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

August 6, 2023 – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost This morning we welcome Pastor Debby Bliss into our pulpit. 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)

Silent Prayer Thank you for loving me right where I am, right as I am. May your peace lead me, may your grace cover my life, and may your Spirit breathe in me. Holy One, into the deepest part of my heart, I will tuck your whisper of absolute love for me. * Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Moderato, Symphony No.4 Mendelssohn 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 One: Look! On the mountains the feet of one who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! All: In gratitude, let us worship the Lord our God. *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn O for a World R. #500 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, and 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. *Invocation (in unison) Even the darkness before dawn, O God, with the heavenly bodies in a curtain of cosmic clouds, is a testimony to your awesome creation. So the question comes: who are we, tiny beings, that you are holding us in such close and intimate conversation? You are the searcher and the finder, the knower. In worshiping you, we turn to the ground of our being – and we reach out to you now as our loving parent, thanking you for this gift of life and asking for courage to live it more faithfully. Amen Children’s Message Pastor Debby Bliss Hebrew Scriptures Genesis 32:22-31 Christian Scriptures Matthew 14:13-21 Special Music Lento Religioso Chopin Message A Lesson in Hospitality Pastor Debby Bliss *Hymn Standing on the Promises Music on back cover Standing on the promises of Christ, my King, Through eternal ages let his praises ring! Glory in the highest I will shout and sing–Standing on the promises of God. Refrain: Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God, my Savior; Standing, standing, I'm standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises that cannot fail. When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail; By the living Word of God I shall prevail–Standing on the promises of God. Refrain: Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord, Bound to him eternally by love's strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword–Standing on the promises of God. Refrain: Standing on the promises I cannot fall, List'ning ev'ry moment to the Spirit's call, Resting in my Savior as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God. Refrain Call to Confession One: Let us confess our sins in the presence of the One who blesses us and meets our needs. Prayer of Confession All: God of compassion, we are sick. We have wrestled all night with worry instead of resting in you. We have asserted our own goodness instead of awakening to yours. We have turned away those hungry for your help instead of trusting you and feeding them from your limitless supply of blessings. Forgive us, heal us, and help us to hold on to you. We call upon you, for you will answer us, O God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Declaration of Forgiveness One: Dear ones, hear the good news: Our gracious God offers us forgiveness, that our lives, after a drought, may become like a watered garden. All: Thanks be to God. 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 – Offertory My Jesus, I Love Thee A. Gordon/ R. Powell *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) Generous God, we thank you that through you, all things were created and are still being created. We offer you today a response to your abundant goodness. May you cause the seeds that we sow to grow into fruitful trees of life, and may they offer coolness, shelter, and good fruit to all those in need of these things, in your name. Amen *Communion Hymn Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether R. #318 Draw us in the Spirit’s tether, for when humbly in your name, two or three are met together, you are in the midst of them; Alleluia! Alleluia! Touch we now your garment’s hem. As disciples used to gather in the name of Christ to sup, then with thanks to God the giver break the bread and bless the cup, Alleluia! Alleluia! So now bind our friendship up. All our meals and all our living make as sacraments of you, that by caring, helping, giving, we may be disciples true. Alleluia! Alleluia! We will serve with faith anew. Holy Communion One: Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer God; Source of Life, Living Word, and Bond of Love: We praise you for Jesus Christ, who reminds us that even in fear-filled days, cloaked with the powers of death, your eternal love arises, and never leaves us. For we rejoice with all your people and with the angels, because life is stronger than death! As we proclaim the glory of your name: All: Holy is Jesus, God Incarnate, the Risen Christ, whose mercy gathers us together in community, whose grace meets us in our brokenness, and whose loving faithfulness gives us renewed hope. One: In this meal, we remember Jesus, his promises, and the price he paid for who he was, what he said, and what he did; for our benefit. On the night before Jesus died, He took a loaf of bread, Gave thanks, broke it, and said, “Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this, in remembrance of me.” After supper, Jesus took the cup and poured, saying, “This is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” In sharing this meal, we live out the mystery of our faith: All: We remember Christ’s life of love, and friendship, and teaching, We remember Christ’s dying, and rising to life again. One: Bless this bread and this cup, the wheat and the grape, the farmer and the harvest, the seed and the sower. These simple elements are shared in community, so that we may taste and see your goodness and become one body in Christ. All: For it is through Christ, in Christ, and with Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, that all glory is yours, God most holy, now and forevermore. Amen The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready. One: The body of Christ, All:the bread of life. One: The lifeblood of Christ, All: the cup of blessing. Prayer of Thanksgiving O Christ, we thank you for this feast of life. Fed by your love, and strengthened by your life; we humbly accept your call to go into this world to live with hope, and to share your joy.You commission us to feed as we have been fed, forgive as we have been forgiven, and love as we have been loved. Thanks be to God. Amen *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 from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass Pastor Debby Bliss One: A child said, “What is the grass?” fetching it to me with full hands. All: How could I answer the child? One: I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, All: Out of hopeful green stuff woven. One: Or I guess it is the handkerchief of the Lord, All: A scented gift and remembrance, designedly dropt, One: Bearing the owner’s name someway in the corners, All: That we may see and remark, and say: Whose? Postlude Minuet-Firework Music G. F. Handel (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. Guest Preacher - Debby Bliss Since the age of 8, beginning in Waterville, Maine, I have written and performed original stories, poems, and tunes. My family lived in Rome, Italy when I was 18 years old, and I later studied Italian and Renaissance history at the University of Chicago. I lived in Illinois for over 40 years, raised goats and chickens for a time, and headed back east to Maine in 2011 after my husband died. I’ve been joyfully studying for pastoral ministry since 2017. I have taken an excellent course in theology with Phil Devenish. Music Minister – Debbie Riley Deacons – Robin Long & Doug Kimmel Liturgist – Rev. TJ Mack Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You Resources Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion, Crosswalk.com, United Methodists of Michigan "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

Standing on the Promises

Words and Music - Public Domain

Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether

Words and Music - ©1957 Jubilate Music

Contributors: Percy Dearmer, Harold Friedell

Go with Us, Lord

Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey