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 17, 2023 – Just Peace Sunday - Sixteenth 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 God of Radical Hospitality, with open arms, you welcome us into new life. Whatever burdens we carry. Whatever healing we long for. Whatever structures work to keep us down. You meet us in the full truth of who we are, individually and together. May we be open to being transformed by this grace. Today, and every day. Amen

* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit Announcements Prelude Variations on “Dunlap’s Creek” F Lewis/ D Lasky Welcome *Introit There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (v. 1) B. #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’s 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. *Call to Worship One: We gather together in the name of the One who bids us come. All: We gather together to hear the words of the One who is Love. One: We gather together to pray for peace. All: We seek the way of Just Peace. One: We gather together to pray for grace. All: We seek the way of forgiveness. One: We gather together to pray for wholeness. All: We seek the way of restorative justice. One: We gather together to sing praises of the One who teaches peace. All: Come, let us worship the One who is Love! *Passing of the Peace (ASL) and lighting Peace & Justice Candle *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. *Invocation (in unison) O God, you are a God of Life to us. You show your Self as our source of compassion as we struggle for whole relationships in the home, our communities, our nation and our world. We seek your presence among us in our life and worship, and ask your gentle Spirit to constantly open our hearts to the ways of justice and peace. Children’s Message Christian Scriptures Matthew 18:21-35 Special Music Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me Adoro te devote/ K Lee Scott Message Rev. TJ Mack *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 – God of Abundance, You have invited us into a dance of Just Peace in which we both give and receive. Offertory Meditation on “Leoni” M. Lyon/ D Hegarty *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) Bless these gifts, we pray. Multiply these gifts seventy times seven. Amen *Hymn Help Us Accept Each Other R. # 376 Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us; teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace. Be present, Lord, among us, and bring us to believe we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live. Teach us, O Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith. Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some, to love them as we find them, or as they may become. Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved in living situations to do the truth in love; to practice your acceptance, until we know by heart the table of forgiveness and laughter's healing art. Lord, for today's encounters with all who are in need, who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread, we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on: renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one! *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 Rigaudon Andre Campra (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 – Doug Kimmel & Robin Long Liturgist – Vicky Espling Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer Office Secretary – Vicky Espling Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack The Body of Christ – You Resources enfleshed: liturgy that matters and Worship Ways @ ucc.org "Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.

There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

Words and Music - © OCP

Contributors: IN BABILONE, Fredrick Faber

O For A World

Words © 1987 Medical Mission Sisters

God of Grace and God of Glory

Words and Music - ©PD Public Domain

Contributors: Public Domain

Help Us Accept Each Other

Words - ©1975 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Fred Kaan

Go with Us, Lord

Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company

Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey