Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for October 25, 2026

Give me the gift of love / Look me in the eyes

Say I'm the one you're dreamin' of / That'd be the best surprise

Give me the gift of your sweet love

In the light of the day / In the dark of night 

The Choir practices Sunday morning at 9:10 am.  All are welcome!

Sunday, October 25th, we welcome to our pulpit Kelly Brown, Executive Director, Next Step Domestic Violence Project.  Kelly has worked at Next Step Domestic Violence Project for over 20 years, beginning her career as the Community Educator. She still loves opportunities to return to the community and speak with groups about a cause she cares deeply about. Her years as a helpline advocate have shaped the way she approaches this work, and she believes it is important to bring the voices and experiences of survivors into every conversation about domestic violence. Today, as Executive Director, she takes her role seriously and is committed to seeing Next Step continue to grow, strengthen its services, and reach more people who need support.

“One moment that has stayed with me was when I entered a woman into our shelter. As I opened the door to her bedroom, she looked at the room and said she didn't deserve such nice things. That moment reminded me why this work matters so much. I believe everyone deserves safety, dignity, and a welcoming place to lay their head. I am proud to lead and work alongside a team that believes the same and shows that belief through the care and support they provide every day.”

Wednesdays,  from 10 am-12 noon –

knitting group at the Hancock Community Center  –

for the Hancock Grammar School mitten tree project.

A Memorial Service for Ruth Dietze will be held on Friday, October 30^th at 11:00 am. This will make it possible for Ruth's family to zoom in from Germany at 5:00 pm their time, and to share reflections, poems, etc.  A sign-up sheet is posted in the Fellowship Hall for refreshments following this service.

Minister’s Discretionary Fund Donations

The Minister’s Discretionary Fund needs replenishing. This is the fund our Pastor uses

occasionally to help out folks with emergency needs. This time of year it could be help

with getting a delivery of heating oil, the price of which has increased 74% since last

year at this time. Donations can be made on Sunday mornings, with checks earmarked

“Discretionary Fund” or they can be put in the collection plate. Thank you.

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

God, who loves all and forgets none, we bring to you our prayers for all your children. For all for whom we love, watch over, and care for. Hear us, O God. Prayers for all in Hospice Care and for all caregivers; for Melissa’s cousin, Jamie Frey, his wife Jillian and their young boys Lucas and Mason; for Mary Angela’s mother, Caroline; for Roberta and her family; and for Cynthia W. Our prayers remain with Aaron & Ashley, Lincoln & Debbie, Alex & Savannah, Andrew & Tamara, Tyler Crabtree and all of their families. We pray for all those who live and work at Golden Acres.  Prayers for Peter; Karen B.; and for Renata; Sonny and Jerry; Judith C.; Dexter B; and Betty Johnson. Hear our prayers for Kirk; Patrice’s step-sister Patricia; Sally’s friend Darren; Vicky’s friend Amanda; Herbie Lounder; Sandy Phippen; David Mack; Sue Davies; and Sue Davenport; Sheila’s niece, Sarah. Prayers for those who are in need, especially those who are unhoused, hungry, in recovery, are coping with mental illness. Prayers for all God’s creation, that peace may prevail here and around the world. Here now the prayers of our hearts…

SUNRISE ASSOCIATION Fall Meeting

Saturday, October 24 – 9 AM to Noon

at the United Christian Church UCC

18 Searsmont Road Lincolnville

We will hear reports, transact business, approve a budget, worship, and eat together. Lunch is provided by the church. A freewill offering for your lunch will be appreciated.

ZOOM LINK:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88491045770?pwd=BPmdELW3OC5yHiv9PhgrP7JOyLcf.1  

Meeting ID: 884 9104 5770   Passcode: 836207 

Our Longing for Justice

A Message from Liz Charles McGough,

Pilgrim Lodge Director

It is fall at summer camp. The echo of laughter from our campers has drifted away. We have one more week of hosting visitors before we close for the season and we’ve begun some of the quiet work of packing up. We’ve put away the life jackets and cleared out the flower boxes, storing them until next spring. The frost took its toll on the last blossoms of the season. As I shiver against the cold morning temperatures with Lydia in our summer office, I feel the change of season and wonder, “why are we still here?” As we carry the boats up the hill to tuck them away for winter, I feel the tiredness in my body. I look at the long row of cabins that will need to be packed up and closed against the snow and I wonder, “why do we do this?”

When I reflect on that question, my memory sorts through images that have become postcards in my mind played to a soundtrack of songs I can hear campers singing. When I reflect on that question, I make meaning from the message that we shared with our campers all season: “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” We shared with them when each of us comes together, offering up our individual sparks – our gifts and talents and passions – the result can be a beautiful glow that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. I realize that when we each come to camp and offer our “yes” to the community that we build together, we carry that glow out into the world when we leave. Our campers are no longer here. They are carrying their sparks into their own lives each day.

A tangible example of our ability to shine brightly together is a poem created by our campers in the program called “Justice Together: Climate, Identity, Community.” Each camper was invited to write a poem following the prompt: “Our longing for justice is…” After writing their own poem, each of the campers and their leaders selected their favorite lines and assembled it into the following, co-created poem:

Our longing for Justice is

Rooted in the love for our global community:

Every soul honored.

Justice for those who are my people.

Justice for those who aren’t.

Justice for homeless people.

Justice for the children being brought up in this oppressive world.

Justice for all the women in the world.

Our prayer for Justice?

That everyone has a voice and the ability to use it.

Equal rights for everyone, no matter what their gender or race.

That everyone’s religion be loved equally.

That the screams of the trees to be heard.

That fear of change

cease being a good enough reason

to uphold the status quo

Hearts free to love,

bodies free to run,

and grow

and thrive….

It’s love in action.

I open my heart and my body for justice,

I open my heart and my body to those in need of justice.

Connection. Family, friends, and religion.

Our longing for Justice is

For everyone to be treated equally

for all time to come.

For a time when all can share and experience

what they define as justice.

For all to understand

that all issues are important

and some are more severe than others.

God drawing near,

Shall be able to speak—

The beetle on my sleeve

the thrumming whisper of a thousand voices

who were told to sit down.

When my body is tired and I walk around in the silence of camp, missing the joyful sound of campfires shared with the kids and I ask myself, “why do we do this?” I need only read this poem again to feel confident in why I say “yes” to camp and the youth we serve.

As you go about your days, I invite you to consider what our youth are asking of us. May their light and longing for justice be a north star in our lives. May their words guide our prayers, our choices when we vote, our use of resources and time. May their vision for the world that they dream to live in be our roadmap for a greater “why.”

New Christmas Book from Maine UCC Pastor Nancy Foran

The Grapefruit Dish grew out of Christmas stories first written for the Raymond Village Community Church U.C.C. newsletter. Heartfelt and often humorous, the stories celebrate family traditions, childhood wonder, holiday mishaps, and the imperfect moments that often become our most treasured Christmas memories, something pastors and congregations both need to remember during a hectic holiday season. Many of the stories are set here in Maine.

Known to her children and grandchildren as “Mother Christmas,” Nancy lives and writes at Little Farm in Naples, Maine.

The Grapefruit Dish is available now in paperback on Amazon, and you can find it here.

For more information about the book and Nancy, visit  www.nancyforan.com.