Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for May 18, 2025

Your love's making all things new

You're working in all for good

For the things of this world

There is hope renewed

In the life that is found in You

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

During the month of May, we will be receiving the Strengthen the Church Offering. STC is one of the special 5 for 5 offerings received by the Maine Conference each year. STC reflects the shared commitment of people across the UCC to cooperatively build up the UCC. Conferences and the national setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations.  By your generous gift to this offering, you build up the Body of Christ. Envelopes are available in the back of the Sanctuary. Every little bit helps!

This summer, in addition to the 10:00 Worship Service in our Sanctuary, Pastor TJ plans to offer an alternative early morning contemplative service during the months of June, July, and August. The tentative plan is for the services to begin at 7:00 a.m. at Tidal Falls. It is expected that these outdoor services inspired by John Philip Newell prayer books might be 20-30 minutes in length. Your feedback is desired. How often shall we meet? Weekly? Twice a month? Once a month? Is 7:30 preferable to 7:00? Is there a location other than Tidal Falls to consider? Are others interested in leading this simple service so that they happen even on the Sundays when TJ is unavailable to lead? Please be in touch with Pastor TJ with your thoughts on how to best make these early morning outdoor services fit your busy summer schedules.

Our meetings are open to all.

Trustees will meet on Wednesday, May 21 at 4:00 pm on Zoom only

Council will meet on Friday, May 23 at 11:00 am

Sunrise Association Spring Meeting! Our Spring Sunrise Association Gathering will be hosted by Trinitarian Congregational Parish of Castine on May 17th. There will be a continental breakfast at 8:30 with our meeting from 9-noon followed by lunch. 

All are invited to a congregational conversation on SUNDAY, JUNE 1 following our morning service to discuss innovative uses of the acreage owned by the church that is between the parking lot on the south side of Route 1 and the shoreline.  This discussion is one outcome of the Small Church Leadership Community program of the BTS Center.  For the last 8 months Pastor TJ, Nick Davis, Carol Skinner, and Alison Boden have been representing our church in that initiative, and look forward to sharing some of what they've learned and to hearing the congregation's ideas.

Memorial Day Breakfast and Observance in Hancock

Our Christian Education Team will host Breakfast on the Green at the Town’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Hancock Village Memorial Lot on Monday, May 26th. The Lot is located at the intersection of Point Road and US Route 1 in Hancock. Breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, muffins, fruit, coffee, water, and juice boxes will be available for purchase at 9 am prior to the start of the Ceremony.

The Memorial Day Observance activities will start at 9:20 am when the community parade contingents gather at the Hancock Women’s Club parking lot.  The Hancock Grammar School Band, members and vehicles of the Hancock Volunteer Fire Department, and other community groups will proceed to the Memorial Lot at 9:30 am to begin the Observance Ceremony. Posting of the Colors by the Fire Department Honor Guard, music selections by the Grammar School Band, and remarks by Hancock native Shenna Bellows will follow.

Please call the church at 422-3100 or the Hancock Town Office at 422-3393 with any questions.

(Thank you David Wildes for providing this information.)

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Myrna’s friend Donna J., Gerry’s friend Jason; Vicky. Prayers for Pat Shannon’s daughter, Mary Riley; 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; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Herbie Lounder; Ruth; Marie; Jim Snyder; Jonathan Holmes; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Kenny Stratton & Joy & David & Lori & Melissa; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Sandy Phippen; Kevin and Vanessa & family. 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; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

May Birthdays and Anniversaries

          20: Dennis King          22: Brendan Bonner     23: Debbie Ehrlenbach   

 24: Erva Pinkham       26: Vicky Espling       27: Andrea Bernard         29: *Sally Knapp

31: Marty Johnson      31: Clint & Eleanor Ritchie

From Our Maine Conference

As a child there was little secular music in our home. Lawrence Welk, Mantovani, Hee-Haw, and lots of Jimmy Swaggart were our listening choices. While my friends were blasting Elton John, The Rolling Stones and the Eagles I had little that was “hip and cool”. By chance my mother ordered an eight-track tape of the Carpenters for road trips which became my favorite. Their covers and original songs gave me at least something contemporary to hold on to as I entered my teens. My favorite song of theirs on that tape was Calling All Occupants of Interplanetary Craft. That song’s premise is that if we concentrated hard enough, we could psychically contact aliens to come and direct us into an era of peace. As you know the song and the Carpenters were so far unsuccessful.

I bring you to this childhood memory for a purpose. Although a far-fetched notion that aliens would usher in peace it is not a bad idea to focus attention on an aspiration and ask for help getting to that place. In this moment, my attention is largely focused on finding pastors and pulpit supply for our churches. So here I go, Calling Occupants of the Maine Conference, I need your help. If you have skills in preaching and being in churches I need you. Several of our smaller churches need pulpit supply plus. By this we mean preaching and leading worship on Sundays and being available for emergencies and special occasions. If you are feeling a deeper call to ministry our association Committees on Ministry (COM) are building leaders for our future.

In partnership with the Association COM’s the Maine School of Ministry (MESOM) is offering classes and guidance to those seeking to become clergy. These steps on the multi-paths to ministry are a vital part of equipping the conference to face the needs of our churches. I feel grateful every day to have a partner like MESOM available to help me.

I want to take a moment to thank the ministers already working in these churches. There are so many “retired ministers” serving our congregations. Without this base of support my tasks would have tripled. If you are retired clergy sitting home bored, do I have exciting news for you! I can help you stay busy one plus day a week. You can take the pastor out of a church it is far harder to take the church out of a pastor. Over the coming weeks I will be at several Association meetings. Introduce your self and let us explore the possibilities or send me an e-mail.

To paraphrase the Carpenters;

Calling occupants of Maine Conference

Calling occupants of Maine Conference

Calling occupants of Maine Conference, most extraordinary craft, please come in peace, I beseech you.

Rev. John Fiscus,

Associate Conference Minister