Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for March 23, 2025

Though the fig tree may not blossom, and though the rivers run dry, Though the world around me crumble, though I heave and I sigh, I remember where my hope lies, where my help comes from, If you could care about the sparrow, I know, you won't forget me.

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 our pulpit Rev. Joel Krueger and Rev. Dr. Kate Winters. Thank you Joel and Kate.

The choir rehearses Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. All are welcome.

Next Sunday, March 30, Rev. Cynthia Priem will be our Guest Minister.

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

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.

Outreach will meet Thursday, March 20 at 4:15 pm

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

Come celebrate Easter with us!

as the Board of Christian Education hosts 

HOSANNA HOOPLA

Friday, April 4th

3:00-5:00 pm

All ages are welcome!

Palm Sunday Service – Sunday, April 13th 10 am with a palm parade and palms to take home

Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service with Communion – Thursday, April 17th, 7 pm

Easter Sunrise Service at Riverside Cemetery – Sunday, April 20th, 6:00 am, Hancock,

behind Hancock Grammar School (In case of rain, the service will be held in the church Fellowship Hall)

Easter Morning Breakfast in the church Fellowship Hall – Sunday April 20th, 6:45 am

Donations gratefully accepted, everyone is welcome.

Traditional Easter Morning Worship Service – Sunday April 20th, 10 am, followed by Fellowship Time.

March Birthdays and Anniversaries

28: Pam Bowie            29: Debbie Maddocks

April Birthdays and Anniversaries

04: Don Baril     09: Jane Bradley         14: Dennis & Linda King

16: Jack & Delores Candy        19:  Linda King           19: Keith Bowie

21: Mary Beth DiMarco        22: Betty Johnston      26: John & Chris Wells

27: Jeff Springer    30: Ruth Butters 

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Prayers for the Doucette family on the recent passing of Denny’s daughter-in-law, Jenna.

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; and for Tyler Crabtree. Prayers for Donald B.;  Kenny V.; Orrick; Brian; and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Cynthia W.; 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…

Save the Date – Sunrise Association Spring Meeting!

Our Spring Sunrise Association Gathering will be hosted by

Trinitarian Congregational Parish of Castine on May 17th.

There will be a continental breakfast at 8:30 with our meeting from

9-noon followed by lunch. A more complete schedule and committee reports will be sent once we are closer to the date.

Have you heard that the Maine Conference and Pilgrim Lodge have joined the Wabanaki Alliance Coalition? Do you want to know more about the work of the Coalition? Does your local church have

questions about how to support Wabanaki sovereignty? On March 25th at 7 pm on    zoom, members of the Maine Conference are invited to come attend a presentation by Former Ambassador Maulian Bryant, who is the Director of the Wabanaki Alliance. She will share about the work of the Alliance and Coalition partners. It will be a great way to learn more, and see how you and your church can get involved.

Register for the event here: http://tiny.cc/Coalition325 You will receive an email to the link to the zoom call the morning of the event.

Fall Classes Upcoming

-Preaching as Prayerful Communication – with Rev. Dr. AbbyLynn Haskell and Rev. Jim

Gertmenian

 -Old Testament Psalms, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets – with Rev. Dr. David Cleaver-Bartholomew  

More info TBA.

From the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ

Be Pilgrim Lodgical

A Message from Liz Charles McGough, Pilgrim Lodge Director

       I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? – Isaiah 43: 19

Each season at camp, we ground our programming in a curriculum that provides daily scripture lessons and activities that weave together an overarching theme for the program. This season, the name of the curriculum is “Another Way.” The summary of the content is as follows:

 “In the peace of this space [at camp], we will explore what would change if we lived as our authentic selves and respected the truths of others. In this humility, we will imagine how growing changes the way we live. In this potential for transformation, we will imagine how our personal change meets the change we seek in the world. Whether we are addressing unfair rules or dreaming of a time when all people belong, we know that God calls us to do a new thing and faithfully forge another way.”

At Pilgrim Lodge, we spend our time together practicing a way of living together as the Kindom of God. We share time in a community where we strive to ensure that “All who come in love have a seat at our table.” In that spirit, campers literally set and clear the tables for one another, serving food to each other and practicing making sure that there is enough to go around the table. We use restorative practices to build community and repair harm by sharing our perspectives, listening to one another and growing our empathy. We share times of worship with each other, inviting campers to reflect on what scripture means to them. We explore a mission project each year to consider how we are called to be agents of justice in the world beyond camp. In sum, we practice a way of being in the world that we coin as being “Pilgrim Lodgical.” We strive to be Pilgrim Lodgical while we’re together at camp so that we can be Pilgrim Lodgical when go out into the world beyond.

On the last day of camp, our campers will be sent out into the world with a charge to do God’s work in the world grounded in Isaiah 43: 19, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?”

Whether or not you will come to Pilgrim Lodge as a camper this season (yes, adults can be campers, too: our adult programs are here!), I encourage you to be Pilgrim Lodgical along with us. Here are some invitations:

1. Pilgrim Lodge, together with the Maine Conference United Church of Christ, is a supporting organization of the Wabanaki Alliance Coalition. Do you want to know more about the work of the Coalition? Does your local church have questions about how to support Wabanaki sovereignty? On March 25th at 7 pm on zoom, the Anti-Racism Resource Team invites members of the Maine Conference to attend a presentation by Former Ambassador Maulian Bryant, who is the Director of the Wabanaki Alliance. She will share about the work of the Alliance and Coalition partners. Register for the event here: http://tiny.cc/Coalition325. A link for the zoom call will be emailed the morning of the event.

 2. This summer, Pilgrim Lodge will focus on a mission project to support two organizations in Maine that do important justice work in support of our immigrant neighbors: the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and the Maine Mobile Health Program. As we seek to ensure that “all who come in love have a seat at our table,” this summer our partnerships provide us with an amazing opportunity to welcome New Mainers to camp! Would you like to support          access to camp for a child? Does your church have an abundance of scholarship funds that you could share? The basic cost of a week of camp is $560. Consider a donation to our fund to support camp for New Mainers by donating online here or by mail (103 Pilgrim Lodge Lane, West Gardiner, ME 04345). Please note “Camp for New Mainers” in the memo so that we can ensure your gift goes directly to a camp opportunity for a child.

3. Each season, we invite folks from around Maine to help us get ready for camp during Jump Start Weekend. This year, we’ll gather from April 25-27 to open camp. An exciting part of the weekend will be the installation of solar panels at Pilgrim Lodge as we convert to sustainable energy to power our camp. Come lend a hand with our projects around camp, witness this historic moment of justice in action, and spread the word about opportunities to live sustainably on our planet. Come for an afternoon or stay overnight for free! Details are here. RSVP to Assistant Camp Director Lydia at lhoffman@pilgrimlodge.org.

Being Pilgrim Lodgical is a way of living the Kindom of God here in the world today.     

Join us.

“My heart is moved by all I cannot save:

 so much has been destroyed

 I have to cast my lot with those

who age after age, perversely,

with no extraordinary power,

reconstitute the world.”

                                      ― Adrienne Rich

Easter Flowers

If you would like to help beautify the church with Easter flowers please fill out the form below and return it to the office by April 13th. (Easter is April 20th.)

A donation of $15.00 is suggested. Cash or checks, please.

Checks payable to Union Congregational Church of Hancock.

Please indicate whether your donation is in honor of or in loving memory of…

Your Name:__________________________________  Phone:____________________

How do you wish to have the bulletin read?

In honor of __________________________________________________________________

In loving memory of_________________________________________________________

Amount paid ___________