Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for December 1, 2024
Zion hears the watchmen singing,
and in her heart new joy is springing.
She wakes, she rises from her gloom,
for her Lord comes down all-glorious,
and strong in grace, in truth victorious.
Her star is ris'n; her light is come.
O, come, you Blessed One,
Lord Jesus, God's own Son.
We go until the halls we view
where You have bid us dine with You
Join us for lightly guided meditation at 9:00 a.m. on Fridays in our Sanctuary. In the spirit of the sessions led by Angela Absher at the Hancock Point Chapel we will begin with a lightly guided non-denominational meditation followed by a few minutes of discussion and ending with another 20 minutes of meditation. The program will be led by novices Alison Boden and TJ Mack. Now and again we may have guest speakers. Our goal is friendship and happiness. No experience is necessary. We leave in silence. Do come.
During the month of December, we will be receiving the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross Offering. This is an annual UCC offering that expresses our thanks to retired and active UCC pastors and lay church workers and their families facing emergency financial need, providing direct assistance to supplement pensions, help with the cost of medical insurance, and thank you gifts at Christmas. Envelopes are available in the back of the Sanctuary and in the Fellowship Hall.
At-home Daily Devotional – “Starry Nights: An Advent Devotional Full of Light and Wonder”
Pick your copy up from the tables at the back of the Sanctuary or ask Vicky or Pastor TJ for an electronic version.
The Wreaths Across America convoy leaves Downeast on Sunday, Dec. 8th. It's due at the YMCA in Ellsworth at 9 am so it would pass the church in the 8:45am-ish time frame. All are invited to gather on our church steps between 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. to wave them onward.
Join us for a PotLuck and Christmas Carol Sing on Sunday, December 15th. Meet in the church Fellowship Hall at 5:00. Bring a dish to share and friends and family to enjoy the meal and Caroling at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
December Birthdays and Anniversaries
04: Gary Edwards 05: Sonny Mehl 10: Ron & Kathy McGlinchey
15: Frank Dorsey 16: Ashley Ehrlenbach Johnson 17: Sue Croteau
18: Barbara Reeve 20: Sheila O’Neill 21: Mary Angela Davis
27: Jennifer Ashmore 30: Keith & Pam Bowie
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for Ron & Kathy and their brothers Joe and David; both receiving radiation or chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Prayers for Donald B. and Kenny V., Orrick, Brian, and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Sally M.; Xyerra; Everett’s sister Libby; Judith C.; Don and Heather; Eleanor A.; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Yvonne; Herbie Lounder; Ira; Cathy C.; Ruth; Marie; Doris; Jim Snyder; Jonathan Holmes; Brandon Perry-Hudson; John Wood; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Liz & Jim; Kenny Stratton; Joy & David & Lori & Melissa; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Sandy Phippen; Amy Nickerson; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew & family; Kevin and Vanessa & family. Prayers of strength and healing for all awaiting diagnoses and for all recovering from surgeries & procedures. Prayers for all that are unsafe, unhoused, hungry & in need of care & compassion. Prayers for all caregivers; and prayers for all that is in your heart…
Photo Directory — Have you ever heard anyone say “I know the name but don’t know the face” or “I know the face, but am not sure of their name?” Well, over the next few weeks, Sarina will be taking pictures so that we can begin to put together a photo directory. If you absolutely don’t want your photo to go with your name and address, your info will appear as it always has. Thanks in advance.
Each month on Communion Sunday we gratefully accept donations for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. The Donations Manager at Loaves and Fishes provided this clarification and personalization of the list we shared last week (see below, revised). Loaves and Fishes is grateful for the congregation's consistent donations of non-perishable food and goods.
1. Items like jelly for p&j, pasta sauce, and mac and cheese that doesn't require milk, laundry soap and personal hygiene products are in demand.
2. Milk, eggs, butter, oil, meat and poultry are provided by Hannaford. If individuals want to donate those items, they can do so during hours of operation.
3. Spices or salt and pepper would be a greatly appreciated donation.
4. Tea bags and coffee are thoughtful donations.
5. Sugar and flour are treats. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake.
6. Consider donating seeds in Spring and Summer because some will gratefully grow their own gardens.
7. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
8. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
9. Every once in a while donate a can opener to the food pantry for those picking up canned veggies and soups. Or donate canned food with pop-top lids.
10. Pet food.
Recipe: Bible Fruit Cake
From the kitchen of Betty Johnston
1 cup Psalm 55:21 (either)
2 cups Jeremiah 6:20 (last half)
6 cups Job 39:14
3 Tablespoons 1st Samuel 14:25
½ cup Judges 4:19 (first sentence)
4 ½ cups 1st Kings 4:22 (first part)
2 teaspoons Leviticus 2:13
2 teaspoons Amos 4:5
2nd Chronicles 9:9
2 cups Numbers 17:8, chopped
2 cups both things in 1st Samuel 30:12, chopped
And serve with love!
From the Maine Conference
Justice Leadership Program
4 month cohort starting in January
Do you feel called to work for justice? This online program is for adults interested in weaving social justice into the fabric of their faith in a meaningful and transformative way. Deepen your understanding, learn practical skills, and gain the confidence to take meaningful action through this foundational program. Participants meet weekly. Apply by December 15th.
