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

Palm Sunday - Sixth Sunday in Lent April 2, 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, you reveal the truth about your people and the ways of our world in the suffering of Jesus and his steadfast love. Teach us obedience, so that self-emptying may be our pathway, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen * Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Behold the King David Paxton Welcome *Hymn Hosanna, Loud Hosanna B. #213 “Hosanna, loud hosanna,” the little children sang; through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang; To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best. From Olivet they followed amid a cheering crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The one whom angels worship rode on in lowly state, and glad to see the children, slowed down the donkey’s gait. "Hosanna in the highest!" That ancient song is ours. We hail our great Redeemer and sing with all our powers: “Hosanna, Christ, we praise you with heart and life and voice. Hosanna! In your presence forever we’ll rejoice!” Call to Worship (from Psalm 118) One: O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever! All: Hosanna! One: This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. All: Hosanna! One: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. All: Hosanna! One: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. All: Hosanna! One: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. All: Hosanna! Children’s Message Mary Angela & Nick Davis Special Music - Choir Anthem Filled with Excitement B. #214 *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle Palm Parade (for all ages) Children will leave for Sunday School in the FH after the parade *Invocation (spoken in unison) Let your Word, O God, break open our hearts this day through the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may enter into the coming Holy Week with the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Amen *Hymn Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates R. #127 Lift up your heads, O mighty gates; behold, the King of glory waits! the Prince of Peace is drawing near; the Savior of the world is here. Fling wide the portals of your heart; make it a temple, set apart from earthly use for heaven's employ, adorned with prayer and love and joy. Redeemer, come! I open wide my heart to you; here, Lord abide! Let me your inner presence feel; your grace and love in me reveal. So come my Sovereign; enter in! Let new and nobler life begin; our Holy Spirit guide us on, Until the glorious crown be won. Christian Scripture Matthew 26:17-75 Message *Hymn A Cheering, Chanting Dizzy Crowd R. #180 A cheering, chanting, dizzy crowd had stripped the green trees bare, and hailing Christ as king aloud, waved branches in the air. They laid their garments in the road and spread his path with palms and vows of lasting love bestowed with royal hymns and psalms. When day dimmed down to deep’ning dark the crowd began to fade ‘til only trampled leaves and bark were left from the parade. Lest we be fooled because our hearts have surged with passing praise, remind us, God, as this week starts where Christ has fixed his gaze. Instead of palms a winding sheet will have to be unrolled, a carpet much more fit to greet the king a cross will hold.

