Oct 3, 20238 min read

10/1/23 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

October 1, 2023 – World Communion Sunday - Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost This service will be in-person and on Facebook Live at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) (Posted for later viewing on Facebook and YouTube) 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 Holy God, renew our hearts, refresh our spirits, and help us walk in your holy way, that we may welcome and accept your all-embracing goodness. Amen

* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Faith Eternal Edward Broughton Welcome *Introit Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (v.1) B. #43 Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven on earth be found, Fix in us a humble dwelling, all your faithful mercies crown; Jesus, you are all compassion; pure, unbounded love impart. Visit us with your salvation, enter every trembling heart. *Call to Worship One: We gather as God’s people to celebrate the beauty of our diversity. All: Let us love each other as God loves us – beautifully and wonderfully made in God’s image. One: We give thanks for who we are, Beloveds of God. All: Let us open our hearts to God’s spirit of love and unity. One: We celebrate the gifts of all gathered here today. All: Let us worship God with all we are and celebrate the beauty of all God’s creation. *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You B. # 4 Joyful, joyful, we adore you, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before you, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the storms of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day. All your works with joy surround you, earth and heaven reflect your rays, Stars and angels sing around you, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea. Chanting bird and flowing fountain, teach us what our praise should be. You are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, Well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Loving Spirit, Father, Mother, all who love belong to you; Teach us how to love each other, by thar love our joy renew. Mortals, join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began; Boundless love is reigning o’er us, reconciling race and clan. Ever singing, move we forward, faithful in the midst of strife, Joyful music leads us onward in the triumph song of life. *Invocation (in unison) Lord, open our eyes to see the beauty in each person we meet. Help us freely share your love with all your creation. We give thanks for beautifying your creation and for making a diverse world. Help us to be kind, compassionate, and loving to all. We thank you, O Lord, for allowing us to grow in our welcome and learn about other cultures as we share your amazing grace and love with each other and the world. Amen Children’s Message Hebrew Scripture Exodus 17:1-7 Christian Scripture Matthew 21:23-32 Special Music Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me K. Lee Scott Message Rev. TJ Mack *Hymn Called as Partners 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 fulfill 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. A Litany of Hope and Connection for World Communion Sunday One: In a world of difference God reminds us that we are deeply alike. All: We seek sustenance in bowls of rice and loaves of bread. One: We laugh when lotus flowers bloom and autumn leaves dance in the wind. All: We eat with knives and forks and chopsticks and remember that there are people who have no food. One: We celebrate new friendships and the ties of love that connect us across the globe. All: We weep when the suffering of our sisters and brothers becomes real for us. One: We hope for a world of peace and justice for all of creation and remember that… All: We are God’s strong back and work-weary arms. One: We are God’s calloused hands and muscled legs. All: Through us, with us, God loves and suffers, laughs and cries. One: God calls all of us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. All: God calls us to be God’s co-creative partners in the redemptive work of justice. One: United in faith, working in love, we are the hope for the world. All: God is with us through it all. We are not alone. Amen 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 – God, we open our hearts to give generously of the abundant blessings we have received. All that we have comes from you; therefore, we give our offerings and tithes in gratitude for all you have done for us. Offertory Communion Aria Franklin Ritter *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 One, we ask that you accept and bless these offerings so they can multiply to be a blessing for our community, and worldwide. Amen *Communion Hymn Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken R. # 319 Bread of the world, in mercy broken, wine of the soul, in mercy shed, by whom the words of life were spoken, in whose death our sins are dead. Look on the heart by sorrow broken, look on the tears by sinners shed, and be this feast to us the token that by your grace our souls are fed. Communion Liturgy Invitation to the Table One: Friends, what we are about to do is to celebrate the Joyful Feast of the people of God. All: When we are able, with the Holy One, to experience the vision of love for God’s Global Village here on earth – then all of creation will come as equal companions to sit at this table. One: In the meantime, you and I are invited to eat and drink, to be nourished and renewed for the ongoing work of justice, embracing mercy and walking humbly with God. All: This is an open table, all are welcome, no exceptions. Words of Remembering All: On the night when Jesus was betrayed, He gathered with his disciples in the upper room, where an ordinary meal became an instrument of God. 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. 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 failings, and in hope for the new life to come. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. Blessing the Bread and the Cup 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. All: 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. Sharing the Bread and the Cup The body of Christ, given for you. Amen The cup of blessing, 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 all. Amen *Sung Blessing Go With Us, Lord R #336 Go with us, Lord, and guide the way through this and every coming day, That in your Spirit strong and true our lives may be our gift to you. *Benediction Postlude Postlude in D Minor J.S. Bach (Please remain seated for the Postlude) 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 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 – Mary Angela & Nick Davis & Pat Summerer Liturgist – Pat Summerer Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You The Church Budget Committee will soon complete its work on next year's proposed church budget. In order to get the most accurate income projection, it would be helpful to get all stewardship pledges returned by Sunday October 15th. It would also help the budget drafting process if all Members and Friends could check their financial records to insure that their pledges for the current year have been paid to date. Pledge cards have been mailed to all Members and Friends. If you did not get one, please call the church at (207)422-3100 and one will be mailed to you. Pledge cards are also available in the Sanctuary. They can be mailed to the church or placed in the offering plate on Sundays. Please take a moment now to commit your financial support to your church for the coming year. We need your help. Please let David Wildes (422-3739) know of any questions or concerns. Your assistance and support is greatly appreciated. Resources Worship Ways @ ucc.org "Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Contributors: Charles Wesley, Sid Davis

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Contributors: Henry Van Dyke, Ludwig Beethoven, Stephen DeCesare

Called as Partners in Christ's Service - Jane Parker Huber

Bread of the World

Contributors: Reginald Heber

Go with Us, Lord

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey

Rev. Teresa (TJ) Mack

10/1/23 Bulletin

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