Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for July 16, 2023

The Church is wherever God's people are seeking to reach out and touch folk wherever they are -- conveying the Gospel, its joy and its comfort, to challenge, refresh, and excite and inspire.

Upcoming meetings, events, and opportunities

Our Monteux student musicians for this Sunday, July 16, will be … Juan Florez (violin) and

Xiadani Alejos (cello). Juan Florez (1st year) is a violinist from Miami, Florida. He will complete his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at the end of 2023 at the University of Florida School of Music, whilst pursuing a Master’s of Science in Management at the Hough Graduate School of Business. He is also an aspiring conductor and arts administrator. Brought up in Miami Music Project, one of the largest El Sistema-Inspired programs in the United States, Juan hopes to leave a positive impact on musicians through involvement with the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Highlights in the career of cellist Xiadani Yamilet Alejos Romero (1st year) include her participation as a soloist in the Cervantino 2016 with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of the University of Guanajuato and the 2012-2014 OSEAN national tour with Joshua Bell and Placido Domingo. Xiadani has participated in ensembles such as the Sinfonietta FAMUS, FIV Cello Ensemble, Queretaro’s International Festival Orchestra, Festival de Música Viva at Moscú Rusia, and Quatro Quartet. She has also participated as a soloist with the Orquesta de Cámara de la UANL, Sinfonietta at FAMUS, Universidad Renacentista de Guanajuato and the Universidad at Guadalajara. Xiadani is currently a member of the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (OSUANL). She has taken masterclasses with Alvaro Bitran, David Cohen, Boris Chalakov, Asier Polo, Maria Cassado, Rafael Jezarski, Roeland Duijne, Jacob Shaw, William Molina and Santiago Cañón. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in music with emphasis in Cello Performance under the mentorship of maestro José María López at the Facultad de Música UANL.

Join us in our Sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. or on Facebook Live for the summer months.

You will be able to watch the service on Facebook Live in real time

or watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube .

Find us at Hancock UCC | Hancock ME | Facebook or

on YouTube at Hancock UCC - YouTube

Sunday, July 16, the Rev. Dr. Alison Boden, Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel at Princeton University will be our Guest Preacher while Pastor TJ is at Pilgrim Lodge.

The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will hold a special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, July 16, 2023 immediately following the morning worship service for the following purposes:

● To approve the Treasurer to take funds from the Camden Wealth Management cash reserves to pay the overage of replacing the septic system at the parsonage.

● To act on any other business that may come before the congregation.

Jeanne Edwards, Clerk June 18, 2023

The second quarterly State of the Church discussion will happen right after the Congressional Meeting this Sunday. With our Church Fair right around the corner, we will talk about where we stand financially, and brainstorm on ways to repay the Camden Bank account that we dipped into this month. We welcome any “Out of the Box” ideas for fundraising.

We are accepting articles for Comfort Cases this coming Sunday.

Needed are baby items – blankets, ointments, soap, sleepers, etc.

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.

Deacons will meet Friday, July 14 at 12:00 noon in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom.

Celebration of Life for Steve Coffin on Saturday, July 15 at 3:00 PM in the Sanctuary.

On Monday, July 17 at 7:30 PM The Maryland State Boychoir Concert Choir - Live in Concert, free & open to the public at the First Congregational Church of Ellsworth,

2 Church Street.

On Sunday, July 23, we will again have a “camp Sunday.” Dress as if you were at camp. We will be singing camp songs, and even have an ice cream sundae social during Fellowship time.

The Monteux Scholarship Concert will be in our Sanctuary, on Thursday, July 27th at 3:00

Donations will be accepted at the door.

The Council meeting has been rescheduled for Friday, July 28 at noon in person and Zoom.

Sunday, July 30, the Hancock Point Chapel will join us at 9:00 AM for our Annual Joint Service. Let Pastor TJ know how you would like to participate.

Meet Our Congregation

Meet Kenny Houghton…Kenny has always lived on the East Coast. He was born in a suburb of Boston in 1950. His ancestors are from Portugal. Growing up he lived with his mother, and then his grandmother, and then at the Paul A. Dever State School in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Kenny’s favorite meals include Portuguese kale soup and meatloaf and mashed potatoes. He likes listening to the radio and he enjoys baseball. In his younger years Kenny was an outfielder. Now he enjoys following the Portland Sea Dogs. He would love to go to a game!

Kenny has extensive experience as a dishwasher. His most memorable places of employment were BB Binks restaurant and bar in Raynham, MA and at the Wheaton College campus in Norton, Massachusetts. He made many good friends everywhere that he worked.

When asked what gives him joy Kenny responded, “everything.” Especially the natural world. Sunshine and blue skies and birdsong made the top of the list!

