Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for February 25, 2024
Faith and hope in love’s compassion will survive though knowledge cease,
though the tongues of joy fall silent, dull the words of prophecies.
Faith shall see and trust its object; hope shall set its anchor sure;
love shall bloom in Love eternal. Faith and hope and love endure.
Upcoming services, meetings, events, and opportunities
Join us for Worship in our Sanctuary or on Zoom at 10:00 a.m.,
or watch the recording later on Facebook or YouTube
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 822 2425 2518
Passcode: 755650
Find us at Hancock UCC | Hancock ME | Facebook or
on YouTube at Hancock UCC - YouTube
Pastor TJ will be on Study Week and working from Wisconsin February 19th through Feb 29th.
Gordon Thomas Ward will fill our pulpit on February 25th.
On February 25th, UCC congregations in Maine will lift up the work and purpose of the Maine School of Ministry: theological education for the life of the church.
Does MESOM mean education for anybody? Yes. Many of our students are members or participants in a local church, led to study more deeply for their own spiritual journey, exploring critical dimensions of faith and an appreciation for Christian meanings and practices.
Does MESOM mean education for ministers? Yes, some of our students are Members in Discernment with an association, pursuing a call on their life involving service in and on behalf of the UCC. MESOM certificate graduates include Licensed and/or Ordained Ministers in most associations of the Maine Conference.
How about for continuing clergy? That too! Some clergy get involved as MESOM students and some become instructors furthering their lifelong education. Ordained ministers are also involved in our learning community as mentoring pastors and coaches for MESOM students on a certificate track to Pastoral Leadership or to Word and Sacrament.
God’s purposes are renewed creatively in every generation. Find out more about learning and leadership at our website: https://www.maineucc.org/mesom/.
Envelopes are available in the back of the Sanctuary if you choose to make a donation.
Lenten Wednesday Study Group
Join Pastor TJ for C.S. Lewis and the Delightful, Diabolical Daring of Lent:
A Lenten Companion to “The Screwtape Letters.”
We will enjoy soup & bread at noon while listening to comedic actor John Cleese read
C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters,” followed by discussion from 12:30 – 1:30.
Study guides are in the back of the Sanctuary or available electronically.
Upcoming March Birthdays and Anniversaries
February 25: Michael Hodgdon 27: Antonio Blasi
March 05: Bruce and Patrice Alexander 12: Tom Severance
13: Zachary Spaulding 15: Harry Lounder III 15: Nick Davis
20: Vivian Foss 21: Eveline Thorsen 21: *Savanna Havey
23: Linc Ehrlenbach 28: Pam Bowie
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for the people of Lewiston and all of Maine; Prayers for the world, suffering loss and grief in Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, and so many other ongoing wars and conflicts. Prayers for Bruce’s sister, Lynn, waiting diagnosis from a biopsy; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger who recently received a cancer diagnosis; for David and Cynthia’s daughter-in-law Hannah Wildes, her family, and her father, Mike Lundrigan, who is suffering from liver failure complications; Mary Angela’s mother Caroline, Cynthia’s Aunt Barbara, Renata’s maternal Aunt Lore Ruben, age 95, in Seattle; Sylvia Monteux, and William, all receiving Hospice Care; Ron & Kathy; Bob & Karen; Ruth; Sally’s sister Martha & her husband John; John Wood; Everett’s brother Darrell; Doris; Jim Snyder; Kenny Houghton; Jonathan Holmes; Sue Davies; Nancy & John & Jonas; Vicky’s brother-in-law, Buster and his wife Wanda; Sue Davenport; Austin’s cousin Danny; Liz & Jim; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Coulter; Kenny Stratton; Joy & David & Lori; Sandy Phippen; Betty & her step-daughter Mollie; Debbie & Hollis & Holly and Debbie’s Aunt Linda Reed; Patrice’s niece Erica; Amy Nickerson; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew & 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 individuals and families experiencing addictions; prayers for all caregivers; and prayers for all that is in your heart…
Sunrise Association Committee on Ministry Needs You!
