4/12/26 Bulletin

Sep 4

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

April 12, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. – Second Sunday of Easter – Pilgrim Lodge Sunday

We welcome Lydia Hoffman –

Pilgrim Lodge Assistant Camp Director

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

All things are born of you, O God. / We carry within us your light and your life. / In the mystery of matter / and deep in the cells of our souls / are your longings for oneness. / The oneness of the

universe / vast and vibrating with the sound of its beginning. /

The oneness of the earth / greening and teeming as a single body. / The oneness of the human soul / a sacred countenance in infinite form. / Grant us your longings for oneness, O God, / amidst life’s glorious multiplicities.

* Indicates when we stand in body or spirit during the service.

Announcements

Prelude Voluntary on “Hymn to Joy”

L.van Beethoven/ Lloyd Larson

Welcome

*Call to Worship

You have taught us, O Christ, to love the world.

You have shown us the light that is within us and within all things.

May we learn to love you more, and in loving you more, learn to love the earth and all its people more,

for you are the light of all life. Amen

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

*Hymn Part of the Family Pilgrim Lodge Song Book #76

Chorus:

Come in, come in and sit down, you are a part of the family.

We are lost and we are found, and we are a part of the family.

You know the reason why you came, / Yet no reason can explain; / So share in the laughter and cry in the pain, / for we are a part of the family. / God is with us in this place, / Like a Mother's warm embrace. / We're all forgiven by God's grace, for we are a part of the family.

Chorus:

Come in, come in and sit down, you are a part of the family.

We are lost and we are found, and we are a part of the family.

Children and elders, Middlers and teens, / Singles and doubles and in-betweens, / Strong 85’ers and street-wise sixteens, / We are part of the family. / Greeters and shoppers, long-time and new, / Nobody here has a claim on a pew. / And whether we’re many or only a few, / We are a part of the family.

Chorus:

There’s life to be shared in the bread and the wine. / We are the branches, Christ is the vine. / This is God’s temple, it’s not yours or mine, / But we are a part of the family. / There’s rest for the weary, and health for us all, / There’s a yoke that is easy and a burden that’s small.. / So come in and worship and answer the call, for we are a part of the family.

Chorus:

*Invocation (in unison)

At the beginning of the day / we seek your countenance among us, O God, / in the countless forms of creation all around us / in the sun’s rising glory / in the face of friend and stranger. / Your Presence within every presence / your light within all light / your Heart at the heart of this moment. / May the fresh light of morning wash our sight / that we may see your Life / in every life this day.

Children’s Message Lydia Hoffman

Scripture Matthew 5:14-16

Special Music A Gaelic Easter Celebration

Praetorious/ Patti Drennan

Message Lydia Hoffman

*Hymn Pass it on Pilgrim Lodge Song Book #42

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.

That's how it is with God's love once you've experienced it;

You spread His love to ev'ryone, You want to pass it on

What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding,

The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming

That's how it is with God's love once you've experienced it;

You want to sing, “It's fresh like spring”; You want to pass it on.

I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I've found,

You can depend on Him; it matters not where you're bound.

I'll shout it from the mountain top, (Hey, world!)

I want my world to know The Lord of love has come to me;

I want to pass it on.

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 The New Century Hymnal #842

Having received new life through the generosity of God and the hope Christ brings, let us give thankfully and abundantly that we may be called God’s generous people.

Offertory Rise Up, My Heart, with Gladness

J.S. Bach/ Homer Whitford

*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 The New Century Hymnal #844

and #845, adapted

All good gifts around us come from you, O God. As you have given us gifts, so we offer our gifts to one another, as Jesus so taught and lived. We ask your blessing on all those that give and all those that receive these gifts. Amen

*Hymn Place in the Choir Pilgrim Lodge Song Book #50

Chorus:

All God's critters got a place in the choir.

Some sing low, some sing higher,

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire,

And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now.

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom,

Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus

Moans and groans with a big t’do

And the old cow just goes, 'moo'

Dogs and the cats they take up the middle,

Where the honeybee hums and the crickets fiddle

The donkey brays and the pony neighs

The old coyote howls (oowww!)

Chorus

Listen to the top where the little birds sing

On the melody with the high notes ringin’

The hoot owl hollers over everything

The jaybird disagrees.

Singin’ in the night time, singin’ in the day

The little duck quacks and he's on his way

The 'possum ain’t got much to say

The porcupine talks to herself.

Chorus:

All God's critters got a place in the choir.

Some sing low, some sing higher,

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire,

And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now.

It’s a simple song of living sung everywhere

By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear,

The grumpy alligator and the hawk above

The sly raccoon and the turtle dove.

Chorus:

*Benediction

*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 Let Us Rejoice, Alleluia Arr. Todd Kendall

(Please remain seated for the Postlude)

If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book

in the back of the sanctuary.

Contact Us

Vicky – hancockmaineucc@gmail.com – 207.422.3100

Jennifer – treasurer@hancockucc.com

TJ – revtjmack@gmail.com – 207.323.6743

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)

Many thanks to those who make this service possible –

in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Guest Minister – Lydia Hoffman

Music Minister – Debbie Riley

Deacons – Mary Angela Davis and Tamara Wilson

Liturgist – Rev. TJ Mack

Audio-Video Support – Patrice Alexander

Office Administrator – Vicky Espling

Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack

The Body of Christ – You

Lydia Hoffman Bio:

Lydia is a life-long lover of all things Pilgrim Lodge. She began coming to camp as a toddler, and first joined the summer staff in 2016 as the Camp Photographer. Lydia served as the Summer Assistant Director for three years, and is thrilled to join the team in a year-round capacity. She is proud to be a pastor’s kid, has a deep love for the Maine Conference, and calls Eliot UCC her home church. Lydia is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, called to seminary by her love of all things outdoor ministry. She finds God ‘neath the tall green trees, and in summer sunsets. Lydia believes so deeply in the power of intentional community and believes that the spirit of camp is the balm to an ever-weary world.

At camp, you’ll find Lydia in the office, serving ice cream in the camp store, swimming to the islands, and worshipping alongside the trees.

Resources:

Silent Prayer – John Philip Newell, Praying with the Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace

Call to Worship – J. Philip Newell, Celtic Treasure: Daily Scriptures & Prayer

Invocation – John Philip Newell, Praying with the Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace

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

Congregational Church of

Huston, Texas

Make a Joyful Noise

United Church of Christ

Rev. Teresa (TJ) Mack

4/12/26 Bulletin

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