Feb 12, 20236 min read

2/12/23 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

Racial Justice Sunday - Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

February 12, 2023

This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)

(Posted for later viewing on Facebook and YouTube)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88327467219?pwd=Mis3ME4waGE1RmRBNzFXK3VUaDJXdz09

Meeting ID: 883 2746 7219

Passcode: 131738

Silent Prayer

Holy God, I greet this day with thanks and the determination to choose the good.

Help me to walk with you.

Let my “yes” be yes, and my “no” be no, as I share the light of Christ. Amen

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

Announcements

Prelude Prelude in F Arcangello Corelli

Welcome

Introit Arise Your Light is Come! (v.1) R. #167

Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey;

Show forth the glory of your God which shines on you today.

*Call to Worship (from Psalm 119:1-8)

One: Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.

All: Happy are those who keep God’s decrees, who seek God with their whole heart.

One: God has commanded Their precepts be kept diligently.

All: O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping God’s statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all God’s commandments.

One: I will praise God with an upright heart, when I learn Their righteous ordinances.

All: I will observe God’s statutes; I will not be forsaken.

*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle

*Hymn This is My Song R. #515

This is my song, O God of all the nations,

a song of peace for lands afar and mine.

This is my home, the country where my heart is;

here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine:

but other hearts in other lands are beating

with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,

and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;

but other lands have sunlight too, and clover,

and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.

O hear my song, O God of all the nations,

a song of peace for their land and for mine.

This is my prayer, O Ruler of all nations:

let your reign come; on earth your will be done.

In peace may all earth’s people draw together,

and hearts united learn to live as one,

O hear my prayer, O God of all the nations;

myself I give you; let your will be done.

*Invocation (from Psalm 119:1–8) (spoken in unison)

Loving God, anoint us with your Holy Spirit, as we hear your Word this day. Fill us with your truth that we may walk in Your ways. Amen

Children’s Message

Christian Scripture Matthew 5:21-37

Special Music Litany Franz Schubert

Message Rev. TJ Mack

*Hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing R. #481

Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring,

ring with the harmonies of liberty;

let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies,

let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;

sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod,

felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet

come to the place for which our people sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered;

we have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last

where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,

God who has brought us thus far on the way;

God, who by glorious might, led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met you;

lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget you;

shadowed beneath your hand, may we forever stand,

true to our God, true to our native land.

Call to Confession (Deut. 30:19–20)

Our God is a loving God. Therefore, let us confess our sins that we may choose life and live.

Prayer of Confession (Deut. 30:15–20)

Holy God, we confess that we bow down before other gods; we have turned ourhearts away from you. Our worship of work and devotion to consumerism disorders our love of you and each other. Forgive us, God, and mend what is broken, that we may be one with you. Amen

Declaration of Forgiveness (Psalm 119:7–8)

Siblings in Christ, our sins are forgiven. Sing praises with an upright heart as we learn the ways of God.

Prayers of the People – Sharing Joys & Concerns

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week: the people of Syria and Turkey; Linda K. recovering from foot surgery; Sandy Phippen; David Mack; a church family seeking solutions for significant mental health issues - prayers for effective intervention and treatment and healing for all; Judi Crowley; Debbie Maddocks and her Aunt Linda Reed; John Wood; Andrew and Tamara; Austin’s cousin Danny; Kathy’s sister Patti Wotton; Roberta Scott; Betty Johnston; Betty’s step-daughter Mollie; Margaret B; Kenny & Joy & David; Liz & Jim; Gary E; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Renata and the women she cares for; Eleanor’s step-daughter Holly; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew and his family; Cynthia; Nancy; all individuals and families experiencing addictions; all caregivers; all affected by memory loss; those living with depression and other mental health issues; for all victims and loved ones of violence, especially when it is by the hands of those whose vow is to serve and protect; those impacted by laws limiting reproductive justice; those experiencing food and housing insecurity; those ravaged by the perils of war; all in your heart…

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 – In peace, let us bring our offerings to God.

Offertory Morning Prayer Mark Roberts

*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 God, we offer you these gifts with thankful and grateful hearts. Amen

*Hymn We Shall Overcome R. 476

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,

we shall overcome someday;