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
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Sunday
Third Sunday in Lent
March 12, 2023
This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)
(Posted for later viewing on Facebook and YouTube)
Meeting ID: 883 2746 7219
Passcode: 131738
Silent Prayer
Eternal God, in the reading of the scripture, may your word be heard; in the meditations of our hearts, may our word be known; and in the faithfulness of our lives, may your word be shown. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Bring Us Back to Thee, O Lord Israeli melody/ Powell
Welcome
Introit Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (v. 1) R. #26
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the God of creation!
Sing, my soul, praising the source of thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear; now to God’s temple draw near;
Join me in glad adoration!
*Call to Worship
One: Morning has broken. Let us give thanks for the gift of life and for the presence of the Holy Spirit among us.
All: Let us worship God!
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn Here in This Place (Gather Us In) R. #250
Here in this place, the new light is streaming, now the dark night has vanished away.
See in this space, our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us in, our spirits inflame.
Call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young - our lives are a mystery; we are the old, who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty, gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we receive new life in your waters; here we receive the bread of new birth;
here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
Not just in buildings, small and confining, not in some heaven, light years away,
here in this place the new light is shining; now is God present, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
*Invocation (spoken in unison)
O God, distant yet near, we gather as witnesses to your promise that if we seek you with all our hearts, we will find you. Be among us this day. Grant us the maturity to accept your many gifts in humility and to use them with faithfulness. Grant to us your spirit that our worship may have integrity and energy, ever witnessing to your holy presence in our lives. We praise you and give thanks to you, Eternal Presence. Amen
Children’s Message
Christian Scripture John 4:5-42
Poem Sabbath Poem VIII, 1999 Wendell Berry
Special Music Ballade Cour de Lion, Arr. EPB
Message Charles Dayhoff & Andy Matthews - Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry - Ellsworth
*Hymn Help Us Accept Each Other B. #388
Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, God, among us, and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.
Teach us, O God, your lessons, as in our daily life
we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,
to love them as we find them, or as they may become.
Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved
in living situations to do the truth in love;
To practice your acceptance, until we know by heart
the table of forgiveness and laughter's healing art.
God, for today's encounters with all who are in need,
who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread,
Bring us new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on:
renew us with your Spirit; God! Free us, make us one!
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 – God gives freely to us, so let us give freely to God. Let us bring gifts that sustain the life of the kin-dom. May these resources be more than enough. Amen
Offertory A Garden Prayer Rowland-Raybold
*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)
Fount of Blessing, receive our gifts in the joy that we give them. Be it time, tithe, or talent, it all comes from you. Thank you for blessing us to be a blessing to you and each other. Amen
*Hymn Thank Our God for Sisters, Brothers B. #397
Thank our God for sisters, brothers, one by grace, in harmony.
Joining heart to heart with others, making strong community.
With the cross of Christ our standard, let us sing as with one voice.
Glory, glory, yours the promise: we who are the church rejoice.
Praise to God for congregations, keeping faith with Christ as guide;
Many tongues of many nations, song and service unified.
Sweet the psalm and sweet the carol, when our song is raised as one.
Glory, glory, yours the power, as in heaven your will be done.
Holy is your name forever! Heal divisions that remain;
Bless the church’s new endeavors; make our witness one again.
One in Christ and in Christ’s gospel, make us one we now implore.
Glory, glory, yours the glory, then and now and evermore.
*Blessing
*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 Rigaudon David Lasky
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will conduct a
Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, March 19, 2023 immediately following the morning worship service for the following purposes:
1. To vote on a proposed Trustee expenditure
Pursuant to the Emergency Powers granted to Council in Article VI, Section 5, of the Church By-Laws, Council authorizes Ron McGlinchey, or his designee, on behalf of the church Trustees, to spend up to $8,000 in church funds for the purpose of repairing, improving, or replacing any or all plumbing systems or parts of such systems related to the septic disposal system serving the church parsonage residence.
2. And any other matters to come before the congregation
Jeanne Edwards, Clerk
March 5, 2023
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
the people of Syria and Turkey;
the people of Ukraine and Russia;
President Jimmy Carter and his family;
Nick’s sister Susan; Kenny Stratton receiving OT & PT at Blue Hill Hospital after a fall;
Joy & David; Sally’s friend Joan; Denny Doucette; Vicky’s Aunt Eleanor; Morgan Espling; Debbie R.; Debbie E; David Mack; Coulter Huyler; Sandy Phippen; Josh Friend;
Mary Shannon; Renata’s sister-in-law Joanne; Linda K.; Steve Crabtree;
a church family seeking prayers for effective mental health treatment and healing;
Judith Crowley; Debbie Maddocks and her Aunt Linda Reed; John Wood; Andrew and Tamara; Austin’s cousin Danny; Kathy’s sister Patti Wotton; Roberta Scott; Nancy; Cynthia;
Betty Johnston; Betty’s step-daughter Mollie; Margaret B; Liz & Jim; Gary Edwards;
Bruce’s sister Lynn; Renata and the women she cares for; Eleanor’s step-daughter Holly;
Tom & Judy’s son Andrew and his family; all individuals and families experiencing addictions; all caregivers; all affected by memory loss; those with depression and mental health issues;
for all victims and loved ones of violence, those impacted by laws limiting reproductive justice; those experiencing food and housing insecurity; all in your heart…
Support our Church Financially
Please visit Hancock (Maine) UCC on Facebook or our new webpage www.hancockucc.com
(please note that www.hancockucc.org still exists as an archival site)
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
hancockmaineucc@gmail.com treasurer@hancockucc.com revtjmack@gmail.com
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 Speakers from Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry –
Charles Dayhoff, Executive Director and Andy Matthews, Board of Trustees President
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Doug Kimmel & Robin Long
Liturgists – Pastor TJ, Patrice Alexander, Ruth Dietze
Graphics Minister – Cynthia Wood
Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer
(Mike Summerer is happy to teach others this important task. Please inquire…)
Office Secretary – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources
UCC Worship Ways and Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion
and The New Century Hymnal Service of the Word I & II
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.”
Praise To the Lord
Words and Music - ©1863 Willow Publishing Pty Ltd
Contributors: Joachim Neander, Catherine Winkworth
Gather Us In
Words and Music - ©1982 GIA Publications, Inc.
Contributors: Marty Haugen
Help Us Accept Each Other
Words - ©1975 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Fred Kaan
Go with Us, Lord
Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey