Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for March 2, 2025

Trembling at his feet we saw

       Moses and Elijah speaking.

All the prophets and the law

       shout through them their joyful greeting:

The choir will resume rehearsals Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. on March 2. All are welcome.

Pastor TJ is on family leave in Wisconsin. Even though we miss her, we are very grateful for those who have stepped up to cover for her while she is away.

This week, we welcome to the pulpit Rev. Cynthia Priem. Cynthia was blessed with scholarships to Vassar College (BA), University of Pennsylvania (MA), and Lexington Theological Seminary (MDiv) as well as the Eastern Music Festival (2 years). During her years of automating libraries, she took courses in a Master of Library Science program and, while developing three applications used in the building of facilities to make new pharmaceutical products, she took courses toward a Master of Science in Technology. Another period of her life was spent teaching public and proprietary software to business professionals.  She served UCC churches in Kentucky, Indiana, and Maine.  She is currently not affiliated with a denomination and experiences a checkout lane at Shaws as a pastor's study when the store is quiet. She is a first violinist in the DownEast Chamber Orchestra and U.of Maine's orchestra and baroque ensemble.

Sunday we will share Holy Communion.  For those who will receive the sacraments at home, please prepare a piece of bread or a cracker, and a cup of juice or wine and join us at the table. Also, we will be receiving non-perishable food items, toiletries, and pet food for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry as we do on the first Sunday of every month.

The Outreach Team is providing a hot dinner for the guests who utilize Healthy Acadia’s Warming Center in Ellsworth. Monetary donations can be made to Tamara and she will shop for ingredients OR you may make food donations to be dropped off at the church by Sunday, March 2nd. If you have any questions, please call or text Tamara at 207-460-4148 or email at Crowley_tamara@yahoo.com.

FOOD DONATION NEEDS

4 Loaves of garlic bread (frozen or fresh)

o 4 bags or heads of lettuce

o 8 tomatoes

o 5 cucumbers

o 5 peppers (any color)

o 4 large bottles of salad dressing (French, Thousand Island, Italian, Caesar)

o 4 bags of croutons

o 4 pies or cakes

o 6 rectangle tinfoil pans

Lent begins on March 5th. All are welcome at our Ash Wednesday Service of Soup and Prayers at 12:00 noon in our Fellowship Hall. Rev. Dr. Kate Winters and Rev. Joel Krueger will lead us in this service with the distribution of ashes.

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. Our meetings are held in person and virtually on Zoom.

Deacons will meet Friday, March 7 at 3:00 p.m.

Trustees will meet Wednesday, Maarch 19 at 12:00 noon.

Outreach meets Thursday, March 20 at 4:15 p.m.

Council meets Friday, March 21 at 11:30 a.m.

Christian Ed will meet Wednesday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m.

Join us for lightly guided meditation at 9:00 a.m. on Fridays in our Sanctuary.

All are welcome!

March Birthdays and Anniversaries                   

05: Bruce and Patrice Alexander         12: Tom Severance      13: Zachary Spaulding

15: Nick Davis   15: Harry Lounder III            20: Vivian Foss

21: Eveline Thorsen    21: Savanna Hudson Havey    23: Linc* Ehrlenbach

28: Pam Bowie            29: Debbie Maddocks

March tentative Supply Clergy

March 9 – Rev. Dr. Kate Winters & Rev. Joel Krueger

March16 – Rev. Nancy Johnston

March 23 – Rev. Dr. Kate Winters & Rev. Joel Krueger

March 30 – Rev. Cynthia Priem

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Priscilla Jones who passed away Wednesday, February 26,

Prayers for Pastor TJ, her Mom, Carol, and her siblings; and  prayers for Pat’s daughter, Mary Shannon-Riley. Prayers for Alex, Andrew and Tamara; Prayers for Donald B.;  Kenny V.; Orrick; Brian; and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Judith C.; Eleanor A.; Ira and Ginny; Don and Heather; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Herbie Lounder; Ruth; Marie; Jim Snyder; Jonathan Holmes; 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; 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; those who are grieving; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

From the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ

Come Unto Me and I Will Give you Rest

A Message from Liz Charles McGough, Pilgrim Lodge Director

28 Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

-Matthew 11: 28-29

When you see the words “summer camp” what comes to mind for you? Perhaps children jumping into a lake or sitting in a circle weaving friendship bracelets? Maybe you visualize a campfire and someone strumming a guitar. On any given day at Pilgrim Lodge, these are common images of our camp program, but I invite you to expand your imagination with me to also visualize grandparents walking down the Boardwalk of our camp, holding hands with their grandchildren. You may also catch a glimpse of an adult couple playing ping pong or a group of women singing songs in the chapel together. I like to share that, in 2024, the average age of a Pilgrim Lodge camper was 34 years old. That we have a multi-generational camp community, is one of the richest facets of camp life, in my opinion.

