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 21, 2024 - Fourth Sunday of Eastertide - Earth Day Celebration
This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10:00 (Recorded for Facebook and YouTube)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 822 2425 2518
Passcode: 755650
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
May the angels of light glisten for us this day. May the sparks of God’s beauty dance in the eyes of those we love. May the universe be on fire with Presence for us this day. May the new sun’s rising grace us with gratitude. Let earth’s greenness shine and its waters breathe with Spirit.
Let heaven’s winds stir the soil of our soul and fresh awakenings arise within us.
May the mighty angels of light glisten in all things this day. May they summon us to
reverence, may they call us to life. Amen J. Philip Newell
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude This Is My Father’s World Terra Beata/ Alejandro Consolation
Welcome
*Introit This is the Day (vs. 1) R. #257
This is the day, this is the day that our God has made, that our God has made;
we will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that our God has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it;
This is the day, this is the day that our God has made.
*Call to Worship
One: O God of life, who chooses creation over chaos and new beginnings over emptiness,
All: we bring to you the disorder of our nations and world and the emptiness of our lives and relationships.
One: Bless us and the nations with the grace of creativity
All: Bless us and all people with the hope of new beginnings.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn For the Beauty of the Earth B. #28
For the beauty of the earth, for the splendor of the skies,
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the good that love inspires, for a world where none exclude,
For a faith that never tires, and for every heart renewed,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
*Invocation (in unison)
Made in your own image, formed in your likeness, we carry your life within us, O God. In every person, in every nation, O god, we look for your presence and long for your peace. Open us, we pray, to glimpse the shinings of your life-giving presence in all things. Amen
Children’s Message
Hebrew Scripture Genesis 1:9-13
Christian Scripture Philippians 4:11-13 Contemporary Reading Mozart, for Example Mary Oliver
Special Music Awake, Thou Wintry Earth Dutch Carol/ K.K. Davis
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn I Sing the Mighty Power of God B. #12
I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day:
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of our God that filled the earth with food;
God formed the creatures with a word, and then pronounced them good.
Oh, how your wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye:
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!
On earth there’s not a plant or flower but makes your glory known.
The clouds arise and spread their showers by order from your throne.
All life is but a gift from you and ever in your care;
Wherever people gather, you, O God, are present there.
Earth Day Litany
One: Scripture tells us that “creation waits with eager longing for the children of God to be revealed.” Creation is waiting for us…
All: To open our eyes to the devastation in our world.
One: Creation is waiting for us…
All: To put the needs of the most vulnerable above the greed of the powerful.
One: Creation is waiting for us…
All: To move from doing what is easy to doing what is necessary and right.
One: Creation is waiting for us…
All: To prioritize the needs of community over the convenience of self.
One: Creation is waiting for us…
All: To remove the pollution from our seas, land, air, bodies and hearts.
One: Creation is waiting for us…
All: In all these things and more, creation waits for us to assume our roles as its servants and protectors.
One: With God’s help, we will answer creation’s call.
All: Amen
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 – All good gifts come from you, O God. As you have given us gifts, so we offer our gifts to one another.
Offertory A Garden Prayer Roberta 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)
O God, most merciful and gracious, of whose bounty we have all received: accept, we pray, this offering of your people. Remember in your love those who have brought it and those for whom it is given. Amen
*Hymn Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee R. #7
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away; giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays, stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain, call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Source of grace and fount of blessing, all who live in love are thine; teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy chorus which the morning stars began; God’s own love is reigning o’er us, joining people hand in hand. Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife, joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.
*Benediction
*Sung Blessing Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (vs. 1) R. #333
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace:
oh, refresh us, oh, refresh us, traveling through this wilderness.
Postlude Rigaudon David Lasky
(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 new 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.
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Choir – Mary Angela Davis, Nick Davis, Jeanne Edwards, Peggy Emigh, Jane Lennon,
David Mack, Pat Summerer,
Deacons –Robin Long & Pat Summerer & Sarina Brooks
Liturgist – Monica Quill
Audio-Video Support – Patrice Alexander
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Sarina Brooks is a student in the Pathways Theological Education Program working toward a Certificate in Ministry and is a Member in Discernment in the Sunrise Association of the Maine Conference. She is a licensed mental health therapist and works in a community mental health center as well as in a private therapy practice in Machias. Sarina has a master’s degree in social work and has had the honor of working with a wide variety of people across the lifespan. Sarina usually attends Centre Street Congregational Church in Machias and wears many hats within that congregation. She is the Licensed Director of Pastoral Care at CSCC and guides the work of Centre Street's Care Team. She has worked with congregants in times of crisis, grief, or difficult life changes, presided over weddings and funerals in the congregation and community. Sarina enjoys gardening, decorating and other creative projects, construction projects (Ask her about the tiny house she lives in and built!), cooking, being outside in God’s wondrous natural world, spending time with her cute kitties, family and friends and reading. Laughter and joy are a part of her everyday language, and she believes both can heal a world of woes. Sarina is passionate about being of service and serving others on behalf of the Holy.
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,
License #A-738532. All rights reserved
For the Beauty of the Earth
Words and Music - ©1917 Willow Publishing Pty Ltd
Contributors: Folliot Pierpont, Conrad Kocher
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Words and Music - ©2020 Stephen DeCesare / Exultet Music
Contributors: Henry Van Dyke, Ludwig Beethoven, Stephen DeCesare
Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
Words and Music - Public Domain
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