Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for August 11, 2024
There will be peace in the valley for me, someday
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me
There the flow'rs will be blooming, the grass will be green
And the skies will be clear and serene
The sun ever shines, giving one endless beam
And the clouds there will ever be seen
Our Annual Church Fair fundraiser was a wonderful day of being together in community.
Thank you all for the hard work behind the successful day!
If you have photos to share, please send them by email or text to Pastor TJ.
Upcoming services, meetings, events, and opportunities
On Sunday, August 11th, our guest minister is Rev. Dr. Alison Boden. Alison, a member of our congregation, 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.
Pastor TJ will be in Wisconsin from August 10th - 23rd. She is grateful for the week of vacation followed by a week of working from there remotely. Your calls, texts, and emails are always welcome and encouraged.
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 9th at 3:00 pm in person and on Zoom.
The Outreach Committee will meet Thursday, August 15th at 4:15 p.m..
The Hancock Point Chapel offers a weekly meditation on Fridays at 9 AM. They 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 there are guest speakers. The goal is friendship and happiness. All leave in silence.
From the Hancock Historical Society Museum - On Friday, August 9 at 7:00 pm, Tatia Bauer, of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, will discuss the history of farming hay on salt marshes in Hancock and current efforts to restore the functions of today’s marshes. The museum will open at 6:00 pm for browsing.
On Saturday morning, August 10 at 10:00 am, Tatia will lead a 1.2 mile round trip walk in the Old Pond Preserve, off Old Route 1 in Hancock, to see restoration in progress and answer questions. Come see how the marsh is changing and how restoration treatments are being used. Please bring waterproof boots, binoculars, appropriate clothing and tick protection.
Feel free to share the attached flier. For more information on the work of Maine Coast Heritage Trust at the Old Pond location, watch this 2 minute video.
The 2024 Riverside Cemetery Restoration work is underway. The second cleaning party went well with the raising of our first down and broken stone plus a lot of cleaning work. Another damp/cloudy cool day. Perfect for cleaning. No brown tail moth issues! More prep work is planned. Come join the fun
8-10AM on Thursday, August 8th and 8-10AM on Tuesday, August 13th
With the main event all day on August 15th, 16th, and 17th.
For more information call Bob Foss at 480-335-7709.
On Sunday, August 18th, we will be recognizing those members celebrating a significant anniversary as a member of our church during the worship service. Pastor TJ will lead this service from Wisconsin along with help from those in the sanctuary.
Also on Sunday, August 18th, 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.
Sunday, August 25th we will move our 9:30 worship service outdoors. Join us at the Sam Ball Farm (618 Point Rd) as guests of Jodie Kimmel. Bring your own lawn chair or use a chair provided by the church.
For the month of August, The Crocker House Country Inn, 967 Point Road, Hancock, will be showing recent paintings & small work on salvaged wharf by Renata Moise. Also featuring works by the late William Moise.
Upcoming August Birthdays and Anniversaries
15: David Wildes & Cynthia Wood 19: Doug Kimmel & Ron Schwizer
14: Amelia Ashmore 23: Gerry Mehl 24: Cynthia Wood
25: Austin Crowley-Dunn 29: Nick & Mary Angela Davis
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for Don and Heather; 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; Orrick; and Cathy C. Prayers for Cynthia’s Aunt Barbara, and Jenny at Golden Acres, both 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…
From Our Maine Conference
A Letter from Our Conference Minister
Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…
Ecclesiastes 3:1
As I sat with our Conference staff today in our weekly meeting, I scanned the precious faces and thought “wow, this is a brand-new staff.” Kimberly Poisson, our Office Manager, is 2 months old. Nancy Bartlett, our Treasury Assistant, is 6 months old. Lydia Hoffman, our Assistant Director of Pilgrim Lodge is barely a week old. When Dean Malcolm Himschoot returns from Sabbatical, he will be 1 ½ years old. The two “senior” members of the staff are currently me (at just under two years old), and Liz Charles (at just about 2 ½ years old). And then I thought, “wow, what a difference less than a year makes”, as I suddenly felt sad that Anne and Nita are no longer with us. And then I was brought back to the reality that just next week we will again get a new face with John Fiscus, our new Associate Conference Minister—and we will say goodbye to our temporary ACM Sam Houser a month later.
Perhaps I was feeling a bit wistful as I have just come back from a two-week vacation. The first week was Carol and I spending “family vacation” with our grown daughters. And we saw them morph daily from little girls needing mommies to rebellious teens to grown women with wisdom way beyond their years, I thought, “wow, where has the time gone?”
There is indeed a time for everything, a season for every activity—on earth as it is in heaven. And transition time can be at once invigorating and sad, exciting and overwhelming; especially when changes come together and quickly.
Reminds me of this election cycle where we are in a time of anxious transition, wondering where we will be on November 8. Will there be more violence? Will vitriol feed vitriol? Will we ever again feel settled into “politics as usual”, or is this unending time of worry fueled by bad behavior now the “usual?”
Reminds me of the transitions that churches and whole conferences are experiencing right now. I believe in my heart of hearts that change is inevitable and can lead to good things as we trust the One who leads us through transition:; the same One who led the Israelites out of Egypt; led the Hebrew people through the desert; led the prophets to speak hope to the people against insurmountable odds; the same One who is leading us now and PROMISING us “hope and a bright future” (Jeremiah 29:11). The same one who tells us “I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.” (Isaiah 43:18).
Beloved, my prayer is that in transition we can know trust in the One who sustains us; in the face of bad behavior and vitriol we can lead with resolute and convictional love; in any time where change is more abundant than settledness, we can take the opportunity to see the hope, trust the promises, rejoice in newness that gives life and fresh purpose.
Marisa
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