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9/1/24 Bulletin

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

“Zacchaeus” - Joel Whitehead

Communion Sunday – September 1, 2024

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 borrow something that suits you, and return it after the service.

 

(Silent) Prayer of Awareness

Light within all light / Soul behind all souls / at the breaking of dawn / at the coming of day / we wait and watch. / Your Light within the morning light / Your Soul within the human soul / Your presence beckoning to us from the heart of life. / In the dawning of this day /

let us know fresh shingles in our soul. In the growing colours of new beginning all around us / let us know the first lights of our heart. / Great Star of the morning /

Inner Flame of the universe / let us be a colour in this new dawning.

John Philip Newell

 

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

 

Announcements

 

Prelude         Boundless Mercy                                                                        Anthony Giamanco

                   From Union Harmony                 

 

Welcome      

 

*Introit       Spirit of the Living God (v. 1)                                    Hymns of Truth & Light #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: Come from every direction: north, south, east, and west.

Many: Let us welcome and worship God in this sacred place!

One: Come bearing all your gifts: behind-the-scenes, quirky, unique, and more.

Many: Let us welcome and worship God with zealous authenticity!

One: Come with all your identities: race, gender, sexuality, and all.

Many: Let us welcome and worship God with our whole selves!

 

*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle                       

 

*Hymn       There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy                        The New Century Hymnal #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

Welcome us, loving Jesus, as we now welcome you into our hearts, minds, and worship. Let us transform and be transformed by each other so that we might perceive your presence among us ever more clearly. Amen

 

Children’s Message                                                      

 

Greek Scripture                                                               Galatians 5:13-21 and Luke 19:1-10     

 

Special Music        Pastorale                                                                                        Robert Lau   

 

Message                        

 

*Hymn       Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior                                The New Century Hymnal #551

Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry;

While on others you are calling, do not pass me by.

Refrain:

Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;

While on others you are calling, do not pass me by. 


Let me at your throne of mercy find a sweet relief;

Kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief.


Refrain: Savior, Savior…


Trusting only in your merit, would I seek Thy face;

Heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by your grace. 


Refrain: Savior, Savior…


Be the Spring of all my comfort, more than life to me;

Not just here on earth beside me, but eternally.

Refrain: Savior, Savior…

 

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 –  When the crowds around Zacchaeus blocked his view of Jesus, he anticipated where Jesus would be and staked space in the sycamore tree to increase his ability to see. His foresight became a blessing as Jesus saw Zacchaeus and invited him down from the tree. Let us look ahead to where we can meet and welcome Jesus into our many ministries by generously sharing our various gifts today.

 

Offertory              O Jesus, I Have Promised                                       John Bode/Robert Powell

                                    Tune: Angel’s Story               

 

*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  

Thank you for choosing to receive these gifts that we now share with you, gracious God. Bless each offering – including our very selves – and let every single one be given in service to you. Amen

 

*Communion Hymn      As We Gather at Your Table                The New Century Hymnal #332

As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word,

help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred.

Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own;

teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love's victory known.


Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life;

send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where there is strife.

Give us, Christ, your great compassion to forgive as you forgave;

may we still behold your image in the world you died to save.

 

Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share that feast

where triumphant Love will welcome those who had been last and least.

There no more will envy blind us, nor will pride our peace destroy,

as we join with saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy.

 

COMMUNION LITURGY

LITANY OF INCLUSION

One: Come, let us join at the table

Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free

One: Come, a place is set for each of us

Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free

One: Come, join the misfits, thieves, and liars

Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free

One: Come, young and old, from near or far

Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free

One: Come, where shame is no longer welcome

Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free

One: Come, where forgiveness and mercy triumph

Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free

 

COMMUNION PRAYER

One: May the Giver of Peace be with you.

Many: May God’s justice burn in you.


One: Our hearts are wounded and wandering.

Many: We lift them up to God.


One: Give thanks to God, for God is good.

Many: God’s love endures forever.


One: It is right and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to You,

Creator, Maker of Heaven and Earth. At the dawn of Creation, You breathed life into dirt,

and glory sprung from the ground.                                                                                        

Many: God’s love endures forever.


One: From the fury and flood, you protected Noah. As many children as the stars, you promised Abraham. In the dreams of a slave named Joseph, Israel feasted during famine. With the rod of Moses and the songs of Mariam, you delivered Israel from slavery.

Many: God’s love endures forever.


One: In our need of forgiveness, you gave us Jesus. He could speak to the wind and the waves.He could heal with mud and dance on water. He preached good news to the poor. He blessed the lowly. He opened the way to God. 

Many: God’s love endures forever.


One: When he had been crucified, when he was dead and buried, You lifted Jesus from the grave, and gave us resurrected life.                                                                                       

Many: God’s love endures forever.


One: With the roaring of your love, You set us aflame. Your justice became our joy. Your peace became our promise.

Many: God’s love endures forever.


One: Through the waters of baptism, you made us your own. In our lives together we carry your witness, and your love comes to life among us.      

Many: Give thanks to God, for God is Good. God’s love endures forever.


WORDS OF INSTITUTION

One: On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he gathered with his disciples in the upper roomwhere an ordinary meal became an instrument of God.                                                        Many: At this table, Jesus broke bread 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.


One: Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”   When the supper was over, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks to God, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of our sins and hope for the new life to come. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. And so, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy, living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:   

Many: “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.”


One: Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine that they might be for us the presence of the living Christ. Pour your Spirit upon us also, that we may be one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until we arrive at the heavenly banquet of God. Through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and the bond of peace. All glory and honor are yours, Creating God, now and forever. Amen 

Many: With this one loaf, we who are many, become one.

With this one cup, what was before has been renewed.  

                                                    

One: Come, for all things are ready.


RECEIVING THE BREAD AND CUP

The body of Christ, given for you. AmenThe cup of our salvation, given for you. Amen

 

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Our Creator, our Savior, our Sustainer, in this holy mystery, you have given yourself to us. We are eternally grateful. Empower us, that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves to each other in the name of Jesus Christ who gave his life for us. Amen

 

*Benediction                                                                                                       

 

*Sung Blessing              Go Now in Peace (sing twice)              Hymns of Truth & Light  #347

Go now in peace, go now in peace, may the love of God surround you

everywhere, everywhere, you may go.

 

 Postlude              A Joyful Trumpet                                                                Patricia Lou Harris 

 

(Please remain seated for the Postlude)

 

The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will hold a special congregational meeting on Sunday, September 1st, 2024 immediately following the 9:30 morning worship service for the following purposes:

1.    To vote on a permanent time for the worship service on Sunday mornings, (A) year round at 9:30 a.m. or (B) 9:00 a.m. on the Sundays between Memorial Day and Labor Day and 10:00 a.m. the rest of the year.

2.    Any other business to come before the congregation.

Jeanne Edwards, Clerk

August 15, 2024

 

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 – Sarina Brooks, Doug Kimmel & Robin Long

Liturgist – Sarina Brooks

Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer

Office Administrator – Vicky Espling

Student Ministry Intern – Sarina Brooks

Settled Minister  Rev. TJ Mack

The Body of Christ  You

 

 

Resources:

ucc.org Worship Ways - Call to Worship, Invocation, Offertory Prayers, Communion Liturgy

 

"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

 

There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

Words and Music - © OCP

Contributors: IN BABILONE, Fredrick Faber

 

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior

Words and Music - ©2012 Public Domain

Contributors:

 

As We Gather at Your Table

Words - ©1989 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Carl P. Daw, Jr.

 

Go Now In Peace

Words and Music - ©1976 Hinshaw Music, Inc.

Contributors: Natalie Sleeth

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