Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for January 26, 2025

 Many gifts, one Spir­it, one love known in ma­ny ways.

In our dif­fer­ence is bless­ing, from di­ver­si­ty we praise

One Giv­er, one Lord, one Spir­it, one Word

Known in ma­ny ways, hallowing our days.

For the Giv­er, for the gifts,

Praise, praise, praise!

A Message from Council

On Friday, the Church Council voted to place Pastor T.J on Family Leave until the end of March.  This gives her the opportunity to remain in Wisconsin caring for her Dad and Mom.   With T.J.’s assistance, we have secured supply preachers for each Sunday during the leave.   Please don’t hesitate to talk with any one of the Deacons if you have any concerns or questions .  The Revs. Kate Winters and Joel Krueger are on call for pastoral emergencies.  If you need assistance, call Vicky at the Church Office, 207 422-3100 or 207 266-9493.

Remember, we are a family too. With God’s help, we’ll work things out here while T.J.’s away.

            Nick Davis, Church President                         Vicky Espling, Senior Deacon

 (207) 667-7972    ndavis9940@gmail.com      (207) 266-9493   hancockmaineucc@gmail.com

I am deeply grateful for the kindness and compassion being extended to me and my family. –TJ

Our guest minister this Sunday will be Rev. Nancy Johnston. Thank you Nancy!

During the month of February, we will be receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. OGHS provides sources of clean water, food, education, health care, small business micro-credit loans, advocacy, resettlement for refugees and displaced persons, emergency relief and rehabilitation as well as disaster preparedness and response. Every little bit helps!

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.

The Outreach Committee will meet Thursday, February 13 at 4:15 pm

Deacons will meet on Friday, February 14 at 3:00 pm

Council will meet on Friday, February 21 at 12:30 pm

Join us for lightly guided meditation at 9:00 a.m. on Fridays in our Sanctuary.

Mark your calendars: On Sunday, February 9th, after church, Brandy Brooks will provide training on when and how to administer Narcan, this potentially life-saving drug which comes in a nasal spray. Those who attend will be provided with both Narcan and educational resources. Brandy is working towards certification as a Recovery Coach. Please contact the church office if you wish to attend this training.

A Letter from Liz Charles McGough Pilgrim Lodge Director

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.  -John 1:5

Dear Friends,

Perhaps it is no coincidence that, during these winter months when the hours of nighttime darkness continue to outnumber those of daylight, metaphors involving light in the darkness keep showing up for me. As we rise each day to witness the opening of a new chapter in our country, one that holds a great deal of mystery, words, music and images that have long sustained and inspired me are resurfacing and filling the gaps where I am left feeling inarticulate. More important than helping me to figure out what to say about this moment, they are offering me grounding in how to be these days. I share with you some links below if you want to explore further. Perhaps words from religious leaders (and followers), wise people who led through civil rights movements or bore witness to times of empire, poets and sages, might be the greatest gift I can share with you today.

Beginning with the Bible, John 1:5 reminds us that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.” God is the light that John points us toward as a North Star. John does not claim that we live in a perfect utopia. Far from it. Rather, John reminds us that in the midst of darkness, God is light that is present to us, always. For me, it is a reminder that turning toward the teachings of Jesus, who so consistently reached across lines of difference to offer love and humanity to those who were oppressed was a way of living resistance to empire

On the heels of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I lift up his powerful words, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” I am challenging myself to consider where I can reflect love in the scope of connections that I have. In preparation for the changing tides, I have heard the reminder, “don’t be alone in this.” It was a reminder that our efforts, grounded in love, can be amplified and more impactful when they are collective.

In the poem, “Our Deepest Fear,” Marianne Williamson illuminates the power of our interpersonal connections in how we show up in the world. “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” How powerful to consider the contagious nature of our being in the world. While Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warns us that hate multiplies hate, Williamson highlights that shining our light has a multiplying factor of its own. In many moments of my life, I have returned to a poem by Sonia Sanchez that is the foundation for the song “Stay on the Battlefield” from Sweet Honey in the Rock’s Album “Sacred Ground.” In the midst of terrors, Sanchez writes, “we kept on organizing, we kept on teaching, believing loving doing what was holy moving to a higher ground, even though our hands were full of slaughtered teeth…we held out our eyes delirious with grace.” Sanchez describes being active, moving beyond (rightful) fear to a place of liberation, “loving doing what was holy.” If you take nothing else away from this letter to you, I would encourage you to listen to the recording of this song. Let the rhythms wash over you and the words sink into you.

A beloved friend sent me a postcard with the message “We must be light house keepers for each other. I will tend the beacon when it seems impossible for you to find.” Not only do we need one another to amplify efforts of collective love, but we need one another to hold each other up when we slip toward despair. In her “Letter to a Young Activist During Troubled Times,” Clarisa Pinkola Estes warns against falling into the turmoil of despair. She reminds us that “any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good.” As we consider our opportunity to be light house keepers, we may not know who bears witness to our light. In fact, we may never know that anyone witnessed it at all, but if we heed the words of John to stay focused on the light in the darkness, we can trust that this light matters because its source is clear.

I would be remiss to not use this opportunity to invite you to Pilgrim Lodge. It is a space

where we seek to be light house keepers for each other. In the turmoil of life, sharing time of connection in community, grounding in our faith, is just one of the ways we can fortify ourselves with the strength and courage to let our lights shine.

You are invited: www.pilgrimlodge.org/camps.

 Birthdays and Anniversaries

January 29: Jen Remick

February Birthdays and Anniversaries    

                             02: Lucy Ashmore          03:  Roberta Scott       03: Liz Awalt              08: Cynthia Johnston            08: Miranda Devenish              09: Phil Devenish

10: Jack Hirschenhofer         10: Ethan Hunt            12: Xyerra Harriman

13: Amy Philio            15: David Stratton

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Prayers for Pastor TJ, her dad, Don, mother, Carol, and her siblings. Prayers Peggy Karns now recovering from surgery on Thursday the 23rd; and Pat Shannon's daughter, Mary Shannon-Riley, who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Prayers for Donald B.;  Kenny V.; Orrick; Brian; and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Judith C.; Eleanor A.; Ira; Don and Heather; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Herbie Lounder; Ruth; Marie; Jim Snyder; Jonathan Holmes; John Wood; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Liz & Jim; Kenny Stratton & Joy & David & Lori & Melissa; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Sandy Phippen; Amy Nickerson; 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 all caregivers; those who are grieving; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

From Our Conference Minister 

These links below from the Maine Council of Churches (MCC) and the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) are filled with valuable resources about future trainings offered by MCC, and a list of recent executive actions and interpretations of those actions from the new administration presented by ILAP. I encourage you to read so you are informed, especially around New Mainers’ rights that have been withdrawn, and other vulnerable populations’ rights that are being threatened. I also encourage you to consider attending future trainings hosted by MCC regarding Women’s reproductive rights, Transgender health and medical care, and Climate justice. You will see these offerings advertised in this Midweek News as they become available. You can also subscribe to the MCC newsletter included through their link.

Link for Maine Council of Churches

Link for Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP)

As your Conference Minister, I am committed to provide information to you in any way I can, to offer support for your churches and faith settings, and to be a conversation partner as we witness a new age that denies the rights of vulnerable dear ones among us, and as we contemplate our response to such injustice.

May we ask our God to grant us the love and courage to speak and act as Jesus modeled speaking and acting on behalf of the vulnerable, shunned, and marginalized siblings among us.

Blessings on all,

      Marisa