Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for March 30, 2025

 Far off, He saw him slowly move. 

In pensive silence mourn; 

The Father ran with arms of love 

To welcome his return.

Pastor TJ is on family leave. Even though we miss her, we are very grateful for those who have stepped up to cover for her while she is away. This week, we welcome to our pulpit Rev. Cynthia Priem. Thank you Cynthia!

The choir rehearses Sunday mornings at 9:10 a.m. All are welcome.

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

All are welcome!

Come celebrate Easter with us!

As the Board of Christian Education hosts 

HOSANNA HOOPLA

Friday, April 4th, 3:00-5:00 pm   All ages are welcome!

HOLY WEEK

Palm Sunday Service – Sunday, April 13th 10 am with a palm parade and palms to take home

Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service with Communion – Thursday, April 17th, 7 pm

Easter Sunrise Service at Riverside Cemetery – Sunday, April 20th, 6:00 am, Hancock,

behind Hancock Grammar School (In case of rain, the service will be held in the church Fellowship Hall)

Easter Morning Breakfast in the church Fellowship Hall – Sunday April 20th, 6:45 am

Donations gratefully accepted, everyone is welcome.

Traditional Easter Morning Worship Service – Sunday April 20th, 10 am, followed by Fellowship Time.

April Birthdays and Anniversaries

04: Don Baril     09: Jane Bradley         14: Dennis & Linda King

16: Jack & Delores Candy        19:  Linda King           19: Keith Bowie

21: Mary Beth DiMarco        22: Betty Johnston      26: John & Chris Wells

27: Jeff Springer    30: Ruth Butters

The Outreach Team is providing a hot dinner for the guests who utilize Healthy Acadia’s Warming Center in Ellsworth. Monetary donations can be made to Tamara and she will shop for

ingredients OR you may make food donations to be dropped off at the church by Sunday, April 13th. If you have any questions, please call or text Tamara at 207-460-4148 or email at Crowley_tamara@yahoo.com.

FOOD DONATION OPPORTUNITIES:

TACO BAR DINNER

 Dinner is for approximately 25 guests

●       4 lbs ground beef

 ●       4 packages shredded chicken

 ●       4 packages of soft tortillas (10 – 20 count)

●       4 boxes of hard taco shells  (12 count)

●       3 large jars of salsa (mild / medium)

●       4 large bags of shredded cheese

●       3 large heads of iceburg lettuce

●       10 tomatoes

●       3 large yellow onions

●       2 squeeze bottles of sour cream

●       3 large bags of tortilla chips

●       Pies / cake / other dessert options

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Prayers for Pastor TJ’s Mom, Carol, and prayers for Pat’s daughter, Mary Shannon-Riley. Prayers for Alex, Andrew and Tamara; and for Tyler Crabtree. Prayers for Donald B.;  Kenny V.; Orrick; Brian; and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Cynthia W.; Judith C.; Eleanor A.; Ira and Ginny; 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…

Maulian Bryant talk follow-up and links

Hi, everyone,

Thanks, again, registering for Maulian Bryant's talk on Tuesday night. I realized after the talk that about 10 more people registered after I'd sent the link out in the morning. It is good that we recorded the zoom call so those folks and the people who had hoped to make it but couldn't will still be able to watch it.

The link for the talk is here: https://youtu.be/QAAKm5JdJKs

We also shared some links in the chat. Here they are, too:

●       Wabanaki Alliance Legislative tracker: https://www.wabanakialliance.com/legislative-bill-tracker/

●       Harvard Report: https://www.wabanakialliance.com/harvardreport/

●       Taskforce recommendations: https://legislature.maine.gov/doc/3815

●       How to sign up for to received email from the Alliance: https://www.wabanakialliance.com/email-list/

●       Wabanaki REACH faith community program: https://www.wabanakireach.org/programs

●       Marvin's church's website: https://fccucc.org/serve/mission-outreach-team/wabanaki-working-group/

●       The film Dawnland: https://dawnland.org/

I hope you learned a lot about the Coalition and have already begun to imagine ways you can support tribal sovereignty.

If you'd be interested in holding an event like this in your association or your church, let me know. I might be able to help you get the ball rolling.

Pastor Chrissy

co-chair, Anti-Racism Resource Team

From the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ

Core Purpose, Three Opportunities

Rev. Dr. Malcolm Himschoot,

Dean of the Maine School of Ministry

Registration: https://www.maineucc.org/mesom/

When the Maine School of Ministry came into being, its core purpose was both to deepen profound journeys of lay education, and to support and equip those who would be called upon for leadership in rural and remote congregations. The church recognized that ministry formation is – for many practicing leaders – not via a professional pathway, yet faithful pastors representing the United Church of Christ need intellectual resources and spiritual accompaniment. MESOM offers certificate education that is accessible, affordable, and sourced in mentorship, with practical and applied knowledge from generations of Maine ministers. An experience with MESOM helps deepen passion, cultivate pastoral imagination, hone sacred responsibility, and develop theological reflection open to God and community, through lifelong learning.

Three upcoming programs show MESOM living into its core purpose toward theological education for the life of the church. Worship will be offered as our June Intensive, with Preaching and Hebrew Bible to be offered in the Fall Semester, plus a yearlong Special Course for Lay/Licensed ministers.

WorshipFest

 How do we lead faithfully amid all that is going on in the world? What is it about being real with each other, sharing our gifts and passions, that transforms our presence with each other into Christ’s gift to us in hard times?

All who care about the church at worship are welcome to attend WorshipFest on June 7th at Pilgrim Lodge: a mixer event for people already in ministry, people leading worship in lay roles, and those interested in creative leadership. A formative and transformative experience, WorshipFest will be organized around the theme of the MESOM June Intensive for this year: Embodied Worship in Today’s Churches.

Instructor Rev. Dr. Leslie Foley says: “I’m excited about the opportunity for MESOM students to intermingle with people who are already leaders! We will play, try things out, and build community. In the midst of all the suffering and clamor of this world, away from pressures of performance, we will take time to connect with what matters most to us and ask the essential questions.” Friday night and Saturday experiences will include music and silence, movement and prayer, Word and Sacrament.

Fall Semester

Our MESOM fall classes begin with Preaching as Prayerful Communication, led by Rev. Dr. AbbyLynn Haskell with in-person and Zoom components, and a special guest resource for writing, Rev. Jim Gertmenian. Ideal for those who find themselves behind a pulpit, and for those who are bursting forth with proclamation in creative ways. Course to be offered one Saturday a month, September-December.

A second fall course will focus on Saturdays in October-November: Old Testament Psalms, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. This course fulfills a curriculum requirement in Hebrew Bible and is co-sponsored with the New York School of Ministry, taught by Rev. Dr. David Cleaver-Bartholomew. Registration for Fall Semester is live now at: https://www.maineucc.org/mesom/.

Special Course

Those who are lay persons serving in Licensed pastoral roles are encouraged to consult with your Committee on Ministry. COM may recommend the support of this year-long experience from September-May called “Ministry in Your First Parish” taught by Rev. Paul Shupe. Twice-monthly Zoom meetings feature lectionary passages and case studies in pastoral ministry. Max 6 participants.

For more information on the 2025-26 Special Course, contact the MESOM Dean, mhimschoot@maineucc.org.

Ellsworth PrideFest June 8, 2025

Hello good folks at Union Congregational Church in Hancock: 

     I am a member of the volunteer organization Ellsworth Pride in Ellsworth, Maine. We have been responsible for organizing and putting on the annual PrideFest, with this being the 5th year. 

     I hope this finds you well as we approach the spring equinox. (I am always appreciative of the expanding light.)

     ON another note: this year it seems more important than ever to support the marginalized and threatened groups in our country---including the PrideFest in Ellsworth. 

     I am hopeful that your congregation will be interested in supporting our Fest this year. And of course, any one who wishes to volunteer would be welcomed. 

     Please let me know your thoughts and plans. And thank you SO MUCH for all the prior support!                         

 –Lucille Poulin (207-610-2739) for Ellsworth Pride

Easter Flowers

If you would like to help beautify the church with Easter flowers please fill out the form below and return it to the office by April 13th. (Easter is April 20th.)

A donation of $15.00 is suggested. Cash or checks, please.

Checks payable to Union Congregational Church of Hancock.

Please indicate whether your donation is in honor of or in loving memory of…

Your Name:__________________________________  Phone:____________________

How do you wish to have the bulletin read?

In honor of _______________________________________________________________

In loving memory of_________________________________________________________

Amount paid ___________