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
New Member Sunday - Maine Conference Sunday - Linked by Love
October 13, 2024
This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10 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
Holy One: Whether our congregations are bound to Maine’s sea, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests or fields, our spirits weave into one holy community. May we continue to commit to each other through your never-ending grace, and the everlasting love you have freely given us. May we continue to support and care for one other, celebrating our interdependence and our common calling. May your powerful gifts of love and grace continue to create intentional communion of spirit among all our beloveds in the Maine Conference. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Partita on “Dunlap’s Creek Freeman Lewis/ D. Lasky
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
*Introit Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (v. 1) The New Century Hymnal #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
Leader: We gather in the Holy Spirit with all who follow the love, hope, peace, justice and joy of Christ.
People: Together, we are the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ
Leader: We gather with our creator, who has made all of us in their image.
People: Together, we are the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ
Leader: We gather as seven associations, embracing farmlands and mountains, seacoast and cities.
People: Together, we are the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ
Leader: We gather as part of a wider community, partnering with all who seek love, hope, peace, and justice.
People: Together, we are the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ
ALL: We are connected Christians who have chosen to travel on this journey of faith together.
People: Together, we are the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn Blessed Be the Tie That Binds The New Century Hymnal #393 Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;The sharing of a common life is like to that above.
Before our God we come and pour our ardent prayers;Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear,And often for each other flows a sympathizing tear.
When we are called to part it gives us inward pain,But we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
*Invocation (in unison)
Creator God, you are worthy to be praised. You have created “Rulers of the earth and all peoples, young people of all genders, old and young together!” You made them to be together in a good creation that provides for them, a world covered in “Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!” All of life is connected by your design. Make your presence known as we give you thanks for creating all of us, invaluable. Amen
Children’s Message
Reception for a New Member into the Church Welcoming Rev. Joshua Fitterling
Pastor: Friends in Christ, we are all received into the church through the beckoning of the Holy Spirit. Joshua seeks nurture and support in the midst of this family of Christ. He has been led by the Holy Spirit to affirm his covenantal relationship with the members of this community of faith, using his gifts for service to God.
Do you, Joshua declare before God and this congregation your intention to participate in the life and mission of this family of God’s people, sharing in the worship of God and the work of this church as it serves this community and the world? If so, would you respond, I do.
Senior Deacon: Will you, Joshua, join with us as we follow the model of Jesus, to bring love and justice to all of God’s creation; to love both the powerless and the powerful; and to seek to bring wholeness to all of humanity? If so, please respond, I will.
Pastor: Beloved, do you make Jesus Christ your example, and take for your rule of life his words: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And … thy neighbor as thyself? If so, please respond, I do.
Senior Deacon: Will you join with us and the United Church of Christ to explore questions of Christian faith combining the Good News of the Gospel and social justice? If so, please respond, I will.
Pastor: Will you join with us in support of this community of faith through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness, so that together we may grow stronger in expressing God’s love for all creation? If so, please respond, I will, with the help of God.
Senior Deacon: Will you join with us in support of this church by accepting the by-laws of this church? If so, please respond, I will.
Senior Deacon: Members of Union Congregational Church: Do you now receive Rev. Joshua Fitterling into the membership of our church? Do you promise before God and in his presence to offer to him your love and encouragement, that we all may grow together in God’s grace and service? If so, please say, I do.
*The Congregation: We then as members of this church, gladly welcome you among us to be part of us in the hopes, the labors, and the joys of the United Church of Christ. We promise to walk with you in Christian love and sympathy, and to promote, as we are able, your growth in the Christian life.
The right hand of fellowship to be extended by the pastor and senior deacon
Pastor: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:19-21) Let us pray…
We praise you, God, for Joshua, who has come to make his church home with us. May he find in our midst love and concern for him and his well-being. Give to him of your Spirit, that he may freely give of himself in your service. Guide him in his ministries among us and in the world where you seek to make your will known and where we all are called to minister. Together may we live in the Spirit, building one another up in love, sharing in the life and worship of the church, serving the world for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen
Greek Scriptures Focus scripture: Colossians 3:12-16 (NRSV)
Contemporary Reading Blessed Are You Who Bear the Light by Jan Richardson
Special Music Awake, Awake to Love and Work Morning Song/ Tom Mitchell
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn We Are One in the Spirit Hymns of Truth & Light #386
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,And we pray that our unity may one day be restored:And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,We will work with each other, we will work side by side,And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride:And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
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 present with joy our offerings of commitment and support for the life of the Church.
Offertory Reflection on “Love Unknown” John Ireland/ D. Lasky
*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)
All good gifts come from you, O God. You have given us life, and new life in Christ. Our offerings are our gifts to God and to one another, as Jesus so taught and lived. Amen
*Hymn In Christ There is No East or West (vs. 1-3) Hymns of Truth & Light #381
In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north;
But one community of love throughout the whole wide world.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord close binding humankind.
Join hands, disciples of the faith, whate’er your race may be;
All children of the living God are surely kin to me.
*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 Let All Things Now Living Ash Grove/ Gilbert Martin
(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
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 – Nick Davis & Pat Summerer
Liturgist – Peggy Karns
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, adapted - Invocation
Hymns of Truth & Light #843 & 844, adapted - Offertory Prayers
Maine Conference Leadership - Silent Prayer, Land Acknowledgement, Call to Worship, Focus Scripture, Hymn Suggestions
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,
License #A-738532. All rights reserved
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Words and Music - ©1993 MorningStar Music Publishers / Birnamwood Publications
Contributors: Charles Wesley, Sid Davis
Blessed Be the Tie That Binds
Words and Music - ©2012 Public Domain
Contributors: Public Domain
They'll Know We Are Christians
Words and Music - ©1966 Lorenz Publishing Corporation, The
Contributors: Peter Scholtes
In Christ There Is No East or West
Words and Music - © Oregon Catholic Press
Contributors: McKEE, John Oxenham
Go Now In Peace
Words and Music - ©1976 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Contributors: Natalie Sleeth
Comments