Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for September 29, 2024
God made the elephants, and he made the rhinos too
God made the hippopotamus,
And made the octopus and cockatoos, too.
God made you and me, just the way we ought to be.
Every creature big and small, God loves us all.
COMMUNITY BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS SERVICE
10AM – Sunday – Sept. 29
HANCOCK TOWN MONUMENT LOT Corner of US Route 1 & Point Road
In the spirit of Saint Francis
Community members and their pets are invited to a Pet Blessing Service at 10 am on Sunday September 29th. The informal service celebrates our pets and the important roles they play in our lives.
Pet or no pet, everyone is welcome to attend.
Children are invited to participate and all types of pets are welcome, leashed as appropriate. If your pet does not play well with others, you may use a carrier or bring a picture.
Dress for the weather and bring a chair. In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the church,
The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will hold an emergency special congregational meeting on Sunday, October 6, 2024 immediately following the 10 am morning worship service for the following purposes:
1. To vote on the expenditure of up to $25,000 to replace the Fellowship Hall and Educational Wing roof with metal roofing.
2. Any other business to come before the congregation.
Jeanne Edwards, Clerk
September 16, 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.
It’s getting to be that time of year again when we start gearing up for Annual Reports. If you are responsible for getting a report ready for the annual meeting, please be thinking about it.
All reports are due in the office NO LATER THAN October 13th. Thank you!
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, October 10th at 4:15 pm in person and on Zoom
Church Council will meet Friday, October 11th at 9:30 am in person and on Zoom
The Board of Deacons will meet Friday, October 11th at 3:00 pm in person and on Zoom
Our Fall Clothing and Linens Sale is scheduled for Friday Oct. 4 from 5-7 PM, and Saturday Oct. 5 from 8-11 AM. Donations of Fall and Winter Clothing and any linens are appreciated and will be collected now through Oct. 2nd. Help setting up and sorting items is needed Monday - Thursday that week, and we will need volunteers for the sale times and packing up the leftovers for donation to other shops. Please look for the sign up sheet at church, or contact Pat Summerer. Thank You.
Anniversary Remembrance
“We Remember, we Grieve, we Heal…Together”
Hosted by the Maine Council of Churches and the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ, Tuesday, October 1st at 10 am, State Capital Building, Augusta
The Plaza between the Cross Building and the rear entrance of the State House
In collaboration with the Maine Council of Churches, our Conference is hosting a time of remembrance for the one-year anniversary of the Lewiston massacre. All are welcome to stand in solidarity with family and friends and communities that grieve deeply. We will hear words of healing. We will prayerfully read the names of all who lost their lives.
Beginning in October, all are invited to join a meditation group at 9:00 a.m. on Fridays in our Sanctuary. In the spirit of the sessions led by Angela Absher at the Hancock Point Chapel we will 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 will be led by novices Alison Boden and TJ Mack. Now and again we may have guest speakers. Our goal is friendship and happiness. No experience is necessary. We leave in silence. Do come…
Interacting with Wabanaki - Maine History
Maine Conference's Katahdin Association has engaged with Wabanaki Reach (wabanakireach.org for you to explore) to offer the "Interacting with Wabanaki - Maine History" program on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 9 A.M. It is a 2 hour, interactive program using Zoom. There is no cost to participants.
To register please email:
October Birthdays and Anniversaries
01: Gina Tansey 01: Tom & Marge Severance 02: Sue Bonner
03: Everett Espling 06: Judi Crowley 07: Jaimie Wood Harrell
08: Richard Lewis 08: Will & Sharon Stephenson
09: Chris & Rohanna Smullen Madigan 09: Aaron & Meghan Philio Scott
12: Brandon Perry-Hudson 13: Liz Bunker 14: Peggy Karns
18: TJ Mack 19: Bonnie Ross 20: Ruth Dietze
24: Susan Davies 29: Ron McGlinchey 30: Chris & Melissa Nowell
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for Ron’s brother, Joe; Kathy’s brother, David; Everett’s brother, Darrell; Sandra & Susan; Orrick; Judith C.; Don and Heather; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Dr. John; Yvonne; Herbie Lounder; Ira; Cathy C. and for Cynthia’s Aunt Barbara receiving Hospice Care. Prayers for Donald B. and Kenny S. of Golden Acres, both awaiting surgeries. Prayers for Jane; Ruth; Marie; Joyce; Doris; Ron & Kathy; Jim Snyder; Jonathan Holmes; Brandon Perry-Hudson; John Wood; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Liz & Jim; Austin’s cousin Danny; Kenny Stratton; Joy & David & Lori & Melissa; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Sandy Phippen; 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…
Official Call of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the
Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ
The 93rd Annual Meeting of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ (successor to the Congregational Christian Conference of Maine; it being the 113th Anniversary of the Congregational Conference and Missionary Society of Maine; the 199th Anniversary of the State Conference, the 214th Anniversary of the Maine Missionary Society, the 192nd Anniversary of the Maine Congregational Ministerial Relief Society, and the 54th Anniversary of the Maine Conference as a Conference of the United Church of Christ), will: convene in person at Pilgrim Lodge and via Zoom at 8:45 a.m., Saturday, October 19, 2024. Connection details to be provided pending registration.
