And though this world, with dev-ils filled, should threat-en to un-do us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed the truth to tri-umph through us.
The powers of e-vil grim, we trem-ble not for them; their rage we can en-
dure, for lo, their doom is sure; one lit-tle word shall fell them.
That Word a-bove all earth-ly powers, no thanks to them a-bid-eth;
the Spir-it and the gifts are ours through Christ who with us sid-eth.
Let goods and kin-dred go, this mor-tal life al-so; the bod-y they may
kill; God's truth a-bid-eth still, God’s king-dom is for-ev-er.
*Invocation (spoken in unison)
God of every age and time, inspire us today with memories of saints whose energy still lingers, hovering around and within as encouragement and strength. Remind us today of your persistent presence, and grant us a new commitment to offer You everything of our hearts, minds and souls. This we pray as we gather in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Children’s Message
Scripture Revelation 7:9-17 Matthew 5:1-12
Special Music Alleluia Dave and Jean Perry
Message "Now and Then" Rev. Dr. Alison Boden
*Hymn O Saints in Splendor Sing TNCH (B) #380
O saints in spleen-dor sing the praise of God Most High.
Through trib-u-la-tion you have come, through blood seen sanc-ti-fied.
Robed in bap-tis-mal grace a-mid the world’s de-spair,
Pro-claim the glo-ry of our God whose love ha con-quered fear.
Those saints who went be-fore pre-pared for us the way;
The church ex-pec-tant, yet to come, re-lies on us to-day.
O Wor-thy is the Lamb! the Lamb that once was slain!
Of hon-or, bless-ing, thanks, and praise, lift up the glad re-frain.
Bell Ceremony Liturgy
Roll Call of Saints
As we say their names, we toll a bell…
Clifford A. Manchester
Dennis F. Doucette
Ruth Dietze
Hollis Maddocks (Debbie’s husband)
Others to be named aloud…
Prayer of Commendation
All: God, in your mercy, hear our prayers. We trust in your never-failing love, joining our beloveds with all the saints in light. Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting that for these, and for us, your care is constant and your heart is open; through Jesus Christ, one of the many who lives and reigns with you now and forever. Amen
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 - Jesus taught us that when we give things away, we actually have more. And so let us give not only because it helps others, but because by giving we are opened up to a fullness we could not otherwise have imagined. May the joy of the saints be our joy today as we offer our gifts to God for the good of the world and also ourselves.
Offertory If with All Your Hearts F Mendelssohn/ Robert Lau
*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)
O Giver of Life, continue to form in us a generous spirit. Reshape our priorities and grant us a willing vision to see and respond to every saint around us. Thank you for calling us into a life such as this and bless these gifts that they may bless others. Amen.
Communion
Leader: Beloved in Christ, the Gospel tells us that on the first day of the week Jesus Christ was raised from death, appeared to Mary Magdalene, on that same day sat at the table with two disciples, and was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
People: This is the joyful feast of the people of God. Men and women, youth and children, come from the east and from the west, from the north and the south, and gather about Christ's table.
Leader: This table is for all who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God's people.
Leader: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to God.
Leader: Let us give thanks to God most high.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Leader: We give you thanks, God of majesty and mercy.....we praise you with joy.
All: Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty, the whole universe speaks of your glory, O God Most High. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God! Hosanna in the highest!
Leader: We remember that on the night.... who with Christ and the Holy Spirit lives forever. Amen.
Sharing the Elements
Prayer of Thanksgiving (in unison)
Almighty God, we give you thanks for the gift of our Savior's presence in the simplicity and splendor of this holy meal. Unite us with all who are fed by Christ's body and blood that we may faithfully proclaim the good news of your love and that your universal church may be a rainbow of hope in an uncertain world; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
*Hymn For All the Saints HoT&L (R.) #486
For all the saints who from their la-bors rest,
who Thee by faith be-fore the world con-fessed,
thy name, O Je-sus, be for-ev-er blest.
Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia!
Thou wast their rock, their for-tress and their might:
thou, Lord, their cap-tain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the dark-ness drear, their one true light.
Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia!
O may thy sol-diers, faith-ful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who no-bly fought of old,
And win with them the vic-tor’s crown of gold.
Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia!
O blest com-mun-ion, fel-low-ship di-vine!
We fee-bly strug-gle, they in glo-ry shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia!
And when the strife is fierce, the war-fare long,
steals on the ear the dis-tant tri-umph song,
and hearts are brave a-gain, and arms are strong.
Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia!
*Benediction
*Sung Benediction Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (vs. 1) HoT&L (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 Postlude in G B. Marcello/ Geoffrey Edwards
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book at 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)
The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will
conduct its 2025 Annual Church Meeting on November 15th, 2026, immediately
following the 10:00 AM Worship Service for the following purposes:
1. To Elect Church Officers, Board and Committee members;
2. To receive Board and Committee Reports;
3. To vote on the Proposed 2027 Church Budget
4. And to hear any other business to come before the congregation.
Vicky J. Espling, Clerk
October 25, 2026
We need a quorum of 25 voting members to conduct business.
Please plan to attend!
Contact Us
Vicky Jennifer hancockmaineucc@gmail.com treasurer@hancockucc.com
207.422.3100
Many thanks to those who make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Guest Minister – Rev. Dr. Alison Boden
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Mary Angela Davis; David Wildes; Nick Davis
Liturgist – Myrna Coffin
Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
The Body of Christ – You
Resources
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.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Music - ©2001 Concordia Publishing House
Contributors: Martin Luther
For all the Saints
Words and Music - ©1906 Oxford University Press
Contributors: William How, Ralph Vaughan Williams
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