Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for May 5, 2024
Take time to be holy, be calm in your soul, Each thought and each motive beneath God’s control. Thus led by the Spirit to fountains of love, You soon shall be fitted for service above.
Upcoming services, meetings, events, and opportunities
Join us for Worship in our Sanctuary or on Zoom at 10:00 a.m.,
or watch the recording later on Facebook or YouTube
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 822 2425 2518 Passcode: 755650
Find us at Hancock UCC | Hancock ME | Facebook or
on YouTube at Hancock UCC - YouTube
Choir rehearsals are Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. All are welcome. Please, join us!
Our student minister, Sarina Brooks is leading our service this coming Sunday. She shares this:
Hello Beloveds,
Psalm 145 is the focus text for the May 5th worship service. This psalm is written by David in praise of God. It entails words of worship as well as many attributes of God. The main attributes in this psalm that David praises are God’s mercy, compassion, grace and love. We will be looking at these attributes and how they may be seen in our lives. We will also focus on how we, as followers of Christ, are called to continue God’s work in the world with passing on mercy, grace, compassion and love. Please take time this week to read and meditate on the words of this psalm. Consider how God has shown up in your life with mercy, grace, compassion and love. Also consider how you have or can pass on grace, mercy, compassion and love to those in your life. (The answers you bring will be an important part of the service, so thank you in advance for participating.)
Psalm 145
(The Greatness and the Goodness of God
Praise. Of David.)
1 I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall extol your works to another
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 They will recount the glorious[a] splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works I will meditate.
6 They will proclaim the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your[b] mighty deeds
and the glorious splendor of your[c] kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and gracious in all his deeds.[d]
14 The LORD upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways
and kind in all his doings.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
Peace,
Sarina Brooks (Ministry Student Intern)
During the month of May we will be receiving the Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering. As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generous donation to the STC offering will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and adults. Envelopes are available in the back of the Sanctuary.
Our meetings are open to all. If you would like to attend a meeting, please let TJ or Vicky know and they will provide the Zoom link, or you are welcome to attend in person.
Deacons meet Friday, May 10th at 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom.
Church Council meets Friday, May 17th at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom.
Thinking about joining the church? Talk with Pastor TJ or a Deacon
if you are interested in knowing more about becoming a member.
Jane Lennon will be joining our church on Sunday, May 12th.
Join us for a four-week Study of the Psalms beginning Wed. May 8th at 2:00.
We will meet in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom May 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th.
Let Pastor TJ or Vicky know if you are interested in participating. All are welcome.
Installation Service & Reception
Installation Service for Minister of Faith Formation, Kiah Baxter Sunday, May 19th @ 3 p.m.
at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC; 29 Mount Desert Street; Bar Harbor.
More details to follow closer to the date.
Celebration of Life Graveside Service to honor and remember Jane Preble
1:00 p.m. on May 25th, 2024 at Simpson Cemetery in Sullivan
(across from the Charles E. Sumner Learning Campus)
Save the Date
On May 26, 2024, at 12PM, following our regular Sunday worship service, all are invited to meet at Tidal Falls Preserve (Tidal Falls Road, Hancock) for a time of learning and fellowship. Come and experience Lectio Terra, Communion and a picnic in the beauty of God’s great outdoors. We will be introduced to ways to be with and experience the Holy in the natural world. We will interact with scripture and prayer in new ways and hopefully connect one to another and with Creation in new ways. We will share a Communion meal that will be a bit different from how we normally experience Communion and share our learning and grow with one another. We each experience and encounter God in varied ways. Across our lifespan we are in various stages and places in our lives. With sharing this experience together, we can learn from one another across the generations, and expand our faith and have fun. Please bring a dish to share if you are inclined or just bring your beautiful self.
Blessings,
Sarina Brooks (Ministry Student Intern)
Please note: Worship Time Change
For the past couple of years we have experimented with a 9:00 Worship Service start time the Sundays between Memorial Day and Labor Day and then meeting at 10:00 the rest of the year. It is challenging to find a time that everyone can agree on. Some find 9:00 in the summers too early whereas others find 10:00 to be too late when summer activities beckon. Many desire the consistency of a time slot that remains all year long.
In light of these concerns and following thoughtful discussions, our Deacons have opted to begin a trial period of starting the Worship Service at 9:30 beginning June 2 (the Sunday after Memorial Day). We hope that this compromise will benefit everyone. After giving this a try for the summer months we will bring the matter to a congregational vote prior to Labor Day.
