Open and Affirming of ALL God’s Children
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
July 31, 2022
Welcome Monteux musicians – Elizabeth Johnson, Harp & Angelina Yuan Fen Ho, Flute
This service will be in the Sanctuary and on Zoom at 9:00 a.m.
Join us for Zoom Coffee Hour beginning shortly after the service ends.
(Find the link below and in your email in-box.)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 882 8024 5071
Passcode: 402851
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Silent Prayer
Loving God, as I embark on the adventure of this new day, I will imagine you as my parent,
teaching me to walk with cords of human kindness and love, a tether as you guide me along.
I will not worry that I will not have enough time or goods if I give to those in need. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Elizabeth Johnson, Harp & Angelina Yuan Fen Ho, Flute
Welcome
*Introit We Gather Together (v.3) B #421
All praise to the Spir-it, pro-vid-er, de-fend-er.
You of-fer us free-dom, to fol-low or stray.
Em-pow-er-ing all by the hope you en-gen-der.
Grant wis-dom and cour-age to fol-low your way.
One: Our Loving God gathers us from the east and the west, from the north and from the south. All: The Holy One is in our midst. Let us say so! One: We cried out to our God in the time of trouble and eased our distress. All: The Holy One is in our midst. God leads us on right paths. One: Our Provider satisfies our thirst and meets our needs. All: The Holy One is in our midst. Consider God’s steadfast love!
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) - Lighting of the Peace Candle & Prayer for Peace & Justice
*Hymn This Is the Day (verse 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.
*Invocation (spoken in unison)
Holy God, You tether us to You in righteousness and covenant. By the power of Your Holy Spirit open the Scriptures to us today, that in the Word proclaimed we might know Your truth. Reveal Your face to us. Let us see You in our midst, in our neighbors and in ourselves. Clothe us in love and compassion, and continually fashion us as Your people. Amen
Children’s Message
New Testament Reading (Christian Scriptures) Luke 12:13-21
Poem “Blessing That Becomes Empty as It Goes” Jan Richardson
Special Music Elizabeth Johnson, Harp & Angelina Yuan Fen Ho, Flute
Message Rev. TJ Mack*Hymn We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky B. #563
We cannot own the sunlit sky, the moon, the wild-flowers growing, for we are part of all that is within life’s river flowing. With open hands receive and share the gifts of God’s creation, that all may have abundant life in every earthly nation.
When bodies shiver in the night and, weary, wait for morning, when children have no bread but tears, and war horns sound their warning, God calls humanity to awake, to join in common labor, that all may have abundant life in oneness with their neighbor.
God calls humanity to join as partners in creating a future free from want or fear, life’s goodness celebrating. That new world beckons from afar, invites our shared endeavor, that all might have abundant life and peace endure forever.
Prayer for Transformation and New Life (in unison) Gracious One, You have wonderfully knit us together, yet we turn away from You and toward the path of destruction and discord. We judge our neighbor rather than love them and we fail to even honor ourselves as Your beloved creation. You promise your abiding presence in our lives and guide us back with Your love. For this we give thanks.
Words of Grace
The God of mercy bends toward Their children with love and hope. In God, grace abounds freely, abundantly, and extravagantly. We are all worthy of God’s love and grace!
Prayers of the People – Sharing Joys & Concerns
Lead Me Lord
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.
Offering – Welcoming our Tithes and Offerings – We share our gifts from the abundance given to us.
Offertory Within This Sacred Dwelling Mozart/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 (spoken in unison)
Loving God, may we demonstrate our love through these gifts. Bless them and magnify them so that all creation will benefit from your abundance and gift of life and love.
*Hymn Called as Partner’s in Christ’s Service B. #495
Called as partners in Christ’s service, called to ministries of grace,
We respond with deep commitment fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing, side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring to fulfil God’s chosen end.
Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring, Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering, reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer, all God’s people, young and old,
Blending human skills together gracious gifts from God unfold.
Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission, in a small or global sense,
Help us bear each other’s burdens, breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision, words of challenge, said with care,
Bring new power and strength for action, make us colleagues, free and fair.
So God grant us for tomorrow ways to order human life
That surround each person’s sorrow with a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living, our compassion to increase,
Messengers of faith, thus giving hope and confidence and peace.
*Blessing
*Sung Benediction Go With Us, Lord R. #336
That in your Spirit strong and true our lives may be our gift to you.
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
Please visit Hancock (Maine) UCC on Facebook
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)
207.422.3100 207.323.6743
Many thanks to those who helped make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Monteux Guest Musicians – Elizabeth Johnson, Harp & Angelina Yuan Fen Ho, Flute
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Nick Davis & David Wildes
Liturgist – Jack Hirschenhofer
Graphics Minister – Cynthia Wood
Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer & Mike Summerer
(Mike is happy to teach others this simple task. Please inquire…)
Office Secretary – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources:
Worship Ways @ ucc.org
Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.”
We Gather Together
Words - ©1992 Pilgrim Press, The
Contributors: Lavon Bayler
Words - ©1992 GIA Publications, Inc.
Contributors: Ruth Duck
Called as Partners in Christ's Service - Jane Parker Huber
Words - ©1981 Presbyterian Publishing/Westminster John Knox/Geneva Press
Go with Us, Lord
Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey
Monteux Guest Musicians Bios
Elizabeth Johnson (1st year) is an 18-year-old harpist currently majoring in Harp Performance at Oberlin Conservatory. An alumna of Interlochen Arts Academy, she has been a member of multiple orchestras during her secondary and collegiate education. In June of 2019, she was awarded an Honorable Mention at the American Harp Society’s National Competition Intermediate 1 Division and has performed in multiple masterclasses with renowned harpists. While at Oberlin, she has participated in multiple orchestral and chamber ensemble performances while also being dedicated to her solo and academic studies with Yolanda Kondonassis. Currently, her future plans include continuing her studies as a Harp Performance major, performing with a professional symphony orchestra, teaching and maintaining a private studio in addition to teaching at the collegiate level, and potentially starting a scholarship fund or program for young musicians with financial needs.
Yuan-Fen (Angelina) Ho (1st year) is a freelance flutist and private flute teacher based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Aspiring to be a professional orchestral musician, Yuan-Fen received most of her ensemble training at the San Francisco Conservatory and the University of Maryland. She has attended summer festivals and masterclasses to study with Denis Bouriakov, Paula Robison, Jim Walker, Demarre McGill, Alberto Almarza, Lorna McGhee, Bonita Boyd, Susan Hoeppner, Robert Langevin, Jennifer Gunn, Philippe Bernold, Vincent Lucas, Judith Mendenhall, Keith Underwood, Amy Porter, William Bennett, and Trevor Wye. Yuan-Fen’s recent performances include playing principal flute in Merced Symphony and solo recital at the Kensington Senior Center in Walnut Creek. She will join Camellia Symphony in Sacramento starting this coming season. Yuan-Fen holds a B.A. in music from UC Berkeley, and she received a M.M. degree in flute performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2021. She is deeply grateful for her teachers Mark Sparks, Timothy Day, Emily Skala, Isabelle Chapuis, and various other mentors.
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