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

August 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83936359115?pwd=1aQdppqVbvKTZKBi9DQWXgaNVVbhtZ.1

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

You speak to us in all things, O God, / in the rising of the sun and its setting, / in dreams of the night and the encounters of day. / Let us know you in the whole of life, / in both the blessings and the betrayals of our lives. / Heal our hurts and open our hearts / that as families and nations we may be faithful to one another.    ~ J. Philip Newell

* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit

Announcements

Prelude               

Welcome  

*Introit       Here We Gather as God’s People                                                              R. #383  Here we gather as God’s people with our friends from far and near;

let our voices sound with praises knowing Christ has called us here.

Now we seek and greet each other, now in joy approach our friends.

Here we mingle, bound together as to all our love extends.

*Call to Worship 

One: The Holy Troubler comes to stir us to attention

All: Our attention is a prayer

One: We pray for beloveds near and far, targeted and afraid

All: Lives and livelihoods at risk

One: God calls us to courage!

All: God brings freedom through truth

One: God nurtures hope that is deep and rich and lasting.

All: Our hope is honest with grief.

One: Grieving with God,

All: we come to be transformed.

*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

One: Divine Love, you are our source of moral clarity. Bombarded with messages that turn us against the suffering of our neighbors,

All: we return to your love for clarity.

One: Surrounded by influences that justify evil, 

All: we return to your love for clarity.

One: Overwhelmed with it all,

All: we return to your love for clarity. God of Divine Love, protect our minds from deceit, protect our hearts from hardening, and keep us present to your wisdom. Amen

Children’s Message  

Special Music 

Scriptures                                                                                                          Luke 12:49-56               

Message  

*Hymn       O for a Thousand Tongue to Sing                                                                     B. #42

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise,The glories ever echoing the triumphs of God’s grace!

My gracious Savior and my God, assist me to proclaim,To spread through all the earth abroad the honors of your name.

Jesus! the name that calms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease,Is music in the sinner's ears, is life, and health, and peace!

Glory to God, and love and praise be ever, ever givenBy all the saints in every age, the church in earth and heaven.

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 – Beloveds, let us build a community that is known for its honesty and courage! A place where the weary and broken hearted, the targeted and struggling, the freedom seeking and truth sharing can come and find true companionship. Let us bring our offerings together, material and spiritual, and make it so.

Offertory                                         

*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)

Holy Healer, we long for a world re-balanced by justice. Where those being starved sit at tables of feasting. Where those weary with generations of exploitation can rise into rest and ease. Where those who tower-over are brought swiftly into humble postures. Until that day, may all our resources be in service to transformation. Amen

*Hymn       You Servants of God, Your Sovereign Proclaim                                            B. #305

You servants of God, your Sovereign proclaim, / and publish abroad his wonderful name;The name all victorious, of Jesus extol, / who, sovereign and glorious now rules over all.

God rules from on high, almighty to save, / and still God is nigh, whose presence we have.The great congregation God’s triumph shall praise, / ascribing salvation to Jesus always.

Salvation to God, who sits on the throne! / Let all cry aloud, for what God has done.The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim, / still veiling their faces, they worship the Lamb.

Then let us adore and render God’s right, / all glory and power, all wisdom and might,All honor and blessing with angels above, / and thanks never ceasing and infinite love.

*Benediction

*Sung Benediction                  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     

(Please remain seated for the Postlude)

If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the sanctuary. 

The church’s Hook & Hastings Pipe Organ was built in 1929 (OP 2577) for the Northern Conservatory of Music in Bangor. It was moved to Bar Harbor and to Hancock Point and was given to the Church by Edward Steinbach (1887–1984). It was installed by Stoddard Smith    (of Northeast Harbor) in 1988 and was restored in 2020 by Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc., Northampton, MA.

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)

Contact Us

hancockmaineucc@gmail.com     treasurer@hancockucc.com      revtjmack@gmail.com

                    207.422.3100                                                                          207.323.6743

Resources

Call to Worship, Invocation, Offering Prayers – enfleshed: Liturgy that Matters

Many thanks to those who make this service possible –

in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Guest Minister – Rev. Dr. Alison Boden

Guest Organist – Phoebe Devenish

Deacons – Everett Espling & Sally Knapp

Liturgist – Vicky Espling

Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer

Office Administrator – Vicky Espling 

Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack

The Body of Christ – You

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.

Here We Gather as God's People

Words - ©1995 Christian Board Of Publication

Contributors: Daniel B Merrick

For the Beauty of the Earth

Words and Music - ©1917 Willow Publishing Pty Ltd

Contributors: Folliot Pierpont, Conrad Kocher

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing 

Words and Music - ©2018 MorningStar Music Publishers / Birnamwood Publications

Contributors: Charles Wesley, Arr. Eric Nelson

You Servants of God, Your Sovereign Proclaim-Word alt.

Words - ©1993 Pilgrim Press, The

Contributors: Charles Wesley

Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing

Words and Music - ©pd Public Domain

Contributors: Public Domain