Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for July 12, 2026

Thou know'st not which may thrive, The late or early sown, God keeps his precious seed alive, When and wherever strown.

Rev. Hannah Mondrach will lead our worship services on July12, and19th while Pastor TJ is on her Pilgrim Lodge sabbatical. Rev. Hannah will also be “on call” for pastoral visits.

Our Monteux student musicians for this Sunday will be Aria Anderson  (Viola) & Cornelia DiGioia (Violin)

Aria Anderson is a dynamic and in-demand artist in each of her chosen fields. Beginning her musical journey at the age of three, she often snuck out at night to listen to violin lessons taking place downstairs, and her passion for music and beauty has never faded. As a violinist, violist, and vocalist she has been touring in Asia, Europe, and North America since she was nine years old, and frequently performs with local Philadelphian orchestras. She is an enthusiastic chamber musician and pedagogue, and a proud junior faculty member at Blue Mountain Chamber Music Festival. Aria received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy before beginning a masters in viola performance program, which she completed in the studio of Kerri Ryan at Temple University. She then began a professional studies program before matriculating into Temple’s DMA program, continuing under Kerri Ryan. Her past teachers include Sherri Anderson, John Gerschefski, Igor Fedotov, and Ana Tsinadze. As a vocalist, she studied with Joy Meade and Damian Savarino.

Cornelia Di Gioia is a violinist and violist who studied music and history at Grinnell College. She began violin at age six, primarily studying with Sheila Hanford, and continued her studies at Grinnell with Tracy Engman Finkelshteyn and Charles Miranda. Throughout her youth, Cornelia was a member of Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, and soloed multiple times with a chamber orchestra run by retired principal violist of the Chicago Symphony, Charles Pikler. She has performed in masterclasses with groups including the Lincoln Trio, Risus Quartet, Jupiter String Quartet and the Cavani String Quartet, and participated in festivals including the Castleman Quartet Program and the Monteux School and Music Festival. Along with leading the ensemble as concertmaster for most of her time at the college, in Spring of 2026, Cornelia was selected to perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Grinnell Symphony Orchestra. She is also very interested in historical musicology and early music, and plays baroque violin, viola and viola da gamba. In her free time, she likes to dance, make art, and woodcarve, and she is currently learning to play the accordion.

Join us at Tidal Falls each Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. for a 25-30 minute contemplative service grounded in the prayer books of John Philip Newell. No experience needed. All are welcome! Thank you to Nancy Gourlie and Robin Stratton for volunteering to be our leaders this summer.

Angela Absher is back and the Meditation Group is meeting at the Hancock Point Chapel on Friday mornings  at 9:00 am for the summer. All are welcome! Reach out to Alison Boden with any questions. (aboden3321@gmail.com, 609-865-3236)

During the month of July, we will be receiving the Neighbors in Need offering. NIN is a Special Mission Offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion in the United States, with one-third of the offering given to the Council for American Indian Ministries and the remaining two-thirds supporting UCC justice ministries. Envelopes are available at the back of the Sanctuary. Thank you for your support and generosity! This is one of the 5 for 5 offerings supported by the Maine Conference.

Our meetings are open to all. Please let Vicky know if you want the link to attend via ZOOM. Upcoming July meetings:

                          Deacons will meet Friday, July 10 at 4:30 pm

Trustees will meet Wednesday, July 15 at 11 am

Outreach will meet Thursday, July 16 at 4:30 pm

                          Council will meet Friday, July 17th at 11 am

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Your help for the Plant Sale is needed!

The plant sale will, once again, be part of the Church Fair.  We need donations of perennials (native plants are welcome!), house plants and all plant related items such as clay or ceramic pots, gardening tools, etc.  If you need help with your plants, contact Robin Long at 249-8021.  Thank you!

Celebration of Life for Kenny!

(KFStratton, Jr died Feb. 2026)

Please join us on Sunday, July 19th Noon-2:00 pm

at Stratton Family Shore.

Bring a chair and beverage. Light fare.

RSVP to Joy at jcstratton7@gmail.com

by Sunday, July 12th.

