2/2/25 Bulletin
- treasurer593
- Mar 14
- 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
February 2, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ₋₋ Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Join us on Zoom
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 Meditation
It may be that when we no longer know what to do,
we have come to our real work
and when we no longer know which way to go,
we have begun our real journey.
Wendell Berry
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Reflection Robert Lau
Welcome
*Introit B. #772
Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
Those who seek God shall never go wanting.
Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
God alone fills us.
*Call to Worship (adapted from Jeremiah, chapter 1)
One: And God said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”
All: Our lives begin in the heart of God.
One: “And before you were born, I consecrated you.”
All: For all time, we are claimed as holy.
One: “I appointed you a prophet to the nations!”
All: Wait a minute! A prophet? To all the nations?
One: “I have put my words into your mouth.”
All: Dare we speak the words of God?
One: Do not be afraid. All that you speak will be out of love.
All: Let us calm our fears.
One: Even in whisper, love is strong.
All: In courage, let us claim love as our language.
One: No matter how softly spoken –
All: Love will thunder!
Let us worship!
*Hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You B. #4
*Invocation (in unison)
Holy One of Love, made in your image, we are most ourselves when living in love. We are most authentic when speaking in love. We are most effective when acting in love. Reveal yourself fully alive in us that we remain echoes of your love reverberating everywhere we go. In the way of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
Peace Prayer (in unison)
In silence, let us grow the peace within our hearts and share it with the world
through our breath. May peace be upon all that is. May peace be upon all that
was. May peace be upon all that will be.
silence
Children’s Message Rev. Joel Krueger
Hebrew Scripture Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71 (pp. 666-667, New Century Hymnal)
Gospel Reading Luke 4:21-30
Special Music Give Me Jesus African-American Spiritual David Kidwell
Message “Consequential Words” Rev. Dr. Kate Winters
*Hymn Community of Christ B. #314
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
Offertory A Contemplative Prayer David Lasky
*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)
Gracious God, we offer these gifts to you with love. May we use them to build this
beloved community as it reaches out to bring healing and hope to those in dire need in
these challenging times. We pray and walk in the way of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
*Communion Hymn Open Table Beecher Rev. Dr. Kate Winters
Open table, this our calling, at this meal where none exclude.
Nourishment for soul and body, love the elemental food.
In a world of great abundance human thirst and hunger grow.
So we set an open table, grace and mercy overflow.
Common loaf, this is our staple, grain of sun and earth and air.
Watered with the tears of Jesus, his own life becomes our fare.
Called Emmanuel of Ages, with us now in broken bread.
“Take and eat,” the Word Incarnate lives in us as we are fed.
Cup of blessing, this our promise, vine of life, gift of the land.
Harvested that all might taste the goodness come from God’s own hand.
Shared together to remember whose we are, who we become,
as we sup at open table, earthen Christ, alive and one.
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
One: At this table, the elemental food is Love.
All: All who long for love, come and taste!
One: To this table, the price of admission is desire.
All: All who desire to know belonging in community, come and know you belong!
One: For this table is the table of Jesus Christ, where everyone is welcome.
All: And all have an honored place.
One: Let us praise the giver of the feast!
COMMUNION PRAYER
Holy God, you breathed over the waters…We praise you!
You prepared earth and grew all vegetation…We thank you!
You made all creatures, big and small…We praise you!
The world spun in harmony and beauty!
But we did not honor the earth…Christ, have mercy.
We reached beyond our limits…God, have mercy.
We denied that all are brothers and sisters…Christ, have mercy.
Then your child Jesus walked the earth in goodness and in truth. He taught forgiveness and had compassion for the suffering. He called all to live in peace. But Jesus was hung on a cross while creation cried. However, this was not the end of the story. He lives risen among us now!
Today we remember that on the night before he died, he met with his friends. While dining, he took bread. He blessed it and broke it and said:
“Take and eat this bread, for it is my body.”
Then he took the cup, blessed it, and passed it around, saying:
“Take and drink this cup, for it is my lifeblood.”
Recognize the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread!
(bread is broken)
Taste the goodness of God in this cup of blessing!
(cup is poured)
Holy Spirit, pour yourself into this bread,
pour your power into this cup.
This is the feast of God for the people of God!
Come, for all is ready!
SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (unison)
We thank you, Holy One, for this reminder of our belonging to one another as we imbibe your spirit together. May we live this spirit wholeheartedly, sharing our lives and our food with those who hunger. May we honor this spirit in all we say and all we do in the way of Jesus Christ. Amen.
*Benediction
*Sung Benediction Go Now in Peace R. #347
Go now in peace. Go now in peace.
May the light of love surround you
everywhere, everywhere, you may go.
Postlude The Thankful Heart Rejoices Lani Smith
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the sanctuary.
Our guest ministers, Rev. Dr. Kate Winters and Rev. Joel Krueger, are two years retired from The First Church in Belfast. They are members of The United Christian Church in Lincolnville Center. Joel now works as a potter and spends much time volunteering for environmental groups. Kate, an educator, writer, and avid knitter, is thinking of writing a book on spiritual life in Maine.
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
207.422.3100 207.323.6743
Many thanks to those who make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Guest Ministers – Rev. Joel Krueger and Rev. Dr. Kate Winters
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Doug Kimmel and David Wildes
Liturgist – Ron Schwizer
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Student Ministry Intern – Sarina Brooks
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
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.
Introit
Copyright ©1991 Les Presses de Taize.
G.I.A. Publication, Inc. U.S. agents.
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Words and Music - ©2020 Stephen DeCesare / Exultet Music
Contributors: Henry Van Dyke, Ludwig Beethoven, Stephen DeCesare
Community of Christ
Words - ©1992 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Shirley Erena Murray
Go Now In Peace
Words and Music - ©1976 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Contributors: Natalie Sleeth
Comments