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
March 17, 2024 - Fifth 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
O God, you pour out your grace with abundance and with boundless generosity. Makes us ever more faithful, and ever more grateful, as we strive to give to others as you have given to us. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Art Thou Weary Stephanos/ Emma Lou Diemer
Welcome
*Introit Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (vs. 1) R. #26
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the God of creation!
Sing, my soul, praising the source of thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear; now to God’s temple draw near;
Join me in glad adoration!
*Call to Worship
One: In times of security and times of uncertainty,
All: O Lord, you hear our prayers.
One: Confident in your faithfulness
All: We will ever praise your name.
One: Through the abundance of your steadfast love you have gathered us.
All: In the holiness of your presence, we bow down to worship you.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn O Love, How Vast, How Flowing Free (vs 1,2,3) B. #209
O Love, how vast, how flowing free, O Love how filled with ecstasy,
That God a human form should take, and mortal be for mortals’ sake.
Not as an angel visiting, nor form celestial orbiting,
But born in flesh God chose to be, robed in our own humanity.
For us baptized, and fasting long, for us was tempted by the wrong,
For us the pangs of hunger knew; for us the Tempter overthrew.
*Invocation (in unison)
Speak to us, O Lord, your liberating word and fill us with your Holy Spirit. Amen
Children’s Message Godly Play - Faces of Easter
Hebrew Scripture Isaiah 51:1-8
Christian Scripture Luke 13:18-21
Special Music Do Not Fear, For You Are Mine David Lantz III
Message
*Hymn We Plant a Grain of Mustard Seed (vs. 1,2,3,6) B. #540
We plant a grain of mustard seed, and in our faith we find
the proof of God is love, indeed, which blossoms from its kind;
the proof of God is love, indeed, which blossoms from its kind.
Our actions, more than words, define how love’s example feeds
a greater love, for love divine bursts forth from smallest seeds;
a greater love, for love divine bursts forth from smallest seeds.
When stooped to lend a helping hand, we find a touch that heals,
for love invested will expand to bear the fruit love yields;
for love invested will expand to bear the fruit love yields.
Make love our purpose, love our aim, for love endures all things,
and choosing love our lives will claim the peace forgiveness brings;
and choosing love our lives will claim the peace forgiveness brings.
So may our new beginnings prove, like living bread and wine,
That through our common human love we taste what is divine;
That through our common human love we taste what is divine.
Our lives will be fulfilled and blessed if through the seeds we’ve sown
and by the love that we profess the love of Christ is known;
and by the love that we profess the love of Christ is known.
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 Cross of Jesus arr. Edward Broughton
*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 Great Is Your Faithfulness B. #423 Great is your faithfulness, O God, Creator
with you no shadow of turning we see.
You do not change, your compassions they fail not;
all of your goodness forever will be.
Refrain:
Great is your faithfulness! Great is your faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed your hand has provided,
Great is your faithfulness, God, unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
to your great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain:
Pardon for sin and a peace so enduring,
your own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine with ten thousand beside.
Refrain:
*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.
*Benediction
Postlude Guide My feet African-American Spiritual/ Nigel Williams
(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 – Everett & Vicky Espling
Liturgist – Myrna Coffin
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources, adapted
Feasting on the Word - Lenten Companion - Silent Prayer, Call to Worship, Invocation
Feasting on the Word, Worship Companion - Invocation and Prayers of the People
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,
License #A-738532. All rights reserved.
Praise To the Lord
Words and Music - ©1863 Willow Publishing Pty Ltd
Contributors: Joachim Neander, Catherine Winkworth
O Love, How Vast, How Flowing Free
Words - ©1994 Pilgrim Press, The
Contributors: New Century Hymnal
We Plant a Grain of Mustard Seed
Words - ©1998 GIA Publications, Inc.
Contributors: Mary Bryan Matney
Great Is Your Faithfulness
Words - ©1923, 1951 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Thomas O Chisholm
Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
Words and Music - Public Domain
Easter Flowers
If you would like to help beautify the church with Easter flowers please fill out the form below and return it to the office by March 24th. (Easter is March 31st.)
A donation of $15.00 is suggested.
Cash or checks, please. Checks payable to Union Congregational Church of Hancock.
Please indicate whether your donation is in honor of or in loving memory of…
Your Name:__________________________________ Phone:____________________
How do you wish to have the bulletin read?
In honor of __________________________________________________________________
In loving memory of _________________________________________________________
Amount paid ___________
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