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

Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 14, 2023 - Mother’s Day This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) (Posted for later viewing on Facebook and YouTube) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88327467219?pwd=Mis3ME4waGE1RmRBNzFXK3VUaDJXdz09 Meeting ID: 883 2746 7219 Passcode: 131738 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 points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought Bradbury/ Limbaugh 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: Creator of day and night All: Creator of sunrises, sunsets, and twilights in between. One: Creator of land and sea. All: Creator of shorelines, swamplands, and tidepools in between. One: Creator of heaven and earth. All: Creator of black holes, nebula, and galaxies swirling beyond notions of up and down. One: Creator of man and woman, cisgender and trans. All: Creator of nonbinary, agender, intersex, and gender nonconforming beloveds living beyond the binary. One: We relish the mysterious diversity of your creation. All: We praise all the beautiful ways to live a life. *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn God’s Eye Is on the Sparrow B. #475 Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, When God is ever my portion? My constant friend will be: God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me; God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me. Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me. “Let not your heart be troubled,” Christ’s tender word I hear, And resting on God’s goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path God leads me, but one step I may see; God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me; God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me. Refrain: Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, When song gives place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I then draw close to my Savior, from care I am set free; God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me; God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me. Refrain: *Invocation (spoken in unison) Come Holy Spirit, our helper and advocate: Open our hearts and minds this day, entice us with your presence. Spark us with a word of life— a message that we may share with others as we seek to live Christ’s love in the world. All this we ask in the name of God, who creates, redeems, and sustains us. Amen Children’s Message Christian Scriptures John 14:15-21 and Acts 17:22-28 Special Music - Choir How Can I Keep from Singing American Folk Hymn/ Andy Beck Message Rev. TJ Mack *Hymn O for a World R. #500 O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways, where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise. O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved, where truth is spoken, children spared, and equality achieved. We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice that opens us to unity and gives our vision voice. The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise. Tell all who mourn: outcasts belong, who perishes will rise. O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace, where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease. Call to Confession Siblings in Christ, God not only asks us to repent, but also assures us of forgiveness. Therefore, let us confess our sins to the one who is steadfast love. Prayer of Confession (spoken in unison) Loving God, we do not always keep your commandments; we fail to love you; we fail to love your animate and inanimate creations, our conscience is not clear. Wash us in the water of life that we may live again through the grace and mercy of Jesus, our resurrected Savior. Amen Declaration of Forgiveness God forgives, restores, and strengthens us through the risen Christ. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. 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 – Come, that compassion and care might be the law of the land. Come, that our resources might honor our planet home—the one we borrow from our youth. Come, bring your offerings and gifts that they may coalesce and create more that we ever could on our own Offertory Early in the Morning Nicaea/ Wagner *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) We dedicate these offerings to the young people who live with the heaviness of climate grief. To the young people whose childhoods have been shaped by a global pandemic and mass violence. To the young people whose mental and physical well-being is trampled by meanness of those in the halls of power. May our resources honor our young people, oh God. Amen *Hymn Jesus Calls Us, O’er the Tumult R. # 304 Jesus calls us, o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea; day by day his voice still calls us, saying, "Christian, follow me," As of old, Saint Andrew heard it by the Galilean lake, turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus' sake. Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world's golden store, from each idol that would keep us, saying, "Christian, love me more." In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease, still he calls, in cares and pleasures, "Christian, love me more than these," Jesus calls us; by your mercies, Savior, may we hear your call, give our hearts to your obedience, serve and love you best of all. *Sung Blessing Go, My Children, with My Blessing (v.1) 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. *Benediction Go forth into the world in peace. Serve the Lord God, and love your neighbor. Love the Lord God, and serve your neighbor. May the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Jesus Christ’s grace, and God’s love, be with you now and always. Amen Postlude Aria Handel (Please remain seated for the Postlude)

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. Music Minister – Debbie Riley Deacons – Pat Summerer & David Wildes Liturgist – Ruth Dietze Graphics Minister – Cynthia Wood Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer (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 Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion and Enfleshed: Liturgy that Matters "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

God’s Eye is on the Sparrow – Public Domain Jesus Calls Us o'er the Tumult Words and Music - ©pd Public Domain Contributors: Public Domain Go, My Children, with My Blessing Words - ©1983 Concordia Publishing House Contributors: Jaroslav J Vajda, Welsh traditional; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams