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

November 19, 2023 – Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Handbell Choir This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10:00 (Recorded for Facebook and YouTube) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82224252518?pwd=aEd4WENqcjFHakFTcVFyQnltNzl1UT09 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 find something that suits you, take it to your pew, and return it after the service.

Silent Prayer We will not stop loving each other. We will not become hard-hearted. We will not stop weeping for each other. We will not stop lighting candles, telling stories, writing poems, singing songs.

We will not stop marching, disobeying, boycotting, resisting. We will not stop telling the stories of the dead. We will not stop fighting for the living. We will not stop loving each other. No matter the sinister untruths to sway us otherwise, we will find our way back to one another. We will not stop loving each other. Amen

* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Handbell Choir Welcome *Call to Worship One: Clothe yourselves with faith and love; be confident in your salvation in Christ Jesus. All: The Lord is with us! Let us worship God. *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (vs. 1&2) R. #404 Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown; Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast; let us all in thee inherit, let us find thy promised rest; take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty. *Invocation (in unison) Shine your light on your Word, O Lord; by your Spirit let us see your wonder. For your justice outruns our sense of fairness; your love overwhelms our deepest affections. Open our eyes, unstop our ears, and show us your most excellent way; for Jesus’ sake. Amen Children’s Message Christian Scripture Matthew 25:14-30 Contemporary Reading “Wild Geese” Mary Oliver Special Music Handbell Choir Message Rev. TJ Mack *Hymn Creator God, Creating Still B. #278 Creator God creating still, by will and word and deed, Create a new humanity to meet the present need. Redeemer God redeeming still, with overflowing grace, Pour out your love on us, through us, make this a holy place. Sustainer God, sustaining still, with strength for every day, Empower us now to do your will. Correct us when we stray. Great Triune God, for this new day we need your presence still. Create, redeem, sustain us now to do your work and will. A Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev. Max Coots 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 – B. #844 All good gifts come from you, O God. As you have given us gifts, so we offer our gifts, that we may be gifts to one another, as Jesus so taught and lived. Offertory *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) B. #845 O God, most merciful and gracious, of whose bounty we have all received: accept, we pray, this offering of your people. Amen *Hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (vs 3&4) R. #404 Come, almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive; suddenly return, and never, never more thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love. Finish, then thy new creation; true and spotless let us be, let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee; changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise. *Benediction *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. Postlude (Please remain seated for the Postlude) If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the sanctuary. 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 Guest Musician – Phoebe Devenish Handbell Choir – Pat Summerer, Jennifer Ashmore, Lucy Ashmore, Mary Angela Davis, Phoebe Devenish, Jeanne Edwards, Nancy Johnston, Cynthia Priem Deacons – Nick Davis & Robin Long Liturgist – Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You Resources, adapted Silent Prayer from enfleshed: liturgy that matters Call to Worship & Invocation from Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion Prayer for Transformation & New Life from ucc.org Worship Ways "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

Creator God, Creating Still

Words - ©1980 Presbyterian Publishing/Westminster John Knox/Geneva Press

Contributors: Jane Parker Huber

Go with Us, Lord

Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey