Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for October 5, 2025

Christ in lines of people fleeing, / Praying that a war will cease;

Christ in battered women's shelters, / Looking for a place of peace.

Christ with people sick or dying, / Loved ones trying hard to cope

In this world of so much suffering, / Christ, you give your people hope.

Choir rehearsals are at 9:10 on Sunday mornings. All are welcome!

Meditation continues every Friday morning at 9:00 am in our sanctuary until it moves back to the HP Chapel in July. Reach out to Pastor TJ or Alison Boden with any questions. (aboden3321@gmail.com, 609-865-3236) All are welcome!

The Minister’s Discretionary Fund helps people in need whether members of our church family or people in our communities. It is a minimal church budget item, supported mainly by donations made to this specific fund. If you would like to donate, envelopes are available at the back of the Sanctuary, or notate your desired donation on your check. Thank you!

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.

The Board of Deacons will meet Friday, October 10th at 4:00 pm

Trustees will meet Wednesday, October 15th at 4:00 pm

The Outreach Committee will meet Thursday, October 16th at 4:15 pm

The Christian Ed Committee will meet Wednesday, October 22nd at 12:00 noon

Church Council will meet Friday, October 24th at 11:00 am

Other October Happenings:

Friday, October 3rd from 4:00-7:00 pm &

Saturday, October 5th from 8:00-11:00 am

Fall & Winter Clothing and Linen sale.

Wednesday, October 15th:  Annual Reports due in to the office.

Friday, October 17th and Saturday, October 18th: Maine Conference, UCC

 Annual Meeting at Pilgrim Lodge

October 20th - November 4th: Pastor TJ will be combining vacation in Wisconsin and working from a distance. She will be preaching via Zoom on October 26th.

October 26th: We will celebrate All Saints Sunday. If a loved one has died since last All Saints Day please share their name/names with Pastor TJ or Vicky. This is also the day we will add new name plates to the Memorial Board at the back of the Sanctuary.

Our Blessing of the Animals service was a rousing success. We had beautiful weather Sunday morning on the Town Monument Lot where we had approximately 33 humans, 13 dogs, and 1 chicken gathered together. Debbie Riley played her electronic keyboard for us, Nick and Mary Angela led us in singing some favorite songs (All God’s Critters, All Things Bright & Beautiful, Let There Be Peace on Earth), and we collected over $350 for the SPCA of Hancock County. Blessings abounded!

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Our prayers remain with Alex & Savannah and Andrew & Tamara; and Tyler Crabtree and his family. We pray for David M,; Brian; Kenny V.; James B.; Marie; and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Dexter B.; Cynthia W.; Judith C.; Eleanor A.; the Raymonds; Hollis & Debbie; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Patrice’s step-sister Patricia; Kirk; Ruth; Herbie Lounder; Sandy Phippen; Jonathan Holmes; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Ira and Ginny; 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; those who are grieving loss or change or experiencing family conflict; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

Hancock Grammar School Still Needs Your Returnable Deposit Cans and Bottles!

Since the beginning of school recess in June, the returnable deposit cans and bottles you have generously and faithfully collected have raised $240 for the support of Hancock Grammar School's Backpack Food Assistance Program. In addition, we received an additional $100 contribution from an interested and concerned member of our local community who appreciates our efforts to help diminish student food insecurity at the school. A check was delivered to the School this week for $340.

The need for this food assistance is not going away this winter or anytime soon. The students still need your help. Keep bringing your bottles and cans to the church or call David Wildes (422-3739) to arrange a pick-up so we can continue to provide this much needed assistance. Thank you for your support and care.

Comfort Cases still need pajamas in any size. Also, crayons and coloring books would be greatly appreciated. For more information contact Jeanne Edwards. Comfort Cases, as you remember, provides backpacks filled with essentials and comfort items to children entering the foster care system.

