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
February 18, 2024 - First Sunday of Lent
This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 10:00 (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 find something that suits you, take it to your pew, and return it after the service.
Silent Prayer
What do you ask of us, Oh God? We long for systems rooted in liberation and justice. We yearn for ways-of-being rooted in understanding. How do we set each other free, oh God? In our gathering, may we discern an invitation from you. Guide us towards tender wisdom. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Aria J.S. Bach
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 love the God Who is With Us because They are compassionate when we cry for mercy.
All: So we will call on Them as long as we live.
One: When cords of violence entangle us, when the anguish of death overwhelms us, when distress and sorrow overcome us—
All: We will call upon the Sustaining One for help.
One: Surely God will be present to our aching.
All: Surely God will lead us towards paths of justice and care.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee R. #7 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away; giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays, stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain, call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Source of grace and fount of blessing, all who live in love are thine; teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy chorus which the morning stars began; God’s own love is reigning o’er us, joining people hand in hand. Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife, joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.
*Invocation
One: Come, O Creator, O Immensity of love, O Eternity of mercy.
All: Come, and be with us and in us and beside us and over us. Be as hands upon us, and fashion us for shining.
One: Be as warmth within us, and fire us for caring. Be as strength beside us, and shape our lives for healing.
All: Abide in our prayers, the spoken and the unspoken; and make your Word come true in our flesh; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen
Children’s Message
Hebrew Scripture 1 Kings 17:17-24
Christian Scripture Acts 9:36-42 and Luke 7:11-17
Special Music Poeme Greig/ Mark William
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory B. #436
God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your power;
crown your ancient 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.
From the evils that surround us and assail the Savior’s ways,
From the fears that long have bound us—free our hearts for faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days, for the living of these days.
Cure your children’s warring madness; bend our pride to your control.
Shame our reckless, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, make our broken spirits whole, make our broken spirits whole.
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 invites us to give in gratitude and joy so that we can bless others
as we have been blessed.
Offertory All Nature Sings English melody/ A Fedak
*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)
O God, you call us to be a blessing for all people on this earth. Give us the wisdom and the courage to be a blessing to this community and to this world. Through these offerings may we be channels of your compassion and healing. Amen
*Hymn In the Bulb There Is a Flower R. #493
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity,
in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
*Benediction
*Sung Blessing Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (vs. 1) R. #333
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace:
oh, refresh us, oh, refresh us, traveling through this wilderness.
Postlude Epilogue on “Praise to the Lord” Arr. Lani Smith
(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
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 – Pat Summerer & David Wildes
Liturgist – Gina Tansey
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources, adapted
enfleshed: liturgy that matters - Silent Prayer, Call to Worship
The New Century Hymnal - Invocation, Offering Prayers
Feasting on the Word, Worship Companion - Prayers of the People
"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
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Words and Music - ©2020 Stephen DeCesare / Exultet Music
Contributors: Henry Van Dyke, Ludwig Beethoven, Stephen DeCesare
God of Grace and God of Glory
Music - ©2013 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Contributors: Dan Forrest
In the Bulb There Is a Flower
Words and Music © 1986 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Natalie Sleeth
Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
Words and Music - © Public Domain
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