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
“Zacchaeus” - Joel Whitehead
Communion Sunday – September 1, 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 borrow something that suits you, and return it after the service.
(Silent) Prayer of Awareness
Light within all light / Soul behind all souls / at the breaking of dawn / at the coming of day / we wait and watch. / Your Light within the morning light / Your Soul within the human soul / Your presence beckoning to us from the heart of life. / In the dawning of this day /
let us know fresh shingles in our soul. In the growing colours of new beginning all around us / let us know the first lights of our heart. / Great Star of the morning /
Inner Flame of the universe / let us be a colour in this new dawning.
John Philip Newell
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude Boundless Mercy Anthony Giamanco
From Union Harmony
Welcome
*Introit Spirit of the Living God (v. 1) Hymns of Truth & Light #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: Come from every direction: north, south, east, and west.
Many: Let us welcome and worship God in this sacred place!
One: Come bearing all your gifts: behind-the-scenes, quirky, unique, and more.
Many: Let us welcome and worship God with zealous authenticity!
One: Come with all your identities: race, gender, sexuality, and all.
Many: Let us welcome and worship God with our whole selves!
*Passing of the Peace (ASL) and Lighting of Peace & Justice Candle
*Hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy The New Century Hymnal #23
There's a wideness in God's mercy, like the wideness of the sea;
there's a kindness in God's justice, which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earthly sorrows are more felt than in God's heaven;
there's no place where earthly failings have such kindly judgment given.
For the love of God is broader than the measures of our minds;
and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God's Word,
and our lives would show thanksgiving for the goodness of our God.
*Invocation
Welcome us, loving Jesus, as we now welcome you into our hearts, minds, and worship. Let us transform and be transformed by each other so that we might perceive your presence among us ever more clearly. Amen
Children’s Message
Greek Scripture Galatians 5:13-21 and Luke 19:1-10
Special Music Pastorale Robert Lau
Message
*Hymn Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior The New Century Hymnal #551
Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others you are calling, do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others you are calling, do not pass me by.
Let me at your throne of mercy find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief.
Refrain: Savior, Savior…
Trusting only in your merit, would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by your grace.
Refrain: Savior, Savior…
Be the Spring of all my comfort, more than life to me;
Not just here on earth beside me, but eternally.
Refrain: Savior, Savior…
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 – When the crowds around Zacchaeus blocked his view of Jesus, he anticipated where Jesus would be and staked space in the sycamore tree to increase his ability to see. His foresight became a blessing as Jesus saw Zacchaeus and invited him down from the tree. Let us look ahead to where we can meet and welcome Jesus into our many ministries by generously sharing our various gifts today.
Offertory O Jesus, I Have Promised John Bode/Robert Powell
Tune: Angel’s Story
*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
Thank you for choosing to receive these gifts that we now share with you, gracious God. Bless each offering – including our very selves – and let every single one be given in service to you. Amen
*Communion Hymn As We Gather at Your Table The New Century Hymnal #332
As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word,
help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred.
Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own;
teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love's victory known.
Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life;
send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where there is strife.
Give us, Christ, your great compassion to forgive as you forgave;
may we still behold your image in the world you died to save.
Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share that feast
where triumphant Love will welcome those who had been last and least.
There no more will envy blind us, nor will pride our peace destroy,
as we join with saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy.
COMMUNION LITURGY
LITANY OF INCLUSION
One: Come, let us join at the table
Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free
One: Come, a place is set for each of us
Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free
One: Come, join the misfits, thieves, and liars
Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free
One: Come, young and old, from near or far
Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free
One: Come, where shame is no longer welcome
Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free
One: Come, where forgiveness and mercy triumph
Many: Let us join at the table. Let us be set free
COMMUNION PRAYER
One: May the Giver of Peace be with you.
Many: May God’s justice burn in you.
One: Our hearts are wounded and wandering.
Many: We lift them up to God.
One: Give thanks to God, for God is good.
Many: God’s love endures forever.
One: It is right and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to You,
Creator, Maker of Heaven and Earth. At the dawn of Creation, You breathed life into dirt,
and glory sprung from the ground.
Many: God’s love endures forever.
One: From the fury and flood, you protected Noah. As many children as the stars, you promised Abraham. In the dreams of a slave named Joseph, Israel feasted during famine. With the rod of Moses and the songs of Mariam, you delivered Israel from slavery.
Many: God’s love endures forever.
One: In our need of forgiveness, you gave us Jesus. He could speak to the wind and the waves.He could heal with mud and dance on water. He preached good news to the poor. He blessed the lowly. He opened the way to God.
Many: God’s love endures forever.
One: When he had been crucified, when he was dead and buried, You lifted Jesus from the grave, and gave us resurrected life.
Many: God’s love endures forever.
One: With the roaring of your love, You set us aflame. Your justice became our joy. Your peace became our promise.
Many: God’s love endures forever.
One: Through the waters of baptism, you made us your own. In our lives together we carry your witness, and your love comes to life among us.
Many: Give thanks to God, for God is Good. God’s love endures forever.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
One: On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he gathered with his disciples in the upper roomwhere an ordinary meal became an instrument of God. Many: At this table, Jesus broke bread 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 sins and hope for the new life to come. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. And so, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy, living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Many: “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.”
One: 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, until we arrive at the heavenly banquet of God. Through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and the bond of peace. All glory and honor are yours, Creating God, now and forever. Amen
Many: 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.
RECEIVING THE BREAD AND CUP
The body of Christ, given for you. AmenThe cup of our salvation, given for you. Amen
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Our Creator, our Savior, 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 us. Amen
*Benediction
*Sung Blessing Go Now in Peace (sing twice) Hymns of Truth & Light #347
Go now in peace, go now in peace, may the love of God surround you
everywhere, everywhere, you may go.
Postlude A Joyful Trumpet Patricia Lou Harris
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will hold a special congregational meeting on Sunday, September 1st, 2024 immediately following the 9:30 morning worship service for the following purposes:
1. To vote on a permanent time for the worship service on Sunday mornings, (A) year round at 9:30 a.m. or (B) 9:00 a.m. on the Sundays between Memorial Day and Labor Day and 10:00 a.m. the rest of the year.
2. Any other business to come before the congregation.
Jeanne Edwards, Clerk
August 15, 2024
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 – Sarina Brooks, Doug Kimmel & Robin Long
Liturgist – Sarina Brooks
Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer
Office Administrator – Vicky Espling
Student Ministry Intern – Sarina Brooks
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Resources:
ucc.org Worship Ways - Call to Worship, Invocation, Offertory Prayers, Communion Liturgy
"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
There's a Wideness in God's Mercy
Words and Music - © OCP
Contributors: IN BABILONE, Fredrick Faber
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
Words and Music - ©2012 Public Domain
Contributors:
As We Gather at Your Table
Words - ©1989 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Carl P. Daw, Jr.
Go Now In Peace
Words and Music - ©1976 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Contributors: Natalie Sleeth
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