October Birthdays

01: Gina Tansey           02: Sue Bonner           03: Everett Espling     05: Brandy Brooks        06: Judi Crowley         07: Jaimie Wood Harrell       08: Richard Lewis           

12: Brandon Perry-Hudson    13: Liz Bunker   14:  Peggy Karns         18:  TJ Mack                     19: Bonnie Ross          20: Ruth Dietze           24: Susan Davies   

26: Joshua Davis   29: Ron McGlinchey           

Official Call of the 2025 Annual Meeting

 of the Maine Conference

of the United Church of Christ 

The 94th Annual Meeting of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ (successor to the Congregational Christian Conference of Maine); it being the 114th Anniversary of the Congregational Conference and Missionary Society of Maine; the 200th Anniversary of the State Conference, the 215th Anniversary of the Maine Missionary Society, the 193rd Anniversary of the Maine Congregational Ministerial Relief Society, and the 55th Anniversary of the Maine Conference as a Conference of the United Church of Christ), will:

Convene in person at Pilgrim Lodge and via Zoom at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, October 18, 2025.

Connection details to be provided pending registration.

Items to be voted on at this year’s meeting will be:

  Proposed 2026 Conference Budget

  Slate of Officers Elect and Committee Appointments

  2026 Clergy Compensation Guidelines

  Proposed changes to the Bylaws

Susan E. Burgess, Conference Clerk

Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ   

If you would like to join this in-gathering called Annual Meeting learn more and register here. If you would like to stay the night at Pilgrim Lodge, you can sign up here.

From Our Maine Conference

A Letter from Lydia Hoffman

Assistant Camp Director of Pilgrim Lodge

What a gift it is to be a part of the Maine Conference.

At Pilgrim Lodge, all who come in love have a place at the table. Regardless of religious background, church affiliation, or personal belief, all are invited to be a part of the PL community. All who come in love have a place at the table.

Yet, many of us have found our way to camp by way of our home church congregations.

Perhaps you once came to a retreat at camp with your church family over a chilly fall or spring

weekend and saw Pilgrim Lodge for the first time in this way. Or maybe you were invited to come to camp as a child with a church friend, who told you about a UCC summer camp they attend. Maybe you were invited to attend a day pass with your church pastor, and fell in love with the lake and the loons in just a few hours. Maybe you made friends with someone during a church potluck and soon after became cabin mates during Women’s Weekend at camp. Maybe you made the decision to be a cabin counselor at Pilgrim Lodge, because a friend from church invited you to join them for a week of volunteering at camp.

I first came to Pilgrim Lodge when I was a toddler, on a retreat with my church family—and I fell in love almost instantly. There was something magical about seeing our community take on a new shape in the woods, as if we were on a sacred field trip beyond the sanctuary walls. I remember sitting by the wood stoves in the Lodge with the women who baked cookies for Sunday morning coffee hour, listening to their stories as the fire crackled nearby. I remember the laughter echoing from the swings as my Sunday school friends and I squeaked and swayed. I remember the sound of my pastor’s voice in the open-air chapel, preaching beneath the trees. It was my church that brought me to camp—and that connection has shaped my life ever since.

This summer, Pilgrim Lodge came alive with the energy and spirit of campers from more than 65 churches across the Maine Conference. From the youngest campers to our seasoned volunteers, the presence of our Maine UCC churches was felt in every corner of camp. Pastors stepped onto the boardwalk as deans, counselors, chaplains, and campers. Church families carpooled and caravanned, arriving with open hearts and full vehicles, ready to be part of this camp community.The spirit of your congregations pulsed through every worship service, canoe trip, art project, game of shaving cream wiffle ball, and evening campfire.

This Winter/Spring we invite you to host a Pilgrim Lodge Sunday — a special worship service designed to bring the spirit of camp into your sanctuary. If you would like to have a Pilgrim Lodge staff member attend or take on a leadership role in your service, please reach out to us at info@pilgrimlodge.org.

Thank you for sending the next generation of campers to Pilgrim Lodge! Thank you for supporting camp.

What a gift it is to be a part of the Maine Conference.

Conference Minister Sabbatical

Marisa will be on Sabbatical from Friday October 31 through Saturday December 6. During that time, Rev. Diane Weible will serve as Interim Conference Minister. Rev. Weible is former Conference Minister for the Northern California Nevada Conference UCC. Rev. Weible now serves on the UCC national staff as Administrator for the Council of Conference Ministers. She is also a coach and consultant. Rev. Weible will join us remotely and will provide support for all of our staff and the Board of Directors.

Marisa will be attending the Annual retreat of the Council of Conference Ministers in Augusta Georgia from Sunday December 7 through Wednesday December 10. During that retreat, she will be available by email and phone.