2/22/26 Bulletin

Mar 6
6 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 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. – First Sunday of Lent

MESOM Sunday – Guest Preacher – Ann E. Boudreaux

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

Wild God of wilderness, as we devote these forty days to you, shape us by your Holy Spirit into the image of Christ our Lord, so that we may be ready, by your grace, to confront the power of death with the promise of eternal life. Amen

* Indicates when we stand in body or spirit

Announcements

Prelude Largo Antonin Dvorak

Welcome

*Introit Come and Find the Quiet Center (tune: Beach Spring)

Come and find the qui-et cen-ter in the crowd-ed life we lead; / Find the room for hope to en-ter, / Find the frame where we are freed; / Clear the cha-os and the clut-ter, Clear our eyes, that we can see / All the things that real-ly mat-ter, / Be at peace, and sim-ply be.

*Call to Worship

One: O People of God, on this wilderness journey, what will you eat?

All: The word of the Lord is our daily bread.

One: People of God, in this time of temptation how will you live?

All: Our faith is in the faithfulness of God.

One: People of God, at this kingdom crossroad, whom will you serve?

All: We worship the Lord our God alone.

*Passing the Peace (ASL) and Lighting Peace & Justice Candle

*Hymn Come Forth, O Love Divine B. #289

Come forth, O Love divine, seek now this soul of / mine, and visit it with your own ardor glow - ing; / O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, / and kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn, till earthly passions / turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming; / And let your glorious light shine ever on my sight, / and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

And so the yearning strong with which the soul will / long, shall far outpass the power of human telling; / For none can guess its grace, till love create a place / wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

*Invocation (in unison)

O Lord, may the words of your mouth be our daily bread, and may the leading of your Spirit become our way; in Jesus’ name. Amen

Children’s Message

Call to Confession

One: Happy are those whose sin is forgiven, who no longer suffer in silence, but name their sin and seek God’s grace. Let us confess our sin.

Prayer of confession

All: Lord God, you know the ways of good and evil. You know the things that tempt us and the things that give us life. You know our nakedness, and you know our sin. We confess that we have disobeyed your word, denying your providence and care and relying on our own cleverness. Have mercy on us, we pray: cover us with your grace, feed us with the bread of life, and re-create us in your image; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen

Words of forgiveness

One: Happy are those whose sin is forgiven! Be glad in the Lord and shout for joy: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

Scriptures Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11

Special Music Come Sunday Duke Ellington Black Hymnal 602

Message Sunrise Association Member-in-Discernment,

Ann E. Boudreaux

*Hymn O Love, How Vast, How Flowing Free (vs. 1, 3, & 6) B. #209

O Love, how vast, how flowing free, O Love how / filled with ecstasy, That God a human / form should take, and mortal be for mortals’ sake.

For us baptized, and fasting long, for us was / tempted by the wrong, for us the pangs of / hunger knew; for us the Tempter overthrew.

Then for God’s boundless love sing praise / through endless ages, countless days; / By Love we have been reconciled: / salvation gained through / God’s own Child.

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

As God so freely offers us the gift of life in Jesus Christ, let us respond with gratitude, offering our lives to God.

Offertory Be still and Know Arr. Richard Williamson

*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

We give you thanks and praise, O God, for the free and abundant gift of grace you have given us in Jesus Christ. Let the simple gifts of our lives be a sign of our unending gratitude for your undying love; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

*Hymn In the Midst of New Dimensions (vs 1, 2, 3, & 5) B. #391

In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways,

Who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering in their separate ways?

Refrain:

God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar,

We your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and ever more.

Through the flood of starving people, warring factions and despair,

Who will lift the olive branches? Who will light the flame of care?

Refrain:

God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar,

We your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and ever more.

As we stand a world divided by our own self-seeking schemes,

Grant that we, your global village, might envision wider dreams.

Refrain:

Should the threats of dire predictions cause us to withdraw in pain,

May your blazing phoenix spirit resurrect the church again.

Refrain:

*Benediction Ann E. Boudreaux

*Sung Benediction 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.

Postlude A Joyous Benediction David Paxton

(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 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

Vicky – hancockmaineucc@gmail.com – 207.422.3100

Jennifer – treasurer@hancockucc.com

TJ – revtjmack@gmail.com – 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 – Tamara Crowley & David Wildes

Liturgist – Gina Tansey

Audio-Video Support – Patrice Alexander

Office Administrator – Vicky Espling

Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack

The Body of Christ – You

The New Century Hymnal (B.) Hymns of Truth and Light (R.)

Congregational Church

of Huston, Texas

Come and Find the Quiet Center (BEACH SPRING)

Contributors: Shirley Erena Murray, Joe Galyon

Come Forth O Love Divine

Contributors: Bianco da Siena, Ralph Vaughan Williams

O Love, How Vast, How Flowing Free

Contributors: New Century Hymnal

Go with Us, Lord

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey

Rev. Teresa (TJ) Mack

2/22/26 Bulletin

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