Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for
April 7, 2024
Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side, rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified; no angels in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bends their burning eye at mysteries so bright.
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
Choir rehearsals are Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. All are welcome. Please, join us!
Meet and welcome Sarina Brooks, our student pastor, into our family!
Sarina Brooks is a student in the Pathways Theological Education Program working toward a Certificate in Ministry and is a Member in Discernment in the Sunrise Association of the Maine Conference. She is a licensed mental health therapist and works in a community mental health center as well as in a private therapy practice in Machias. Sarina has a master’s degree in social work and has had the honor of working with a wide variety of people across the lifespan. Sarina usually attends Centre Street Congregational Church in Machias and wears many hats within that congregation. She is the Licensed Director of Pastoral Care at CSCC and guides the work of Centre Street's Care Team. She has worked with congregants in times of crisis, grief, or difficult life changes, and presided over weddings and funerals in the congregation and community. Sarina enjoys gardening, decorating and other creative projects, construction projects (Ask her about the tiny house she lives in and built!), cooking, being outside in God’s wondrous natural world, spending time with her cute kitties, family and friends and reading (Science fiction, fantasy and biblical and other history are her favorites.). Laughter and joy are a part of her everyday language, and she believes both can heal a world of woes. Sarina is passionate about being of service and serving others on behalf of the Holy.
Our meetings are open to all. If you would like to attend a meeting, please let TJ or Vicky know and they will provide the Zoom link, or you are welcome to attend in person.
Our Deacons meet on Friday, April 12th at 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall or on Zoom.
Trustees meet on Wednesday, April 17th at 12:00 p.m. on Zoom only.
Our Council meets Friday, April 19th at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall or on Zoom.
Outreach meets Thursday, April 25th at 4:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall or on Zoom.
Planning for Life’s Inevitable Surprises
Most of us like to be in control of our lives. What happens when we lose the illusion of control?
Planning now can help ensure your desires are honored later.
Planning now removes unnecessary burdens placed on your loved ones in times of grief.
Session One - Myrna Coffin will share some of the lessons learned while she (and Steve) navigated unfamiliar territory after he suffered a life-changing health event.
We will have some important documents available – and brainstorm future session topics.
Join us for soup and discussion on Thursday, April 11th from Noon - 2:00 p.m. at the church.
Save the Date: Saturday morning, May 4th, 2024
The Sunrise Association will hold its Spring Meeting at Pilgrim Lodge.
An option for overnight camping will be available on Friday, May 3rd.
Breakfast and lunch options are available on Saturday.
Let’s mix business with pleasure and gather together at our beloved camp.
Installation Service & Reception
Installation Service for Minister of Faith Formation, Kiah Baxter Sunday, May 19th @ 3 p.m.
at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC; 29 Mount Desert Street; Bar Harbor.
More details to follow closer to the date.
Upcoming April Birthdays and Anniversaries
04: Don Baril 09: Jane Bradley 14: Dennis & Linda* King
19: Linda King 19: Keith Bowie 21: Mary Beth DiMarco
21: Peggy Emigh 22: Betty Johnston 26: John & Chris Wells
30: Ruth Butters
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for the family and friends of Stephen Weber who died March 17th, on his 82nd birthday, assisted by Maine’s Death with Dignity law. Prayers for the people of our nation and of our world; Baltimore, Kansas City, and Lewiston; Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan and in so many other places experiencing escalating wars, conflicts, and disasters. Prayers for Pat’s niece Kate, Bruce’s sister Lynn, Sally’s friends, Sue Barger and Ginny Hamm who recently received cancer diagnoses; Prayers for Cynthia’s Aunt Barbara, and William and Carolyn (both at Golden Acres) receiving Hospice Care. Prayers for Ruth; Marie; Joyce Cornwell; Mary Angela’s mother and brother; Ron & Kathy; Sally’s sister Martha & her husband John; Jim Snyder; Brandon Perry-Hudson; Doris; John Wood; Jonathan Holmes; Sue Davies; Nancy & John & Jonas; Sue Davenport; Austin’s cousin Danny; Liz & Jim; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; 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…
From Our Maine Conference
"Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing."
Frederick Buechner
An Invitation for Churches to tell their stories of Resurrection
We, God’s people of the Maine Conference, are a Resurrection People.
And because we are the members and friends of our churches: Our churches are Resurrection Churches.
And because the churches are what make up the Maine Conference: Our conference is a Resurrection Conference.
And according to Buechner, that means that even when we experience the worst things in our lives and in the life of our churches and our conference, those worst things are NEVER the last thing.
The last thing is Resurrection: life over death, hope from despair, joy out of sorrow, love that casts out all fear.
Resurrection: life, hope, joy, love.
Nice metaphors, maybe even words we love to embrace. But what does all of this mean for our people in our churches and the conference?
After all, church membership has shrunk. Is it dying off? Buildings are aging. Will they crumble around us? The pandemic has left us with grieving and anxiety that will take a long time to recover. Will the pandemic return? Folks have become disillusioned with the Conference. Does the Conference Minister really care? Is the conference relevant to our future?
The statements in the above paragraph are examples of dying, sorrow, anxiety, and despair.
How can resurrection come out of these examples? What do we need to truly embrace that we are
Resurrection people, churches, conference?
I have spoken many times about resurrection since I first became your Conference Minister, in my call sermon and at the Annual meeting; in sermons and in consultation with individual churches; and in conference-wide workshops. I have spoken about this transition time we are in—this time of liminality, at the dawn of Easter and yet still existing in the Saturday between Friday and Sunday.
I believe it is time for the people and the churches to speak, to speak what I have experienced over and over in my contact with 85% of our churches in the last year and a half as your Conference Minister.
What examples of resurrection have I experienced?
Churches that thought they would die have known new life by transforming their pastoral and ministry models (licensed, lay ministers; right-sizing governance; sharing pastors with another church)
Churches that were so anxious about their future and almost shriveled in their fear of their future, have found new life through becoming community churches to those beyond their four walls. (No longer being so concerned about how many are in their pews, but how those in their pews minister to the greater community; considering church on other days than Sunday)
The greater community wants the churches to continue and supports the new-found life of the church as truly being the hands and feet of the One who died and rose to new life. (One tiny congregation told me that every time they think they’ll close, a new donation comes in from the greater community for their ministry to the hungry and poor).
Churches are experiencing me as a Conference Minister that not only cares deeply, but that is totally committed to each and every one of our churches being “alive and thriving”— truly resurrected, as I have offered my time as consultant, support, and pastor to the pastors. (A couple of churches have renewed their covenant with the conference by putting OCWM back in their budget)
These are examples from what is happening NOW in our conference.
I invite EACH CHURCH to share their stories of resurrection. You need to hear from each other and receive deep blessing from the sharing.
PLEASE send in your stories and we will publish a couple of stories every week in the mid-week news. Share as a resurrection people Share knowing that resurrection can be an ongoing process.
Sending many blessings as your partner in the Risen Christ,
Marisa
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