3/23/25 Bulletin

treasurer593
May 20
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

March 23, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ₋₋ Third Sunday in Lent

Join us on Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83936359115?pwd=1aQdppqVbvKTZKBi9DQWXgaNVVbhtZ.1

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

I believe in kindness.

But also in mischief.

Mary Oliver

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

Announcements

Prelude A Lenten Prelude G. Pergolesi/ J Troutman

Welcome

*Introit Breathe on Me, Breath of God B. #292

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

fill me with life anew.

That I may love the way you love,

and do what you would do.

*Call to Worship adapted from Psalm 63

One: O God, you are my God.

All: I seek you. My soul thirsts for you.

One: Your steadfast love is better than life!

All: My lips will praise you.

One: I will bless you as long as I live.

All: I will lift up my hands and call upon your name.

One: You have been my help,

All: and in the shadow of your wings, I sing for joy.

One: O God, you are our God,

All: Hold us always close in your heart.

Let us worship.

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

Peace Prayer (in unison)

God of peace, grow in us a desire for peace stronger than all desires. May our every word be a word of peace. May our every act be an act of peace. May our whole lives be witnesses for peace. Then may we know a world of harmony in Christ, the prince of peace. Amen.

*Hymn Praise to the Living God B. #8 Praise to the living God, the God of love and light,Whose word brought forth the myriad suns and set the worlds in flight:Whose infinite design, which we but dimly see,

Pervades all nature, making all a cosmic unity

Praise to the living God, from whom all things derive,

Whose Spirit formed upon the sphere the first faint seeds of life;

Who caused them to evolve, unwitting, toward God’s goal

Till humankind stood on the earth, as living, thinking souls.

Praise to the living God, who knows our joy and pain,

Who shares with us our common life, the sacred and profane.

God toils where’er we toil, in home and mart and mill;

And deep within the human heart God leads is forward still.

Praise to the living God, around, within, above,

Beyond the grasp of human mind, but whom we know as love.

In these tumultuous days, so full of hope and strife,

May we bear witness to the Way, O Source and Goal of life.

*Invocation (in unison)

In this space, in this hour, we rest in you, faithful God. Fill us in this time together

with a sure knowing that you are guiding us in the ways of justice and peace. You are

granting us a spirit of hope. You are shaping us into vessels of love. We give ourselves

over to your tender and skillful hands, in the presence of Christ. Amen.

Children’s Message Rev. Dr. Kate Winters

Hebrew Scripture Isaiah 55:1-9

Gospel Reading Luke 13:1-9

Special Music Just Two Words Frombach/ Lau

Message Rev. Joel Krueger

*Hymn Breathe on Me, Breath of God B. #292 Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,That I may love the way you love and do what you would do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure,Until with you I will one will, to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, stir in me one desire;That every earthly part of me may glow with holy fire.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,

But live with you the perfect life of your eternity.

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 What Wondrous Love Is This American Folk Tune/ Sarah Douglas

*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)

Receive these fruits of our labor, O God, that they may feed and sustain life-giving

community. All we have are gifts of your bounty. May we give of them with joy in our

hearts. Bless our efforts to walk, live, and give in the way of Christ. Amen.

*Hymn Go, My Children, With my Blessing B. #82 Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone;Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own;In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.

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.

*Benediction

*Sung Benediction Lord, Make Me More Holy B. #75

Lord, make me more holy, Lord, make me more holy,

Lord, make me more holy, until we meet again.

Holy, holy, holy until we meet again.

Postlude Guide My Feet African American Spiritual/ Nigel Williams

(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

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 Ministers – Rev. Joel Krueger and Rev. Dr. Kate Winters

Music Minister – Debbie Riley

Deacons –Alison Bowden and David Wildes

Liturgist – Pat Summerer

Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer

Office Administrator – Vicky Espling

Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack

The Body of Christ – You

The church’s Hook & Hastings Pipe Organ was built in 1929 (OP 2577) for the Northern Conservatory of Music in Bangor. It was moved to Bar Harbor and to Hancock Point and was given to the Church by Edward Steinbach (1887–1984). It was installed by Stoddard Smith (of Northeast Harbor) in 1988 and was restored in 2020 by Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc., Northampton, MA.

Resources

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

Church of Huston, Texas

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

Go, My Children, with My Blessing

Contributors: Jaroslav J Vajda

Lord, Make Me More Holy

Contributors: Public Domain