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 2, 2024 - Communion Sunday
This service will be in-person and on Zoom at 9:30 a.m. (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
God, our hope and our comfort, turn our hearts and our feet in the direction of love. Though paths unfold before us promising success or security, give us the courage to ask if they are also the paths of love. In Christ, you have shown us what it is to choose each other, to commit to justice, and to live compassion. Make it so among us. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Ave Verum W. a. Mozart/ Smith
Welcome
*Introit We Gather Together (vs. 1) R. #23 We gather together to ask for your blessing,
you chasten and hasten your will to make known;
the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
We praise to your name, O God; forget not your own.
*Call to Worship
One: Come, all who are weary with grief, heavy with loss, or exhausted by the strains of life.
All: Gather in the embrace of God and be held.
One: Come, all who are hungry for an end to violence and injustice.
All: Find sustenance in the presence of the One who liberates the oppressed.
One: Come, all who are searching for belonging or purpose.
All: God draws us in and weaves our lives together. Whatever we bring, wherever we come from, whatever we hope for, this Sacred space can hold it all. Beloveds, let us worship God.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn Take My life, God, Let it Be B. #448
Take my life, God, let it be consecrated faithfully. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my spirit, let it move at the impulse of your love.
Take my intellect and use all its powers as you choose.
Take my will; your will be done! Make your will and mine be one.
Take my heart, and by your grace make of it your dwelling place.
Take my love and help it grow; let my loving overflow. .Take me now, and help me be part of Christ’s community.
*Invocation (in unison)
Come, O Creator, O Immensity of Love, O Eternity of Mercy. Come, and be with us and in us and beside us and over us. 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 The Book of Ruth
Special Music For Where Love Is, There Is God Douglas Wagner
Message I Wonder… Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn God of Justice, God of Mercy (vs. 1.2.4) R. #504
God of justice, God of mercy, make us merciful and just!
Help us see all your creation as from you a sacred trust.
And when people cry in anguish for their own or others’ pain,
show us ways to make a difference. O dear God, make us humane!
How can we, as people chosen by your grace for service here—
how endure another’s hardship without offering hope or cheer?
God, forgive us, we beseech you, when our love fails to empower.
Teach us how to be more faithful in this present crucial hour.
Grant all people work with meaning, strength to care for those they love.
Food for table, truth for telling, challenges to rise above.
But remind us God of justice, this is now our work, our call!
Changing life’s oppressive systems into ones empow’ring all.
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 – Part of being in sacred community is sharing both our delights and our burdens with one another. In this spirit, may we bring what we have to offer to God and one another.
Offertory The Lord’s My Shepherd J. Bain/ Sedio
Brother James’ Air
*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)
Loving God, bless these our gifts. Through the gathering and sharing of our resources, teach us how to rely on each other, how to care for one another, and how to fight for one another’s protection and well-being. 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.
Holy Communion Liturgy
(We serve gluten and gluten-free bread. The fruit of the vine in our cup is grape juice.)
Invitation to the Table
One: Beloveds of God. Come. Come to this table of mercy and grace. Open to all without reservation.
All: We come to remember and to seek, as God calls us back time after time. With loving whispers, to Come, just as we are.
One: This is the table Christ prepares for us. God opens Her hands and gives us this food. Food that satisfies the desires of every living thing.
All: Let love and compassion teach us and show us the way, as we partake of this holy meal. With limitless mercy and grace, all are welcome at this table.
Words of Remembering
All: On the night Jesus was to be betrayed, he showed unbounding mercy and love to those gathered with him for a final meal. Jesus knew those around him would betray and deny him, abandon him and turn away. And yet-Jesus showed them compassion as he broke bread with them. And yet-Jesus showed mercy as he poured the wine. And yet-Jesus gave grace, with his new commandment, “Love and care for one another as God loves and cares for you.”
One: We remember that on the night of his desertion and betrayal, Jesus gathered his disciples for a final meal. He broke the bread, giving thanks to God, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you and for all people. Do this in remembrance of me.” After the supper had ended, Jesus took the cup and after giving thanks gave it to those gathered with him, saying, “This is the cup of the new covenant poured out for you and for all people. Do this, in remembrance of me.”
Blessing the Bread and the Cup
One: Gracious and merciful God, abounding in steadfast love. Bring forth your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and juice. Let them be for us the presence of Christ so that we may nurture love and compassion in each other and the world. Bless us, so that we may be one in Christ and continue to grow in love and grace and nurture that in this needy world.
All: With this bread and with this cup we are united. We are made whole through God’s goodness and care. Compassion and mercy are ours to share.
One: Come, for all things are ready.
Sharing the Bread and the Cup
The bread of life, given for you. Amen The cup of blessing, given for you. Amen
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: Merciful and Holy God, our eyes look to you. Our hearts hunger in need and longing and you give us your food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. We praise you for upholding us when we are falling and raising us up when we are bowed down. We seek always to turn our hearts and minds to the work of the Spirit, which is to be compassionate, caring, merciful and kind. We seek, with grateful hearts, to follow you, and in that following, we will help transform the world. Amen
*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 Trumpet Tune in C Robert Lau
(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
Choir – Mary Angela Davis, Nick Davis, Jeanne Edwards, Peggy Emigh, Jack Hirschenhofer, Priscilla Hirschenhofer, Jane Lennon, David Mack, Carol Skinner, Pat Summerer
Deacons – Vicky Espling, Doug Kimmel, Pat Summerer
Liturgist – Peggy Karns
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources:
enfleshed: liturgy that matters - Silent Prayer, Call to Worship, Offering Prayers
The New Century Hymnal - Invocation (#826, adapted)
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,
License #A-738532. All rights reserved
We Gather Together
Words and Music - ©2021 Hal Leonard Corporation (select catalogs)
Contributors: Nederlandtsch Gedenckclanck, Netherlands Folk Hymn, Eduard Kremser
Take My Life and Let It Be
Words and Music - ©2000 Alfred Sacred
Contributors: Frances Havergal, Mark Hayes
God of Justice, God of Mercy
Words - © Presbyterian Publishing/Westminster John Knox/Geneva Press
Contributors: Jane Parker Huber
Let Us Break Bread Together
Words and Music - © OCP
Harmonization Copyright © 1986 by GIA Publications, Inc.
Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
Words and Music - Public Domain
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