Upcoming May Birthdays and Anniversaries
01: Kelly Hudson 01: Erick & Ginny Shaw Coleman 07: Liz Singletary
07:*Marge* Severance 07: Nancy Baril 07: Priscilla Jones
09: Jeanne Edwards 14: John Wells 16: Mary Alice Alley Freeman
18: Fran Courchesne 18: Dick Butters 20: Dennis King
22: Brendan Bonner 23: Debbie Ehrlenbach 24: Erva Pinkham
26: Vicky Espling 29: Sally Knapp 31: Marty* Johnson
31: Clint & Eleanor Ritchie
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
Prayers for Betty Lewis, Orrick Dambois and Jennie, all in the hospital. Prayers for Pat’s niece Kate, Bruce’s sister Lynn, Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; and Ginny Hamm. Prayers for Cynthia’s Aunt Barbara, and William at Golden Acres, both receiving Hospice Care. Prayers for Ruth; Marie; Joyce; Doris; Mary Angela’s mother Caroline and brother Joel and Nick’s nephew Tim; Ron & Kathy; Jim Snyder; Brandon Perry-Hudson; John Wood; Jonathan Holmes; Sue Davies; Nancy & John & Jonas; Sue Davenport; Austin’s cousin Danny; Liz & Jim; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; Kenny Stratton; Joy & David & Lori; Sandy Phippen; Betty & her step-daughter Mollie; Debbie & Hollis & Holly and Debbie’s Aunt Linda Reed; Patrice’s niece Erica; Amy Nickerson; Tom & Judy’s son Andrew & 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 the people of our nation and of our world; Baltimore, Kansas City, and Lewiston; Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan and in so many other places experiencing escalating wars, conflicts, and disasters. Prayers for all individuals and families experiencing addictions; prayers for all caregivers; and prayers for all that is in your heart…
Let’s sign up for Pilgrim Lodge! Registration is open for Family Camp, Labor Day Weekend, Friday through Monday, August 30, – Sept 2. Sign up for all four days or choose a shorter stay. Let Pastor TJ know if you are interested.
From Our Maine Conference
Transitions of Sorrow; Transitions of Joy
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecc 3:1)
Beloved Members and Friends of the Maine Conference,
Our lives are filled with transitions, some joyful, some sad. We experience changes all of the time in our personal, church, and work lives. Our Conference has been through much transition over the past several years and we are on that journey of evolution together.
Today I share with you two transitions in our Conference Staff:
First a transition of sorrow:
Our Beloved Anne Hodgman, the steady, welcoming, wise face of our conference is retiring May 31 because of serious health issues. For all of us who have come to know and love Anne, we see her as the first entry into the door of the conference office, the one who answers our questions and shares her vast institutional memory of our conference. Since 2017, she has served as Executive Assistant, but her tenure extends many years before that.
On a personal note, I have come to love Anne as the beautiful person she is. And her expertise, guidance, and wisdom have so helped my transition into the call of your Conference Minister.
Please reach out to Anne with expressions of your love and appreciation for her many years of faithful ministry for and on behalf of the Maine Conference.
I am in the process of seeking Anne’s successor and will post the opening within the week, including in next week’s Mid-Week News.
A transition of joy:
With deep gratitude to the ACM search committee, I have hired a new full time Associate Conference Minister to begin July 1. Rev. John Fiscus comes to us from the Minnesota Conference where he is a pastor and has been very active in conference committees. John brings a deep love for churches and dedication to support smaller and larger churches to be alive and thrive in God’s church in the 21st century. In the coming weeks, John will share with us his picture, bio, and vision for his role so you can meet him more fully. He will be moving here with his husband and they are very excited to live and thrive in our beautiful state.
We will also be saying goodbye to Rev. Samantha Houser, our part-time ACM who has served us so faithfully since Alexis’ early departure. She has graciously agreed to stay for a month after John arrives to help me with onboarding him in some of his tasks of search and call, coordinating Communities of Practice, and facilitating the interim affinity group.
Dear Ones, our staff has been going through transitions this past year, with Alexis FullerWright’s departure in September, Renita Dehais’ retirement in February, Karen Steelhammer’s retirement at the end of July, Anne’s retirement in May, and with John’s arrival in July. Please be assured that our staff remains strong. Renita’s successor Nancy Bartlett is superb in her job and a delightful addition to our close staff. We are prayerfully and lovingly supporting one another. We ask for your patience and support and prayers.
I leave this time with you by sharing words of Paul from the 8th chapter of Romans:
(with a few liberties and annotations)
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as siblings, the redemption of our bodies, minds, spirits. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (so speaks to us in times of transition). 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
May we pray by looking inward for the Spirit who guides us.
May we love with open hearts as we know God’s love.
May we always know that we are the Maine Conference, dedicated to bringing the message of the Gospel through our voices, hands, and feet.
Your partner and your servant,
Marisa
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