One of Kenny’s favorite memories is taking a bus tour that included a stop at Niagara Falls. Yes, he got wet.

Kenny has lived at the “Armando’s” Golden Acres home in Hancock for several years. He has attended the Catholic Church much of his life but is happy now to be part of this United Church of Christ family!

Welcome Kenny!

The Franklin United Methodist Community Church will host a Public Bean Supper July 15, 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Homemade baked beans, hot dogs, mac and cheese, cole slaw, potato salad, rolls and desserts. Eat in or take out. Admission by donation.

ALL proceeds go to the fuel fund to help our neighbors come this winter.

During the month of July we will be receiving the Neighbors in Need Offering. This is one of the 5 for 5 offerings that is supported by the Maine Conference. Envelopes are available in the back of the Sanctuary, or simply notate on your check that it is for NIN.

July Birthdays and Anniversaries

23: Aaron & *Ashley* Ehrlenbach Johnson 19: Patrice Alexander

21: *Mike* & *Pat* Summerer 22: *Donald* Hynes 24: *Bob* Courchesne

25: *Phoebe* Devenish 27: Joy Stratton 28: *Robin* Long 28: *Artie* & *Jen* Ashmore 31: Matthew & *Rachel* Philio Umphrey

The Monteux School & Music Festival presents two public weekly concert series each summer: Monteux Festival Orchestra and ‘Mainely’ Chamber Music (MCM). All concerts are held in the Forest Studio at 42 Melody Lane (off Old Track Road) in Hancock at 5:00 PM.

Sundays – July 16, 23, and 30 and Wednesdays – July 19, and 26

Doors open at 4:30 PM. Tickets available online or at the door.

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Prayers for the family of John Holt - wife Joyce and children Nathan, Dulari, and Stephen… Prayers for Jane Preble; William in hospice care; Coulter Huyler; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Gratitude for Monteux Musicians in our sanctuary and in our community; Prayers for Kenny Stratton; Joy & David & Lori; Amy Nickerson; John Wood; Jim Snyder; Mike and Cindy Merritt; Sandy Phippen; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Dave Marden; for all caregivers; Renata’s sister-in-law Joanne; Austin’s cousin Danny; Liz & Jim; Margaret B; Gratitude for Debbie Maddocks and her Aunt Linda Reed; Prayers of strength and healing for all awaiting diagnoses and for all recovering from surgeries; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew and his family; Betty & her step-daughter Mollie;

Prayers for all individuals and families experiencing addictions; for all victims and loved ones of violence; prayers for all that are unsafe, unhoused, hungry & in need of care & compassion; and for all that is in your heart…

News from the Maine Conference

“Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:18-19

Hello Beloved Ones of God!

I have returned from a week at Synod, which is our national gathering of the United Church of Christ in Indianapolis! More than 2000 souls gathered together to worship, pray, and recommit ourselves for the work of Jesus Christ to the glory of God in our churches, associations, and conferences. Almost 700 of those folks were delegates from all of our conferences who elected our first woman (and African American women) as General Minister and President: Karen Georgia Thompson; and passed resolutions that promote God’s grace, peace, and justice to all, whoever we are and wherever we are on life’s journey. In addition, the “licensed minister” category of pastoral leadership will again be a vital option for ministry. And we approved the change from biennial to triennial Synods beginning in 2025. If you get a chance, thank our delegates who represented all of the associations of our conference:

Sue Burgess, Sara Bartlett, Patricia Boyle-Wight, Alexis Fuller-Wright, Stacy George, Henry Hilton, Marraine Kettell, Kate Kozinski, Holly Morrison, Robin Tucker-Gahm, Kelli Whitman, Kathy Woodside.

I have included some photos below that give you just a taste of our experience. I have invited our delegates to share some of their experiences in their churches this summer and in their association meetings this fall, especially around resolutions that are relevant to our churches; and also the deep covenant we share with the national setting. Some of our delegates will write about their experience in this midweek news in the coming weeks. The first to share will be Stacy George, delegate from Katahdin Association. Marraine Kettell from Living Water Association will share the following week.

I know we are firmly in vacation time, soggy vacation time. I pray for each of you rest, renewal, and blessed communion with our God and family and friends. I will be on vacation from July 15 to July 30.

Dear Partners in Christ, we together are the Maine Conference: pastors, musicians, lay leaders and laity of our churches, MIDS, leaders and members of our associations, staff. We together are called by God to serve the people of Maine with the hands and feet of Christ. We are blessed and beloved by God. We are called by God. Let us continue to rest in God’s love and to boldly follow God into the future God has for us.

I am your partner in Christ’s love and ministry,

Marisa

SYNOD ! The election of our new General Minister and

President of the United Church of Christ!!