Are you interested in getting to know the churches in our association a little bit better? Curious about ministry, and the different ways that ministry happens around our association? If so, the Committee on Ministry (COM) is seeking new members!
The COM works with both churches and clergy in the Sunrise Association — we do outreach to churches, support congregations in times of transition, work with members-in-discernment (people who are discerning a call to ordained ministry), and attend to the care and oversight of clergy.
We meet monthly as a full committee, and members have the chance to choose one of three sub-groups — church engagement outreach, clergy care and oversight, or members-in-discernment — for more focused involvement.
We need both lay and clergy members - and no prior experience is needed — just curiosity, and a willingness to learn. If this sounds like it might be of interest to you, or if you know someone who might be interested in serving, please reach out to Rev. Andi Lloyd (andi@tcpoc.org) or Rev. Lisa Durkee (pastor@bluehillcongregational.org) for more information!
Grace and peace,
Andi and Lisa
Pilgrim Lodge is hiring Summer Staff for 2024
The Pilgrim Lodge staff plays a vital role in supporting the program and ministry of camp. There are longer-term positions available and shorter, summer roles for residential staff. We welcome applicants from all walks of life as reflected in our Statement of Faith.
Apply now! Interviews are underway. Please visit pilgrimlodge.org for more information.
For questions about our jobs or support with the application process, please email Liz Charles McGough, Director, at echarles@pilgrimlodge.org or call 207-724-3200. Please share this information with anyone that you think might be a good fit for Pilgrim Lodge. Thank you!
Join Pastor TJ at Pilgrim Lodge for Jump Start Weekend
Raking leaves, stacking wood, clearing brush, floating docks, sweeping floors, washing windows…there’s so much to do to clean up PL after the winter and get ready for summer!
We need your help, and there’s something for everyone to do! April 26 - 28th (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Help all three days or for only part of one day. Many hands make light work! See Pilgrim Lodge website or TJ for more details.
From the Maine Conference
Our Maine Conference
United in Diversity
Related in Covenantal Relationships: “We”, not “Us and Them”
What is the Maine Conference? Or an even better question: who are we as the Maine Conference? A family? A large community? A conglomeration of folks who identify as members of the United Church of Christ (but not sure what that means)? Some of you may have clear and firm thoughts about these questions. Some of you may have thoughts and some questions. Some of you may be filled with questions.
Our Conference begins and is based on the health and vitality of each and every ministry setting, no matter the size or location. I as Conference Minister am committed to affirming your autonomy, which means you make all decisions for your local church, and any ministry setting is autonomous. My role is to support, advise, and lend you my experience and expertise to meet your goals to be and become the faith community that God has called you to be and become.
Our Conference thrives when churches and the greater conference are in a covenant relationship. We at the conference level are committed to be in covenant with you to do everything we can to support, advise, be consultants, offer our presence with you at every stage of your journey, support your search for pastoral leadership, and support your present pastoral leader(s).
Churches’ role in the covenant can manifest in seeking and receiving the help of the conference ministers, learning about what it means to be a church of the United Church of Christ in Maine and in the wider church, sending delegates to Association meetings and the annual meeting of the Conference, consider raising up a delegate to attend SYNOD to learn more about the polity and the commitment of the National church to serve our churches, conference, and the greater world.
One other piece of the Covenant has to do with financial support. The Conference covenants to provide churches with all the support needed to grow and thrive; churches covenant to financially support the work of the Conference through “Our Churches’ Wider Mission (OCWM)—basic support”, Friends of the Maine Conference, and Annual Dues
The last message in this long message is that above all the Maine Conference is “we”, not “us and them.” I sometimes hear churches refer to “us” and “them”; and yet covenant means “we.” We are together in mutual ministry: The Conference can only hold its covenant if churches hold theirs; churches can only hold their covenant if the Conference holds its covenant.
As always, I welcome conversation with anyone and any faith community. I am your partner in faith and ministry, centered on the words, ministry, and message of Jesus the Christ.
Blessing upon blessing,
Marisa
Comments