Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for June 22, 2025

As longs the deer for cooling streams in parched and barren ways, so longs my soul, O God, for you and your refreshing grace.

During June, July, and August in addition to the 10:00 Worship Service in our Sanctuary, Pastor TJ and a small contingent of volunteers are offering an alternative contemplative service inspired by John Philip Newell prayer books. These outdoor Sunday services will begin at 7:00 a.m. at Tidal Falls (rain or shine) and are expected to last 25-30 minutes. Please join us!

The Choir is on summer hiatus June 22nd - July 27th while the Monteux Musicians are with us.

Our Monteux student musicians for this Sunday will be Maria Gramelspacher (bass) and Allie Schultz (flute).

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Maria is a double bassist, studio teacher, and arranger based in Louisville, Kentucky. Maria has a bachelor’s degree in music  performance from Middle Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in music performance with a concentration in string pedagogy from the University of Louisville.  Maria has performed with orchestras including the Jackson Symphony, Illinois Symphony, and Huntsville Symphony. Maria is also a founding member of the Nashville chamber collective, Blueprint Ensemble.

Maria has a studio of around twenty bass students. She has presented sessions for and is published by American String Teachers Association. Maria has been a guest lecturer for Illinois Wesleyan University, University of Louisville, and the annual University of Louisville Bass Day.

Maria has a great love for arranging. She has several arrangements for bass ensembles of various sizes that have been performed nationally and internationally at conferences, workshops, festivals, and universities.

Allison Schultz is a flutist from Rochester, New York. She is currently an undergraduate student at the Eastman School of Music studying classical performance under her professor, Bonita Boyd. She also studies piccolo under Anne Harrow. Previously, she studied with Sophia Gibbs Kim at the Eastman Community Music School, where she graduated with a diploma in flute with honors. She participates in many of Eastman’s ensembles, including the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra and the Eastman Wind Orchestra. She is also experienced in chamber ensembles and is currently a part of a woodwind quintet, The Aunra Winds. Last summer Allie participated in the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.

Angela Abscher will once again be hosting the Friday morning meditation group at the Hancock Point Chapel for the summer months. Meditation group moves from our Sanctuary to the Chapel beginning on July 4th at 9:00 a.m.  All are welcome.

During the month of may we took an offering for the One Great Hour of Sharing, $250 was donated towards this important offering. Thank you!

HYSSONGS in Concert at FCC

Saturday, June 21 at 6 p.m

Dell, Susan and Richard Hyssong travel full-time as the award-winning Hyssongs. Their energetic ministry combines family vocal harmony, humor and brass instruments (trumpet and trombone) to delight audiences with their Christ-centered message, shared through the powerful medium of music.  The family’s classical music background, along with their harmony and specific chord structures, lend them a unique sound that has made quite an impact on audiences.  The group has been singing together as a family for more than 28 years.  Cost:  a free will offering will be taken.

Hancock July 4th Hot Dog Cookout and Concert

The Hancock Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual July 4th Hot Dog Cookout Fundraiser from 12 noon to 1 pm on Hancock Point. Grilled hot dogs, chips, and sodas will be available by donation at the Hancock Point Boathouse on the corner of Wharf Road and Bay Avenue. The fundraiser supports the Fire and Emergency Medical Services provided by the Department to Hancock and surrounding communities. A Hancock Point Community 4th of July Parade will precede the fundraiser. At 1:30 pm there will be a concert at the Hancock Memorial Monument Lot at the junction of Route 1 and Hancock Point Road featuring musicians from the Pierre Monteux Music Festival performing several lively musical selections appropriate to the July 4th holiday. The concert is free and everyone is invited.

Rich Malaby's memorial service will be on Saturday June 21 @ 1:00 p.m.

St Philip's Episcopal Church, 12 Hodge St, Wiscasset

 If you’d like to, wear Eagles green (his favorite team).

There will be a Celebration of Life for Dr. John VanPelt on Friday, June 27 at 11:00 a.m.

at the First Congregational Church, 2 Church Street, Ellsworth.

The family requests you wear colorful clothes.

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to the family and friends of Arthur “Artie” Smallage who passed away on Monday, June 16 and the family and friends of Dennis King, who passed away on Wednesday, June 18. May their memories always be a blessing. May we comfort one another in our shared grief.

Our prayers remain with Alex & Savannah and Andrew & Tamara; and Tyler Crabtree. We pray for David M,; 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; and Sandy Phippen. 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; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

June Birthdays and Anniversaries

22: Jack & Priscilla Hirschenfofer      23: Steve & Mary Beth DiMarco

25: Kenny Houghton   26: Pat Shannon    29:*Ted* & Ann Atkinson

Pastor TJ encourages everyone to attend the program offered by the Sullivan Sorrento Historical Society as one step in the process of educating ourselves on becoming supporters of the Wabanaki Alliance. The Doctrine of Discovery is the 1493 papal bull that attempted to justify colonization of the New World and the devastation of the Indigenous people inhabiting these lands since time immemorial. Dr. Dwayne Tomah, Language Keeper of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, will present on the Wabanaki perspective at the Farmstead Barn, 2816 US Hwy One in Sullivan. All ages welcome! Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 1pm

From Our Maine Conference

Another Way

 A Message from Liz Charles McGough, Pilgrim Lodge Director

Today is the first day of kid camp at Pilgrim Lodge. This afternoon, we welcomed in campers and I’m sitting in the camp office hearing them laughing and singing as they get settled in. It is the energy that we wait all year to experience.

This summer, the theme of our curriculum is “Another Way.” One of the guiding scriptures is Isaiah 43:19: “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

I have spent a lot of time in preparation for this summer reflecting on what we, together, have to offer the world in this moment. How do we embrace this theme “Another Way” in how we offer camp experiences? How are we being called by a prophet from hundreds of years ago to “do a new thing” today?

I believe that, when daily life includes a constant barrage of news cycles and social media, which can negatively impact mental health, we can provide a break for time of renewal in nature that enlivens wonder, awe, and relationship with the natural world.

In a world of ever-increasing individualism and isolation, we focus on nurturing one another while immersed in community; building empathy and relationships.

In a society where we’re expected to conform to impossible standards that squelch our unique gifts, we celebrate each camper to cultivate a sense of belonging. We seek to affirm each individual as their authentic self.

In our fast-paced lives when the demands on our time and attention can lead to overwhelm and burnout, we provide the soil for spiritual growth as we lift up practices to see the sacred in ourselves and one another.

In the face of divisive polarization in the world around us, we ground our program in our love-centered values: love of children, creation and neighbor with a radical invitation that all who come in love have a seat at our table.

It is common to hear people describe an ethereal quality to coming down the camp road and settling into this space. We embrace a bit of lore that being here is magical and the real world beyond is where the bad stuff happens. I don’t believe that anything that happens here is magic. I do believe that what feels so good here is the result of intention and our efforts to live as the Kin-Dom of God. We embrace each beloved camper as their authentic self, ensuring that everyone has a space at the table. We practice addressing conflict in restorative ways. We seek to see the humanity in our neighbors and form connection and community. This summer, we are not inviting people to camp to escape from the world beyond. We are, however, able to offer an amazing opportunity of rest, renewal and the time to build up the resiliency we need to re-enter the world beyond with the love we nurture together in this space.

You are invited to join us. I encourage you to check out our summer worship video created by Assistant Director, Lydia Hoffman, and members of the Pilgrim Lodge community. Enjoy it, share it, pass it on! You can check it out here.