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
Guest Lay Preacher - Peter Schay
August 4, 2024
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
Holy Trinity, yours is the justice that calls power to account. Yours is the love that calls sinners to repent. Yours is the mercy that forgives us and grants us eternal life.
Lead us in the truth about the Beloved, and set us free to rejoice with all our might
over the great mystery you have revealed: that you are bringing all things into harmony
through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Prelude in A Minor J.S. Bach
Welcome
*Introit Spirit of the Living God (v. 1) R. #281
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me, Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
*Call to Worship
One: Morning has broken.
All: Let us give thanks for the gift of life and for the presence of the Holy One among us.
One: Let us worship God together.
All: Thanks be to God!
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn The God of Abraham Praise B. #24
The God of Abraham praise, all praised to God’s name,
Who was, and is, and is to be, for-e’er the same!
The one eternal God, before what now appears;
the First, the Last: beyond all thought through timeless years!
God’s Spirit freely flows, high surging where it will:
God spoke of old in prophet's word, that word speaks still.
Established is God’s law, and changeless it shall stand,
deep written on the human heart, in every land.
God has eternal life implanted in the soul;
God’s love shall be our strength and stay, while ages roll.
All praise the living God! Extol that hallowed name,
who was, and is, and ever shall be still the same!
The God of Sarah praise, all praises to God’s name,
who was and is and is to be, for-e’er the same!
The one eternal God, before what now appears;
the First, the Last: beyond all thought through timeless years!
*Invocation
One: Gracious God, gentle in your power and strong in your tenderness, you have brought us forth from the womb of your being and breathed into us the breath of life.
All: We know that we do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from you. Feed our deep hungers with the living bread that you give us in Jesus Crist.
One: May Jesus’ promise, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” be fulfilled in us.
All: Make us a joyful company of your people so that with the faithful in every place and time we may praise and honor you, God Most High. Amen
Children’s Message
Hebrew Scripture 1 Samuel 15:1-3, 8, 10-17, 24-25
Greek Scripture Mark 6:14-29
Special Music In This Holy Hour Hugh S. Livingston Jr.
Message “Abuse of Power” Peter Schay
*Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory R. #477
God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your power; now fulfill your Church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil round us scorn your Christ, assail his ways!From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise.Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days, for the living of these days.
Cure your children’s warring madness; bend our pride to your control;shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.Grant us wisdom, grant us courage lest we miss your heav’nly goal, lest we miss your heav’nly goal.
Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore;let the search for your salvation be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving you whom we adore, serving you whom we adore.
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 everyone give, not grudgingly or of necessity, but from the fullness of their gratitude to God.
Offertory Communion Aria Franklin Ritter
*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
O God, most gracious, of whose bounty we have all received: accept, we pray, this offering of your people. Remember in your love those who have brought it and those for whom it is given; and so follow it with your blessing that it may promote peace and goodwill among all people. Amen
*Communion Hymn Break Now the Bread of Life B. #321
Break now the bread of life, Savior, to me, As you once broke the loaves beside the sea; Beyond the sacred page I seek you, Lord; my spirit yearns for you, O Living Word.
Bless now the truth, dear Christ, to me, to me, as you once blessed the bread by Galilee; Then shall all bondage cease, all shackles fall, and I shall find my peace, my all in all.
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: Friends, what we are about to do is to celebrate the Joyful Feast of the people of God.
All: When we are able, with the Holy One, to experience the vision of love for God’s Global Village here on earth – then all of creation will come as equal companions to sit at this table.
One: In the meantime, you and I are invited to eat and drink, to be nourished and renewed for the ongoing work of justice, embracing mercy and walking humbly with God.
All: This is an open table at which all are welcome.
Words of Remembering
All: On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he gathered with his disciples in the upper room, where an ordinary meal became an instrument of God. At this table, Jesus broke bread with those who would betray him. At this table, Jesus drank wine with the one who denied him. At this table, Jesus communed with those who would abandon him. At this table, Jesus gave a new commandment.
At this table, we learn to love one another as God loves us.
One: Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” When the supper was over, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks to God, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of our failings, and in hope for the new life to come. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Blessing the Bread and the Cup
One: Gracious God, pour out your Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, that they might be for us the presence of the living Christ. Pour your Spirit upon us also, that we may be one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.
All: With this one loaf, we who are many, become one. With this one cup, what was before has been renewed.
One: Come, for all things are ready.
Sharing the Bread and the Cup
The bread of life, given for you. AmenThe cup of blessing, given for you. Amen
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: Our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sustainer – In this holy mystery, you have given yourself to us. We are eternally grateful. Empower us, that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves to each other in the name of Jesus Christ who gave his life for all. Amen
*Benediction Peter Schay
*Sung Blessing Go Now in Peace R. #347
Go now in peace, go now in peace, may the love of God surround you
everywhere, everywhere, you may go.
Postlude Partita Francais Craig A. Penfield
(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
Our guest lay preacher, Peter Schay resides in Burlington, NC, and works as a cybersecurity operations manager, having 52 years of professional experience in information technology and consulting. His extended family has owned a home on Jellison Cove Road in Hancock since the late 1980s.
Peter has been an active member of UCC churches in Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut and North Carolina. He is currently chair of the Board of Trustees at United Church of Chapel Hill, NC, which he joined in 2014. He has also been active in the UCC above the local church, serving as a lay member on the Committees on Ministry of the Fairfield West Association (Southern New England Conference) and Eastern North Carolina Association, a member of the Executive Committee of the UCC Southern Conference, and as a voting delegate from the Southern Conference to the UCC 2023 General Synod.
Peter has a BS from Yale University, MS from Northwestern University, and MBA from Boston University.
Many thanks to those who make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Guest Preacher – Mr. Peter Schay
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Robin Long, Doug Kimmel, Pat Summerer
Liturgist – Rev. TJ Mack
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Student Ministry Intern – Sarina Brooks
Resources:
Silent Prayer - Feasting on the Word, Worship Companion
Call to Worship - The New Century Hymnal - Service of the Word I
Invocation - The New Century Hymnal - Service of the Word II
Invitation to Offering - The New Century Hymnal - Service of the Word I
Prayer of Dedication - The New Century Hymnal #844
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,
License #A-738532. All rights reserved
Spirit of the Living God
Words and Music - ©1963 Jubilate Music
Contributors: Daniel Iverson and Michale Baughen, Daniel Iverson
God of Grace and God of Glory
Words and Music - ©1990 Alfred Sacred
Contributors: Henry Emerson Fosdick, Hal Hopson
Break Now The Bread Of Life
Music - ©1989 Lorenz Publishing Corporation, The
Contributors: Gerald Peterson, Mary Ann Lathbury, William Fiske Sherwin
Go Now In Peace
Words and Music - ©1976 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Contributors: Natalie Sleeth
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