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 30, 2024 - PRIDE Month
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
Wonderful Way-Maker—as the fern in the forest curls open, as the humpback whale spirals up towards light—we, too, unfurl your Love into the Cosmos. Our participation in your love is not a metaphor. We are in the flow of reciprocity that is Holiness, that is Grace, that is Creativity.
Let us live out our days arching towards Collective Liberation with joy and eagerness,
for our stubborn joy is an act of defiance. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude
Welcome
*Introit Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (vs. 1) R. #7
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away;giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
*Call to Worship
One: The Subversive Power of the Sacred, laughs Her way out of dusty systems, turns and talks to her friends, ignoring the pitiful musings of the power-hungry.
All: The Queerness of the Spirit, like a kaleidoscope, turns and turns and turns. Asks: How free can we get each other? Is there another door to unlock behind this one, a wider meadow in which to spread our arms and spin?
One: The Expansiveness of the Divine loves playfulness, learns from the wisdom of children,
remembers what it's like for the body to move with ease, knows nothing of borders drawn by empire, knows nothing of limitations drawn by shame.
All: Come, whisper of freedom behind the oppressors’ back. Plot for joy with all those who will listen.
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn All God’s Critters (Place in the Choir) Pilgrim Lodge Hymnal
Chorus:
All God's critters got a place in the choir.Some sing low, some sing higher,Some sing out loud on the telephone wire,And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now.
Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom,
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamusMoans and groans with a big t’doAnd the old cow just goes, 'moo'
Dogs and the cats they take up the middle,Where the honeybee hums and the crickets fiddleThe donkey brays and the pony neighsThe old coyote howls (oowww!)
Chorus
All God's critters got a place in the choir.Some sing low, some sing higher,Some sing out loud on the telephone wire,And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now.
Listen to the top where the little birds singOn the melody with the high notes ringin’The hoot owl hollers over everything
The jaybird disagrees.
Singin’ in the night time, singin’ in the dayThe little duck quacks and he's on his wayThe 'possum ain’t got much to sayThe porcupine talks to herself.
Chorus:
It’s a simple song of living sung everywhere
By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear,
The grumpy alligator and the hawk above
The sly raccoon and the turtle dove.
Chorus:
*Invocation (in unison)
Lord, as we listen to your holy Word, open our hearts to the power of your Spirit,
call us out of the shadows, and lead us into your marvelous light. Amen
Children’s Message
Hebrew Scriptures Psalm 144:3-4, 12-15
Christian Scriptures 1 Peter 2:4-10
Special Music
Message Rev. TJ Mack
*Hymn The Summons - John Bell - pdf On Back Cover
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around
Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
Lord, your summons echoes true when I but call your name!
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
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 – As people of God, let us offer ourselves and the fruit of our labor for God’s work in the world.
Offertory The Shepherd Psalm arr. Gilbert Martin
*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)
Almighty God, receive the gifts we bring in gratitude for your astounding goodness. Make our lives to be an acceptable offering in union with our risen Lord, who lives and reigns with you forever. Amen
*Hymn Blessed Be the Tie That Binds B. #393
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The sharing of a common life is like to that above.
Before our God we come and pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear,
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain,
But we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
*Benediction
*Sung Blessing Sent Forth by God’s Blessing B. #76
Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The service is ended, O now be extended
the fruits of our worship in all who believe.
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.
Postlude
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
If you are visiting with us today, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the sanctuary.
Our Monteux student musicians this morning are Sophie Ross, clarinet, and Max Jacobs, violin.
Sophie Ross is a versatile clarinetist, arts administrator, and music educator based in Washington, D.C. Sophie is currently the Associate Principal Clarinet of the Great Falls Philharmonic in Great Falls, Virginia. Earlier this year, she joined the classical-hip-hop fusion group Classically Dope, performing with US Cultural Ambassador Konshens the MC at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage in Washington, D.C. Sophie has primarily studied clarinet in College Park, Maryland, and Copenhagen, Denmark. At the University of Maryland, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance with a concentration in chamber works for clarinet and strings under Robert DiLutis. She most recently studied with Jesper Helmuth-Madsen of the Copenhagen Philharmonic while living in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2023. Sophie has performed in masterclasses held by renowned clarinetists around the world, including Anthony McGill of the New York Philharmonic and Wolfgang Klinser at the Kunstuniversität Graz in Austria. She attended the Pierre Monteux School in 2022.
Maximilian Jacobs Equally at home in classical and jazz performance, Max is a versatile violinist in demand throughout the Washington, DC and Baltimore areas. Max combines his many musical interests in his improvisations and original compositions. Passionate about the Baltimore jazz scene, Max has grown acclaim throughout his native city and Washington D.C., frequently performing swing, straight-ahead jazz, klezmer, bluegrass, and blues. He has performed at venues around the DMV such as The Kennedy Center, Creative Alliance, An Die Musik, and his hometown favorite, the historic Cat’s Eye Pub. He has played alongside notable musicians such as clarinetist Seth Kibel with the 27th Street Klezmer Band and guitarist Michael Joseph Harris. Max is currently a section violinist with the Great Falls Philharmonic, based in Great Falls, Virginia. In 2024, he earned his Master of Music in Violin Performance under Professor Irina Muresanu at the University of Maryland, College Park.
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 – Mary Angela & Nick Davis
Liturgist – Alison Boden
Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources:
enfleshed: liturgy that matters, adapted - Silent Prayer, Call to Worship
Feasting on the Word, Worship Companion - Invocation, Offertory Prayers
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,
License #A-738532. All rights reserved
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Words and Music - ©2020 Stephen DeCesare / Exultet Music
Contributors: Henry Van Dyke, Ludwig Beethoven, Stephen DeCesare
The Summons
Words and Music - ©1987 Iona Community / WGRG (North America)
Contributors: John Bell
Blessed Be the Tie That Binds
Words and Music - ©2012 Public Domain
Sent Forth by God's Blessing
Words - ©1964 World Library Publications
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