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
June 23, 2024 - PRIDE Month
This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 9:30 a.m. (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
God of Becoming, we are grateful for young people—for the fierce solidarity they offer each other and the world. Open our spirits to the swelling wisdom of the new wave of teachers, leaders, radicals, and visionaries. Unstick places within us that want to cling to ways that are comfortable, but that no longer serve us. For you are a God who unfolds and you love those who shake off the dust of familiar oppression. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude
Welcome
*Introit Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (vs. 1) 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!
*Call to Worship
One: Holy One, You have many names and today we call forth the names we need:
All: Imaginative Spirit
One: Unfolding Possibility
All: Emerging Life
One: Playful Wisdom
All: Liberative Trouble Maker
One: Wild and Compassionate God—
All: Surprise us with signs and wonders in a growing world. Swell with us, as we make waves towards collective freedom.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy B. #23
There's a wideness in God's mercy, like the wideness of the sea;there's a kindness in God's justice, which is more than liberty.There is no place where earthly sorrows are more felt than in God's heaven;there's no place where earthly failings have such kindly judgment given.
For the love of God is broader than the measures of our minds;and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God's Word,and our lives would show thanksgiving for the goodness of our God.
*Invocation (in unison)
What miracles of God might unfold among us when we gather in shared hope and possibility? May our concern with exploitation of land and people make us not weary but energized for the compassionate work of solidarity that lies before us. Open our hearts and minds that we may welcome and trust the Spirit moving among us. Amen
Children’s Message Sarina Brooks
Christian Scriptures Acts 2:43-47 and Matthew 15:29-39
Special Music
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn Now Let Us All, in Hymns of Praise R. #362
Now let us all, in hymns of praise, bear witness with one voice
to God's redeeming work in Christ, and bid the world rejoice.
Today we call to mind the things that time cannot erode:
What God, Creator of the world, is doing for our good.
What changes, tests and challenges the church of Christ survives!
How rich the records left to us of dedicated lives!
Still must the church proclaim to all that now, and evermore,
the house of God is open house, and Christ the Open Door.
Of all our labors, who can say what harvest there shall be,
when time, that limits and distorts, becomes eternity?
Then shall our hymns, rehearsed below, be perfect praise above,
as, face to face, we fully know what this means: God is love!
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 – We gather our offerings today, that the needs of MindBodySpirit of all may be met. For all beings are worthy of thriving.
Offertory The Garden Hymn Douglas E. Wagner
From The Southern Harmony 1835
*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)
Way Making One, bless our offerings, that they may flow freely to places of need. Amen
*Hymn My Life Flows On in Endless Song (vs. 1 & 2) R. #427
My life flows on in endless song; above earth's lamentation,
I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing?
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Savior’s living.
What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he’s giving.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing?
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing?
*Benediction
*Sung Blessing Sent Forth by God’s Blessing B. #76
Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from this 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.
Postlude
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the sanctuary.
Our Monteux student musicians for this morning are Daniella Renteria, violin, and Noah Stevens, viola.
Daniella Renteria is a Mexican-American violinist who graduated with her Bachelor’s of Music from the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. She has studied under instructors including Dorothy Kaplan Roffman, Nurit Pacht, Avi Nagin, Joana Genova-Rudiakov, Weigang Lee, and Salley Koo. In 2023, Daniella was the winner of the John J Cali School of Music Concerto Competition. Additionally, she has been in solo master classes led by violinists such as Almita Vamos, David Chan, Ani Kavafian, Jessie Montgomery, Charles Yang, Domenic Salerni, and Daniel Philips. Daniella has also participated in chamber music master classes led by esteemed ensembles like the Emerson Quartet, Shanghai String Quartet, Cavani Quartet, Harlem Quartet and Kronos Quartet. Beyond her musical pursuits, Daniella actively contributes to the community as a member of the Diversity and Inclusivity Committee for Kinhaven Music School, where she volunteers to enhance the environment for both faculty and students.
Noah Stevens is a violist and composer hailing from New Jersey. An avid performer, he feels comfortable in all settings, ranging from solo recitals to chamber and large ensemble settings. He has had the good fortune to share the stage with several of the leading names in classical music today, such as Rhiannon Giddens, Time for Three, and the Kronos String Quartet. He currently studies at Montclair State University, where he is from the studio of Kathryn Lockwood, serves as principal viola of the university orchestra, and is a founding member of the Aurelius String Quartet. During the summer, Noah studies at the Pierre Monteux School in Hancock, Maine.
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
Deacons – Robin Long & Doug Kimmel
Liturgist – Sarina Brooks
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources:
Liturgy that Matters: enfleshed, adapted - Silent Prayer, Call to Worship, Invocation,
Offertory Prayers
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,
License #A-738532. All rights reserved
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Words and Music - ©2020 Stephen DeCesare / Exultet Music
Contributors: Henry Van Dyke, Ludwig Beethoven, Stephen DeCesare
There's a Wideness in God's Mercy
Words and Music - © OCP
Contributors: IN BABILONE, Fredrick Faber
Now Let US All in Hymns of Praise
Music - ©1951, 1990 Selah Publishing Co., Inc.
Contributors: Fred Pratt Green, Roy Hopp
My Life Flows On in Endless Song
Robert Lowry, Jean Anne Shafferman
Words and Music - ©2019 Jubilate Music
Sent Forth by God's Blessing
Words - ©1964 World Library Publications
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