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

September 28, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Blessing of the Animals

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

For the freshness of this new day / thanks be to you, O God. / For morning’s gift of clarity / its light like the first day’s dawn / thanks be to you. / In this newborn light / let us see afresh. / In this gateway onto what has never been before / let our souls breathe hope / for the earth / for the creatures / for the human family. Let our souls breathe hope.         

~ John Philip Newell, Praying with the Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace

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

Prelude       This Is My Father’s World                                         Terra Beata/ Roger Summers

Welcome  & Announcements

*Song of Praise                       Allelu                                                    from PL song book #12 Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia! / Praise ye the Lord!Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia! / Praise ye the Lord!Praise ye the Lord! Alleluia! / Praise ye the Lord! Alleluia!Praise ye the Lord! Alleluia! / Praise ye the Lord!

*Call to Worship

One: O Divine Voice, You sing and the universe comes into being;

All: O Divine Breath, You breathe and all things spring to life;

One: O Divine Word, You call and creation is sustained;

All: O Divine Flesh, You are born among us, and the Creator is clothed in creation;

One: O Divine Spirit, You contain all that has been formed;

All: O Divine Life, You are the pulse of all that is; and so, in faith and expectation, in wonder and celebration we gather to remember this mystery:

One: In You all things live and move and have being. In all things, You live and move and express your Divine artistry;

All: And so we join with creation in the eternal song of worship and devotion. Amen

Reading               Blessing the Animals                                                      by Jan Richardson

*Song                   All God’s Critters (Place in the Choir)                          from the PL Songbook #50 Chorus:

All God's critters got a place in the choir.Some sing low, some sing higher,Some sing out loud on the telephone wire,And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now.

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom,Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamusMoans and groans with a big t’doAnd the old cow just goes, 'moo'

Dogs and the cats they take up the middle,Where the honeybee hums and the crickets fiddleThe donkey brays and the pony neighsThe old coyote howls (oowww!)

Chorus

Listen to the top where the little birds singOn the melody with the high notes ringin’The hoot owl hollers over everything

The jaybird disagrees.

Singin’ in the night time, singin’ in the dayThe little duck quacks and he's on his wayThe 'possum ain’t got much to sayThe porcupine talks to herself.

Chorus:

It’s a simple song of living sung everywhere

By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear,

The grumpy alligator and the hawk above

The sly raccoon and the turtle dove.

Chorus:

Blessing the Animals                                                     TJ & Mary Angela and young helpers

Scripture                                                                                                               Genesis 1:20-25

Special Music       Quiet Reflection                                                                   Kevin Boesiger

Message                                                                                                                   Rev. TJ Mack

*Song                  All Things Bright and Beautiful                         Hymns of Truth & Light #63

Refrain:

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,God made their glowing colors, and made their tiny wings.

Refrain:

The purple headed mountains, the rivers running by,the sunset, and the morning that brightens up the sky.

Refrain:

The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,the ripe fruits in the garden, God made them every one.

Refrain:

Prayers for Animals and the World – 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 my way plain before my face. For it is thou Lord, thou Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

Invitation to Offering - 100% of offerings today will be given to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Hancock County.

Offertory  Sent Forth By God’s Blessing                                               Ash Grove/ Jason Krug

*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                                                                                              Pastor TJ

*Song         Let There Be Peace on Earth                                        from the PL Songbook #72

Let there be peace on earth And let it begin with me;

Let there be peace on earth, The peace that was meant to be.

With God as our maker, All one family.

Let me walk with my neighbor In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take, Let this be my solemn vow:

To take each moment and live each moment

in peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

*Benediction                                                                                                             Pastor TJ

Postlude      With Joyful Hearts                                                                               Faye Lopez

(Please remain seated for the Postlude)

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

                         Vicky                                    Jennifer                                   TJ

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

                    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 – Vicky Espling and Mary Angela Davis

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

                                              Make a Joyful Noise – PL Songbook

Copyright © 1985 Maine Conference,

                                               United Church of Christ

"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,                   

License #A-738532. All rights reserved.