July Birthdays:

14: Brookelin Harriman          19: Patrice Alexander            24: Bob Courchesne       25: Phoebe Devenish    27: Joy Stratton            28: Robin Long

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Prayers for all God’s creation, that peace may prevail here and around the world. Our prayers go out to Debbie and the family and friends of Hollis Maddocks who passed away peacefully July 7.  Our prayers remain with Aaron & Ashley, Lincoln & Debbie, Alex & Savannah, Andrew & Tamara, Tyler Crabtree and all of their families. We pray for all those who live and work at Golden Acres. Prayers for Bobby, recovering from a stroke. We pray for Betty Johnston; Sonny & Gerry; Scott; Dean; David; Don; Dexter B.; Cynthia W.; Judith C.; Hollis & Debbie; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Kirk; Ruth & Peter; Patrice’s step-sister Patricia; Herbie Lounder; Sandy Phippen; David Mack; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport. Prayers for all in Hospice Care and for all caregivers. Prayers for all that are unsafe, unhoused, hungry & in need of care & compassion. Prayers for individuals and families affected by mental illness and addictions. Prayers for those who are experiencing family conflict; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

Register for MESOM Fall Semester Classes!

Registration is now open for anyone interested in lifelong learning.  For more information, please visit: https://www.maineucc.org/mesom/

Scholarship assistance may be available. Reach out to Dean, Malcolm Himschoot: mhimschoot@maineucc.org.

New Testament Intro: Gospels and Acts

In person (Augusta area)    Instructor Paul Day

Fee $375

IN PERSON Saturdays: Sep 26 / Oct 17 / Nov 14 / Dec 5 (9:00-3:30)

Leading with Clarity in Anxious Times

Online (Zoom)   Instructor Todd Weir

Fee $375

ONLINE Tuesdays: Sep 15 / Sep 22 / Sep 29 / Oct 13 / Oct 20 / Oct 27 / Nov 10 / Nov 17 / Dec 1 / Dec 8 (6:00-8:30)

Register by August 21: https://www.maineucc.org/mesom/

A Letter from our Associate Conference Minister

 Rev. John Fiscus 

There is a rhythm to Summer in Maine that is new to me. There are a lot of things happening, but the pace is different. I am in the middle of working with four churches entering a search process at the same time. There were multiple meetings and emails flowing to ensure all have the resources to begin their work. Right now, I am on call to answer their needs and questions as they work away on profiles and describing what they need in their future. There is a lot of waiting but it does not mean inactivity. What is really happening is a season of discernment.

This concept of discernment has always been a growing edge in my life. I tend to like the pace of doing things more than the pace of waiting. Discernment is about listening to the spirit to help guide you forward. Jesus spoke of the depth of discernment in Luke. He spoke of being able to see where the world is heading by observation and knowing critical application of knowing what is good and right.

He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? Luke 12:54-56

Beyond helping the churches prepare for change, I also often have the sacred privilege to sit with pastors and others deciding on what the future holds for them. Some are setting plans to help their churches, some are seeking a time of personal renewal, others are trying to decide where to stand in our ever-chaotic world, and a handful of us are tired of waiting for change. The key ingredient in all this listening is that it so often accompanied by that very waiting. It feels like I spent so much of my time this summer waiting. Vacations, summer visitors, and trips to Pilgrim Lodge, seem to be part of my waiting. Navigating meetings and duties is always met by a synchronizing of schedules. All this waiting means I am having time to listen and discern. But waiting is still hard for me.

This year I have been using poetry in my sermons. I love the rhythm and imagery in these verses. I have sprinkled lots of Mary Oliver and Windell Berry into my words. But I will say that the words of Jan Richardson have been so meaningful to me. I love her ability to take a construct and explore it in ways that inform and challenge. As I began to prepare for what to write this month I was already aware of my tension in the waiting.

Then I found her blessing of the waiting. I hope her take on waiting is meaningful to you in this Summer of waiting and discernment.

Blessing for Waiting

by Jan Richardson

Who wait

for the night

to end

bless them.

Who wait

for the night

to begin

bless them.

Who wait

in the hospital room

who wait

in the cell

who wait

in prayer

bless them.

Who wait

for news

who wait

for the phone call

who wait

for a word

who wait

for a job

a house

a child

bless them.

Who wait                      

for one who

will come home

who wait

for one who

will not come home

bless them.

Who wait with fear

who wait with joy

who wait with peace

who wait with rage

who wait for the end

who wait for the beginning

who wait alone

who wait together

bless them.

Who wait

without knowing

what they wait for

or why

bless them.

Who wait

when they

should not wait

who wait

when they should be

in motion

who wait

when they need

to rise

who wait

when they need

to set out

bless them.

Who wait

for the end

of waiting

who wait    

for the fullness

of time

who wait

emptied and

open and

ready

who wait

for you,

o bless.

Jan Richardson, Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons (Wanton Gospeller Press , 2015