While it may be easy to see the canoes and S’mores and make assumptions that camp is about recreation, it is my deepest hope that in our singing around the campfire, sitting in nature, making a bracelet for a friend or paddling a boat, we’re experiencing something of substance at Pilgrim Lodge. From our evaluations, we get feedback from our campers about the value of their experience.

          • During Women’s Weekends, we often hear from our campers that they are caregivers to their loved ones. A weekend retreat provides them with a space to care for themselves as they support one another. A camper shared, “My favorite part of my camp experience was finding a faith community, reconnecting with God through nature. I had no idea how much I was missing this space in my life!!”

          • Clergy are called into incredible leadership during challenging times. Clergy Praycation offers a time for pastors and members in discernment to share retreat time with colleagues. One camper shared, “Pastors need camp too! PL is a beautiful, accessible, welcoming space for respite and renewal.”

          • Camp Pride offers a sanctuary to LGBTQ+ youth who face the impacts of dehumanizing marginalization in their day-to-day lives. A first-time camper shared, “Pilgrim Lodge is a fun, accepting and comfortable place for anyone and everyone regardless of race, gender, identity or ability and I felt a home here.”

          • Our teenagers face the mental health impacts of a constant barrage of social media. Time away from devices at camp welcomes youth into a different rhythm and attention to those present together. “The labyrinth was the best. I honestly felt like that was one of the coolest things I have done all year. I felt like the labyrinth helped me to find myself a lot. Also, vespers were all truly inspiring. I also loved all of the song prayers. They taught me that I could pray any way I wanted. I feel like my spirituality has grown.”

I often ask myself, “As an Outdoor Ministries camp program, how do we rise to meet this moment?” As I see the challenges that we face in our communities, as a nation, and as global neighbors, I strongly believe that time spent at a slower pace, creating community and grounding in our spiritual practices is a powerful force for change. We learn about the impact of camp from our campers. Resting leads to resiliency. Finding purpose from our faith tradition gives us strength to go out into the world. Forming trusting relationships gives us a network of love and care to face the challenges beyond camp. Time at camp is not about escaping from the world. It is about building up our spirits to return into it with love.

In closing today, I invite you into a moment of rest. I encourage you to take just a few moments to build up your resiliency in the here and now. Here are some ideas:

          • Spend 3 minutes listening to the Sweet Honey in the Rock recording of “Come Unto Me,” their musical rendering of Matthew 11: 28-29. Consider closing your eyes and letting the words sink in.

          • Sit outdoors or facing a window for 5 minutes. Set a timer and challenge yourself to be present to the sights, sounds and sensations that you notice when you step away from screens, alerts and news feeds.

          • Spend a moment jotting down something that you are feeling grateful for.

          • Reach out to someone you care about. Consider a real handwritten note with a stamp!

If that is more than you have space for, a text of care and love could mean a lot.

Come unto me, and I will give you rest. You are invited to join us at Pilgrim Lodge. I encourage you to https://www.pilgrimlodge.org/camps/?cats=for-adults and consider how rest may help you rise to meet this this moment.

Did you know that camp is not only for children? At Pilgrim Lodge, we have a wide variety of programs that include adults! Check out our sessions for adults and register to join us this summer. Scholarships are available through an application here.

Checking in with our churches in these trying times

Dear Pastors and Laity,

I have heard from several of our churches about how they are responding to the current climate in our country. I have heard from folks all across the political spectrum. I have heard from folks who are hurt and angry and confused for various reasons. As your Conference Minister, I wrap my arms around ALL of you. I pray that we indeed may be one as God and Jesus are one, in the midst of our diversity. I welcome conversation, sharing, complaints, and laments. Let’s collectively commit to stay in loving covenant with one another, gathered under the headship of Jesus, united in love in the midst of our diversity, committed to following Jesus’ life and teachings as we each feel called to serve.

May we ask our God to grant us the love and courage to speak and act as Jesus modeled speaking and acting on behalf of the vulnerable, shunned, and marginalized siblings among us.

With prayers and deep blessings on all,

Marisa