Open and Affirming of ALL God’s Children
Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
November 6, 2022
This service will be in the Sanctuary and on Zoom at 10:00 a.m.
Join us for Zoom Coffee Hour beginning shortly after the service ends.
(Find the link below and in your email in-box.)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 882 8024 5071
Passcode: 402851
Silent Prayer
God of surprises, infuse me with your wild wonder, and sustain me in the daily practice of opening my heart to grace. Expand my imagination to see more widely than before, open my heart to experience compassion beyond my dreams, call me to begin again and again. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Spirit of Faith, Come Down Sacred Harp/ Martin
Welcome
Introit Breathe on Me, Breath of God (vs.1&4) B. #292
That I may love the way you love and do what you would do
Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,
But live with you the perfect life of your eternity.
*Call to Worship (spoken in unison)
In the midst of trials and joys, sorrows and dreams may we know your presence and rejoice.
Unison: Grant us courage, O God, to take delight in your spirit in all times and all places.
Leader: Grant us faith, O God, to see the myriad of ways you give life. Grant us hope, O God,
to participate in your work in the world.
Unison: Grant us love, O God, to welcome, respond, and act with compassion in all we say and do. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) – Lighting of the Peace Candle & Prayer for Peace & Justice
*Hymn Like a Tree Beside the Waters R. #244
Like a tree beside the water, nurtured by your loving care, we, O God, your sons and daughters, your enduring witness bear.
In each passing generation may your voice of love be heard.
Bless, we pray, this congregation with your holy, living Word.
Like a tree beside the river, drawing life from holy streams,
Fill us with your love forever; recreate our hopes and dreams.
Through the storms of life sustain us by the wisdom of your grace.
May the changing of the seasons find us in your warm embrace.
We, beside the living waters, drink from your eternal life.
Give to all, your sons and daughters, faith that rises over strife.
Ever living God, most glorious, strengthen us for life today.
By the hope of timeless promise guide your church upon the Way.
*Invocation (spoken in unison)
God of wisdom, by your Spirit may your Word be proclaimed, that we may know good news in our hearts and minds and bear witness to the glory of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Quiet in us any voice but your own, that we might hear your Word to us today. Amen
Children’s Message
New Testament Reading (Christian Scriptures) Isaiah 43:19
Contemporary Reading For a New Beginning John O’Donohue
Special Music-Choir When in Our Music God is Glorified B #561
I'm pressing on the upward way, new heights I'm gaining every day Still praying as I’m onward bound, “O plant me God, on higher ground.”
Refrain:
O lift me up, and I shall be by faith in heaven eternally. A higher plane than I have found, O, plant my feet, God, on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay; Though some may dwell where these abound, my prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
Refrain:
I want to live beyond the world, though Satan's darts at me are hurled; For faith has caught a joyful sound, the song of saints on higher ground.
Refrain:
I want scale the utmost height, and catch a gleam of glory bright; But still I’ll pray till heaven I’ve found, “God, lead me on to higher ground.”
Refrain:
Prayers of the People – Sharing Joys & Concerns
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 – In celebration of the God of life who sustains, upholds, saves, and watches over us, let us continue our worship through the offering of our gifts, tithes, and offerings to almighty God.
Offertory Communion Hymn Traditional Korean/ Michael Ryan
*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)
For the gifts offered this day and every day we give thanks, O God. May these gifts be used to serve your beloved creation, to sustain your children in every land. Amen
*Communion Hymn Break Thou the Bread of Life R. #294
Break thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me, as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea; beyond the sacred page I seek thee, Lord; my spirit longs for thee, O living Word.
Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me, as thou did bless the bread by Galilee; then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall; and I shall find my peace, my all in all!
Invitation to Communion
Leader: Jesus said: I am the bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger; you who believe in me shall never thirst.
Unison: In company with all who hunger for spiritual food, we come to this table to know the risen Christ in the sharing of this life-giving bread.
Words of Remembering
Leader: In this meal, we remember Jesus, his promises, and the price he paid for who he was, what he said, and what he did; for our benefit. On the night before Jesus died, He took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this, in remembrance of me.” After supper, Jesus took the cup and poured, saying, “This is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” In sharing this meal, we live out the mystery of our faith: Unison: We remember Christ’s life of love, and friendship, and teaching. We remember Christ’s dying, and rising to life again.
Prayer of Consecration (spoken in unison) Christ, you spoke a mystery that your body is our bread, and our drink is your life poured out. We are your Sunday guests so we may be hosts to your children all the week long. We need a deep sacrament to serve at your table. Holy Spirit come and make this bread and cup a miracle deep as faith and ordinary as hope. Amen Sharing of the Elements (Psalm 34) Leader: Taste and see that God is good. Eat this bread. Unison: Sharing love, we will never be hungry.
Leader: Happy are those who take refuge in God. The cup on your table is blessed. so that you can become a blessing to others. Unison: Drinking deeply, we will never thirst.
Leader: The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready.
--- Prayer of Thanksgiving (in unison) God, we are blessed in the community of tangible sanctuary and virtual sanctuary by this sacrament shared. Help us in the week to come to recognize everyone we meet as hungry guests and spread a table or tailgate of love, offer a take-out or weekend backpack of hope, share our churchy recipe for faith, that they may find the ingredients they need. Amen
*Sung Benediction Go, My Children, with My Blessing (v. 2) B. #82
Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me;
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you, here with tender comfort stilled you;
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will conduct its 2022 Annual Church Meeting on November 13th, 2022, 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 2023 Church Budget
4. And to hear any other business to come before the congregation.
Jeanne Edwards, Clerk
October 23, 2022
Many thanks to those who helped make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Nick Davis, Everett Espling, & Pat Summerer
Liturgist – Pat Summerer
Graphics Minister – Cynthia Wood
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
(Mike Summerer is happy to teach others this simple task. Please inquire…)
Office Secretary – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Support our Church Financially
Please visit Hancock (Maine) UCC on Facebook or our webpage www.hancockucc.org
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
207.422.3100 207.323.6743
Resources
Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion
Communion Liturgy: Maren Tirabassi, adapted
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.”
Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Music - ©2014 Selah Publishing Co., Inc.
Contributors: Edwin Hatch (PD), Craig Phillips
Like a Tree Beside the Waters
Words and Music - ©1994 Selah Publishing Co., Inc.
Contributors: Roy Hopp
I’m Pressing on the Upward Way (Higher Ground)
Words and Music - ©1990 Carl Fischer, LLC
Contributors: Johnson Oatman, Jr, Charles Gabriel/Ron Harris
Break Thou the Bread of Life
Words and Music - ©1983 Lorenz Publishing Corporation, The
Contributors: Alexander Groves, Mary Ann Lathbury, Stan Pethel
Go, My Children, with My Blessing
Words - ©1983 Concordia Publishing House
Contributors: Jaroslav J Vajda, Welsh traditional; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
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