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12/10/23 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

 


December 10, 2023 – Second Sunday of Advent – Peace 

This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10:00 

Join Zoom Meeting 

Meeting ID: 822 2425 2518      Passcode: 755650


Silent Prayer

God  of shalom, revive us again. Give us the wisdom and courage to be peacemakers, the strength to make a way in the wilderness accessible to all, the valleys lifted up, the mountains made low, the rough places plain. With Mary and Elizabeth, Jael and Judith, Shiphrah and Puah and Rizpah and Miriam -  fill us with your Spirit and your shalom, for the sake of your vibrant, buzzing , blooming world. Come, Prince of Peace, come. Amen

 


* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit

 

Announcements

 

Prelude 

 

Welcome   What Star Is This    Tune: Puer Nobis Praetorius/ Ritter

 

*Introit Spirit of the Living God                                        R. #281

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me,Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

 

*Call to Worship

One: The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill my promise to my people.All: Justice and righteousness will fill the land and all will live in peace and safety. 

 

*Passing of the Peace (ASL) 

 

*Hymn Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus                       R. #121

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

 

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

 

*Invocation (in unison)

God our salvation, there is wisdom, peace, and joy for those who keep your Word. By the power of your Holy Spirit, lead us in your truth. Amen

 

Children’s Message   Advent Wreath – Godly Play –

                     Advent 2 – The Holy Family

 

Hebrew Scripture                                              Genesis 17:15-22 Christian Scripture                                                      Luke 1:39-45

Contemporary Reading  “Hope” is the thing with feathers               

Emily Dickinson

 

Special Music     Alleluia for Advent                   Patrick Lieberman

 

Message                                                                    Rev. TJ Mack

 

*Hymn Mary, Woman of the Promise (vs. 1,2,3)               B. #123

Mary, woman of the promise; vessel of your people's dreams:

Through your open, willing spirit waters of God's goodness streamed.

 

Mary, song of holy wisdom, sung before the world began:

Faithful to the Word within you, as you bore God's wondrous plan.

 

Mary, morning star of justice; mirror of the Radiant Light:

In the shadows of life's journey, be a beacon for our sight.

 

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 –       Trusting in the sure promises of Christ, and grateful for the Spirit’s sustaining power, let us bring our tithes and offerings to God.

 

Offertory     Meditation on “See Amid the Winter’s Snow”  

Goss/ Barr

 

*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)  

In faith and hope we offer our gifts of money and self, that we may be part of what you are doing in the world even now, as we watch for Christ’s coming in glory. Amen        

 

*Hymn  Down by the Riverside                                          

Gonna lay down my sword and shield, Down by the riverside, down by the riverside, Down by the riverside. Gonna lay down my sword and shield, Down by the riverside, gonna study war no more.

 

Refrain:

I ain't gonna study war no more, Ain't gonna study war no more,Ain't gonna study war no more. I ain't gonna study war no more,Ain't gonna study war no more, Ain't gonna study war no more.

 

Gonna lay down my war––––shoes, Down by the riverside, down by the riverside, Down by the riverside. Gonna lay down my war–––– shoes, Down by the riverside, gonna study war no more.

 

Refrain:

 

Gonna put on my long white robe, Down by the riverside, down by the riverside, Down by the riverside. Gonna put on my long white robe, Down by the riverside, gonna study war no more.

 

Refrain:

 

Gonna meet my––––Savior, Down by the riverside, down by the riverside, Down by the riverside. Gonna meet my––––Savior,

Down by the riverside, gonna study war no more.

 

Refrain:

 

*Benediction     

 

*Sung Christmas Blessing (sung to Eventide)

Go with us, Lord, throughout this Christmas tide: be our protector, brother, friend, and guide. Give us your peace and keep us in your care: help us your love and grace with all to share.

 

Postlude             Noel in G                             Louis Claude Daquin

 

(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

                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 – Nick Davis, Robin Long, Pat Summerer

Liturgist –  Nick Davis

Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer

Office Secretary – Vicky Espling 

Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack

The Body of Christ – You

  

Resources, adapted

Silent Prayer – Magnify: Mary’s Song and the Magnificent Women of Advent

Call to Worship and Invocation – Feasting on the Word Worship Companion, Year C

Prayers of Offering and Dedication – Feasting on the Word Worship Companion, Year C

Sung Christmas Blessing by Jan Chamberlain in Gifts in Open Hands – Tirabassi & Eddy

 

"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,              

License #A-738532. All rights reserved.

 

Spirit of the Living God

Words and Music - ©1963 Jubilate Music 

Contributors: Daniel Iverson and Michale Baughen, Daniel Iverson

 

Come, Thou Long-Expected JesusWords and Music - ©2021 Stephen DeCesare / Exultet Music

Contributors: Traditional, Charles Wesley, Stephen DeCesare

 

Mary, Woman of the Promise

Words - ©1988 Selah Publishing Co., Inc.

Contributors: Mary Frances Fleischaker


 

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