Prayer for Transformation and New Life(spoken in unison) Holy God, sure of your faithfulness even in your dying, comforted by your compassion toward your people in every age, we ask your mercy for our imperfect gratitude. We have looked to you for paltry favors, when you have given everything. We have withheld from your people, our neighbors, and from your creation, our Earth, the care and tending they deserve. We have rejected the cornerstone you sent to build a people of righteousness even here, today. Forgive our failings. Heal what we have broken, nurture what we have neglected, and lead us to your vision, so that we may know the peace of wholeness in you. Amen Words of Grace Your God has come to you, humble, as a servant, to free you from the weight of sin and death. Jesus’ obedient suffering has released you. Your sins are forgiven, in the name of the one who is exalted beyond what we can comprehend: Christ, our Savior and Lord. 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 – Let our hosannas to the one who brings liberation take form in our tithes and offering. Offertory Wondrous Love American folk tune/ Sarah Douglas *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) God of all good gifts, we thank you for showing us how to care for each other. May these gifts be put to your good use. Give us grateful hearts, O God, in the name of the one who came to draw all people to you, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen *Communion Hymn As We Gather at Your Table B. #332 As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word, help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred. Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own; teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love's victory known. Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life; send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where there is strife. Give us, Christ, your great compassion to forgive as you forgave; may we still behold your image in the world you died to save. Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share that feast where triumphant Love will welcome those who had been last and least. There no more will envy blind us nor will pride our peace destroy, as we join with saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy. Invitation to Holy Communion Jesus gathered his followers together round a table and they ate the Passover meal as a family, not related by blood but by faith. Each person there brought to the gathering talents and growing edges. They had hopes and dreams, disappointments, and fears. Sometimes they all got along, and sometimes they didn’t, but they were bound together by their love and belief in Jesus. Look around you…today we are the family Jesus has gathered together for this meal. We are the people who bring all that we are, and all that we hope to be, to the table. We are siblings by faith, the Body of Christ, children of God. We have all received Jesus’ invitation to share the bread and cup so Come! Eat! and know that we have found a common home and family in Jesus Christ. Communion Prayer All: Jesus came as teacher, full of stories and lessons meant to change our ways. Jesus came as prophet, to testify to the truth of God’s love and presence in our lives. Jesus came as a revolutionary, eager to challenge the thinking and practices of the leaders. Jesus came as a human: a man who ate and drank with the outcasts, who loved and forgave his enemies, and who suffered and died an excruciating death on a cross. Leader: But Jesus left us gifts to help us through the ordinary and the extraordinary. His spirit lives within us, guiding, comforting, challenging, forgiving, and loving us each moment of every day. All: His life example inspires us to live the life he lived even when it seems difficult and sometimes impossible. And he gave us this meal we are about to eat: a reminder of his love, his faithfulness, his hope for our salvation, and his wish that we serve each other the bread and cup as a covenant to the community that binds us to him. Breaking Bread and Pouring Wine All: Through the broken bread we participate in the body of Christ. 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 Go, My Children, with My Blessing (v.1) B. #82 Go my children with my blessing, never alone; Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own; In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever, Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own. Postlude Ride On, Ride On in Majesty Winchester New/ arr. Dan Edwards (Please remain seated for the Postlude) Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Gary & Jeanne’s grandson William recovering from a skiing accident; Gary Edwards recovering from surgery; Amy Nickerson; Samantha and her family; Mike and Cindy Merritt; Kate Winters; Nick’s sister Susan; Kenny Stratton; Joy & David; Lori; Kenny Stratton III at EMMC recovering from double-pneumonia; Denny Doucette; Vicky’s Aunt Eleanor; Graham Espling; Debbie R.; Myrna’s cousin Donna; Debbie E; Sandy Phippen; Renata’s sister-in-law Joanne; Judith Crowley; Cheryl and her husband Jeff; Steve Crabtree; John Wood; Andrew and Tamara; Austin’s cousin Danny; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Debbie Maddocks and her Aunt Linda Reed; Kathy’s sister Patti; Roberta Scott; Liz & Jim; healing prayers for a family seeking solutions to significant mental health issues; Margaret B; Coulter Huyler; Betty Johnston; Betty’s step-daughter Mollie; Nancy; Cynthia; Kenny Stiles; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew and his family; Renata and the women she cares for; Eleanor’s step-daughter Holly; all those living with depression and other mental health issues; all individuals and families experiencing addictions; all caregivers; all affected by memory loss; for all victims and loved ones of violence; those impacted by laws limiting reproductive justice; those directly impacted and and all those affected by school & workplace shootings; those experiencing food and housing insecurity; the people of Syria and Turkey; the people of Ukraine and Russia; President Jimmy Carter and his family; all in your heart… 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 Many thanks to those who make this service possible – in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Music Minister – Debbie Riley Deacons – Doug Kimmel & Pat Summerer & David Wildes Liturgist – Gina Tansey Graphics Minister – Cynthia Wood Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer (Mike Summerer is happy to teach others this important task. Please inquire…) Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You Resources UCC Worship Ways 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.”

Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates Words and Music - ©pd Public Domain Contributors: Public Domain Hosanna, Loud Hosanna Words and Music - ©pd Public Domain Contributors: Public Domain A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd Words - ©1985 Oxford University Press Contributors: Thomas H. Troeger As We Gather at Your Table Words and Music - ©1989, 1992 Hope Publishing Company Contributors: Carl P Daw, Jack Schrader Go, My Children, with My Blessing Words - ©1983 Concordia Publishing House Contributors: Jaroslav J Vajda, Welsh traditional; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams