08/16/2026
The Monroe Community Church, UCC
Pastor Robert “Bob” Evans
Pianist – Joyce Hillman
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
{Bold Moves}
“Jesus Learns from a Lady Teacher”
Year A – Color – Green – August 16, 2026
Our Church’s Family of the Week – Rick & Joyce Hillman
Sunrise Association Church of the Week – Bar Harbor Congregational Church, UCC
Bulletin Dedications: -
In Loving Honor of Elliot Harriman’s B-Day {8/16} by Mario & Rachel Tribuzio
In Loving Honor of our Son-in-Law, Joe Wang’s B-Day {8/16} by Robert & Nancy Fenney
In Loving Memory of my grandfather, Woodrow Kelley {8/16}} by Joella Bailey
Greeting: No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey you are welcome here, “as God’s Divine Child.”
Announcements:
Bible Study – Friday, August 21st, 1 pm
Prayer for Peace: Holy God of Eternal Life, today, as those who worship you through the vision of Jesus the Christ, who you anointed with your Gospel of love, we pray with heavy hearts for peace in the world. So mote it be, according to your own promise. Amen.
Today’s topic: So – We think, sometimes, that we know certain things concerning the spiritual truths of reality, when we are only stunting our own growth because, well, we know it all! Ha! Who is the Spirit of the Lord upon today?
* Hymn:
Call to Worship – Psalm 67 (Responsive) (To be fair to the Truth that gender of God transcends the human body I have done my best to give female and male identities of God their due.) Leader: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, People: that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Leader: Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. People: Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the people with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Leader: Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded it s increase; All: God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere her.
Invocation: Pastor Bob – Holy One of Grace and Steadfast Love, warm our hearts and add your Light to our journey in the Holy Spirit, so that we may grow in heavenly wisdom and goodness. Let the words and actions of the Incarnate Christ raise our awareness of your love for all, even as they bring us joy with visions of your kin-dom and how we should be known as your children through our love for your whole creation. Bring our hearts into union with you today, so that we may be in union with all who call on your holy name. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
*Gloria Patri: ALL: Glor-y to the cre-a-tor, And to the Christ, and to the Ho-ly Ghost. As it was in the begin-ing, is now and ev-er shall be. World with-out end. A-men. a-men.
Call to “Reflection”: (this is basically, I think, what we should always reflect on when asking for healing.) L. Every day that we are aware of our actions and every dream we foster in our hearts are the makings of the path we create on which we walk through life in the presence of God. So, what is on our hearts today that me be in the way of our spiritual destination, or in our dreams that may be pulling us the wrong direction and bringing harm to others? Let us take a moment of silence and pray about them….
Prayer for Light: Holy God of Steadfast Love and Forgiveness, we are traveling through some very trying times for all of humanity and the fragility of life, which is being so clearly shown to us, has caused us to try and return to our old ways of selfishness and, even when we turn to you in prayer, we do so with the idea that we should somehow be favored over others – that we will be saved because we profess to worship you. This belief is causing much harm and even the deaths of many of your children, and we ask you to help us overcome our selfish hearts, to forgive and guide us according to your will, and to bring our hearts the joy that only communion with all your children and all that you create can bring. In your Holy Love we pray. Amen.
Words of Assurance: (Luke 4:18-19) ALL: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring the good news to the poor. She has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Leader: In Christ, we are forgiven and already participate in eternal life.
Offertory/Dedication (Pastor Bob) From Pastor Bob: You may mail your money offerings to Monroe Community Church, UCC, Attn. Financial Secretary, PO Box 805, Monroe, Me. 04951 or you may go to our page: click on Information, click on www.maineucc.org/giving This will take you directly to the giving page: fill our your name, etc. Designation – choose “My Local Maine UCC Church” and then click in box for “Select your Local Church” and choose our church from the list. (Churches are listed alphabetical by Towns) Click Monroe Community Church, UCC, Monroe, Me – Then just follow the rest of the information as making any donation on line. Thank you for supporting our local church in these trying times.
Please Join me in singing the Doxology: *All: Praise God from whom all bless-ings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God a-bove, ye heaven-ly host; Praise Cre-a-tor, Christ and Ho-ly Ghost. Amen.
Special Music:
Prayer for Birthdays and Anniversaries: ALL: As they begin another year, O God, bless the ones who have birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries. May they be protected in the days to come. May they know your hope, peace love, and joy for them. In Christ’s name we pray: Amen.
* Hymn:
Reading of Scriptures:
Old Testament – Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
New Testament – Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Gospel – Matthew 15:1-28
Sermon: “Jesus Learns from a Lady Teacher”
Our Church’s Joys and Concerns
Moment of Silence
Lord’s Prayer – Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and glory for ever. Amen.
* Closing Hymn
Blessing:
#812 – “Amen” – (NCH)
Postlude
Lectionary Reading for next Sunday – Exodus 1:8-2:10 or Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 124 or Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20 {Transformed}
Vision of Grace: August 16, 2026– 9 am regular worship; Bible Study - Friday, August 21st – 1 pm;,If you desire Raffle tickets on our Church’s quilt to be drawn on October 31, 2026, get in touch with a member or email or call the church office
Music CCL #11040230; Streaming CCL
Monroe Community Church, UCC, PO Box 805, Monroe, ME 04951; Office phone # 207-525-3256
Partner with the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in equipping our congregations and leaders to creatively and vibrantly live out the values of Jesus in this time and place. Your giving makes a huge impact in our ministry!
