5/10/26 Bulletin
- 7 hours ago
- 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
May 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. – Sixth Sunday of Easter – Mother’s Day
Join Zoom Meeting
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 Prayer
Kind Grandparenting Spirit, bless those doing the work of soulfully caring for young people. Those attending to babies, children, and teens gently, compassionately, and fiercely. Those who apologize for their mistakes and who seek repair. Those who advocate for safety and who teach about boundaries and consent. May we all seek to heal our childhood wounds that we might honor the wisdom and worth of all children. Amen
* Indicates when we stand in body or spirit during the service.
Announcements
Prelude On This Day, Oh Beautiful Mother I. Lambilotte
Welcome
Introit Spirit of the Living God R. #281
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me,
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
*Call to Worship
One: The spirit of God calls us from many places;
All: some of us come from busy homes with many people
One: and some of us live alone.
All: We are a part of the family.
One: This week has been different for each of us;
All: some of us have had happy news we want to celebrate
One: some of us have faced grief and need to cry.
All: We are members of God’s family.
One: Yet we all come to this same place;
All: all of us seeking God’s presence in our lives;
One: all of us seeking God’s presence with each other.
All: Together we become God’s family.
*Passing the Peace and Lighting Peace & Justice Candle
*Invocation (in unison)
Holy and Present God, hear the sound of praise as we share this space and time gathered among you. May our hearts be opened and our minds engaged. Let the Spirit of Truth live in our songs of adoration, prayers of intercession, and words of pondering. In your name, glory and honor. Amen
Children’s Message “All in the Family” Kathleen Scott Meske
Mother’s Day Liturgy
One: Loving and nurturing God, we thank you for mothers.
For all they mean or have meant to us.
All: We thank you for the love they have shown and the care they have given.
For the many times they gave us hugs and held us close.
One: Loving and nurturing God we thank you for the qualities of mothers.
For their patience, their kindness, concern and understanding.
All: We thank you for the part they play in our lives,
and for this special day of saying ‘thank you’ to them.
One: Loving and nurturing God we thank you for the wonder of your mothering.
As a mother protects her children, you watch over us day by day.
All: We thank you for your arms which always encircle and protect us,
Your hands shield and deliver us from harm.
One: Loving God, we pray for those for whom Mother’s day brings heartache rather than a celebration. We pray for those who have never known their mother or whose mothers have died.
All: We thank you for your mothering heart and your tender love,
Which nurtures all who feel abandoned and lost.
One: We wait with those who long to be mothers but as yet have not had their own children. We grieve with those who ache because they will never be mothers.
All: We thank you for their mothering hearts which long to be expressed.
Lord in your mercy, mother us all with your love.
One: We pray for those who struggle with the way their children have chosen to live their lives. And grieve with those who are orphaned or have a difficult relationship with their mother.
All: We thank you that when we long for a mother’s love you do not abandon us.
Lord in your mercy, mother us all with your love.
One: May all of us have the comfort of knowing that your mothering love is constant, Your understanding is perfect and your compassion is never-ending.
All: We thank you that you gave birth to all of us with delight and joy.
Lord in your mercy mother us all with your love. Amen
Scripture John 14:15-21
Special Music For Where Love Is, There Is God Douglas Wagner
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn Holy Spirit, Truth Divine B. #63
Holy Spirit, truth divine, dawn upon this soul of mine.
Voice of God, and inward light, wake my spirit, from its night.
Holy Spirit, love divine, glow within this heart of mine.
Kindle every high desire, purify me with your fire.
Holy Spirit, power divine, fill and nerve this will of mine.
Boldly may I always live, bravely serve, and gladly give.
Holy Spirit, law divine, reign within this soul of mine.
Be my law, and I shall be firmly bound, forever free.
Prayers of the People – Sharing Joys & Concerns
Our Mother (Creator, Father) 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 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 (in unison)
Creator of all, since our beginning you have woven our lives together at the most intimate levels. Though evil encourages us to sever our ties to one another, you reveal our shared humanity and call us to defense of our neighbors. As we bring our offerings, give us wisdom for these days that we might live what we believe by seeking an end to all forces of inequity and injustice. Amen
*Hymn Sent Forth by God’s Blessing B. #76
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing, / the people of God from his dwelling take leave. / The service is ended, O, now be extended / the fruits of our worship in all who believe. / The seed of the teaching, receptive hearts reaching, / shall blossom in action for God and for all. / God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us / to work for God’s realm and to answer the call.
With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living, / the tasks of our every-day life we will face, / Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, / embracing God’s children of each tribe and race. / With your grace you feed us, with your light now lead us, / unite us as one in this life that we share. / Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving /
give honor to Christ and that name which we bear.
*Benediction
*Sung Benediction May the Blessing of God R. #346
May the blessing of God go before you. May her grace and peace abound. May her Spirit live within you. May her love wrap you ‘round. May her blessing remain with you always. May you walk on holy ground.
Postlude Hymn to Joy Ludwig Van Beethoven
(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.
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Alison Boden & Everett Espling
Liturgist – Kathleen Scott Meske
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources:
Silent Prayer – enfleshed: Liturgy that Matters, May 14, 2023
Call to Worship – 1994, Liturgy Outside
Invocation – Worship Ways, May 10, 2026
Mother’s Day Liturgy – Christine Sine, Godspace
Offering Prayers – enfleshed: Liturgy that Matters, May 17, 2020
The New Century Hymnal (B.) Hymns of Truth and Light (R.)
Copyright © 1995 The Pilgrim Press Copyright © 1998 First Congregational
Church of Huston, Texas
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.
Spirit of the Living God
Words and Music - ©1963 Jubilate Music
Contributors: Daniel Iverson and Michale Baughen, Daniel Iverson
Holy Spirit, Truth Divine
Words and Music - ©1992 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
Contributors: Samuel Longfellow, Lloyd Larson
Sent Forth by God's Blessing (arr. Cosas)
Words and Music - ©1964, 2017 World Library Publications
Contributors: Omer Westendorf, Christian Cosas
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