1/11/26 Weekly Messenger
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Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for January 11, 2026
Cleansing water once at Jordan
closed around the one foretold,
opened to reveal the glory
ever new and ever old.
The Choir is on hiatus until Lent.
The Meditation Group will meet Friday morning, January 9th at 9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. Reach out to Alison Boden with any questions. (aboden3321@gmail.com, 609-865-3236)
The Homework Club meets on Thursdays. The bus will drop the students off at the church about 3:00 pm and parents pick them up at 4:30 pm. This group is open to all HGS students.
Liturgist & Refreshment Sign-Up Sheet:
What to expect to do if you sign up to be the Liturgist.
The Liturgist will be expected to lead the Congregation in the Call to Worship; the Invocation; and read the Scriptures and/or a Poem which will be provided to you in advance.
What is expected if you sign up for Refreshments:
● Provide refreshments such as cheese, crackers, fruit,
sweet breads, cookies, vegetables and dip. (About 30
people remain after worship).
● Provide juice. (The Deacons will prepare coffee).
● Set up in the Fellowship Hall prior to worship.
● Stay after coffee time to clean-up.
January 11: ___Pat Summerer__________ Refreshments: _________________________
January 18: _________________________ Refreshments: _________________________
January 25: _________________________ Refreshments: _________________________
February 01: ________________________ Refreshments: _________________________
February 08: _________________________ Refreshments: _________________________
February 15: _________________________ Refreshments: _________________________
February 22: _________________________ Refreshments: _________________________
A sign-up sheet like this one is posted by the coffee pot in the Fellowship Hall. Please take a moment to see where you might be able to help.
Please, if you are willing to be Liturgist for a given Sunday, or provide refreshments for Coffee Time, sign up or let Vicky know. Thank you!
The UU CHURCH OF ELLSWORTH IS OFFERING A COMMUNITY-BASED REVOLUTIONARY LOVE CLASS BASED ON VALORI KAUR’S BOOK, See No Stranger
11 Sessions beginning Thursdays, January 22nd – June 10th, 2026
Sign-up deadline is January 12. See the attachment for further information.
Rev. Sara Hayman, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth and Marta Rieman, a member of that church, are very excited to be offering a book discussion group from January to June of 2026, open to the community and based on Valarie Kaur’s memoir See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love.
This looks like an amazing opportunity! See the attachment for more details.
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. Our meetings are held in person and virtually on Zoom.
Deacons will meet on Friday, January 9 at 4:00 p.m.
Trustees will meet on Wednesday, January 14 at 4:00 pm, virtually only
Outreach will meet on Thursday, January 15 at 4:15 pm
Council will meet on Friday, January 16 at 11:00 a.m.
Support the Arts and our performers!
Please share upcoming events with Vicky or Pastor TJ to let our church family know what is happening when and where.
In January… Amelia Ashmore is cast as a Fate in the New Surry Theater’s performance of Hadestown: Teen Edition. Opening night is this Friday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m. Follow this link for ticket info and additional performances.
Also in January… Lucy Ashmore will be playing Peter in The Grand’s production of Peter and the Wolf. This will be performed for one show only on Friday, January 23rd at 6:00 p.m. General Admission tickets may be purchased at the door or at www.yourgrand.org
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for Mollie’s mother Ann who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Our prayers remain with Alex & Savannah and Andrew & Tamara, and with Tyler Crabtree and his family. We ask prayers for Sarina’s Dad who is recovering from a major stroke. And we ask for prayers for Norm Bamford recovering from a minor stroke. We pray for David, Brian, Donald, Jonathan, Kenny V, Brad, James, Marie, and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Kathy & Ron; Yvonne; Jeanne’s brother Clem, Kate W.; Mike & Carol; Dexter B.; Cynthia W.; Judith C.; Eleanor A.; the Raymonds; Hollis & Debbie; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Patrice’s step-sister Patricia; Kirk; Ruth; Herbie Lounder; Sandy Phippen; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Kenny Stratton & Joy & David & Lori & Melissa; Debbie & Lincoln & Aaron & Ashley & Brielle. Prayers for all in Hospice Care. Prayers for all that are unsafe, unhoused, hungry & in need of care & compassion. Prayers for individuals and families affected by addictions. Prayers for all caregivers. Prayers for those who are grieving loss or change or experiencing family conflict; and prayers for all that is in your heart…
January Birthdays
12: Myrna Coffin 15: Ben Wildes 22: Chris Potter 21: Jackie Hunt
21: Carol Skinner 23: Avabelle Havey 25: Holly Harriman 29: Jen Remick
Your Bottle Deposits Provide Food for Hancock Students.
Thank you!
For the 3 months ending in December, Hancock Area Church Members and Friends contributed $137 in redeemable bottle and can deposits to help fund Hancock Grammar School's food backpack program. A check was delivered to the school this week.
Please continue to save your redeemable cans and bottles so we can continue our easy and successful support of this important food assistance program. Call David Wildes (422-3739) if you would like a bottle pickup or bring them to church whenever you can. A few 5 cent and 15 cent bottles and cans add up to a significant donation when we all participate together to support this very worthy cause. Contact David with any questions and thank you for your participation.
A Letter from our Associate Conference Minister Rev. John Fiscus
Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness
Enlightened by thy face.
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.
Verse 2 of Another year is Dawning.
Frances R. Havergal,
When is the proper time to stop saying Happy New Year? Since so few of us write checks regularly I have no barometer. I used to judge by when we no longer needed reminding of the year as we dated our bills. Regardless of any convention or rule I think I am still safe in wishing you all a Happy New Year! As we start this new year, I want to take a moment to share what I hope to continue focusing on in 2026.
One of the areas in my portfolio is spending time and energy on church vitality. One of the ways that I am going to engage in this is through conversations about the new Manual on Church. The United Church of Christ released its Manual on Local Church officially in June of 2025. It began being widely distributed at General Synod. I will be hosting two introductory zoom meetings to the Manual on Church later this month. The official times will be shared through MidWeek News next week. These sessions will focus on broader topics of what the manual contains.
There are two areas of content that I hope to spend time with in other focused conversations. For me the Congregational Code for Local Churches and the Marks of Faithful and Vital Local Churches have so much content that a continued exploration of the topics will take some deep practice and thought. As I visit churches, search committees, Associations, and committees in the conference, I hope we can explore together.
On the theme of exploring together I am also starting to ramp up my preaching schedule. One of the primary ways I learn about our conferences is through church visits. Being present on Sundays, singing, praying and worshiping is a treasured gift to me. I love meeting folks. One of my favorite things is going to post service fellowship and choosing a random table and just jumping into the group. I have yet to be disappointed in the way the Holy Spirit directs my days. If you want or desire a visit from me let me know. No space is too far away for me to visit.
As we embrace this new year, I would also like to hear from you. I have my own ideas of what is needed and appreciated yet ultimately you know your church and personal needs in this moment. What areas of interest or connections do you have? I will admit that when I look at the complexities of our world, I can get distracted. So where can we focus? What has your heart in this moment of time? What might we grow and learn together?
Blessings to all,
Rev. John
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