Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for October 8, 2023

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise, thou mine inheritance, now and always;

thou and thou only, first in my heart, Ruler of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Upcoming services, meetings, events, and opportunities

Sunday, October 8th, join us in our Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. or on Zoom,

or watch the recording later on Facebook or YouTube

Join Zoom Meeting (This is a new link)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82224252518?pwd=aEd4WENqcjFHakFTcVFyQnltNzl1UT09

Meeting ID: 822 2425 2518

Passcode: 755650

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!

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.

Church Council meets Friday, Oct. 6th at 11:15

Christian Education meets Wednesday, October 11th at 11:30

Deacons meet on Friday, October 13th at 12:00 noon

Your Stewardship Pledge for 2024 Is Needed Now! A Stewardship letter and pledge card have been sent to all Members and Friends. Please contact the church office at 422-3100 if we missed you and they will be sent to you.

The Church Budget Committee and Council are completing work on next year's church budget and we need your pledge of financial support now so we have an accurate estimate of anticipated income. Thanks to those who have made their financial promise and returned their pledge cards. For those still contemplating their pledge, it would be helpful to receive it by next Sunday, October 15th or as soon as possible thereafter. It can be mailed to the church or placed in the Sunday morning offering plate. The proposed budget will be discussed and approved at the Annual Meeting to be held on November 12th after morning worship. Thank you for your help with this very important matter. Contact David Wildes at 422-3739 with any questions.

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.

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

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.) 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 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 Ron & Kathy; John Wood; Doris; Jane Preble; Sue Davies; Austin’s cousin Danny; Sue Davenport; Liz & Jim; William; Jim Snyder; 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 &Hollis and her Aunt Linda; Coulter; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Renata’s sister-in-law Joanne; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew & 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…

From the Maine Conference

Meeting again together!! After four long years!

A letter from our Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, Hebrews 10:24-25a

I am excited! Are you excited yet? In just a little over two weeks we are going to have the blessed and sacred opportunity to gather together again in person—after FOUR LONG YEARS—at our Annual meeting!

Now four years is a long time that our Conference has not gathered together as the corners of beloved: from north, west, down-east, mid-coast, south, and everywhere in between! And maybe some have “gotten out of the habit” just as folks “get out of the habit” when they haven’t attended church in awhile. And I fully respect those who cannot travel. On Saturday, you can join everyone through zoom for our business meeting and my installation. And you will be as welcomed as anyone in person.

My greatest joy during this first year as your Conference Minister has been traveling to the far reaches of our very large state of Maine. I have had the honor of connecting with about 75% of our churches in person, through zoom, and during workshops, and I hope that gets to 100% very soon.

I have experienced the richness of cultural beauty and uniqueness, the welcome that is ubiquitous, the Maine spirit that is alive and thriving in all of its iterations. And as I have listened carefully, you have shared your stories: of joys and concerns, grieving what once was and keeping hope alive that we can find God’s newness for us. And I am honored to be your Conference Minister, and committed to partnering with you as we discern the future God has for us.

I hope beyond hope that on October 20 and 21st we can gather together the richness of cultures, ubiquitous welcome, Maine spirit that is as varied as it is unified—as we acquaint ourselves with new beloved ones and re-connect with seasoned beloved ones: to participate in workshops, eat together for meals, relax on Pilgrim Lodge porches and in rooms warmed by fireplaces for sacred conversation. I imagine folks gathering to do the business of the conference and also gathering to imagine God’s future for us—together in Christ.

And then our final gathering will be at my installation—yes, it is a service to install me. It’s so much more than that. It is a service to celebrate all of us as church, the beloved of the Maine Conference.

Someone recently said to me that folks in our conference are in much need of a family reunion. Perhaps that’s how we can envision Annual Meeting from this time forward: an annual family reunion. We are family, and we are as diverse as family can be, with all of our differences and not always seeing eye to eye. Family isn’t perfect. Family is committed to one another, no matter who we are or where we find ourselves on life’s journey.

Are you excited yet? I know I am. Take a moment to register in person or through zoom. Let’s join together as the family, as the body of Christ, filled with many parts and many gifts.

I look forward to meeting those of you I haven’t yet met and seeing so many of you once again.

Your partner and servant,

Marisa

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