Scholarships available for UCC members from FaithINFO (inquire upon applying)
A celebration of life will be held for Rev. David Stillman at the Somesville Union Meeting House, UCC on January 11, 2025 at 11:00 am. Please wear bright colors. For those unable to attend, a live stream link will be provided on the church website:
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Pilgrim Lodge summer church camp scholarship fund at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/pilgrim-lodge-scholarship-program
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
Testing, Testing
Rev. Dr. Malcolm Himschoot – Dean, Maine School of Ministry
There is a story going around. In this story, all of us are cast as players in a cosmic moral drama. It is a popular story, easy to remember, and it endures across the ages. It goes like this. “Out there are impure people. God hates them. But God loves us, and therefore we must be victorious over them.” It is worth pondering this story for a minute. Where have you heard it before? It certainly seems like a theological story. An easily-politicized theological story. Did Jesus say anything like this?
Jesus told a far different story. “Let’s go to the other side of the lake! (Mark 4:35) Those who love their neighbor can be my disciples. (Mark 12:31; Matt 7:21; Luke 14:26) God loves all. (John 3:16; John 15:12) Peacemakers shall be called the children of God. (Matt 5:9)”
The theology of Jesus offers a shining contrast in the dingy discord of our time –even and especially when it goes by the name ‘christian.’ Where threats of impurity scream “Danger, danger!” we remember that Jesus threw out the purity codes, touched the lepers, and said: “Take the log out of your own eye, before focusing on someone else’s speck! (Matt 7:5)” Whenever someone spreads misinformation that God is someone who hates people, Jesus says no, God is the one “who sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt 5:45). Wherever nativism draws arbitrary lines to determine who is “not us,” Jesus says, “Let me tell you a story about who your neighbor really is. It will surprise you!” (Luke 10:29-37) And when it comes to the victory of an “us” over a “them,” Jesus says, “Well it might get worse before it gets better. But know that I am with you to the end of the age.” (Luke 21:10-19; Matt 28:20).
The story of moralistic enmity and retribution has worn many religious labels, and none. It currently has a huge and politicized following within significant North American churches and denominations that dwarf the United Church of Christ. Violent extremism loves the violent story. God appears as a character, but has no character in this story – other than a magnified version of our own spites. It might be a theological story, because it deals with matters of ultimate concern, but we cannot find Christ in this story. Jesus spoke and taught and lived and died to incarnate a different God. He told his stories to heal, forgive, build up, and engage all who were downtrodden, disgraced, diminished, and dispossessed. It was not a small, subtle, nuanced contrast he was trying to make over and against deities of fear-based control and violent power. Those deities are never satiated without demanding collateral damage as their worship: the suffering of orphans, widows, immigrants, the poor.
Should we be surprised at the present state of theological confusion that lends itself to the sins of civilization? Oppression has worn the label of ‘christendom’ before, at the height of the Ku Klux Klan, in the era of slavery, and throughout the ongoing history of colonialism under the Doctrine of Discovery. All of these movements were political – and all of them were conflated with bad theology. A violent extremist script seems to be our default when we (whoever “we” is) wield a great deal of power, yet feel for some reason powerless. That’s when we seek out a proprietary deity to be our own security guard, our bouncer, our bully.
Meanwhile and nevertheless, the yeast in the dough continues to rise (Matt 13:33). In every time, the wisdom and alternative witness of Jesus persists, pointing to God who is God: beyond our petty prejudices, universally accessible, and intimately involved in holy transformation through the loving power of the Spirit.
If people of Christian faith cannot hear the difference between colossal rage and raging compassion, perhaps those of us who are theological educators and teachers are not being clear enough in our witness. If people of Christian faith cannot see the difference between Jesus’ way of love, and the political circus of whipping boys and scapegoats, perhaps those of us who are pastors are not close enough to be seen as we pray for the peace of the church and the truth of the Gospel. If those who are finding their way to faith are encountering only authoritarian and exclusionary churches, perhaps it is because congregations practicing conscience remain too far removed or behind some kind of paywall.
Scripture reminds us to “test everything” (1 Thess 5:21). Now is a time of testing. When a false and exclusive theological story loses its emotional power, it will be because a better story has brought us back to ourselves. Better stories are told through the crucible of heart, soul, strength, and mind (Mark 12:30).
Time to study up on the theology of Jesus.
Meet Lydia! Lydia (she/her) is a life-long lover of all things Pilgrim Lodge, and is Pilgrim Lodge's Assistant Camp Director, a new year-round role. She began coming to camp as a toddler, and first joined the summer staff in 2016 as the Camp Photographer. Lydia served as the Summer Assistant Director for three years, and is thrilled to join the team in a year-round capacity. She is proud to be a pastor’s kid, has a deep love for the Maine Conference, and calls Eliot UCC her home church. Lydia is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, called to seminary by her love of all things outdoor ministry. She finds God ‘neath the tall green trees, and in summer sunsets. Lydia believes so deeply in the power of intentional community and believes that the spirit of camp is the balm to an ever-weary world. She feels incredibly called and enthusiastically joyful to do this good and holy work. Lydia wears many hats at camp, and works all year with Director Liz to plan and dream for the summertime! Lydia is the voice you will hear on the phone if you call Pilgrim Lodge, and she is your go-to person for any and all registration needs. Lydia will also hold a leadership role for rental and retreat groups. She will work closely with volunteers to coordinate camp sessions, and with the summer staff. Lydia can process background checks for your church, and she and Liz are both available to spend time visiting with your congregation to get excited about coming to camp!
Lydia especially loves to swim to the islands at camp, and eat ice cream on the porch of the Lodge. She can't wait to see you this summer! To reach Lydia, you can email lhoffman@pilgrimlodge.org or call the camp office at 207-724-3200.
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