Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for March 9, 2025

Jesus, tempted in the desert,

lonely, hungry, filled with dread:

“Use your power,” the tempter tells him;

“Turn these barren rocks to bread!”

“Not alone by bread,” he answers,

“Can the human heart be filled.

Only by the Word that calls us

Is our deepest thunder stilled!”

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 back to our pulpit Rev. Dr. Kate Winters and Rev. Joel Krueger.

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

Don’t miss worship!

Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour. Daylight Savings Time begins, 2:00 a.m. Sunday

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

All are welcome!

March Birthdays and Anniversaries                   

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 Supply Clergy

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:

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 also for Tyler Crabtree, recently diagnosed with cancer.  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

A Letter from our Conference Minister

 Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola

United in Love and Faith

Diverse in So Many Ways

Bound by Covenant

Beloved,

My heart is open as I write this, open to each person, each church, each faith setting in our wonderfully diverse Conference. I have heard from so many voices that speak pain and intense worry about the future of the most vulnerable in our country and the world. I have heard from some voices (and I want to hear from more) who feel ignored and not appreciated, because of their right of center politics.

Yes, the divisiveness and the polarization of these times have manifested in our beloved Conference. That makes sense, given the wonderful diversity we embrace as a large umbrella conference. And yet, I wonder if we are closer together through our faith and commitment to follow Jesus than the divisive political discourse would suggest.

When I was a local pastor and I spoke about Jesus’ life and teachings to care for the most vulnerable, shunned, and ignored, and for us to do likewise, there were folks who came to me and complained that my sermons were “political” and had no place in church. Complaints increased as I touched upon uncomfortable areas of caring for the homeless or food insecure, as well as migrants who tended to our farms at harvest time. In sacred conversation, we talked about the difference between being “political” and being “Christ-centered” in values and ethics. Through continuous relationship building and a commitment to listen to one another, we wondered if Jesus was political in his preaching about justice for everyone, especially the poor, the stranger, the marginalized. We (or most of we, although we didn’t lose anyone) realized we could covenant together to follow Jesus’ ways and teachings that indeed calls us to care for the most vulnerable. And we could still hold our political values even when they disagreed. The open and respectful conversation, along with our commitment to justice in Christ’s name led us to becoming the church that is even today a beacon of hope for all groups in the greater community that are shunned and marginalized.

Although the Maine Conference is infinitely bigger than any one local faith setting, the need for conversation around faith in Jesus and following Jesus’ life and teachings is just as needed—sacred conversations among folks who are across the political spectrum, and also are united in our faith and actions based on Jesus’ faith and actions of justice for ALL that we see in the Gospels. Such loving, respectful conversation of how to come together as Jesus’ disciples is so needed in this anxiety-driven and fractious time in our country.

As Christians we have chosen Jesus as the Sole Head of our faith and our acts of faith. As churches of the United Church of Christ, we embrace the motto “that they may be one”, Jesus’ prayer for his first disciples in John 17:21. And in all of our wondrous and God-given diversity, we are called to covenant with God and one another—not through rules or stipulations, not through expectations to think alike; but through continuous relationship building and respectful conversation. I have hope that we can focus on the common ground of oneness in Christ, with Jesus as our teacher and guide in the Gospel, honoring one another as we attempt to navigate in these anxiety-driven and divisive times in our country and the world. We won’t all agree how to interpret or act on Jesus’ teaching and example of justice. My hope is that we can hold one another in love and find common ground under Jesus’ teaching and example of justice.

So Beloved, I hope deep within my heart that folks from all persuasions will continue to reach out to me for conversation and support.

I hope deep within my heart that pastors and laity from diverse political leanings can seek common ground for covenant and relationship building, as we are united in our faith in Christ alone and with actions that follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice for everyone.

I am contemplating offering Conference-sponsored conversations—but I need to hear from all of you if that would be helpful.

I am your servant and your partner in Christ,

   Marisa

All Invited! One-Day WorshipFest by MESOM

 Draw on MESOM WorshipFest! to help support those who are lay leaders in charge of worship in a congregation. One-day fee is only $25 to attend on June 7th at Pilgrim Lodge in West Gardiner. Participants will learn alongside those who plan regular and occasional services what matters from our tradition and experience expanding and renewing possibilities in embodied worship in community. Lay and Licensed students are welcome to stay overnight at Pilgrim Lodge for $100, or take the entire June Intensive course with Rev. Dr. Leslie Foley for tuition fee of $450.

More info and registration at https://www.maineucc.org/mesom/.

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.

Special Course Available to Lay/Licensed Ministers Referred by COM

“Theology and Practice of Ministry in Your First Parish.” Taught by Paul Shupe, this class meets twice a month in the evening with a cohort of working preachers. To register for the Sep-May academic year, deadline is June 2. Sessions will be scheduled according to the calendars of participants.

Please contact Dean Malcolm Himschoot if your Committee on Ministry wants to enroll a lay or licensed minister in this year-long program. Tuition cost $350, partial scholarships available.

For more information, please contact: mhimschoot@maineucc.org