Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for July 28, 2024

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

Upcoming services, meetings, events, and opportunities

This Sunday, July 28 we will have our Annual Joint Service with the Hancock Point Chapel.

For this service only, worship will be at 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel. Participants from both congregations will assist with the service and Pastor TJ will deliver the message.

This service will not be livestreamed. To watch the recording later:

Find us at Hancock UCC | Hancock ME | Facebook or

on YouTube at Hancock UCC - YouTube

The Crabtree family will hold a Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Steven Crabtree on Monday July 29th at 4 pm at 864 Point Road, Hancock Maine. They invite you to stay for food and drink after the ceremony and look forward to seeing you and sharing memories about Steve.

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 will meet Friday, August 9 at 3:00 pm in person and on Zoom.

All are welcome to join in a shared book group between the Point Chapel and Hancock UCC communities.  We will meet at the Hancock church at 10:00 – 11:30 am on Wednesday July 31.  Our book will be Refugia Faith, description below.  Join us in person or on Zoom. Here is the Zoom link (same link as Sunday morning). https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82224252518?pwd=aEd4WENqcjFHakFTcVFyQnltNzl1UT09

Meeting ID: 822 2425 2518          Passcode: 755650

The Hancock Point Chapel offers a weekly meditation on Fridays at 9 AM. We begin with a lightly guided non-denominational meditation followed by a few minutes of discussion and ending with another 20 minutes of meditation. The program is led by Angela Absher who has been a Hancock Point Chapel participant all her life. She has also taught English and studied Buddhism with Thrangu Rinpoche in his monastery in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. Now and again we have guest speakers. Our goal is friendship and happiness. We leave in silence. Do come…

On Sunday, August 4, Pastor TJ will lead the service and our guest lay preacher, Peter Schay will deliver our message during the morning worship service. Peter resides in Burlington, NC, and works as a cybersecurity operations manager, having 52 years of professional experience in information technology and consulting. His extended family has owned a home on Jellison Cove Road in Hancock since the late 1980s.

Peter has been an active member of UCC churches in Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut and North Carolina. He is currently chair of the Board of Trustees at United Church of Chapel Hill, NC, which he joined in 2014. He has also been active in the UCC above the local church, serving as a lay member on the Committees on Ministry of the Fairfield West Association (Southern New England Conference) and Eastern North Carolina Association, a member of the Board of Directors of the UCC Southern Conference, and as a voting delegate from the Southern Conference to the UCC 2023 General Synod.

Peter has a BS from Yale University, MS from Northwestern University, and MBA from Boston University.

On Sunday, August 11, Rev. Dr. Alison Boden will be leading our morning worship service. Alison is a UCC minister who has just concluded a 33-year career as a college chaplain and professor at Bucknell University, the University of Chicago, and Princeton University. Alison and her family have had a home in Hancock for 25 years, and she is thrilled that it is now her full-time residence. This fall Alison will begin working with two faith-based organizations, The Rose Castle Foundation, which does training in reconciliation skills, and the World Student Christian Federation, a global organization that supports Christian university students.

On Sunday, August 18, we will be recognizing those members celebrating a significant anniversary as a member of our church during the worship service.

Also on Sunday, August 18, we will be having our annual church picnic at Tidal Falls, 4:00-6:00 pm. Bring a dish to share and enjoy the beautiful view and good food with good friends.

We're looking for several volunteers to help with departments during the fair. If you haven't committed and are available to help, please email Jennifer Ashmore at jk_ashmore@yahoo.com.

Our annual Church Fair, Yard Sale, and Silent Auction will soon be here on Saturday August 3rd. Please save the date. We need lots of help and donations to make our biggest fundraiser of the year a success. It's a very important event in the life of our church and we can't do it without you!

The Kitchen Cupboard is requesting donations of baked goods (cakes, pies, bread or individually wrapped goodies like cookies, squares, brownies, cupcakes, etc. Items can be dropped off at the church the Friday Aug. 2nd or Saturday morning before 8am.

Do you have perennials in your garden that are getting a little crowded? Would you like to donate a few to the Church Fair plant booth? We can even come and, with your guidance, provide the physical labor. We are also looking for yard and garden items to sell. Call Robin at 385-7051.

In particular, the Silent Auction needs gift certificates from your favorite stores and restaurants, paintings, artwork, unique one-of-a kind items, high-end small appliances and sports equipment, and donated services to create auction excitement and high bids. The Silent Auction consistently brings in a lot of money and we need your help to be successful again this year. Please coordinate your donations with David Wildes (422-3739).

Upcoming July Birthdays and Anniversaries

 22: Donald Hynes      24: Bob Courchesne    25: Phoebe Devenish   27: Joy Stratton            28:  Robin Long    28: Jen & Artie Ashmore             31:  Matthew & Rachel Umphrey

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Prayers for Graham and his parents, Joey and Morgan; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Judith C.; Dr. John; Yvonne. Prayers for Herbie Lounder; Ira; and Cathy C.  Prayers for Cynthia’s Aunt Barbara, and Jenny and William at Golden Acres, all receiving Hospice Care. Prayers for Ruth; Marie; Joyce; Doris; Mary Angela & Nick’s son Joshua; Ron & Kathy; Jim Snyder; Brandon Perry-Hudson; John Wood; Jonathan Holmes; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Austin’s cousin Danny; Liz & Jim; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Sandy Phippen; Kenny Stratton; Joy & David & Lori; Betty & her step-daughter Mollie; Debbie & Hollis & Holly and Debbie’s Aunt Linda Reed; Amy Nickerson; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew & family; 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 the people of our nation and of our world experiencing escalating wars, conflicts, and disasters. Prayers for all individuals estranged from family members; prayers for all individuals and families experiencing addictions; prayers for all caregivers; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

Hancock Grammar School

BackPack Program

Addressing Food Insecurity in our School

Dear Friend,

We know from data reported by the Brookings Institution that more than 1 in 4 households with children are food insecure and we know that many children in our community are struggling with this food insecurity. Since 2016 the Hancock Grammar School BackPack Program, relying totally on your support, has been able to get healthy food to the families of those children in our school who are struggling with food insecurity.

Every Thursday afternoon, those children in need picked up a backpack filled with breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks that kept them strong and fed during the weekend.  They arrived back to school on Monday ready to learn.  During the history of the program, we have had up to 50 children picking up backpacks weekly and the feedback from children and parents has been very positive.  During the 2023/2024 school year, the program served 33-36 students so the need in Hancock remains.  Along with the weekend backpacks, the program also provides a food box during school vacation weeks and every two weeks in the summer when the children don’t have access to free school breakfast and lunch.

To address the increased food cost, we are launching a Summer 2024 donation effort.  We are hoping that we can count on your support for this very important initiative.  Importantly, your entire donation goes toward the food and supplies that fill the backpacks that these children take home.  A dedicated volunteer group of teachers, staff, students and community members shop for the food and fill the backpacks each week.

While any donation amount is appreciated, a donation of approximately $16 will provide a weekend of food for 2 children or $352 will fill one child’s weekend backpack for the entire school year.   Checks can be made out to the Hancock Grammar School, attention: BackPack Program in the memo line.  If you have additional questions, please contact me.

Thank you very much,

Adam Gray

Principal, Hancock Grammar School

agray@hancockgrammar.org   207-422-6231, ext.4

ALSO

If anyone would like to both support the program and enjoy a batch of shortbread (original or chocolate) for a minimum donation of $16, I will bake the shortbread.  Order by phone please.  Judy Baker - 207-422-3273.

From Our Maine Conference

Here in the Kindom

A letter from Pilgrim Lodge Director, Liz Charles McGough

Greetings from Pilgrim Lodge where summer is in full swing! We are in the thick of our camp season here at Pilgrim Lodge and, as happens when human beings show up to spend time together, it is full and rich and deep and challenging and imbued with joy.

This season, a word that keeps popping up unexpectedly is the word “kin.”

Kin: one’s family and relations. 

During some early season reflection time, we were reading a passage from the Bible and considered, “what happens if we substitute the word ‘Kingdom’ with ‘Kindom?’” For those of us sitting in a circle, we found that, while “Kingdom” evoked a sense of hierarchy and power, “Kindom” gave us a sense of relationship and mutuality. The “Kindom” of God felt more accessible.

During staff training, we talked about one of our camp values: “Love of Creation” and the opportunity we have to demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship. We considered that stewardship, while often evokes a sense of “taking care of,” can also mean that we know best. As we face the realities of climate change, we were taking a hard look at whether or not we have done the work of stewardship. We were curious about how we, as humans, might consider the relationship we would have to the natural world if we relate to creation as our kin…our family and relations.

This week, Climate Justice Camp is underway and the leaders of our session have invited us to consider that our camp community includes not just the people who are here, but the more than human world in the space we call camp as part of our community. In place of our traditional Family Groups when we blend campers together for opportunities to explore the curriculum and themes of the week, Climate Justice Camp is coming together in “Kinship Groups” to raise up the relationships they hope to build as they explore their relationships to climate change and issues of justice.

Our curriculum this summer is called “Linked by Love” and the opening passage is Colossians 3:12-14: 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

We are doing the work of kinship as we seek to ground ourselves in love. Love is not always easy, but it creates relationships that are powerful. Love challenges us to work through hard moments to move toward deep connection. Love links us together as family in relationships that travel with us after camp into the world beyond.

Celebrating Karen Steelhammer

Karen Steelhammer will be retiring from her service as Office Administrator / Registrar role of Pilgrim Lodge on July 31, 2024. While we will deeply miss Karen, it is with incredible gratitude that we celebrate all that she has contributed in nearly two decades of service to Pilgrim Lodge.  Karen joined the team in 2005 and her last day will be July 31, 2024.

Karen has been steady, calm and effective in her work throughout her long tenure at Pilgrim Lodge and supported camp through many celebrations and seasons of transitions. Karen was part of Pilgrim Lodge’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2006 and provided capacity for the transformative work of the Pilgrim Lodge Capital Campaign and the resulting building projects at camp, including the construction of Quitobaquito. During the two summers of closure due to the pandemic, Karen held the operations of Pilgrim Lodge together so that camp would be ready to reopen and welcome us back in 2022.

For many families or folks from churches, Karen is the voice of Pilgrim Lodge when calling the office to register a camper, ask about scholarships or review questions about camp. For campers, Karen is one of the first faces they see in the registration line as they sign-in to camp. For staff and volunteers, it is Karen who welcomes them and gets them moving in the right direction. It is humbling to consider how many lives Karen has touched during her tenure at camp as she has so gracefully done the work to make camp possible for hundreds and hundreds of people.

We celebrate her many years of commitment to camp and the numerous lives she touched through her work since 2006. Please join us in sharing appreciation, memories and well-wishes for her retirement. You can mail a card to Karen to Pilgrim Lodge, 103 Pilgrim Lane, West Gardiner, ME 04345  or share a message through this online link.