Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for May 12, 2024
O Christ Jesus, Father-Mother-Spirit, Triune Source of all,
Claim our wounded, halting witness, we surrender to your thrall.
Al-le-lu-ia!
Truth incarnate, stir us with your servant call.
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!
Church World Service Blanket Sunday is Mother’s Day, May 12th. When tough times arise, a simple act of kindness can make all the difference. Through the CWS Blanket program, you can share compassion, in a practical way, with neighbors facing hard times. We will have donation envelopes in the church for those wishing to make a contribution. Imagine the positive possibilities from your generosity…
We will be receiving two new members, Jane Lennon and Brian Simpson, on Sunday, May 12th during our worship service. Both have been attending regularly for a while and wish to formally join our Church. Welcome Jane and Brian!
During the month of May we are receiving the Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering. As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generous donation to the STC offering will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and adults. Envelopes are available in the back of the Sanctuary.
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.
Deacons meet Friday, May 10th at 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom.
Church Council meets Friday, May 17th at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom.
Join us for a Study of the Psalms
We will meet in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Remaining dates are May 15th, 22nd, and 29th. All are welcome.
Celebration of Life Graveside Service to honor and remember Jane Preble at 1:00 p.m. on May 25th, 2024 at Simpson Cemetery in Sullivan (across from the Sumner Learning Campus)
Save the Date
On May 26, 2024, at 12PM, following our regular Sunday worship service, all are invited to meet at Tidal Falls Preserve (Tidal Falls Road, Hancock) for a time of learning and fellowship. Come and experience Lectio Terra, Communion and a picnic in the beauty of God’s great outdoors. We will be introduced to ways to be with and experience the Holy in the natural world. We will interact with scripture and prayer in new ways and hopefully connect one to another and with Creation in new ways. We will share a Communion meal that will be a bit different from how we normally experience Communion and share our learning and grow with one another. We each experience and encounter God in varied ways. Across our lifespan we are in various stages and places in our lives. With sharing this experience together, we can learn from one another across the generations, and expand our faith and have fun. Please bring a dish to share if you are inclined or just bring your beautiful self.
Blessings, Sarina Brooks (Ministry Student Intern)
Please note: Worship Time Change
For the past couple of years we have experimented with a 9:00 Worship Service start time the Sundays between Memorial Day and Labor Day and then meeting at 10:00 the rest of the year. It is challenging to find a time that everyone can agree on. Some find 9:00 in the summers too early whereas others find 10:00 to be too late when summer activities beckon. Many desire the consistency of a time slot that remains all year long.
In light of these concerns and following thoughtful discussions, our Deacons have opted to begin a trial period of starting the Worship Service at 9:30 beginning June 2 (the Sunday after Memorial Day). We hope that this compromise will benefit everyone. After giving this a try for the summer months we will bring the matter to a congregational vote prior to Labor Day.
Upcoming May Birthdays and Anniversaries
14: John Wells 16: Mary Alice Alley Freeman 18: Fran Courchesne
18: Dick Butters 20: Dennis King 22: Brendan Bonner
23: Debbie Ehrlenbach 24: Erva Pinkham 26: Vicky Espling
29: Sally Knapp 31: Marty* Johnson 31: Clint & Eleanor Ritchie
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for Betty Lewis, Orrick Damboise, Jennie, and Cathy C. Prayers for Pat’s niece Kate, Bruce’s sister Lynn, Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; and Ginny Hamm. Prayers for Cynthia’s Aunt Barbara, and William at Golden Acres, both receiving Hospice Care. Prayers for Ruth; Marie; Joyce; Doris; Mary Angela’s mother Caroline and brother Joel and Nick’s nephew Tim; and Mary Angela & Nick’s son Joshua; Ron & Kathy; Jim Snyder; Brandon Perry-Hudson; 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; 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 the people of our nation and of our world experiencing escalating wars, conflicts, and disasters. Prayers for all individuals and families experiencing addictions; prayers for all caregivers; and prayers for all that is in your heart…
Let’s sign up for Pilgrim Lodge! Registration is open for Family Camp, Labor Day Weekend, Friday through Monday, August 30, – Sept 2. Sign up for all four days or choose a shorter stay. Let Pastor TJ know if you are interested.
Handy Woman for Hire!
Personal care; Food preparation and cooking; Shopping;
Gardening; Interior and Exterior Painting
Lori Stratton
From Our Maine Conference
A Letter from our Associate Conference Minister
Rev. Sam Houser
Mothering
As we approach Mother's day I want to name that mothering goes beyond biology or gender; it's a way of nurturing, caring, and supporting others with love and compassion. It's about creating a safe and nurturing environment where growth and healing can happen. IT reminds me of the church in it's best iteration of itself. For this Mother's Day I extend abundant gratitude to all those known for their mothering by offering Brene Brown's:
The Whole Hearted Parenting Manifesto
Above all else, I want you to know that you are loved and lovable. You will learn this from my words and actions – the lessons on love are in how I treat you and how I treat myself. I want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness. You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging and joy every time you see me practice self compassion and embrace my own imperfections.
We will practice courage in our family by showing up, letting ourselves be seen and honoring vulnerability. We will share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our home for both. We will teach you compassion by practicing compassion with ourselves first, then with each other.
We will set and respect boundaries. We will honor hard work, hope and perseverance. Rest and play will be family values as well as family practices. You will learn accountability and respect by watching me make mistakes and make amends, and by watching how I ask for what I need and talk about how I feel. I want you to know joy, so together we will practice gratitude.
I want you to feel joy, so together we will learn how to be vulnerable. When uncertainty and scarcity visit, you will be able to draw from the spirit that is a part of our everyday life. Together we will cry and face fear and grief. I will want to take away your pain, but instead I will sit with you and teach you how to feel it. We will laugh and sing and dance and create.
We will always have permission to be ourselves with each other. No matter what, you will always belong here.
As you begin your wholehearted journey, the greatest gift that I can give you is to live and love with my whole heart and to dare greatly. I will not teach or love or show you anything perfectly. But I will let you see me, and I will always hold sacred the gift of seeing you truly, deeply seeing you.
Blessings siblings in Christ,
Reverend Sam Houser(she/they) Associate Conference Minister
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