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

September 10, 2023 – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost This service will be in-person and on Facebook Live at 10:00 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 Divine Companion, you know what our daily lives hold. You know how difficult it is just to be present to a moment. In our weariness, we can reject the wisdom we need most. Give us strength to show up honestly and with courage to that which you ask us to face. Planetarily. Systemically. Personally. May our love for future generations of land and people sustain us. Amen

* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Morning Has Broken Gaelic Melody/ Mark Hayes Welcome Remembering and Honoring Sept. 11, 2001 A time for words & a time for silence *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: Let our praise today be made new. Many: May we sing a new song, pray a new prayer, dance a new dance, and speak and hear a new word. One: Let the faithful delight in the Holy One’s marvelous acts Many: From the seats in the sanctuary to the couches in our homes. One: Let us glorify God with our voices, the work of our lives, and the joy of our souls. Many: Glory to God! Praise the Holy One! *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *Hymn Creating God, Your Fingers Trace R. #96 Creating God, your fingers trace the bold designs of farthest space; let sun and moon and stars and light and what lies hidden praise your might. Sustaining God, your hands uphold earth's mysteries known or yet untold; let water's fragile blend with air, enabling life, proclaim your care. Redeeming God, your arms embrace all now despised for creed or race; let peace, descending like a dove, make known on earth your healing love. Indwelling God, your gospel claims one family with a billion names; let every life be touched by grace until we praise you face to face. *Invocation (in unison) God who journeys with us, we give thanks to be gathered in your presence. May we acknowledge you in the brightness of the day and in the stillness of the night. Provide us a vision of your reign on earth and in our lives. Make us your witnesses to a world in need of hope and peace. Infuse us with your love, and may this time gathered as your people transform us to reflect your goodness in the world. Amen Children’s Message Rev. Mary Angela Davis Christian Scriptures Romans 13:8-10 Contemporary Reading Living Psalm 149 Special Music When in Our Music God is Glorified Tune: Engelberg/ Fred Pratt Green Message Rev. TJ Mack *Hymn Though I May Speak (The Gift of Love) R. #68 Though I may speak with bravest fire, and have the gift to all inspire, and have not love, my words are vain, as sounding brass, and hopeless gain. Though I may give all I possess, and striving so my love profess, but not be given by love within, the profit soon turns strangely thin. Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control, our spirits long to be made whole. Let inward love guide every deed; by this we worship, and are freed. Prayer for Transformation and New Life Holy One, we confess that accountability can be discomforting, and we avoid discomfort. We seek the good enough, convenient, and easy over the good, possible, and hard. Hold us accountable to the gospel. Hold us accountable to our claim and commitment to follow you. Hold us accountable to your will. Help us to receive your grace and liberate us from shame in order to embrace accountability as a loving act of community. Words of Grace 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 – Sharing of our time, talent, and treasure manifests our love in the world. Let us give generously to the ministry of this church from an abundance of love of God, neighbor, and self. Offertory Pastorale Robert Lau *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) Gracious God, thank you for the gifts you give and allowing us to be gift givers as well. May our generous offerings bear fruit to nurture our community, our neighbors, and all creation. Amen *Hymn For the Fruit of All Creation R. #527 For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God. For these gifts of every nation, thanks be to God. For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping, Future needs in earth's safe-keeping, thanks be to God. In the just reward of labor, God's will is done. In the help we give our neighbor, God's will is done. In our world-wide task of caring for the hungry and despairing, In the harvests we are sharing, God's will is done. For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us, Most of all, that love has found us, thanks be to God. *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 (in unison) May we go from this gathering Strengthened in love, Encouraged by hope, Pursuing and speaking God’s peace, And being good news in the world. Postlude Voluntary in C J.Zunde/. M Ryan (Please remain seated for the Postlude) 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 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 – Kathy McGlinchey & David Wildes Liturgist – Priscilla Hirschenhofer Audio-Video Support – Ron Schwizer Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You Resources enfleshed: liturgy that matters and Worship Ways @ ucc.org Accountability: Service Prayers for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost were written by The Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, Minister for Worship and Theology, United Church of Christ. "Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Words and Music - ©1863 Willow Publishing Pty Ltd

Contributors: Joachim Neander, Catherine Winkworth

Creating God, Your Fingers Trace

Words - ©1979 Hymn Society in the US & Canada

Contributors: Jeffery Rowthorn

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The Gift of Love

Words and Music - ©1972 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Hal H Hopson

For the Fruits of All Creation

Words - ©1970 Stainer & Bell Ltd. UK

Contributors: Fred Pratt Green

Go with Us, Lord

Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey