Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for January 18, 2026 

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains You raise me up to walk on stormy seas I am strong when I am on your shoulders You raise me up to more than I can be

The Meditation Group will meet Friday morning, January 16th at 9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. Reach out to Pastor TJ or Alison Boden with any questions. (aboden3321@gmail.com, 609-865-3236)

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 (usually by Friday evening).

What is expected if you sign up for Refreshments:

●      Provide refreshments such as cheese, and 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.

As you can see, there are still many spots where your help is needed!

One of our church members, Gina Tansey, is offering a Workshop on Compassionate Conversation on Thursday, February 5th from 10:30 am to 12 noon (on Zoom). This 90 minute workshop “will offer a brief, experiential introduction to Compassionate Conversation based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg and his book titled “Non-Violent Communication”. Gina will “guide us in learning about practicing relationship skills that foster a greater sense of connection between humans, rather than disconnection, whether those humans are your family, your neighbors, your fellow church members, or even yourself.. Please join us on Zoom, February 5th and connect with us.” If you are interested, please sign up for the workshop, by letting Nick Davis, at ndavis9940@gmail.com or Vicky at hancockmaineucc@gmail.com know. Vicky will send the link to the registrants.

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.

Outreach will meet on Thursday, January 15 at 4:30 pm

Council will meet on Friday, January 16 at 11 am

Deacons will meet on Friday, February 13th at 4 pm

Trustees will meet on Wednesday, February 18th at 4 pm via Zoom

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

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, Brad, Donald, Kenny V, James, Marie, Charlie, Jonathan and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for 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

          21: Jackie Hunt          21: Carol Skinner       22: Chris Potter 

23: Avabelle Havey      25: Holly Harriman    29: Jen Remick

February Birthdays

02: Lucy Ashmore        03: Roberta Scott      03: Liz Awalt

A Letter from our Conference Minister

Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola

Dear Beloved People of the Maine Conference,

I have been praying—a lot—lately; mostly for each and all of you.

Praying as we attempt to weather the deluge of news about violence, unrest, injustice, horrors of innocents being detained, harmed, murdered—in our country, coming from our own government. Such news is not what I would have predicted even 5 years ago.

Praying as we witness unrelenting violence and atrocities in Iran and Ukraine and Venezuela, and elsewhere; alliances that are being strained and on the brink of collapse, and trying so hard to make sense of what appears like a new world order.

Praying for the injustices perpetrated that result in innocent immigrants detained, innocent protesters harmed or killed, innocent children being prevented from having adequate health care, food, opportunity.

Our faith tells us that God is ultimately in charge—has the last say. Our faith unites us under the will and ways of God who speaks through the prophets—to advocate for the poor, feed the hungry, welcome the shunned and marginalized, embrace the stranger as we would embrace our own. Our faith guides us to follow in the teachings and ways of Jesus who models so clearly the way we are to live in the 21st century—no different than any other century.

And as I pray, I struggle not to give up hope. As I pray, I hold each of you close. As I pray, I ask God to show me—to show all of us a way forward.

In my prayer time God has led me to embrace scripture that I have embraced when I have experienced hard times. It is a scripture that is in essence a devotional from the Apostle Paul that can guide us through impossible times. I share that scripture here and invite you to meditate on these verses, asking God to bring solace and courage, clarity and fortitude— direction for how we live and breathe and act in these times.

I share here and invite you to find a quiet place to contemplate these verses. I present each verse and give brief commentary in between Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. verses. From Philippians 4:4-8:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.

(How can I rejoice when there is so little joy? Beloved, remember that joy is not based on happenstance. It is not the same as happiness. Joy comes from knowing in our heart of hearts that God is with us—God calls each and all beloved)

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

(I must admit I have had a hard time with gentleness with perpetrators. Being gentle with everyone begins with the deep heart knowledge that God calls us each beloved—everyone is beloved, despite egregious acts)

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

(I wince at this—until I realize Paul wrote these words from a jail cell, not knowing if he was going to live or die. Peace is not humanly understandable. It only comes with much deep and unending prayer, attempting to know the mind of God. Sometimes thanksgiving opens our hearts as we make our requests)

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Hard to take in—unless we admit that genuine peace is something we really do not understand under our own limited knowledge. Only God understands—and guards us at every juncture. Taking in peace requires deep trust when evidence is low or lacking)

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about[f] these things.

(And in the midst of everything, we are to continue to be prophetic witnesses for honor, justice, all that is good and commendable—perhaps through protests, perhaps through wrapping our arms around those harmed, perhaps through words, perhaps through actions when words escape us, perhaps through trying to make the powerful care. Our actions are essential, and acting together can bring solace, courage, and purpose)

Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

(Let us continue to rise as modern-day prophets. And as we do, let us lean on our God and on one another. Together, justice is clearer. Together we have courage for action that brings the realm of God to our corner of the world. Together our vision is clearer, our resolve is surer, our purpose is filled with justice)

Yes, I will continue to pray for each and all. I will continue to pray…                          Your servant and your partner in Christ,           Marisa

From Our Maine Conference Newsletter

Wabanaki Alliance “Lobby Day”

Near the end of this month (We don't have an exact date yet), the Wabanaki Alliance will be sponsoring a "Lobby Day" in Augusta. If you are so inclined to actively work for Wabanaki Sovereignty, I urge you to attend “Lobby Day” at the State House. This will be a chance for you to meet with your legislators, catch them in the halls, or otherwise connect with them around upcoming Wabanaki legislation, especially the two "big" bills coming up.

The Alliance will have a time and place to gather in the morning at the State House. We will have more detail later as to how to prepare for the event if you have a desire to attend.

The two "big bills" I refer to are:  LD 785 (previously LD 1626 in past legislature), which will incorporate all of the proposed amendments to the 1980 Settlement Act that haven't already been passed (which is the majority of them recommended by a 2019 bipartisan task force); and, LD 395 (previously LD 2004), which seeks to give the Wabanaki Nations access to all of the beneficial laws that have been passed for the other 571 federally-recognized Indigenous Nations, but which have been denied to the Wabanaki since 1980).