Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for January 29, 2023
Won’t you let me be your servant,
let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant, too.
Upcoming meetings, events, and opportunities
Choir will practice at 9:15 Sunday morning, to prepare for future services.
Join our Sunday Worship Zoom link at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88327467219?pwd=Mis3ME4waGE1RmRBN zFXK3VUaDJXdz09
Meeting ID: 883 2746 7219 Passcode: 131738
(Posted later for viewing on Facebook and YouTube)
On Sunday, January 29th, we will be installing our Officers, Board and Committee Members for the year. If you fall into one of these categories, please plan on being with us this Sunday.
We are bringing in new members on Sunday, February 5th at our 10:00 Worship Service.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our church please speak to Pastor TJ
or one of our Deacons for more information.
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.
Deacons will meet Friday, February 10th at 12:00 noon
Outreach will meet Thursday, February 16th at 4:00 pm
Council will meet Friday, February 17th at 12:00 noon
Trustees will meet March 1st at 12:00 noon
Rev. Dr. Nick Davis will lead our service on February 19th while Pastor TJ is on vacation
Liz Charles McGough, Director of Pilgrim Lodge will bring us a message on Feb. 26th
Andy Matthews and Charles Dayhoff from Loaves & Fishes will join us on March 12th
During the month of February we will be receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is one of five special mission offerings of the United Church of Christ. This Lenten Offering supports the disaster, refugee, and development ministries of the United Church of Christ within Wider Church Ministries.
The Church has a new website!
www.hancockucc.com
Where do I find....
Sunday Service Zoom Link – Zoom button on the Home Page (scroll down).
Current Weekly Messenger and Bulletin – “Quick Links” at bottom of Home Page
Upcoming Events – “Upcoming Events” on Home Page or Get Involved→Calendar.
Committee information and meeting times – Church Boards→committee or
Get Involved→Calendar.
Electronic donations – Donate button or “Give” link at top of all pages.
Archive of written sermons – About→Our Minister (there’s a list of
current sermons along the right side of the page or click “Archived
Sermons” for all the files.
Archive of Weekly Messengers and Bulletins – Click on any of the “Quick Links” at the bottom of the Home Page and then the appropriate link at the top of the page.
Or, About→Our Church and click the links at the bottom of the page.
Special Announcements – “Quick Links” at bottom of Home Page and News
Recordings of past Sunday Services – YouTube button at bottom of Home Page or About→Our Church (click the Service videos link at bottom of page) or YouTube button
at the top of every page.
Personnel email and other contact information – At the bottom of every page and Contact.
Link to church Facebook page – at the top of every page and Contact.
January 2023 Stewardship Update:
2023 Church Budget Pledge Projection $68,000
2023 Pledges to Date – 34 individuals and families $70,630
2022 Church Budget Pledge Projection $72,000
2022 Pledges – 38 individuals and families $70,574
Thanks to the generosity of our church family, pledges for 2023 currently exceed
our budget projection by $2,630. This is encouraging news. Also, fewer pledgers
have committed to greater giving than last year. More good news!
However, our budget for this year also projects an operating deficit of $28,092.
The extra pledge money will help reduce this number. The deficit, however, still
needs to be reduced much further. Fundraising, as yet unplanned, will help, but
new pledges beyond current commitments will be a quicker and more convenient fix.
Please consider making a pledge if you have not made one, and if you have, an
increase would be helpful if you can do it. Pledge cards are available in the
Sanctuary or one can be mailed to you. Offering envelopes are also available to
anyone who wants a set whether you pledge or not. They may make planning
and budgeting your church financial support easier. Please contact David Wildes
(422-3739) with questions or concerns and thanks to all for everything you do to
support our church and the important work we do.
Pilgrim Lodge - Save the dates
Adult Lighten Up Loosen Up Camp (LULU)
August 7 - 11, Monday - Friday
We’ll all be ready for camp after our Church Fair weekend -
Register by the night or stay for all four nights - invite a friend or two!
In addition, we are invited to schedule a retreat at Pilgrim Lodge. This is an opportunity for a vibrant experience to be in community together at camp on Lake Cobbosseecontee in West Gardiner, Maine. They’ll cook and do the dishes and we can create the programming just for us!