Items to be voted at this year’s meeting will be the:
● Proposed 2025 Conference Budget
● Slate of Officers Elect
● 2025 Clergy Compensation Guidelines
Susan E. Burgess, Conference Clerk
Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ
From Our Maine Conference
A Letter from our Conference Minister
Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola
Building on our Hope through Covenant
Beloved, I write to you filled with anticipation and joy as we approach our Annual Meeting on October 18 and 19 at Pilgrim Lodge. Last year’s theme was around HOPE: “We know who holds our future”, based on Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We talked about what hope means for our churches to be alive and thrive whatever the size. We talked about keeping hope alive even when things have changed over the years in our churches. We ended our time with my installation, looking for a hopeful future with a new Conference Minister.
This year our theme is “Linked by Love”, as we will contemplate what covenantal relationships God is beckoning us to embrace as we continue to ponder our future filled with God’s hope. Our focus scripture is: Colossians 3:12-15 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as God has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ[g] rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. (NRSV)
“Covenant” is the backbone and conduit through which all of our relationships flow. It is God’s love language to God’s people. The bedrock of the United Church of Christ is covenant. The conference is all of us, in churches and associations, in committees and teams, and the conference staff. “We are us.” We are the conference! We covenant together to be the conference in different manifestations.
Covenant is apparent between churches, and between churches and associations through support and fellowship. Covenant is manifest between churches and conference board and committees through volunteering time and treasure. Covenant of churches with the conference staff is manifest in the staff providing support, resources, consultation, and whatever else is needed for churches to be alive and thrive. The church’s part in the covenant is to reach out for help, to attend association and conference meetings, and to support the ministries and the brick and mortar through their association dues and OCWM basic support, without which our conference will not be alive and thrive.
I also have heard that folks aren’t sure where their OCWM (Our Church’s Wider Mission, Basic Support) dollars and dues go to support the conference. They ask “what’s the difference between dues and OCWM?” I am asked “if I give, what do I get in return?” I am happy to share with you, and I hope it helps.
Dues are for associations to run smoothly. The conference part of the dues contributes to the office staff salaries and benefits and for the brick and mortar of maintaining our operations. They are based on membership and are dictated by COLA each year.
OCWM basic support is based on what churches can afford out of their budget. OCWM basic support is for the ministries that conference staff provide, so that the life of each and every faith community is supported in tangible ways by judicatory staff (CM and ACM). To be specific, OCWM basic support pays for the salaries and benefits of the CM and ACM. The ministries provided is a long list. Just some examples include:
• Search and call for small and large churches
• Consultation for churches that need support: leadership struggles, bylaws and governance challenges, financial challenges, legal issues
• Preaching words of hope and inspiration
• Education for pastors and laity, boundary awareness for pastors and laity,
• Ministerial support and guidance, consultation to Committees on Ministry for ministerial authorization and excellence; coordination of communities of practice and interim ministers’ support group;
• Social justice endeavors, outreach ministry beyond our conference such as Honduras.
• Being pastors to the pastors and all authorized ministers
• Helping spread Jesus’ work throughout the state of Maine through broader outreach with the Maine Council of Churches and other judicatory bodies.
I pray that the lists and explanation may be helpful—but they are just a start. Covenant begins and thrives in conversation with one another, sharing questions, ponderings, and deeper meanings. At our Annual Meeting this year we will have many opportunities to have conversation, together as one conference with many manifestations that can weave a tapestry of God’s hope for our unknown future.
I hope to see you there. If I haven’t yet met you, I look forward to meeting you.
Blessing upon blessing to each and all! See you at Annual Meeting!
Marisa
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