Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for November 2, 2025

Why not change the world? / Why not count the cost?

Why not surrender all we are / To seek and love the lost?

It all begins with kindness / And the change within the heart

So, why not change the world? / Why not make a start?

Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 AM. Don’t forget to set your clocks back before going to bed Saturday night.

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

A BRIEF THEOLOGY OF HALLOWEEN

The name itself comes from “All Hallows’ Eve,” of course, a carnival-like inversion celebrating the shadow sides of life — ghosts and ghouls and such — just before the great festival celebrating the saints. Its deep roots may well include folk traditions of honoring the dead, appeasing evil spirits, and marking the end of the summer harvest and the beginning (in the Northern hemisphere, at least!) of the darkest days of the year.

But whatever its origins, Halloween today is worth thinking about. It’s become one of the most popular holidays in North America (second only to Christmas!), and at its best, it’s a magical, playful night of community-building and neighborhood-making. From this point of view, we might even call it a sacramental glimpse, if only for one night, of how the world is supposed to be: homes decked out in mischievous fun, doors opened to visitors of all ages, a spirit of wit and excitement in the air, and simple, sweet gifts given to children — all children, not just “our” children! — dressed up as heroes and villains alike.

It’s easy to grumble about “all that sugar,” “marauding teenagers,” “a waste of time,” and so forth. But think of it: when else do we intentionally spend this kind of time together as a community? When else do we do something as a neighborhood that’s this intergenerational? This open to all? This playful, goofy, and plain old fun? When else do our yards and doors open to so many? And when else are so many gifts given out — often by strangers, to strangers — simply for the sake of delight?

And there’s an even deeper side to all of this, too: in many neighborhoods, lines of social division — segregated lines of race and class, for example — are often crossed on Halloween night. In such moments, Halloween can become an all-too-brief time of sharing experiences and resources, catching sight of a true “commonwealth” too often obscured from view on the other 364 nights of the year. And what’s more, there’s now some intriguing social science showing a strong correlation between a community’s health and the extent to which it celebrates Halloween.

At its best, then, Halloween amounts to a vivid portrait of what “neighborhood” actually looks like. That alone is worth celebrating. And after all, what better way to honor the dead, prepare to celebrate the saints, and enter together the darkest time of the year than to embody — with equal parts playfulness, creativity, and joy — the “loving our neighbors as ourselves” to which Jesus calls us every day?

Those mini peppermint patties never tasted so good!

Happy Halloween,The SALT Team

The painters started on Monday, October 27th at 7:30 AM for the ceiling project.

 And they are done!           Wednesday, October 29th

October 20th - November 4th: Pastor TJ will be combining vacation in Wisconsin and working from a distance.

November 2: Rev. Linette George will lead our Worship Service and officiate Communion.

Reverend Linette George is an ordained and authorized Pastor and Teacher of the United Church of Christ since 2013. A graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School, Reverend George was a paralegal for thirty years working in Bangor, Portland and Boston, prior to answering her call to ministry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with an emphasis in American Public Policy from Stanford University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Bangor Theological Seminary. She served the Holden and Dedham UCC congregations for about ten years, and is nearing the end of time of respite. She served on the Board of Directors for the Maine Conference of the UCC, Personnel Committee, and Resourcing the Local Church Team. She is co-chair of the Anti-Racism Resource Team. Linette is a member of Hammond Street Congregational Church, UCC in Bangor. She resides in the family homestead in Glenburn, with her sister, Stacy and cat, Ella.

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

 The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will conduct its  

  2025 Annual Church Meeting on November 16^th, 2025, immediately following the 10:00

  AM Worship Service for the following purposes:

       1. To Elect Church Officers, Board and Committee members;

       2. To receive Board and Committee Reports;

       3. To vote on the Proposed 2026 Church Budget

       4.  And to hear any other business to come before the congregation.

  Vicky J. Espling, Clerk

  October 31, 2025

We need a quorum of 25 voting members to conduct business.

Please plan to attend!

Informal Community of Hope Service hosted by St. Dunstan's this Saturday, November 1st at 3 PM. Please come and join in.  Or if you can not come and want to share a thought or prayer, please send it along via email, ttlshaffer@aol.com, and we will include it. I don't know about you, but I am going to feel blessed to have a moment to gather with many - or few and just have a quiet moment to lift up our concerns, hopes and thoughts with others and then enjoy informal conversation and refreshments. There is so much to hold in hope and move toward that hope.

~Tracy Shaffer, Deacon, St. Dunstan's

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 S.; Kenny V.; James B.; Marie; and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Graham, Joey and Morgan; Yvonne; Logan & Charlie & Miranda; Dexter B.; Cynthia W.; Judith C.; Eleanor A.; the Raymonds; Hollis & Debbie; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Patrice’s step-sister Patricia; Cathy C; 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. Prayers for those who are grieving loss or change or experiencing family conflict; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

Rainbows of Hope—A time for prayer and sharing

Join the Women Leaders of New England for a new monthly prayer and share zoom! We begin with time to share celebrations and concerns, followed by nature photos for reflection and meditation. We will end with spoken prayer. Stay on to share ideas that you are working on to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God in your community. It’s a fun way to learn something new and exchange ideas with new friends! Our first meeting is on Wednesday, November 5 from 7-8:30 pm.Contact Fran Bogle at fbog@aol.com and we will send you a zoom link.Blessings, prayers and keep looking for rainbows!Love, Fran and the leadership team at WLNE

Hancock Woman’s Club

Santa Fund

Hancock, Maine

2025

Dear Friends:

Thank you for your past and continued support for the Hancock Woman’s Club Santa Fund!

Last year, you helped 42 Hancock children find Christmas presents, including toys, books, and clothing, under their tree. Additionally, thanks to your generosity, the Santa Fund was able to purchase a pair of shoes for each child.  The shoes were the children's favorite gift. Shoes are expensive, and children often have shoes that are too big or too small. The children proudly wore their new shoes to school after the Christmas break. Every year, the Santa Fund receives requests from children who do not ask for toys, but instead request snow boots, jackets, and snow pants. These items were provided, as needed. All these gifts, that the Santa Fund provides, are the result of the generosity of this community – the generosity of you!

Your monetary donation is key to the Santa Fund program, which is dedicated to spreading happiness and joy to needy children. All contributions are appreciated! Except for stamps and stationery, 100% of your donation goes to the children. The Santa Fund program is run 100% by Volunteers. Please consider donating!

The Santa Fund program requires a lot of work and coordination. We rely on the community for monetary donations and volunteers to help shop and wrap the gifts. Volunteer shoppers purchase items for the children based on ideas provided by a parent or guardian. The gifts are wrapped by Volunteers in a few days and bundled for delivery on Christmas Eve.

If you have any questions, call or email Cate Ewins at 735-7748, cathy_ewins@yahoo.com, or Margo Bailey at 422-0980, margobailey2@icloud.com.

Please make your check payable to: Hancock Woman’s Club Santa Fund, and mail it to:  

Hancock Woman’s Club Santa Fund

PO Box 294

Hancock, ME 04640

Your donation to the Hancock Woman’s Club Santa Fund is 100% tax-deductible (501c3 nonprofit organization).

With THANKS, from the children in our community! 

Hancock Woman’s Club Santa Fund

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.

Christian Ed will meet November 9th at 12:00 noon on Zoom

Deacons will meet Friday, November 14th at 4:00 pm

Trustees will meet Wednesday, November 19th at 4:00 pm

Outreach will meet Thursday, November 20th at 4:15 pm

Council will meet Friday, November 21st at 11:00 am

November Birthdays

03: Mike Summerer    14: Johanna Bazzolo       16: Marcia Nowell       16: Erin Shaw

17: Cookie Thelen           20: Kathy McGlinchey          26: Clint Ritchie 

30: Arthur Ashmore

From Our Maine Conference

A Letter from our Conference Minister

Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola

Beloved Ones of the Maine Conference,

As I prepare to begin my Sabbatical this Friday, I send my love and blessings to each and all. I am so very grateful that the Conference is supporting me to take this sacred time of rest and renewal. These past 3 years have been deeply rich and I have cherished the work we have done together, building up relationships among the churches, faith settings, associations, and conference ministries. We are indeed in covenant with God and with one another as we look to all God has for us for our future. Let us embrace the word of God spoken through the prophet Jeremiah (29:11-14) as we work toward the vision and mission of all of our ministries:

     For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to           harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all   your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the Lord. 

These sacred words were spoken to the Hebrews in exile in Babylon, when they saw no hope and were lost in their anxieties and grief. We may be able to relate to those beloved of God as we also grieve and fear the losses around us: loss of safety for the most vulnerable, loss of health care, loss of food for the food insecure, loss of dignity and home for law-biding immigrants, loss of support for so many who the elite view as not worthy of support or honor: LGBTQ+, women in reproductive years, ordinary folk who have lost their jobs and livelihood. I know that I sit in an experience of privilege: white privilege, economic privilege, healthcare privilege—and I deeply grieve for so many in so many ways who do not experience the privilege I experience.

As I pause for renewal and rest during Sabbatical time, I will also be giving thanks as we celebrate our Conference and as we look to our future for vision and mission. I invite you to celebrate with me! I invite you to celebrate our unity in the midst of our rich diversity. I invite you to contemplate our vision and mission going forward!

I leave you with the video below for your moments of celebration and contemplation: it is a video of my State of the Conference at Annual Meeting. If you attended Annual Meeting, please watch as a reminder for celebration and our work together for our vision and mission. If you did not attend Annual Meeting, please watch to wrap your hearts and minds around celebration and vision and mission: for each of us, for all of us, as we venture forward as God’s beloved, knowing all are God’s beloved; as we honor our diversity and find sacred ways to have conversation around what it means to follow in the model and teachings of Jesus; as we live out our Christian call to care for the most vulnerable and to welcome those who are rejected and ignored.

State of the Conference  

I am deeply blessed by you; I offer you deep blessings,

      Marisa

Intergenerational Spiritual Care and Nurture

Register

Many of our churches do not have a ‘specialist’ in children’s education but serve small towns where a full life span is present in relationships across generations. This course will engage participants in developing ministry to all ages, centering the times and places where that of God in one person meets with that of God in another. With pastoral leaders in mind, background will be provided in theology, developmental growth, spiritual practices, and pastoral care. Practical application will support a congregation’s intergenerational spiritual life.

ONLINE Tuesdays: Feb 3 / Feb 10 / Feb 24 / Mar 3 / Mar 10 / Mar 24 / Apr 14 / April 28 / May 5 / May 19 (6:00-8:30)

AND

Organizing for Relationships and Repair

Register

As led by Wabanaki REACH, part of this course will feature “Decolonizing and the Role of Faith Communities” – a 6-hour experience split between two Saturdays, Feb. 28 and Mar. 7. Any and all church participants in Maine are welcome and encouraged to attend! (Fee: $50) The semester course continues with sessions utilizing the “Sacred Reckonings” curriculum for organizing faith communities in response to issues of historic injustice, drawing on the Open and Affirming model.

Presenting Sponsors: Church of Universal Fellowship (Orono), Wabanaki Allies Working Group of First Congregational UCC (South Portland)

ONLINE Saturdays: Feb 28 / Mar 7 (9:00-12:00)  Mar 21 / Apr 25 / May 16 (9:00-3:30)

Tuition fees range from $375-400. Partial scholarships available.

To sign up and share information with others, please see: https://www.maineucc.org/mesom/

Happy Halloween