Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for June 18, 2023

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show. Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Upcoming meetings, events, and opportunities

While the Choir is on hiatus anyone wishing to sing or play an instrument during the service is invited to be in conversation with our Music Director, Debbie Riley.

Join us in our Sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. or on our Sunday Worship Zoom link at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88327467219?pwd=Mis3ME4waGE1RmRBN zFXK3VUaDJXdz09

Meeting ID: 883 2746 7219 Passcode: 131738

(Posted later for viewing on Facebook and YouTube)

Pastor TJ will be on vacation June 12th through the 20th.

The Deacons will conduct the June 18th service with Rev. Dr. Nick Davis in our pulpit.

A Note from the Church President:

Many of you know that the septic replacement at the Parsonage is complete. The church voted to spend up to $8,000 to pay for that. However, there was so much ledge to break through that the cost went quite a bit beyond that amount. Because the bill needed to be paid, Council used our Emergency Powers (allowed in our bylaws) to direct our Treasurer to use the funds from our Camden Wealth Management cash reserves account to pay the $6,000 overage.

We are required in these instances to call a congregational meeting to approve this action officially. We can also take that time to talk about ways to replenish our Camden Bank account. The meeting is hereby called for July 16 at 10:00 (after church service). That date was already selected for our 2nd quarterly congregational meeting on the "State of the Church" so this order of business will happen before that discussion.

In the meantime, if anyone wishes to make a designated donation to help fund this unexpected but necessary project, please put a note on your check stating it is for "Parsonage Septic".

Thank you. Pat Summerer, President

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, June 15 at 4:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall, in person only.

Council will meet Friday, June 16 at 12 noon in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom.

Pastor TJ wants to know… What are you reading? What are you listening to? Where are you finding inspiration? Some of my current favorite podcasts are Padraig o'Tuama’s “Poetry Unbound,” Krista Tippett’s “On Being,” and “Kelly Corrigan Wonders.” Conversations are welcome! In addition to the two books below (How to Be an AntiRacist and From What Is to What If) I am enthralled by the writing of Richard Powers (environmental ethics fiction?) and Lincolnville sci-fi/fantasy author Elizabeth Hand. I am just about to pick up another of her books, this one “The Glimmering,” published in 1997, set in 1999. The last days according to some, the first days say others. Curiosity abounds as I anticipate where her story might take me.

All Church Read – Pentecost to Juneteenth Challenge

The Maine Conference Anti-Racism Team in conjunction with The United Church of Christ National Office is encouraging our engagement in “the moment-by-moment work of creating greater racial equity” by reading and discussing Ibram X. Kendi’s book,

“How to Be an Antiracist.”

Books have arrived and we have begun reading.

Discussion days and times will be determined according to participant preferences.

The Fostering Imagination Team Update

The Fostering Imagination team invites you to join in reading Rob Hopkins book,

“From What Is to What If:

Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want”

We have completed the first part of our journey, the wondering.

We have completed the second part of our journey, identifying projects.

We will read for clarity of purpose as we move toward action and implementation.

You can purchase your own book or ask Pastor TJ to buy one for you.

We will begin reading immediately and hope to join in discussion throughout the summer.

June Birthdays and Anniversaries

19: Ron Schwizer, Sandy Phippen

21: Herbie Lounder 22: Jack & Priscilla Hirschenfofer

23: Steve & Mary Beth DiMarco 25: Kenny Houghton 26: Pat Shannon

29: Ted & Ann Atkinson

Contact Us at Union Congregational Church of Hancock:

TJ can be reached by cell phone at 207-323-6743 or by email at revtjmack@gmail.com

Vicky can be reached at 207-422-3100 or by email at hancockmaineucc@gmail.com

Jen can be reached by email at treasurer@hancockucc.com

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

The family and friends of Fran Richard who passed away Monday, June 12; John Wood in MCMH; Steve Crabtree; Everett’s sister Arlene; Debbie & Lincoln’s son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle as Aaron recovers from surgery for a brain tumor; Jim Snyder; Savanna’s parents Mary Ann and Artie Smallage; Mary Angela’s mother, Caroline; Coulter Huyler; Mary Thomas; Finn & Parker & Madison; Kate Winters; Dave Marden; Kenny Stratton; Joy & David & Lori; Amy Nickerson; Trudy Clark; Denny Doucette; Mike and Cindy Merritt; Sandy Phippen; Renata’s sister-in-law Joanne; Judith Crowley; Austin’s cousin Danny; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Debbie Maddocks and her Aunt Linda Reed; Liz & Jim; Renata and the women she cares for; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew and his family; Betty & step-daughter Mollie; Margaret B; Eleanor’s step-daughter Holly; all affected by memory loss; healing prayers for a family seeking solutions to significant mental health issues; all individuals and families experiencing addictions; for all victims and loved ones of violence; those impacted by laws limiting reproductive justice; those experiencing food and housing insecurity; the people of Syria and Turkey; the people of Ukraine and Russia; the people of Sudan; all in your heart…

News from the Maine Conference

A letter from our

Associate Conference Minister

Rev. Alexis Fuller-Wright

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” – Isaiah 43:19

Beloved Maine Conference,

The season of graduations is upon us! My Facebook feed is filled with big life transitions, from adorable cap-and-gown clad preschoolers to college grads embarking on their next adventures.

As a parent of littles myself, I particularly love the side-by-shots comparing the first day of school and the last day of school. The changes are so profound, and marking them allows some time to pause and reflect on all the growth that has happened over the past season. It makes space for a good ending before the new beginning can start.

One of the foremost experts on change, Dr. William Bridges, says that before you can begin something new, you have to end what used to be. Before you can learn a new way of doing things, you have to unlearn the old way. In other words, beginnings depend on endings. The problem is, we generally don’t like endings. We prefer to look forward instead of backward. And yet, what often keeps individuals and communities from embracing the new is our failure to honor the past and mark the end.

This is why we are so intentional about including a ritual of release when a pastor concludes their tenure in a church. It allows space to honor the fullness of a season spent together and free both the pastor and the church to move in a new direction. Over the last few months in the Maine Conference, we’ve had several retirements, and the words of release and forgiveness exchanged moves me to tears each time.

I wonder what transitions are happening in your orbit these days? Is there a shift that might require a little more intention or attention? Whether these transitions are personal or collective, I hope you will give yourself the gift of a good ending so that the new thing God is doing can be perceived and embraced. Peace, Alexis