Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for September 1, 2024
Come, all you souls by sin oppressed, You restless wanderers after rest; You poor, and maimed, immobilized, and blind, In Christ a hearty welcome find.
The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will hold a special congregational meeting on Sunday, September 1st, 2024 immediately following the 9:30 morning worship service (in-person and Zoom) for the following purposes:
1. To vote on a permanent time for the worship service on Sunday mornings, (A) year round at 9:30 a.m. or (B) 9:00 a.m. on the Sundays between Memorial Day and Labor Day and 10:00 a.m. the rest of the year.
2. Any other business to come before the congregation.
Jeanne Edwards, Clerk
August 15, 2024
During the month of September we will be receiving Our Church’s Wider Mission offering. This is one of the 5 for 5 offerings received by the Maine Conference throughout the year. OCWM provides funding from congregations for Conferences and the national ministries of the United Church of Christ (wider and local church ministries, justice and witness ministries, general ministries, and pension boards). Envelopes are available in the back of the Sanctuary or notate your desired donation on the memo line of your check. Every little bit helps!
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.
The Outreach Committee will meet Thursday, August 29th at 4:15 p.m.
The Trustees will meet Sept. 4th at 4:00 in person and on Zoom
Church Council will meet Friday, September 6th at 11:30 am.
The Budget Committee will meet Friday, September 6th at 12:30 pm.
Deacons will meet Friday, September 13th at 3:00 pm
We will hold a Celebration of Life for William Pinkham on Thursday, August 29th at 2:00 pm. Please continue to hold his housemates and the staff of Golden Acres in your prayers.
We will hold a Celebration of Life for Peggy Emigh on Thursday, September 5th at 2:00 pm with a reception in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.
WIC (Women, Infant, & Children) of Hancock and Washington Counties is hosting its
3rd Annual Community Baby Shower in Ellsworth on Saturday, September 7th.
The Outreach Committee has chosen WIC as their focus for August. If you are able and desire to do so, please consider making a donation of diapers, baby wipes, baby wash, or an infant outfit. Cash donations are also welcome, and Tamara and her WIC team will do the shopping for you. Items can be left at the church, dropped off at the WIC office at the Mill Mall in Ellsworth, or pick up arrangements can be made. We are grateful for the support and the giving hearts of our congregation. Please reach out to Tamara at 207-460-4148 with any questions you may have.
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for Sandra & Susan; Orrick; Don and Heather; Graham and 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 receiving Hospice Care. Prayers for Jane; Ruth; Marie; Joyce; Doris; 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…
Upcoming September Birthdays and Anniversaries
02: Sandra Libby 02:*Chris* Nowell 05: Parker Fuller
07: Rohanna Madigan 08: Tamara Crowley 08: Jane Coffin
11: Kenny Stratton 14: Roger & Denise Chandler 15: Nancy Cooledge
15: Priscilla Hirschenhofer 16: Jaimie & Gina Tansey
19: Tony Burkart 19: Joey & Morgan Espling
20: Dianne Eckhardt 20: Cliff Manchester 20: Jim Singletary
From Our Maine Conference
2025 Budget Hearing Opportunities
for all Clergy and Laity of our conference
The Maine Conference UCC Board of Directors will be holding the 2025 Budget Hearings
via Zoom!
There are three opportunities scheduled to help in trying to accommodate everyone's busy schedules.
Thursday, September 5th, 10AM - 12 PM
Monday, September 9th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday, September 11th, 3 PM - 5 PM
Register for the one that fits your schedule best!
Below you can find the registration link to the hearings. Once registered, you will receive an email with instructions on how to join the meeting.
Preliminary Budget will be available soon!
A Service of Celebration for the Life of Jeremy Young will be held on Saturday, September 21st at 1:00 pm, at the South Freeport Congregational Church, 98 South Freeport Road, South Freeport.
(There will be overflow space in their fellowship hall for viewing through zoom.) Reception to follow. Deep blessings on each and all of you.
A Note from our Conference Minister
Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola
Beloved Partners in Christ’s name,
As we begin to turn the page from summer to the dawning of fall, from being “upta camp” to being in our communities; we may also begin to turn a page to the newness of the cycle of autumn. And as we do, we will anticipate sacred moments and anxiety-driven moments: moments that can be heartwarming, heart wrenching, and heart terrifying.
We are already experiencing this fraught election cycle, with the aura of violence in the air. This September the Maine Council of Churches is sponsoring trainings entitled “Deescalation and Active Bystander Training”, that are designed to help us with our anxiety and to propose positive responses. Offered online in partnership with Mainebased Prevention.Action.Change, this 4-hour training is divided into two 2-hour sessions and you will be able to choose either a daytime or an evening track. You can register on the MCC web site mainecouncilofchurches.org.
For pastors who hope to nurture their vital ministries by holding and caring for folks who may disrupt their ministry and congregational life in an ongoing way. I am offering an advanced Boundary Training on September 30. Registration is in this newsletter. As we anticipate the one-year anniversary of the massacre in Lewiston, our Conference, in partnership with the Maine Council of Churches, will sponsor “Moments of Remembrance” on October 1 at 10am on the Capital steps. All denominations in Maine will be represented. I pray that many of our conference folks will participate. And then there is our beloved Annual Meeting on October 18 and 19, again at Pilgrim Lodge. Our theme this year is “Linked by Love”, and we will be discussing, celebrating, rejoicing around our covenant relationships in our conference: churches, associations, ministry settings, conference staff. Registration begins TODAY in this newsletter.
Dearly Beloved of our Conference, we have much to look forward to this fall in the life of our conference. I especially pray that we can top the 180 attendance at our Annual Meeting of last year. I’ve heard it said all over Maine, and I have experienced it as well “Maine is a great big family—sometimes we squabble; we don’t always see eye to eye. But we love one another, each in our own way.” We also cannot deny the under current of worry, with hope beyond hope that election day will be a peaceable endeavor and the peaceable transfer of power will be observed.
And so, Beloved of God, may you know the joy of a new season, the heart filled embrace of folks in the family of faith for the first time or the hundredth time. May you gain strength in covenantal relationships with mutual caring and edification. May you know peace within when turmoil surrounds our country and our world. Most of all, may you know deep within your spirits the unconditional love of God: a love you cannot push away;
a love you cannot bring forward; a love that just is—because of who God is and how God cherishes you always.
I want to leave you with scripture, but I couldn’t decide between two. So here are both: Psalm 46 assures us of God’s presence even when the world is shaking; Philippians 4:4-7 reminds us of the peace that is ours that calms all of our anxiety. May it be so.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Blessing upon blessing,
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