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 5, 2023 – Communion Sunday - New Member Sunday 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 God of the Oppressed—the scroll of woe is long. We weep because we feel helpless towards evil. We wail because all children are worthy of being tucked safely at night. Organize with us. Guard us from resignation. Awaken us not towards fence-sitting so-called-peace, but towards deeply-rooted and decisive liberation. When we are lukewarm, spit us out. Flow your cool quenching water to all who thirst. Amen * Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Welcome *Introit God of Grace and God of Glory (vs. 1) R. #477 God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your power; now fulfill your Church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour. *Call to Worship One: Give thanks for the enduring love of the Holy One! Many: We’ve been gathered from all directions and all spaces to declare God’s greatness. One: Give thanks for the enduring love of the Holy One! Many: We have been redeemed by the abiding love of our Creator. One: Give thanks for the enduring love of the Holy One! All: Let the redeemed proclaim God’s wondrous works. Great is the Holy One and greatly to be praised! *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn This Little Light of Mine B. #525 This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine… All through the night, I'm gonna let it shine… *Invocation (in unison) God our Teacher, please instruct us in the ways of humility and love. Help us to be in community with one another rather than in competition with each other. Give us your heart for serving our neighbor. Assure us of your abiding presence and release us from the hierarchies of this world. May your kin-dom come with power and gentleness in your name. Amen Children’s Message An Order for the Reception of New Members into the Church Leader One: Friends in Christ, we are all received into the church through the beckoning of the Holy Spirit. Gina Tansey and Jamie Tansey have found nurture and support in the midst of this family of Christ. They have been led by the Holy Spirit to affirm their covenantal relationship with the members of this community of faith, using their gifts for service to God’s children. Leader Two: Will you, Gina and Jamie 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? New Members: I will. Leader One: Beloveds, do you confess your faith in Jesus Christ, and make him 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? New Members: I do Leader Two: 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? New Members: I will. Leader One: 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? New Members: I will, with the help of God. Leader Two: Will you join with us in support of this church by accepting the by-laws of this church? New Members: I will. *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 far as is in us lies, your growth in the Christian life. The right hand of fellowship to be extended by the minister and senior deacon Leader One: 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) Hebrew Scripture s Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 Christian Scripture Matthew 23:1-12 Special Music Message Rev. TJ Mack *Hymn Be Thou My Vision (verses 1,2,3) R. #445 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me save that thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord; thou my Redeemer, my love thou hast won; thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise, thou mine inheritance, now and always; thou and thou only, first in my heart, Ruler of heaven, my treasure thou art. 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 around us come from you, O God. You have given us life, and new life in Christ. 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. Remember in your love those who have brought it and those for whom it is given; and so follow it with your blessing that it may promote peace and goodwill among all people and advance the realm of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen *Communion Hymn Let Us Break Bread Together R. #311 Let us break bread together on our knees; Let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. Let us drink wine together on our knees; Let us drink wine together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. Let us praise God together on our knees; Let us praise God together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. 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: O God, 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 bread of life. Amen The cup of blessing. 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. Amen *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. The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will conduct its 2023 Annual Church Meeting on November 12th, 2023, immediately following the 10:00 AM Worship Service for the following purposes: 1. To Elect Church Officers, Board and Committee members; 2. To receive Board and Committee Reports; 3. To vote on the Proposed 2024 Church Budget 4. And to hear any other business to come before the congregation. Jeanne Edwards, Clerk October 22, 2023 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 – Nick Davis, Doug Kimmel, Robin Long Liturgist – Audio-Video Support – Patrice Alexander Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You Resources enfleshed, liturgy that matters, and Worship Ways @ ucc.org "Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.

God of Grace and God of Glory

Words and Music - ©PD Public Domain

Contributors: Public Domain

This Little Light Of Mine

Words and Music - ©2022 Stephen DeCesare / Exultet Music

Contributors: Traditional, Traditional, Stephen DeCesare

Be Thou My Vision - Craig Courtney

Contributors: Public Domain

Let Us Break Bread Together

Words and Music; Text: 10 10 with refrain; Spiritual. Music: LET US BREAK BREAD.

Contributors: LET US BREAK BREAD

Go with Us, Lord

Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey