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

The Canaanite Woman asks for healing for her daughter August 20, 2023 – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost This service will be in-person and on Facebook Live at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) (Posted for later viewing on Facebook and YouTube) 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 When everything starts to look and feel the same When truth is made narrow and histories are flattened When power is monopolized and faith grows stale May we remember the Mystery that surrounds us The Love that holds millions and millions of species of life Plant, animal, fungus. Humans. Water. Earth. Galaxies known and unknown. Our perspectives can grow small, but Divinity will not be contained Be encouraged. The wild, unruly, and peculiar presence of God is with us

* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Greensleeves. from an old air. R. V. Williams 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 Let all who long for salvation come find each other Deliverance will lead us out from under evil’s hand In the days of liberation, there will be a holy transformation Material and lasting, the world will breathe anew May the struggling be lifted May the powerful repent A righteous reckoning is close at hand May God help us to be faithful *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn Let Justice Flow Like Streams R. #505 Let justice flow like streams of sparkling water, pure, enabling growth, refreshing life, abundant, cleansing, sure. Let righteousness roll on as others' cares we heed, an ever-flowing stream of faith translated into deed. So may God's plumb line, straight, define our measure true, and justice, right, and peace pervade this world our whole life through. *Invocation (in unison) God of Particularity, you know us intimately and honestly. As individuals, as communities, as people with histories different and shared, you do not always call us down the same paths. Teach us how to reckon with a freedom that is not one size fits all. Meet us in all our specific privileges and powers, gifts and liabilities, that we may find our way and support one another. Amen Children’s Message Christian Scriptures Matthew 15:21-28 Contemporary Reading Stubborn Blessing Jan Richardson Special Music Meditation. Charles Callahan Message Rev. TJ Mack *Hymn O For A World B. #575 O for a world where everyone respects each other's ways, where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise. O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved, where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved. We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice that opens us to unity and gives our vision voice. The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise. Tell all who mourn: outcasts belong, who perishes will rise. O for a world preparing for God's glorious reign of peace, where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease. Prayer for Transformation and New Life One: God declares: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come and my deliverance be revealed. Confident in our deliverance, let us confess our sins before God and one another. All: Holy God, we confess we have not been obedient to your will for us. We have sought justice for ourselves but neglected justice for others. We have insisted on our rights but have not lived rightly in our relationships. We have desired mercy for our sins, but we have not offered mercy to those who have sinned against us. By the power of your Holy Spirit free us from the prison of our disobedience. Help us to love as you have loved us that our lives may testify to your abounding grace through Jesus Christ. Amen Words of Grace One: Friends, the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Receive the gift of forgiveness and share that gift with others, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen 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 is vast, complex, alive with paradox and contradictions. In gratitude for this mystery of faith, let us bring our offerings together. Offertory A Prayer of Quiet Thankfulness. Fenton Groden *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) Divine Companion, we long for a faith that is deep and rich and humble enough to hold the struggles of our time. Bless our resources to the creative and bold labors of unlearning rigid ideas of who you are, of who you call us to be, of what’s possible in the world and what is good and just. We are open to being surprised. Amen *Hymn This Is A Day of New Beginnings R. #414 This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone. For by the life and death of Jesus, love's mighty Spirit, now as then, can make for us a world of difference as faith and hope are born again. Then let us, with the Spirit's daring, step from the past and leave behind our disappointment, guilt and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find. Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do. This is a day of new beginnings - our God is making all things new. *Sung Blessing Go With Us, Lord R #336 Go with us, Lord, and guide the way through this and every coming day, That in your Spirit strong and true our lives may be our gift to you. *Benediction Postlude Rondeau. Charles Callahan. The Green Mt. Organ Book (Please remain seated for the Postlude) The church potluck picnic will be held at 4:00 pm today, August 20 at Tidal Falls. Please plan to attend and bring your family and friends, and a dish to share! 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) At our Deacons meeting last week we unanimously agreed to donate $100.00 from the Minister’s Discretionary Fund to the UCC Disaster Relief Fund for victims of the wildfires in Hawaii. We invite you to consider making a donation of your own. Donate - Hawaii Fires - United Church of Christ (ucc.org) 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 – Mary Angela and Nick Davis Liturgist – Ruth Dietze Audio-Video Support – Patrice Alexander Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You Resources enfleshed: liturgy that matters "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

Let Justice Flow Like Streams

Words - ©1981 Presbyterian Publishing/Westminster John Knox/Geneva Press

Contributors: Jane Parker Huber

O For A World

Words © 1987 Medical Mission Sisters

This Is a Day of New Beginnings

Words - ©1983 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Brian Wren

Go with Us, Lord

Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey