Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for October 1, 2023

Drinking at the springs of living water,

Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;

Drinking at the springs of living water,

O wonderful and bountiful supply.

Upcoming services, meetings, events, and opportunities

Sunday, October 1st, we will return to our Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. plus Facebook Live.

You will be able to watch the service on Facebook Live in real time

or watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube .

Find us at Hancock UCC | Hancock ME | Facebook or

on YouTube at Hancock UCC - YouTube

Choir Rehearsals are held on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am. All are welcome!

Squirt and Squeak need to find a new forever home. Please contact Myrna for info @ 422-6888.

Our meetings are open to all. If you would like to attend a meeting, please let Vicky know and she will provide the Zoom link, or you are welcome to attend in person.

Council Bylaws Sub-committee meets on Wednesday, October 4th at 10:00

Trustees meet on Wednesday, October 4th at Noon

Christian Education Committee meets on Wednesday, October 4th at 12:30

Council meets on Friday, October 6th at 11:15

Deacons meet on October 13th at 12:00 noon

The Church Budget Committee will soon complete its work on next year's proposed church budget. In order to get the most accurate income projection, it would be helpful to get all stewardship pledges returned by Sunday October 15th. It would also help the budget drafting process if all Members and Friends could check their financial records to insure that their pledges for the current year have been paid to date.

Pledge cards have been mailed to all Members and Friends. If you did not get one, please call the church at (207)422-3100 and one will be mailed to you. Pledge cards are also available in the Sanctuary. They can be mailed to the church or placed in the offering plate on Sundays.

Please take a moment now to commit your financial support to your church for the coming year. We need your help. Please let David Wildes (422-3739) know of any questions or concerns. Your assistance and support is greatly appreciated.

Annual Reports are due in the office NO LATER THAN October 15th. Thank you!

Gordon Thomas Ward in Hancock

The Union Congregational Church of Hancock is pleased to host

Winter Harbor native, singer-songwriter-author, Gordon Thomas Ward

Saturday, October 14th, at 3:00 pm for a program about his book,

“Tracing Infinity: Bridging the Gap Between Earth and Heaven.”

All attendees will receive a copy of the book

and are invited to stay for a potluck following the program.

Endorsed by Greenfaith, a NYC grassroots, multi-faith movement for climate justice, and New Jersey Audubon, Tracing Infinity will take you on a journey through meadows, mountains, gardens, coastlines, and open rangeland to explore how close our lives are to heaven and the source of our existence. We are always in the presence of the eternal, existing in the present and following our futures in the same breath, literally tracing infinity.

The church is an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, at

1368 US HWY 1 in Hancock.

For more information about the event, please call the church at 422-3100.

Everyone is welcome. There is no charge for admission.

A free will offering to benefit the Schoodic Food Pantry will be accepted.

October Birthdays and Anniversaries

01: Gina Tansey 1: *Tom* & *Marge* Severance 02: *Sue* Bonner

03: *Everett* Espling 06: *Judi* Crowley 07: *Jaimie* Wood Harrell

08: *Richard* Lewis 08: *Will* & Sharon Stephenson

09: Chris & *Rohanna* Smullen Madigan 09: Aaron & *Meghan* Philio Scott

12: *Brandon* Perry-Hudson 13: *Liz* Bunker 14: *Peggy* Karns

18: *TJ* Mack 19: *Bonnie* Ross 20: *Ruth* Dietze

29: *Ron* McGlinchey 30: *Chris* & *Melissa* Nowell

Fall Handbell Ringing Because of travel and Play commitments this Fall, handbell practices won’t start until mid October. Here’s the plan: Rehearsals Sundays after church 11:30–12:15ish Oct. 22, 29 and Nov. 5th playing a Thanksgiving tune on Nov. 12th (Annual Meeting date). Then resuming rehearsals Nov. 19, and Dec. 3, and 10th, playing our Christmas selections on Sunday, Dec 17th . (We can discuss playing on Christmas Eve, but Pat S. will be gone.) We need 7 participants to commit to a majority of these rehearsals to be able to ring. Please call Pat Summerer at 963-7182 if you are interested. Thank You. Please consider joining us. It’s fun and rewarding to be part of a group playing to the Glory of the Lord without being judged for your expertise. Again, please call Pat if you would like to try ringing!

Book Group beginning on Wednesday, October 25th from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

From What Is To What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want, by Rob Hopkins, was one of the guiding texts of our 2022 Fostering Imagination program facilitated by The BTS Center (the successor to the Bangor Theological Seminary).

Join us as we gather to discuss ways this book speaks to us, our church and our evolving

place in our communities. Please let Pastor TJ if you would like a copy of the book.

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

We pray for earthquake victims, survivors, and relief workers in Morocco; We pray for flood victims, survivors, and relief workers in Libya; Prayers for John Wood; Doris; Jane Preble; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Liz & Jim; William; Jim Snyder; Coulter; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Margaret B; Amy Nickerson; Kenny Stratton; Joy & David & Lori; Sandy Phippen; Norm; Betty & her step-daughter Mollie; Debbie and Hollis Maddocks and her Aunt Linda Reed; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Renata’s sister-in-law Joanne; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew & his family; Prayers of strength and healing for all awaiting diagnoses and for all recovering from surgeries; Prayers for all individuals and families experiencing addictions; for all caregivers;

Prayers for all that are unsafe, unhoused, hungry & in need of care & compassion;

and prayers for all that is in your heart…

Pastor TJ is looking for volunteers to offer rides and companionship for a few of our community members that do not drive and could use some help navigating their way through an in-person banking transaction, or a Motor Vehicle Department request for I.D. renewal, a trip to the grocery store, or various other life necessities. Please consider if this is something

you may be able to do while you are running your own errands.

Don’t hesitate to ask TJ about this if you might be interested in helping. Thanks.

2023 Annual Meeting of the Maine Conference UCC

October 20th and 21st, 2023 at Pilgrim Lodge!

Everyone is invited to attend AM92 in person. Those who cannot can attend via Zoom.

Friday October 20

Registration opens 8

Workshops 9-10:30 and 11:00-12:30 and 1:30-3

Lunch 12:30 - 1:30

3:30 - 5 - Fellowship Time & Optional Events

5:30 - 7 - Dinner

7:30 - 9 - Campfire & S'mores

Saturday October 21

7 - 8 - Breakfast & Registration

8 - Noon - Business Meeting

Noon - Lunch

1 - 2:30 - Installation of our new Conference Minister with Reception to follow

Lodging - at Pilgrim Lodge or at two area Hotels