8/3/25 Bulletin
- treasurer593
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF HANCOCK
Open and Affirming of ALL God’s Children
We respect tradition — and we welcome inclusive language about people and expansive language about God. Please pray using words most meaningful to you.
Communion Sunday - August 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
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
Heal our inner sight, O God, / that we may know the difference between good and evil. / Open our eyes / that we may see what is true and what is false. / Restore us to wisdom / that we may be well in our own souls. / Restore us to wisdom / that we and our world may be well.
J. Philip Newell
* Indicates when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Galliarda Iouri Grichetchkine
Welcome Rev. TJ Mack
*Introit Come and Find the Quiet Center (tune: Beach Spring)Come and find the qui-et cen-ter / in the crowd-ed life we lead;
Find the room for hope to en-ter, / Find the frame where we are freed;
Clear the cha-os and the clut-ter, / Clear our eyes, that we can see
All the things that real-ly mat-ter, / Be at peace, and sim-ply be.
*Call to Worship
One: So precious is your life. So precious is each life here.
All: So precious is the life we create together, the life we share across the planet,
the lives of our children near and far.
One: So precious is the land, the creatures, the sea.
All: Inherently precious. Born precious. All life, a web. All lives, connected.
One: In the company of God, we remember the preciousness of life.
All: Precious to each other, we protect each other. Let us welcome Courage among us.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn Sweet Hour of Prayer B. #505
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! that calls me from a world of care,and bids me at my Maker's throne let all my wants and wishes known.In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief,and oft escaped the tempter's snare by your return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! the joys I feel, the bliss I shareof those whose anxious spirits burn with strong desires for your return!With them I hasten to the place where I would know my Savior’s face.And gladly take my station there, and wait for you, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! whose wings shall my petition bearto One whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless.And since I’m bid to seek God’s face, believe God’s word, and trust God’s grace,I'll cast away my every care, and wait for you, sweet hour of prayer!
*Invocation (in unison)
Source of All, your steady rhythms humble us. Age after age, your seasons come and go, your sun rises and falls, your waters ebb and flow. Teach us to recognize the wisdom woven into everything around us and even within us. May we open our hearts to your divine presence. Amen
Children’s Message This Little Light of Mine R. #364
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine;This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine;This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
This great joy I have, I’m gonna let it shine …
Ev’ry-where I go I’m gonna let it shine …
All ₋ through the night I’m gonna let it shine …
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…
Special Music O Perfect Love Tune: Sandringham Barnby/ Powell
Scripture Luke 12:13-21
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending B. #565
God, whose giving knows no ending, from your rich and endless store,
Nature's wonder, Jesus' wisdom, costly cross, grave's shattered door:
Gifted by you, we turn to you, offering up ourselves in praise;
Thankful song shall rise forever, gracious donor of our days.
Skills and time are ours for serving, that your will on earth be done:
All at peace in health and freedom, races joined, the Church made one.
Now direct our daily labor, lest we strive for self alone;
born with talents, make us servants fit to answer at your throne.
Treasure, too, you have entrusted, gain through powers your grace conferred;
Ours to use for home and kindred, and to spread the gospel Word.
Open wide our hands in sharing as we heed Christ's ageless call,
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, honoring you by loving all.
Lend your joy to all our giving, let it light our pilgrim way:
From the night of anxious keeping, loos us into generous day.
Then when years on earth are over, and we’ve lived our human span,
God, fulfill beyond our dreaming, all our stewardship began.
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 – Let us bring together our offerings, holding these multiple truths: many have too much, many have too little, greed and consumerism steal life away, and no one should have to struggle to make ends meet. Until we build the world anew, let us share all we have in love for each other.
Offertory Flute Tune Gilbert M. Martin
*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 Maker, we are grateful that you require nothing more from us than becoming our most loving, authentic selves. In gratitude, we offer what we have. Amen
*Communion Hymn Beneath the Forms of Outward Rite R. #326 Beneath the forms of outward rite thy supper, Lord, is spreadin ev’ry quiet upper room where fainting souls are fed.
The bread is always consecrate which we divide with friends;and ev’ry act of charity repeats thy feast again.
The blessed cup is only passed true memory of thee,when life anew pours out its wine with rich sufficiency.
O Savior, through these symbols shared, thine own dear self impart,that in our daily life may flame the passion of thy heart.
The Lord’s Supper
Invitation to Holy Communion
One: This is the joyful feast of the people of God. Come to this table as you are. It is spread for us that we might again know that God comes to us, shares our common lot, dwells among us, and invites us to join the people of a new age, a new day, a new heaven, a new earth. We come to this table, not because we must, but because we may. This is an open table at which all are welcome.
Words of Institution
One: On the night when Jesus was betrayed, Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room where an ordinary meal became an instrument of God.
All: At this table, Jesus broke bread with those who would betray him. At this table, Jesus drank wine with the one who denied him. At this table, Jesus communed with those who would abandon him. At this table, Jesus gave a new commandment. At this table, we learn to love one another as God loves us.
Breaking Bread and Pouring Wine
One: Through the broken bread we participate in the body of Christ.
Through the cup of blessing we participate in the new life Christ gives.
The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready.
Sharing the Elements
The bread of life.
The cup of joy.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, we give you thanks that you have refreshed us at your table. We are eternally grateful that in this holy mystery, you have given yourself to us. Empower us, that we may go into the world in courage and peace, to give ourselves to each other in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
*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 Festiva Keith Christopher
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book at the back of the sanctuary.
CALL TO CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will conduct a special congregational meeting on Sunday, August 3, following worship for the following purposes:
1.) To consider a motion for the Trustees to employ Contractors for two jobs.
a.) New Metal Roof on the Parsonage.
b.) Painting the Sanctuary Ceiling.
2.) The plan is to launch a fund drive in September to cover the cost (approx. $20,000)
3.) Any other business to come before the congregation.
Vicky J. Espling, Clerk July 11, 2025
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
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.
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Alison Boden, Nick Davis, & Vicky Espling
Liturgist – Diane Raymond
Audio-Video Support – Patrice Alexander
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
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Words and Music - ©1985 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Contributors: William Walford, Gilbert M Martin
This Little Light of Mine
Words and Music - ©2022 Stephen DeCesare / Exultet Music
Contributors: Traditional, Traditional, Stephen DeCesare
God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
Words - ©1961, 1989 Hymn Society in the US & Canada
Contributors: Robert L Edwards
Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
Words and Music - ©pd Public Domain
Contributors: Public Domain
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