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

June 11, 2023 – Pride Sunday This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 9:00 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 O God, we are all one human family. In your love you created us. Through your grace you reach out to us. You are great enough to hold us all in your arms at the same time. Help us to open our hearts to the world that you love. Teach us to weave our lives together as we yield to Spirit whispers. Amen

* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Preludio. Sonata No.8 Corelli Violin Sonata Cynthia Priem, violin Welcome *Introit Here in This Place (vs.1) R. #250 Here in this place, the new light is streaming, now the dark night has vanished away. See in this space, our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day. Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us in, our spirits flame. Call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name. Call to Worship One: This month we celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride as we work toward greater inclusion in every church, workplace, and family. All: We gather today to be refreshed, renewed, and strengthened in our faith and in our resolve for the work we must do together. One: Listen, there is a voice calling us. All: It is the voice of our Divine Beloved. One: The one who loves us invites us to mingle our voices together. Come and worship. Come and praise. Come and pray. All: We commit ourselves to this sacred time of celebration. *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn Help Us Accept Each Other B. #388 Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us; teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace. Be present, God, among us, and bring us to believe we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live. Teach us, O God, your lessons, as in our daily life we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith. Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some, to love them as we find them, or as they may become. Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved in living situations to do the truth in love; To practice your acceptance, until we know by heart the table of forgiveness and laughter's healing art. God, for today's encounters with all who are in need, who hunger for acceptance, for righteous and for bread, Bring us new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on: renew us with your Spirit; God! Free us, make us one! *Invocation One: Reveal Yourself. Reveal Yourself now. Rise up in this assembly. Show us a manifestation of who You are. I call forth a knitting together by Your Spirit, of all created beings within the sound of my voice. All: Holy One, reveal Yourself. Reveal Yourself now. Awaken within each one of us. Reach out from within each one of us, so that your intangible essence will be felt and known. One: Reveal Yourself. Reveal Yourself now. You have promised to make yourself known. I call forth the revelation of Your presence, of You as Presence within, between, and around us. We step into Your Sacred Circle. We invite You into our Sacred Circle. As we reveal ourselves to You, we also reach out to You and call upon You. Reveal Yourself now. Children’s Message Christian Scriptures Matthew 9:9-13 Special Music Sing a New World Into Being Nettleton/ Mary Louise Bringle soloist Pat Summerer Message Rev. TJ Mack *Hymn How Can Anyone - Libby Roderick How could anyone ever tell you Libby Roderick - YouTube How could anyone ever tell you you were anything less than beautiful? How could anyone ever tell you you were less than whole? How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle? How deeply you’re connected to my soul. The Lord’s Prayer For Transgender Awareness Our Mother and Father, our beloved Parent, in whom we move and breathe and have our being, the hallowing of your name shines forth in the diversity of your children. May your peace and love, justice and equality, inclusion and belonging reign here on earth as in heaven. Grant that our transgender and LGBTQ+ loved ones might have their daily needs met—that they might find gainful employment without discrimination; that they might have access to medical care without fear; that they might have their rights and lives protected, and that they might find a loving community to belong to and call their own. Forgive us for the ways that we have fallen short and failed your transgender and LGBTQ+ children. Forgive us of the times we turned away, or did not care; for the times we laughed or judged their unique expression of your image; for the times we have misspoken, asked too much, or failed to hear, as we forgive those who might have failed us. Lead us away from the temptation to be complacent in the face of injustice. But instead give us courage to stand up and stand with your beloved children. For your love and justice is to be made manifest now and forever. Amen (This prayer is adapted from one originally written for Central Congregational UCC, Atlanta, GA, Pride Sunday Worship Services on October 9, 2016) 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 – In our giving, no matter how much or what kind, we connect our spirits and continue the work of Kin-dom Creation. Offertory Sarabanda Sonata No. 8 Corelli Cynthia Priem, violin *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) We yield to Spirit, offering what we have to the greater good. In this way, each day, we begin again in love. Amen *Hymn We Shall Overcome B. #570 We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall overcome someday. We'll go hand in hand, we'll go hand in hand, we'll go hand in hand someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We'll go hand in hand someday. We are not afraid, we are not afraid, we are not afraid today; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We are not afraid today. Our God will see us through, our God will see us through, our God will see us through someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, our God will see us through someday. The truth shall make us free, the truth shall make us free, the truth shall make us free someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, the truth shall make us free someday. We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, we shall live in peace someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall live in peace someday. *Sung Blessing Sent Forth by God's Blessing (v. 2) tune: Ash Grove The seed of the teaching, receptive hearts reaching, Shall blossom in action for God and for all. God's grace did invite us, and love shall unite us To work for God's realm and to answer the call. *Benediction The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. (2Cor 13:13) Postlude Giga Sonata No 8. Corelli Cynthia Priem, violin (Please remain seated for the Postlude) 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 Guest Vocalist – Pat Summerer Guest Instrumentalists – Cynthia Priem, Lucy Ashmore Deacons – Robin Long & Pat Summerer Liturgist – Alison Boden Graphics Minister – Cynthia Wood Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer (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 Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion and UCC Worship Ways "Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.

