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 - Service of Holy Communion
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
February 5, 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)
Meeting ID: 883 2746 7219
Passcode: 131738
Silent Prayer
God, open my eyes to see the world through your compassion.
Open my mind to understand the world through your wisdom.
Open my heart to receive the world through your love. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Aria “O Lord, whose mercies” G.F. Handel
Welcome
Introit Weave R. #375
Weave, weave, weave us together, Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together, together in love.
*Call to Worship
One: Come from the east and the west, the north and the south, and worship the God of our fathers and mothers, the God of Jesus Christ.
All: The grace of Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn Called as Partners in Christ’s Service B. 495
Called as partners in Christ’s service, called to ministries of grace,
We respond with deep commitment, fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing, side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring to fulfill God’s chosen end.
Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring, Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering, reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer, all God’s people, young and old,
Blending human skills together gracious gifts from God unfold.
Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission, in a small or global sense,
Help us bear each other’s burdens, breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision, words of challenge, said with care,
Bring new power and strength for action, make us colleagues, free and fair.
So God grant us for tomorrow ways to order human life
That surround each person’s sorrow with a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living, our compassion to increase,
Messengers of faith, thus giving hope and confidence and peace.
*Invocation (spoken in unison)
Gracious God, gentle in your power and strong in your tenderness, you have brought us forth from the womb of your being and breathed into us the breath of life. We know that we do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from you. Feed our deep hungers with the living bread that you give us in Jesus Christ. 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. Nancy Johnston, Cynthia Priem, Jenifer Remick, and Deborah Maddocks 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, Nancy, Cynthia, Jenifer, and Deborah, 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)
New Testament Reading (Christian Scriptures) Matthew 5:13 or Matthew 5:13-16
Poem Where the Light Begins Jan Richardson
Special Music Give me Jesus African-American Spiritual D. Kidwell
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn Many Are the Lightbeams R. #389
Many are the light-beams from the one light. Our one light is Jesus.
Many are the light-beams from the one light; we are one in Christ.
Many are the branches of the one tree. Our one tree is Jesus.
Many are the branches of the one tree; we are one in Christ.
Many are the gifts given, love is all one. Love’s the gift of Jesus.
Many are the gifts given, love is all one; we are one in Christ.
Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one, servant spirit of Jesus.
Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one; we are one in Christ.
Many are the members, the body is one, members all of Jesus.
Many are the members, the body is one; we are one in Christ.
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 – All good gifts around us come from you, O God. May we give freely as we have been freely given.
Offertory Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Nettleton/ Robert Lau
*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)
Gracious God, 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. Amen
*Communion Hymn Let Us Break Bread Together B. #330
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,
My God, 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,
My God, 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,
My God, have mercy on me.
Service of Holy Communion
Invitation
Leader: Jesus said: I am the bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger; you who believe in me shall never thirst.
All: In company with all who hunger for spiritual food, we come to this table to know the risen Christ in the sharing of this life-giving bread.
Communion Prayer
Leader: This is the joyful feast of the people of God. Come to this table as you are. It is spread for us that we might again know that God comes to us, shares our common lot, dwells among us, and invites us to join the people of a new age, a new day, a new heaven, a new earth.
All: We come to this table, not because we must, but because we may; not because of some special goodness we may possess or privilege we may have, but because of our need of assurance; not to express an opinion, but to seek a presence and to pray for a spirit.
Breaking Bread and Pouring Wine
Leader: Through the broken bread we participate in the body of Christ.
All: Through the cup of blessing we participate in the new life Christ gives.
Sharing the Elements
Leader: The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready.
Leader: The bread of life.
All: Amen
Leader: The cup of joy.
All: Amen
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: Bountiful God, we give you thanks that you have refreshed us at your table. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen
*Blessing
*Sung Benediction Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (v. 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 The Thankful Heart Rejoices Lani Smith
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
Many thanks to those who helped make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Robin Long & David Wildes
Liturgist – Doug Kimmel
Graphics Minister – Cynthia Wood
Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer
(Mike Summerer is happy to teach others this simple task. Please inquire…)
Office Secretary – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Support our Church Financially
Please visit Hancock (Maine) UCC on Facebook or our new webpage www.hancockucc.com
(please note that www.hancockucc.org still exists as an archival site)
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
Resources
The New Century Hymnal Service of the Word II, UCC Book of Worship,
and Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.”
Weaving Round - Suzanne Toolan
Words and Music - ©1995 OCP
Called as Partners in Christ's Service - Jane Parker Huber
Words - ©1981 Presbyterian Publishing/Westminster John Knox/Geneva Press
Many Are the Lightbeams
Words and Music - ©1974 GIA Publications, Inc.
Contributors: Olle Widestrand, David Lewis
Let Us Break Bread Together
Words and Music - © OCP
Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
Words and Music - © Public Domain
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