Options are available with no minimum participant requirements including the weekend of May 12-14 and a weekend specifically for churches of the Maine Conference: September 22-24. Contact Liz at Pilgrim Lodge to learn more
(207-724-3200,
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week: The family and friends of Janet Bohlin who died Thursday, January 19; Judi Crowley back home after a fall resulting in a broken nose and broken elbow; for a church family seeking solutions for significant mental health issues - prayers for effective intervention and treatment and healing for all; Debbie R. recovering from MOHS surgery; Steve Crabtree recovering from illness; Barbara Reeve recovering from lumbar surgery; Ginger and John Cunningham; John Wood; Andrew and Tamara; Austin’s cousin Danny; Kathy’s sister Patti Wotton; Roberta Scott; Betty Johnston; Betty’s step-daughter Mollie; Margaret B; Chris Hudson’s step-father Arthur; Kenny & Joy & David; Liz & Jim; Gary Edwards; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Renata and the women she cares for; Eleanor’s step-daughter Holly; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew and his family; Cynthia; Nancy; all individuals and families experiencing addictions; all caregivers; all affected by memory loss; those living with depression and other mental health issues; for all victims and loved ones of gun violence; those in war ravaged regions; those impacted by laws limiting reproductive justice; those experiencing food and housing insecurity; all in your heart…
February Birthdays and Anniversaries:
02: Lucy Ashmore
03: *Roberta* Scott
03: *Liz* Awalt
08: *Cynthia* Johnton
09: *Phil* Devenish
10: *Jack* Hirschenhofer
10: *Ethan* Hunt
12: Xyerra Harriman
13: *Amy* Philio
15: David Stratton
16: *Will* Stephenson
18: *Sara Beth* Denoncourt
21: *Pat* Summerer
24: *Heath* Hudson
25: *Michael* Hodgdon
27: Antonio Blasi
Contact Us at Union Congregational Church of Hancock:
Due to recent issues with our email server, Pastor TJ now has a new email address.
When writing to TJ, please begin using this new email address: revtjmack@gmail.com
TJ can be reached by cell phone at 207-323-6743 or by email at revtjmack@gmail.com
Vicky can be reached at 207-422-3100 or by email at hancockmaineucc@gmail.com
Jen can be reached by email at treasurer@hancockucc.com
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry could always use your help. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Ken at loavesandfishesellsworth@gmail.com or at 207-801-0688.
News from local non-profit organizations
Healthy Acadia
The newly-opened temporary Warming Center at Healthy Acadia's INSPIRE Center in Ellsworth (24 Church Street) is providing safety and security to our community members.
In addition to our regular 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. hours offered each night, seven days a week, effective January 14 - February 26, 2023, the Warming Center will be open
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
For questions or additional information please email warmingcenter@healthyacadia.org
The BTS Center (thebtscenter.org) invites you to join them for upcoming offerings:
· On Thursday, February 2, they will host a Lament with Earth event.
· And please join them on Thursday, February 16 for a very special event with Debra Rienstra, author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth.
News from the Maine Conference
From our Associate Conference Minister – Rev. Alexis Fuller-Wright
January 24, 2023
Dear Partners in Ministry,
This Sunday I had the joy of attending the York Association Annual Meeting where they asked each church to answer 2 questions:
● What gifts does your church have to share?
● What do you need from us?
It was inspiring to hear the pride in our churches as they claimed their gifts and offered to share them with such a spirit of generosity. It was also exciting to hear how some of the very needs in that room could be uniquely met by partnering with others in that space. It was a simple exercise, but profound in the space it created for our congregations to collaborate as equals – because we all have needs and we all have gifts to bring to the table.
We know that God created us to live in relationship. Even at the cellular level, not one molecule of our being operates in a vacuum. Yet, so often we resist that original code, opting instead for the culture’s narrative that there is not enough to go around…that we must fiercely protect what is ours. But what if we didn’t?
I have been truly inspired over the last week in places where I’ve seen some powerful collaborations form among our churches:
● Two churches, with limited resources, talking about how to share staff so that they can afford the full-time support they need to thrive.
● The Cumberland Associations churches piloting a Conference-wide confirmation retreat so that our youth can learn a peer-rich environment.
● Congregations across the state partnering with each other and local non-profits to meet the needs of New Mainers, who are desperate for stable housing. Some of our churches have space, some have volunteers, and some have mission dollars to spend. (If you’d like to join the movement, see these recommendations from the Congregational Church in Cumberland.)
I am convinced that the way forward that many of us are seeking starts with these creative partnerships…with finding that spirit-filled intersection between our gifts and needs, and our neighbor’s.
This week, I wonder where the Spirit might be beckoning your church to join in a creative partnership? We at the Maine Conference are praying for each of you, and if an invitation comes, may we pray that you have both the courage AND the humility to answer with a heartfelt YES!
God’s Peace,
Also, this spring, Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola will be offering a vitality workshop,
Alive & Thrive at Any Size, at four locations around the state.
The workshops focus on church vitality for the
21st century, including the topics of:
● Becoming a mission church: reaching out into the greater community
● Engaging community partners for mission
● “Right sizing” governance to prevent burn out as numbers in the pews decrease
● Creative ways for pastors and lay leaders to work together
● Reaching the unchurched and inviting them into the life of the church
Please consider registering for one of the following events:
Hybrid options are available at the April 22 and June 10 meetings.
Questions? Contact Marisa mlaviola@maineucc.org
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