Gather Us In Words and Music - ©1982 GIA Publications, Inc. Contributors: Marty Haugen Help Us Accept Each Other Words - ©1975 Hope Publishing Company Contributors: Fred Kaan We Shall Overcome Words and Music - © OCP Contributors: Unknown Traditional, Traditional Sent Forth by God's Blessing Words - ©1964 World Library Publications Contributors: Omer Westendorf, World Library Publication

my queer agenda

by m jade kaiser

Every time the word “gay” rolls off my tongue…

when the words “queer” or “intersex” or “trans” or “nonbinary”

or “bisexual” bless my lips…

no matter what I’m talking about, I am also, always, sending a love letter,

casting a lifeline, praying a prayer, and yes, obviously, waving a flag.

So many generations of silence and slurs, of words of violence and of quiet, lonely

does-anyone-else-in-the-world-feel-this-way?

My heart could burst every time I speak the imperfect but earnest

attempts at finding ways to communicate lineages of “us.”

Every word, a reaching toward each other. A “you’re not alone” or

a “we got each other” and a “isn’t it divine, being this way?”

It’s never too early to start teaching this love language and planting these seeds of assurance. Just thinking about it makes me want to sing the whole queer lexicon

to the tune of ABCs to every new born baby. “Asexual, Bisexual, Cubs, and Dykes…”

Train a child up in the way they should go, says the scriptures.

And I want them all to go queerly, go freely, go in belonging.

I want us to raise a whole generation of kids who never learn to hate themselves.

Or to treat others like monsters. Or that there’s anyone even god is against.

This is indeed part of my queer agenda:

To expose children as early as possible to all the possibilities of their beautiful becoming.

To leave no doubt that whichever way their love blossoms and their gender blooms and their body unfurls, they will be protected, cherished, celebrated, loved.

In the world as it is, to even begin to balance out all the messages otherwise,

these things cannot be said enough.

So we say them in every form they take across languages and cultures.

We say them as early and as often as we can.

We say them, especially, when they’re not welcome.

We say them with all the love we’ve got and we will never, never stop.

What’s included in this year’s festivities? There’s something for everyone.

● Live music performed by The Wayside at noon

● Speed-dating-style networking in the activity pavilion at noon

● Live music performed by Midnight Rose at 1:15 pm

● Story Time with Chartreuse on the lawn at 1:15 pm

● Yoga on the lawn at 2:00 pm

● Headlining drag show performances by Curbside Queens at 2:30 pm

● Food trucks and booths by Shore Road

● Fan decorating arts and crafts in the activity pavilion

● Silent auction

● Artist and maker vendors

● Merch (t-shirts, fans, ribbons, temporary tattoos and much more!)

● Sponsor and organizational vendors

● Hosted by Rachel Yves and GiGi Gabor

We recommend bringing cash, sun protection, water, family and friends. In the event of rain, the show will go on! Check the local forecast and bring rain gear if needed.